[trackbird]

After 7 glorious years, I finally retired my faithful 2015 SIlverado 1500. It was a 5.3 with crew cab and the electronic transfer case with the AWD option. We have been using it to tow our camper for about the last year and it did an admirable job overall. Sadly, the brakes were not up to the task and on more than one occasion I ran completely out of truck brakes and the trailer stopped the truck. That finally convinced me that it was time for an upgrade.

Last Monday, I drug home a new Silverado 3500 HD (Crew cab, short bed, 4x4/AWD, diesel with the 10 speed allison, 5th wheel/gooseneck prep, Z71 protection package, etc). I'm trying to put break in mileage on it before the next time I have to tow the camper, but so far I'm really impressed. It feels a lot larger than my last 3500, but it feels remarkably light on its feet with all that torque. GM was supposed to do a facelift and a power upgrade for the diesel in 2023, but they held it until 2024. I picked the truck up Monday, Tuesday I went to the chevrolet.com site and they are now "Introducing the 2024 Silverado HD". Awesome....

Despite that, I really like the truck and the facelift isn't really an improvement (I really think these trucks are rather ugly, but the chrome front end on mine is "less bad") and the diesel seems to have plenty of power so I'm not sure if I'll really care about the upgrade. Maybe I'll trade it in a few years....maybe I won't.

I've been trying to verify that the shocks didn't change between 2022 and 2023 so I can order Fox shocks for it. The OEM ranchos provide almost zero damping.

Also, I ordered the Advanced Trailering Package with the multiple camera views. However, you have to buy the "technology package" to get all of the camera views. So, I don't have the front bumper view (could be nice for parking) or the trailer side view cameras (that would be great for pulling around tight corners, etc). I'm a little irritated that the "Advanced Trailering Package" isn't the complete package unless you take lane departure warnings, parking assist, etc....all stuff I specifically didn't want.

So, be aware if you order one, check that stuff out. I ordered this one June 19th, give or take and got it last Monday. I hope I'm not sorry I bought a diesel.

[trackbird]

My friend is on his 5-6th diesel truck. I always said "With all the ways these things break, I'll never own one". I amended that to say "I'll never own one out of warranty". So, I bought one. I mean, they can't all be bad....right?

I did find out that parts came in and they plan to start mine today. With any luck, I'll have it back by the weekend. That would be really handy. I have truck things to do (hauling a bunch of recycling/cardboard to the dumpsters and scrapping some rugs that need to go, etc. The Camaro is much more fun to drive, but it's a lousy truck.

I'm hoping this is the last issue I have with it. I don't know that it will be the case, but I can hope. I may buy the HP tuners tool to "unencrypt" the computer and carry that with me on the road. If I'm ever in Florida with a camper and I get "speed limited to 5 mph", I might fix it. I don't want or intend to delete it. I might just fix the "penalty" for emissions issues. Change it to "1,500 miles until speed limited to 358 mph" and get it to leave me alone. That's my biggest issue with the diesels. They slow you down and down and eventually it's 5 mph. No other vehicles get this for a check engine light. They just run them forever. So, why diesels? I am not sure what the answer is....assuming it acts up again.

I got 5-7.5 mpg towing the camper with my 5.3. I fear a 7.3 Ford would be worse, same for a 6.6 GM truck. I have averaged 9.2 mpg towing my camper with the diesel (at 73 mph most of the time). I'd do a lot better if I slowed down....but who does that?

Also, to be fair, I think my 3500 rides fine. My father in law has a 2022 2500 diesel and I feel like mine rides better than his. His will get really bouncy over rough stuff. Mine hits the helper springs (3500 springs) if there's enough travel and it keeps you off the bumpstops. If you're ever considering a 2500, just buy a 3500 "Single Rear Wheel" truck. The cargo capacity difference is 600-800 lbs. But 800 lbs is enough to cover people and stuff and leave you the capacity of the 2500 "leftover" to do work.

[CrashTestDummy]

<SNIP>

Also, to be fair, I think my 3500 rides fine. My father in law has a 2022 2500 diesel and I feel like mine rides better than his. His will get really bouncy over rough stuff. Mine hits the helper springs (3500 springs) if there's enough travel and it keeps you off the bumpstops. If you're ever considering a 2500, just buy a 3500 "Single Rear Wheel" truck. The cargo capacity difference is 600-800 lbs. But 800 lbs is enough to cover people and stuff and leave you the capacity of the 2500 "leftover" to do work.

If your FIL is still running the OEM shocks, well, there's your problem right there. We got Bilstiens from Sam before we got metal plates for our 2500, and never looked back. I also put a turn, or two, into the. torsion bar adjusters to gain just a bit more room between the control arms and bump stops. That also got the truck a bit more level.

We got our 2500 when the price of diesel and the mileage was a real advantage. Within a year, though, diesel prices went through the roof. The mileage is still there, and I added a front chin spoiler off a hybrid Suburban which gained us a solid 1 MPG better mileage. We averaged 18.6 towing to Topeka to Nationals one year. Kind of pissed a friend off when he rolled in to the hotel parking lot bragging about his 14 MPG he got out of his 1500HD gasser. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

[trackbird]

<SNIP>

Also, to be fair, I think my 3500 rides fine. My father in law has a 2022 2500 diesel and I feel like mine rides better than his. His will get really bouncy over rough stuff. Mine hits the helper springs (3500 springs) if there's enough travel and it keeps you off the bumpstops. If you're ever considering a 2500, just buy a 3500 "Single Rear Wheel" truck. The cargo capacity difference is 600-800 lbs. But 800 lbs is enough to cover people and stuff and leave you the capacity of the 2500 "leftover" to do work.

If your FIL is still running the OEM shocks, well, there's your problem right there. We got Bilstiens from Sam before we got metal plates for our 2500, and never looked back. I also put a turn, or two, into the. torsion bar adjusters to gain just a bit more room between the control arms and bump stops. That also got the truck a bit more level.

We got our 2500 when the price of diesel and the mileage was a real advantage. Within a year, though, diesel prices went through the roof. The mileage is still there, and I added a front chin spoiler off a hybrid Suburban which gained us a solid 1 MPG better mileage. We averaged 18.6 towing to Topeka to Nationals one year. Kind of pissed a friend off when he rolled in to the hotel parking lot bragging about his 14 MPG he got out of his 1500HD gasser. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

I put fox shocks on mine at 230 miles on the odometer (seriously, they were gone almost instantly). My father in law calls and says his truck is bouncing while towing. He asked if he needed helper springs. I said "No, you need shocks". He put Fox shocks on his truck and now he loves it.

They didn't quite get it done today. I will likely see it early next week. Oh well, just as long as it's "right". I'll keep you posted.