do I want a Blazer?

[DetroitDan]

I think I do!. I'm considering selling my diesel Suburban. Always wanted one, and I like it a lot, but I like to rotate trucks in and out every so often. The Sub was going to be my kid-hauler and plow truck, and the 82 crew is just a toy. The plow I have for my Sub is really too much for it I think, and I'm afraid it's going to destroy the 182k mile driveline and frontend especially. I could sell the plow and get something lighter, but somebody expressed some interest in buying my Sub, so it got me to thinking what I would do with the money...

A Blazer would make a much better plow truck, as far as maneuverability is concerned. The Sub is still better than the plowtruck I ran for the last ten years, which was an extended cab dually. Pushed anything but not very agile.
I did buy an old conventional plow for my 82, so it could be used in a pinch as a backup truck, but since I've been driving it a lot I've realized no way can I plow residential with it. It is just too damn long, and the D60 frontend simply does not steer enough. I can barely get in and out of driveways now, without a plow.

So. The 8' plow I got for the 82 will work on a K5. A K5 has enough room for me and the 2 kids I have to cart around every day, and 3 in a pinch. Couldn't fit all of us in it, but hell I've got a 3+3 crewcab and the wifes Suburban anyway. We generally (always) take her truck if we all go somewhere.
I need to have a daily driver/plow rig that is better on fuel than my 82, which I can barely afford to drive. Right now my 94 Sub gets double the mileage of the 82 (18 vs 9) but diesels just a bit more expensive. Still way cheaper to run the Sub. I know a Blazer won't approach 18, but I think I could live with 12-13. I know I want a 700r4, for mileage and driveability, I absolutely hate 3 speed autos. Wonder if I should be looking at the later years, with throttle body injection. I would assume they must be better on fuel than carbed. I don't really care if it's a 350 or a 305, I've had dozens of smallblocks and I've had good luck with 305s, so I'm not one of those "gotta have a 350" people. I'd even buy a 6.2, drove a lot of USMC cucv Blazers and they go good enough for me. I just don't want a stripped out ugly cucv. I love the nice loaded Silverado interiors, and I want a nice Silverado two tone.

Lastly, I know the abuse plowing wreaks on trucks, and I normally wouldn't use less than a 3/4 ton, but a Blazer is a lot smaller, so with a reasonable sized plow and experience I hope I can keep the driveline together. Easy to fix anyway. Biggest downfall is the known rust issues under the rear of the k5s. If I do find a decent New England one, I'll have to stay right on top of it to keep the winter roads from eating it, and they probably will anyway. All I can do is wash it up underneath every chance I get, and spray it with oil a couple times a year.

So, whaddya think? Sell the rare turbodiesel 2500 Sub I always wanted, and embark on a K5 journey? Or stick with the Sub and hang a 950 lb Blizzard 810 off of it.