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RE: Always a big topic: Tires for your truck
To the OP -- how did the Bigfoots work out for you? How many miles did you get out of them? They've been a good tire on our Suburban, about 28 months and 18k miles on them so far, but I was hesitant to put them on the heavier 2500hd.
My dad has run XTX's on his 1500 'Burb for about 10 years now, going through several sets in 300k miles. He doesn't tow heavy, but seems to like 'em for snow driving, unloaded handling, and the price (plus the Les Schwab service, which is unparalleled IMO).
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Tystevens
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02/23/12 11:53am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: SHOCKS/SUSPENSION
As I always srated, some day I am gonna crawl undr the back of F 250 and either spray the Bills black or just yank them off and put some other ones on there.
I am totaly dissatisfied with the Bills i bought due to all the hype.
Glad I survived following all the folks over the cliff. I am not going to do that again. :W
You are probably dissatisfied because Bilstein makes about 10 different shocks for your truck and somehow you've got the wrong valving for your situation.
I've researched suspension (springs and shocks) a lot for diesel pickups. I'm convinced that Bilstein has the best product, bar none. However, getting the right product on the right truck seems to allude people, for a number of reasons.
BTW: The adjustment on Rancho shocks affects rebound only. It can make a difference, but its nothing like having the right shock on the truck to begin with.
Everyone has an opinion, but there are plenty of diesel truck owners over on the Diesel Place who aren't crazy about their Bilsteins, either. In reality, it is hard to objectively say that any certain product is the "best" in a competitive marketplace. You and plenty of people like 'em; lots of people won't.
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Tystevens
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11/23/11 01:05pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: SHOCKS/SUSPENSION
Questions like this get a lot of recommendations for expensive, adjustable and fancy shocks. I changed mine to Monroe Reflex. Much improved over the OEM and that is all I use. Lifetime warranty
I put Reflexes on my '06 2500HD a few months back, and they work just fine. Much better bounce control towing, comfortable unloaded ride. Less than $200 out the door at Pep Boys (after rebate, of course), lifetime warranty, no mail order issues to deal with. I'm happy with them.
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Tystevens
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11/23/11 08:38am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: MPG with diesel, towing, solo
Simply put, my diesel gets 0-10% better than my 5.3 gasser unloaded, and 30-50% better mpgs when towing. Of course, my 5.3 couldn't tow consistently at 70 mph, so those numbers are not entirely accurate!
General mpgs I'm seeing in my '06 LBZ --
unloaded: freeway 17.5-19 mpg, highway 19-20, 50/50 commute -- 14.5.
towing: freeway (65-70 mph) 10-11 mpg, highway/backroads 11-13.
But it isn't just about the mpgs. The diesel is so much more comfortable towing the TT, it isn't funny. People talk about justifying a diesel, etc. Well, the justification for me is in the added enjoyment and relaxation of the trip, not the savings at the pump. Towing at 70 mph in cruse at 1700 rpms, come mountains, headwinds, or what have you in the Duramax sure beats all the downshifting, revving, strategic passing, and extended 4000+ rpm sessions that we dealt with in the 5.3! Worth the price of admission for me.
'Course, it's hard to objectively justify the price difference between top sirloin and ribeye, too. Personally, if I'm gonna eat steak, I'll pay a few bucks extra for the one that I like best!
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Tystevens
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11/23/11 08:33am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Quiet 1-ton dually diesel - used?
Like others have said, what you hear outside is not what you hear inside. Of course, it won't sound like a gas engine in the cab, but it won't be loud.
Actually, I think that the drone/rumble from my Duramax at about 70 mph sounds a lot like a big V8 (which, I guess, it is!). Unless it is pulling hard at that speed, there are almost no audible ticking or clacking sounds from inside the cab.
One other note to the OP -- the quiet down a little as they warm up (especially this time of year). It'll have a bit more clatter for the first 10 minutes or so (not sure why this is?).
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Tystevens
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11/18/11 01:09pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Quiet 1-ton dually diesel - used?
double post
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Tystevens
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11/18/11 10:16am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Quiet 1-ton dually diesel - used?
I think anything made in the last 6 or 7 years is acceptably quiet, from the inside, at least. I've had a few people riding with me in my '06 comment that "I thought this was a diesel" as we're driving down the road. At idle you can hear a little noise, but under way it is very quiet from the inside. On a nice day I have to roll down my window to be able to hear that turbo spool up!
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Tystevens
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11/18/11 10:14am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: US-97 Oregon
I-5 is almost always going to be a better option than 97 in the winter weather. Only a few high points get snow, eg, Siskyou, and they work pretty hard to keep it open if they can. If Siskyou is bad, you can pretty much bet that 97 will be worse.
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Tystevens
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11/17/11 12:48pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: New shocks on the 2500 HD OMG!!
