Potential Tow Rig - 2002 Duramax - What Say GRM??

I am looking at a potential tow rig. It is powered by the 2002 version of the Duramax.

Diesel gurus, please share your knowledge. Anything to look out for, etc.?

EDIT: I should add that I would be looking to flip it. I don't need a tow rig right now. It's cheap and local. Not a pickup, it's a utility body.

Leaking injectors. LB7 has an issues. GM swapped them out and warrantied til 200k miles. If they have been replaced then just normal wear and tear

Weak steering components. Injectors and cups. Transfer case can get a pinhole leak in it from a materials mismatch. Horrible body quality.

Utility bodies decrease value.

I know that sounds counter intuitive, but it's true. Trust me. I've been buying and utilizing utility bodies for over 20 years.

Even though Stahl and Readng and Knapheide will charge $4K for the body, and even though KBB and NADA say the body adds value, they don't.

The problem is the potential buyers market decreases by 90%. The number of buyers for utility bodies is MUCH fewer than a standard body.

Is it a standard cab, extended cab, or a crew cab?

I could be interested in buying if it is a crew. Or maybe if it is extended. No interest if it is a standard cab.

In reply to SVreX:

It's a crew cab and right now it's crazy cheap.

EDIT: It's a long way from you (Canada) and you won't like the rust.

I understand that a utility body would significantly reduce the potential buyers.

The truck is a 2wd, crew cab, dually with a utility body. It would make a great service rig for a rally team.

Forget it. I found out the rust is worse than I thought!

I was gonna say...rust + 2WD + Utility Body = value is about what the engine is worth, used and pulled, plus the rest of the truck as scrap.

NGTD wrote: In reply to SVreX: It's a crew cab and right now it's crazy cheap. EDIT: It's a long way from you (Canada) and you won't like the rust.

You're right. I hate rust.

If you're still looking for a Duramax, the LB7 is just as good as the others with the exception of the injectors. They do like to start leaking around the 100k mark. Fortunately, GM issued a repair campaign on them and most trucks got new injectors under warranty. If I am buying a used LB7 (2001-2004) I make sure the seller can provide documentation that the injectors have been replaced.

Its a royal pain to do it yourself, and about $3000-5000 to have a reputable shop do it. My dad just had his done two weeks ago. His started leaking at 112k, but he is out of the extended 7-year extended warranty so he had to pay out of pocket.

(but fortunately he had me around to talk him into 30-over injectors, a CAI, 5" exhaust, and a 5-position chip at the same time)

So I passed on it.

It sold for $1800 on Govdeals.com. It showed up on Kijiji the other day for $8K.

We'll see if it sells!