2016 Chevy 2500HD

[George2615]

Amazing how things snowball. In Feb. 2014 I purchased my LS XR3037HC. With loaded tires and attachments it was slightly over the weight limit of my H&H 7K tilt bed trailer so a few months later (Sept. 2014) I replaced the trailer with a new PJ TF22' 14K full tilt bed trailer. The new trailer added an extra 1200 lbs of trailer weight over the previous one. I forgot to mention in April 2014 I found a good deal I couldn't pass up on a new 18' 10K dump trailer and bought that. So now with the new tractor and 2 new trailers I am pushing (and can easily exceed) the 9600 Lb towing limit of my Chevy 1500. A couple weeks ago I traded in the 1500 for a 2500HD LT, 6.0L w/6spd auto, crew cab, regular bed, 4x4, 4.10 gears, integrated brake controller, back up camera and a bunch of other goodies. I have added a Peragon fold up tonneau cover, a rubber bed mat on top of the factory bed liner, vent visors and an under rear seat storage compartment. I hope I'm done spending for a while. Local driving MPG on the 6.0 is slightly lower than the 5.3 (14 compared to 15.5) but I can live with that. I expect towing MPG and braking to be much better than the 1500. Enough talk, here's the pics.

 

[Green Power]

That is one shiny Chevy! Hope it serves you well for many years.

 

[Copperhead]

Identical 2500 as my 2015, except mine is white and a double cab. You got a nice ride! I have been more than pleased with mine than my previous 1500. Towing mpg might not be better, but everything else about a 2500 is. The 2500 6.0 4.10 is one capable pickup, and brakes will stop a tank. I haul more than I tow and needed the payload of the 2500.

 

[Al Mac]

Nice ride.
We just ordered (last week) a 1500 LTZ crew cab. It has a 5.3L, 3.42 gears, 6 speed auto. Quite similar to your old unit. We didn't like the large front seat console (no real use for it) so we ordered the bench seat (10 way power on both sides) with the flip down center arm rest.
I will not be doing a lot of heavy hauling but a truck is needed from time to time.
How did you like your 1500? Any issues with it?

Al

 

[George2615]

Nice ride.
We just ordered (last week) a 1500 LTZ crew cab. It has a 5.3L, 3.42 gears, 6 speed auto. Quite similar to your old unit. We didn't like the large front seat console (no real use for it) so we ordered the bench seat (10 way power on both sides) with the flip down center arm rest.
I will not be doing a lot of heavy hauling but a truck is needed from time to time.
How did you like your 1500? Any issues with it?

Al

Al,
The 1500 I traded in was the same as you ordered but with the big console. I liked the truck a lot, only had 30K on it, just had reached (outgrown) the limits of it. I was really surprised my 1500 didn't get better mileage (18 hwy, 15.5 city). No issues at all, I did all my own service and used synthetic oil. I did add 2500 lb. helper springs as the stock 3 leaf springs don't like 1100 lb. of tongue weight and let it squat a bit. I've had many Chevy's over the years, 1500 - 3500 and liked them all. Each newer model came with more creature comforts. Congrats on your new truck, hope you enjoy it very much.

 

[Panik]

A couple weeks ago I traded in the 1500 for a 2500HD LT, 6.0L w/6spd auto, crew cab, regular bed, 4x4, 4.10 gears, integrated brake controller, back up camera and a bunch of other goodies.

Beautiful truck! Should be able handle everything you throw at it for a long time.:thumbsup: Wish I could justify a 2500.

Nice ride.
We just ordered (last week) a 1500 LTZ crew cab. It has a 5.3L, 3.42 gears, 6 speed auto. Quite similar to your old unit. We didn't like the large front seat console (no real use for it) so we ordered the bench seat (10 way power on both sides) with the flip down center arm rest.
I will not be doing a lot of heavy hauling but a truck is needed from time to time.
How did you like your 1500? Any issues with it?

I have pretty much the same truck you are ordering, GMC instead of Chevy. I love mine and have had no real problems with it after 45K miles. The paint on these trucks does seem to be a bit soft. Whether or not that is GMC specific or a product of EPA mandates water based paint I couldn't say. After noticing chipping on the rocker panels from rock and pebble strikes I did add a full set of mud flaps.

The only other things I have done to the truck have been to buy a Range AFM module to convert the truck to full time V8 and I also added a oil/air separator to hopefully minimize carbonization.

 

[Al Mac]

George 2615; Tkx for the heads up on gas mileage. We have gave up on getting good gas mileage on larger rigs. It is hard to win so when we need the truck we use it. When we feel the need for gas mileage we use the Jetta. That is the only way it works for us. This truck will have the regular 5.3 engine. The flexfuel engine was dropped as it is not a option with the LTZ package. I thought that was strange.

Panik; What is a Range AMF module do. I expect it puts all cylinders in use all the time. Was that a issue for you?

Al

 

[mikesee]

George: Fantastic set up! I think you have made wise investments as now you can SAFELY transport your equipment and materials. You can not afford to skimp on safe transport. Guess we will never see photos of your set up in the thread 'Photo's of people towing...'

 

[Panik]

Panik; What is a Range AMF module do. I expect it puts all cylinders in use all the time. Was that a issue for you?

Al

Exactly. There has been some concern with past GM/Chevy models using active fuel management that the cylinder deactivation can over the long term cause issues with the lifters and oil consumption. As far as I know with the latest generation, '14 on up, this hasn't seemed to have been as much of a concern so far. I didn't want to take the chance as this will be a high mileage truck. In terms of immediate effect I lost about 1 mpg on average on one hand and on the other drivability and shifting seem to be slightly improved.

 

[Al Mac]

Tkx
I will check into that.
I hope I didn't break any rules by asking questions on George 2615 thread.
Not sure on some rules/protocol still. Let me know if I did.

Al