New Purchase Advice

[Bdwill7]

All,

~2-3 weeks from pulling the trigger on a new 1/2 ton.

I’ve been a Blue Oval guy my entire life (won’t go into the laundry list of F-150’s, Rangers, full-size OJ Broncos, etc).

I’ve set a budget of ~$55k and I’m homing in on a a 2023-2025 light used LT TrailBoss. I LOVE the way that truck sits. Haven’t driven one, haven’t sat it one.

I’m going to check out the Tremor and Rebel as well; but my hearts set on that white TrailBoss.

Tell me I’m right or convince me I’m wrong. Love the truck, love the value I’m seeing.

Thanks in advance.

Ben

 

[GETGONE]

I guess it depends on your expectations and previous experiences. I'm a GM guy and had a 2008 Avalanche with the 5.3 that was my first full size "truck" but I bought it used and barely was able to put 11K miles on it. I decided on a new Silverado in 2021 after considering Colorados before the refresh. I wanted something that could haul a loaded car trailer since I'm a car guy and planned to keep this for a long time. I never test drove or sat in a Silverado. I just knew I wanted the Custom trim level with a couple specific options. I decided to jump from the 5.3 to the 6.2 because the Custom only got the 6 speed trans with the 5.3 but the 6.2 got the 10 speed trans. I'm just over 35K miles since custom ordering it with the options I wanted and haven't had any issues yet. The possible 6.2 engine recall has me somewhat worried, but the way I drive it, it would have blown up by now if it was going to!

 

[Bdwill7]

I guess it depends on your expectations and previous experiences. I'm a GM guy and had a 2008 Avalanche with the 5.3 that was my first full size "truck" but I bought it used and barely was able to put 11K miles on it. I decided on a new Silverado in 2021 after considering Colorados before the refresh. I wanted something that could haul a loaded car trailer since I'm a car guy and planned to keep this for a long time. I never test drove or sat in a Silverado. I just knew I wanted the Custom trim level with a couple specific options. I decided to jump from the 5.3 to the 6.2 because the Custom only got the 6 speed trans with the 5.3 but the 6.2 got the 10 speed trans. I'm just over 35K miles since custom ordering it with the options I wanted and haven't had any issues yet. The possible 6.2 engine recall has me somewhat worried, but the way I drive it, it would have blown up by now if it was going to!

Any thoughts on the 5.3 va the 6.2? I won’t be towing much. Will be hauling work gear from time to time.

Mostly this will be my daily driver around ATL and used for heading down to the beach in FL and SC.

Would love the 6.2; not sure I can justify the decreased MPG.

 

[DAW]

All,

~2-3 weeks from pulling the trigger on a new 1/2 ton.

I’ve been a Blue Oval guy my entire life (won’t go into the laundry list of F-150’s, Rangers, full-size OJ Broncos, etc).

I’ve set a budget of ~$55k and I’m homing in on a a 2023-2025 light used LT TrailBoss. I LOVE the way that truck sits. Haven’t driven one, haven’t sat it one.

I’m going to check out the Tremor and Rebel as well; but my hearts set on that white TrailBoss.

Tell me I’m right or convince me I’m wrong. Love the truck, love the value I’m seeing.

Thanks in advance.

Ben

I love my 2025 LT Trail Boss. I bought it after winning a Lemon Law case on my 2022 Custom Trail Boss. I have done so much upgrading to it since I purchased it in June '25. I have the 5.3L and it has plenty of power for what I need it for...I do not tow/haul too often and whenever I do, I am way under the max towing capacity.

 

[GETGONE]

Any thoughts on the 5.3 va the 6.2? I won’t be towing much. Will be hauling work gear from time to time.

Mostly this will be my daily driver around ATL and used for heading down to the beach in FL and SC.

Would love the 6.2; not sure I can justify the decreased MPG.

I haven't driven the newer 5.3. The 5.3 in my Avalanche wasn't bad, but it had 33's and only a 4 speed trans. I didn't buy it for MPG although recommending premium does kind of suck as I try to always fill it with premium. It's a riot to drive. I ran a 14.2 in the 1/4 with it with all my tools under the rear seat and some stuff in the bed with an aluminum roll up tonneau with aftermarket 20x10 wheels. Only performance mods are deleting the stock muffler with a straight pipe and a Stillen air scoop to a K&N intake that just replaces the stock silencer air tube from the stock airbox to the throttle body.

 

[Keller]

I'm on my second Trail Boss and I'm going to give you the advice that I wish someone had given me when I bought my first one.

Get the extended warranty. These trucks are not our fathers' half tons. Doesn't matter which make or model, these things are more computer than they are machine, and they're not built to last 300 thousand miles.

After my 2022 LT Trail Boss, I traded to a 2025 Custom Trail Boss to get down closer to a base model truck. I have it under warranty for 4 years and I will be trading it in just as the warranty expires.

My lifestyle and location demands a pickup truck so I'm pretty much stuck playing this game. I have friends with Rams, one of which just blew the head gasket on a 3 year old truck, and an uncle with a F150 that burned up in his driveway while it was parked. It's a crap shoot.

