upgrading to 14-15 silverado

steveo2155 · September 30, 2021

Looking to upgrade from my 05 silverado to a 2014-15 silverado. The rust has caught up with the 05. Just wondering how the 14-15 have held up to rust - are they as bad as the previous generation? Also wondering any other major issues I should be aware of. Looking for the 5.3 - would consider the v6 if I found a steal on one. How are the mpg in either of those two options compared to my 05? Will be used for commuting to work and hauling travel trailer and sxs a dozen times a year.

CamGTP · September 30, 2021

Rust depends on who owned it for the most part and how well they took care of it. I've seen a few with rear wheel well rust because they a little beat up and they likely never washed out the wheel wells in the winter. They have better rust protection than the earlier trucks though.

Get a V8 if you want to tow, the V6 won't be ideal for a travel trailer at all. The V6's in the larger cabs do get slightly better fuel mileage but if you can't pull 20-21mpg in the 5.3's doing 65-70mph something is wrong. Heck there are many times I can pull 24-26mpg during 25-50 mile stretches on the open road if the conditions are right.

All the common issues are out there if you look for them. Rear slider window leaks, wheel bearings, radiator leaks are common on the first 2 years of this body style. Most have likely already been replaced if the truck is this old.

Lifter problems can happen and so can fuel injector failures. Torque converter failures and so on. We could list everything that could go wrong but the majority of people won't ever have those huge failures.

JimCost2014 · September 30, 2021

3 hours ago, steveo2155 said:

Looking to upgrade from my 05 silverado to a 2014-15 silverado. The rust has caught up with the 05. Just wondering how the 14-15 have held up to rust - are they as bad as the previous generation? Also wondering any other major issues I should be aware of. Looking for the 5.3 - would consider the v6 if I found a steal on one. How are the mpg in either of those two options compared to my 05? Will be used for commuting to work and hauling travel trailer and sxs a dozen times a year.

IMO, would look for a 16-18. Lots of issues were ironed out along the run, 18 probably (once again, MO), being the best.

I had a 14, lots of little issues that drive you crazy, my 16 was a great truck until the engine decided to retire, and so far my 18 has been pretty much one of the best vehicles I have ever owned.

steveo2155 · September 30, 2021

is it recommended disabling the AFM on these trucks like the prior gen or is that not as big of an issue

shakenfake · September 30, 2021

Recommended to delete it. Disabling it is only just a band-aid

CrawlSlow · September 30, 2021

Just like any vehicle out there. When it's new, still under warranty. People treated like they stole it because most repair will mostly done under warranty... what happen after warranty??? Suddenly wallet starts to get lighter and lighter... now it's no longer a reliable truck. People starts to DEMAND for safety recall even tho it's not even related to safety issue.

I'm sure people will say, c'om, I treated like it's my first child, like my first wife... guess what? Its probably someone else first wife now and someone else first child too.

What I'm trying to say is, get one with a service history. If the truck has nothing but warranty done, I would walk away, you know they treated like their first wife. If all you see is the normal work done suck as oil change, brake change, tire rotation, etc. You know they treated like their only wife.

Trent Meyers · October 5, 2021

I just upgraded from my 2003 Chevy, rust like you, I got into a 2015 Silverado 5.3 4x4 60k mi blah blah, holy cow man you don't know what your missing. As for the year, I avoided 2014 for first run issues and stuck with 2015 for the 6speed mainly, and the looks over the 16-18s. I live in Wisconsin and the rust on the rockers I've already seen other trucks with bubbles forming. Fluid film and cavity wax is your friend here and hopefully with annual applications I can keep up with it. Frame wax on mine is just about gone on the larger flat surfaces under the bed. Hopefully I can get it completely stripped and painted sooner than later, but I have no doubt you wont regret getting into a newer truck. Fuel mileage is nothing great but way better than my 2003!