My new 2500HD and goosenck hitch install.

[JSUnlimited]

I reluctantly retired my '03 F350 7.3L and bought a '05 Chev. 2500HD Dmax/Allison. I really liked the Ford but it needed a good bit of $$$ in work and the wife and I decided to go with something newer/less miles. The Ford needed ball-joints, front axle seals/bearings, both locking hubs replaced, rear pinion seal, and u-joints. Oh yeah, she needed 6 new tires and it had a couple of injectors that were dropping out when it was cold.

So not to start a brand war.......PLEASE, we decided to by the '05 Dmax. I really like it and it matches my wife's Suburban too!

I was afraid of buying a late model Ford diesel (6.0) after much research, and guys....I'm not just Dodge/Chysler fan. I did drive a '06 2500 Ram (Cummins/Auto) and it was nice for the money but I just did not "feel right" in it. Sorry Dodge Boys!

I needed to install a gooseneck hitch in the new truck and I thought I'd share it with you guys. I ended up buying a B&W turnover hitch that was just like the one I had in the Ford....seemed to be good quality and price. I also bought the harness that allowed a plug in the bed for the lights, etc.


Here is the old Ford that is gone...and the new truck.

 

[JSUnlimited]

When the hitch was delivered by FedEx it came primed in a grey color. I decided to go ahead and paint everything black before the install.

 

[JSUnlimited]

Next was to cut out a portion of the heat shield or remove the whole thing. Since GM decided to use Torx-25 bolts to hold the entire heat shield on, I decided that it would be easier to just cut out the section needed.

Then it was time to drill a 4" hole in the bed. Measure twice, cut once right? I had to allow 1/8" for the thickness of the LineX Bedliner in order to be right.

Nervous? YEP!

 

[JSUnlimited]

I had to use the TC24DA to hold the center section tight against the bottom of the bed as I tightened the bolts holding it to the the other crossmembers.

 

[JSUnlimited]

Driver's side sideplate that has the release lever.

 

[JSUnlimited]

The bed plug installed.

 

[JSUnlimited]

All done outside!

 

[JSUnlimited]

Brake controller installed.

 

[BlackRaptor]

Thats a nice truck. love the color. I really miss my Duramax. I wish i wouldn't have went back to a gasser.

 

[JSUnlimited]

All done! It took me most of the morning and part of the afternoon to get it done.

Then.....with the good, there is the bad.

My wife calls when she is on the way home and says that the Suburban is slipping bad when going out of 1st and into 2nd.

Long story short.....when she got home we loaded the Suburban up and hauled it to the dealer 50 miles away and picked up the rental. There was no way we were going to drive it that far to pick up the rental so I figured why not haul it! For the first load with the new truck, I am very impressed with the DMax! I figured that the Suburban weighed in at 5200lbs. and the trailer was around 4600lbs. So around 10000lbs., I was very impressed with the new truck and its abilities pulling. In my opinion, better than the F350 was.

The results of the Suburban transmission........good and bad!

Thanks guys for all your comments!