 

[Alster]

I couldn't agree more Keller, I purchased the 5 yr 100,000 km warranty with my purchase of a 2024 LT Trail Boss.
As far as 5.3 or 6.2 engines the fact that the 6.2 requires premium fuel was the decision maker for me, so I chose the 5.3 which is quite sufficient for my needs

 

[jwflores]

I love my Trail Boss, I occasionally tow but like you it is mostly my daily driver. I recently went over 50K miles on my 2022 Trail Boss LT and replacing my tires today with Nitto Terra Grapplers. I agree on the extended warranty as the electronics are expensive to fix and the phone charger sucks, but overall my truck has been great. Changed 1 head lamp, and a few sensors over the first 3 years. I have the Duramax 3.0 diesel, I get better mileage than my Ford Explorer driving a lifted truck with max stock wheels I could fit without lifting truck further. The ride and such is great, this forum is awesome to see the upgrades and things you can do with your truck. Take the plunge and enjoy. Also, in Texas they have rebates and discounts so as long as you don't get every option available you can probably get a new one for close to your $55K budget. Mine was $66K coming out of Covid with almost every option package they have including the diesel which was $3500 upgrade if I remember correctly.

 

[DAW]

I'm on my second Trail Boss and I'm going to give you the advice that I wish someone had given me when I bought my first one.

Get the extended warranty. These trucks are not our fathers' half tons. Doesn't matter which make or model, these things are more computer than they are machine, and they're not built to last 300 thousand miles.

After my 2022 LT Trail Boss, I traded to a 2025 Custom Trail Boss to get down closer to a base model truck. I have it under warranty for 4 years and I will be trading it in just as the warranty expires.

My lifestyle and location demands a pickup truck so I'm pretty much stuck playing this game. I have friends with Rams, one of which just blew the head gasket on a 3 year old truck, and an uncle with a F150 that burned up in his driveway while it was parked. It's a crap shoot.

I will be getting an extended warranty once my manufacturer express warranty nears the expiration. I will be going with a company named, Knapp. I did not want to pay for an extended warranty now and have it overlap since the manufacturer "Bumper to Bumper" is good for 3 year/36,000. This is how the majority of these warranties work...they begin on the date you purchase, unless you are one of the fortunate (and I do mean fortunate) ones that can get in writing that your extended warranty will not begin until the manufacturer express bumper to bumper warranty expires.

 

[Jeffh70]

Any thoughts on the 5.3 va the 6.2? I won’t be towing much. Will be hauling work gear from time to time.

Mostly this will be my daily driver around ATL and used for heading down to the beach in FL and SC.

Would love the 6.2; not sure I can justify the decreased MPG.

I know it sounds strange but I get the same average MPG with my 2025 6.2 as I did with my old 2019 5.3, just buyer beware you need to use Premium with the 6.2

 

[Mrt4399]

I love my 2025 LT Trail Boss. I bought it after winning a Lemon Law case on my 2022 Custom Trail Boss. I have done so much upgrading to it since I purchased it in June '25. I have the 5.3L and it has plenty of power for what I need it for...I do not tow/haul too often and whenever I do, I am way under the max towing capacity.

Hey I’m also looking at doing a lemon law case against them. My truck shudders so bad stopping and trying to coast at around 11-1200 rpms at any speed. Have had it in the shop 2 times in last 2 months and they changed the torque and the valve body on the 10speed tranny but still no fix then kept it 3 weeks and changed the solenoids on both sides at top of engine no change then guy called Friday saying it’s normal and all 23 lil models do it it’s normal driving is what gm says. I hate gm now and paid 65k for this trailboss and paid on it 3 years and it’s just started doing this only to be told get an afm disabler to fix the problem. Just gotta find a good lawyer

 

[DAW]

Hey I’m also looking at doing a lemon law case against them. My truck shudders so bad stopping and trying to coast at around 11-1200 rpms at any speed. Have had it in the shop 2 times in last 2 months and they changed the torque and the valve body on the 10speed tranny but still no fix then kept it 3 weeks and changed the solenoids on both sides at top of engine no change then guy called Friday saying it’s normal and all 23 lil models do it it’s normal driving is what gm says. I hate gm now and paid 65k for this trailboss and paid on it 3 years and it’s just started doing this only to be told get an afm disabler to fix the problem. Just gotta find a good lawyer

You said you been paying on it 3 years. Has the bumper to bumper express warranty expired? If it had expired, unfortunately, you may be out of luck. In the state I reside and filing the Lemon Law case because of "more than 30 days out of service" criteria, I won the case.

 

[Mrt4399]

You said you been paying on it 3 years. Has the bumper to bumper express warranty expired? If it had expired, unfortunately, you may be out of luck. In the state I reside and filing the Lemon Law case because of "more than 30 days out of service" criteria, I won the case.

You said you been paying on it 3 years. Has the bumper to bumper express warranty expired? If it had expired, unfortunately, you may be out of luck. In the state I reside and filing the Lemon Law case because of "more than 30 days out of service" criteria, I won the case.

yes the 36k but I bought the extended warranty until 75k bumper to bumper and the work they have done so far has been on the power train warranty up 60k and I have 56k and this didn’t start till around 50k

 

[DAW]

Oh, good! Sounds like you may be golden!