06 2500 Silverado - I swapped out the******OEM with Monroe Reflex at about 50K and the difference is amazing. After reading here I'd probably go with the Ranchos if I had it to do over again because of the adjustibility. I do have rear air bags though so I can beef things up when needed.
I put Reflex shocks on my 2500hd around the end of September. I've been quite happy with the performance. Much better towing, just as comfortable unloaded. Only $50 each or so. I'm not a big "adjustability" guy -- I prefer set it and forget it -- and the factory valving on the Reflexes is just fine for my preferences.
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Tystevens
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11/14/11 09:02am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Trip Computer mpg Appears Accurate
Both of my GMs have been pretty accurate, both in gallons used/refilled and mileage. With the truck, I have to account for the 5% difference due to running one size larger tires. They are both w/in .2-.5, usually.
The VW Passat I had before was surgically accurate. Always spot-on.
The '02 Dodge Durango was laughably bad -- usually about 20% optimistic. It was so far off that I quit looking at it. FWIW, the outside thermometer on that vehicle was even worse, especially when the A/C was running -- it would often max out at 135* or something like that on a hot day.
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Tystevens
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11/04/11 10:06am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 14 cars & trucks discontinued for 2012
With the Crown Victoria/Gran Marquis gone, what will be the next Geri-Cruiser?? I can't wait to see how this goes.
The Chrysler 300 is on deck for that job!
I'll miss the Crown Vic. I had fun time in one of those once; it's kind of an RV'ing story, after all:
We had just spent 3 nights backpacking into Havasu Falls near the Grand Canyon. We hiked up in the afternoon, so it was pretty hot. The last mile and a half is brutal -- steep switchbacks up the side of the canyon. We'd eaten all our food, took big drinks of water, and jettisoned the rest, thinking we had an RV (my parent's old Class A) at the top of the hill with water and a fridge full of food. We got to the top -- no MH! It had been stolen (the BIA police weren't at all surprised -- it took them 3 weeks to ever even open a file). Anyway, we had 10 people to move, so my dad and I hitched into Kingman, AZ, about 100 miles away. We asked for their 2 biggest cars to carry 10 people plus packs, etc. They had a CV on the lot -- a nice pale blue -- and had to round up a minivan, which they figured would take about an hour to get back.
So my dad sent me off in the CV, worried about the rest of the group baking in the Arizona sun w/o food or water after a grueling 9 mile hike. I stopped at the supermarket, bought a case of water and a bunch of snacks, and hauled out. Especially on the reservation, I was really moving -- that CV had some legs, for sure. It was entertaining to come up on someone doing about 100 mph in a CV and see their reaction -- cars were diving off the road onto the shoulder as soon as I came into view! I ended up driving it all the way back to Vegas where the rest of our cars were parked. Fun trip!
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Tystevens
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11/02/11 01:59pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Do you have a Suburban
Mine isn't that new, but it gets to 210 as fast as it can and doesn't budge from there, whether its hot or cold out.
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Tystevens
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11/02/11 09:00am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Why I dont drink the onboard water.
I bleach my tanks once or twice a year. Other than that, I don't worry about things I can't control or that haven't caused me any problem so far. Drinking from both faucets in my home and the on-board tanks in a variety of motor homes, travel trailers, and boats included!
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Tystevens
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11/01/11 05:21pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 2500 Suburban - How to determine ratio?
The RPO code for 4.10 gears is GT5.
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Tystevens
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11/01/11 11:48am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: ZF6 or 6R140 for 08 Superduty 6.7 Cummins swap ?
Which forums are you speaking of ?
I have no idea, but I bet they are out there -- my guess is Google would be your friend on this. I'm sure there are plenty of people who have attempted the exact swap you're contemplating. I don't believe many of them are here on this forum.
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Tystevens
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10/31/11 02:58pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: ZF6 or 6R140 for 08 Superduty 6.7 Cummins swap ?
I expect you'll receve much more information at a "destroked" type forum. This probably falls without the realm of most of the tow-vehicle type users here.
FWIW, the 6.4 revs when you accelerate probably because the transmission is tuned to allow it. The 6.4 torque peak isn't until 2000 rpms, vs. 1600 or so w/ the Duramax and Cummins, so the engine needs to rev a bit more than you're used to in order to get into its powerbandn. Probably not a transmission problem.
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Tystevens
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10/31/11 11:57am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Engine warranty expires in 30 days...Items to check out?
Despite all the ridicule of the ceramic afterburner, the LLM/Allison combo is proving to be a solid performer. Few issues with the steering noises and in cold weather the transmission lines tend to leak.
Great truck, keep enjoying.
True, the LLM doesn't seem to have had many problems.
But the OP appears to have an '07 LBZ from the pic in his sig. No dpf to worry about, and all the power of the LLM to boot! Yes, a great truck.
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Tystevens
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10/31/11 09:27am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Engine warranty expires in 30 days...Items to check out?
My tranny lines haven't leaked a drop yet. I guess I should cross my fingers?
Yep, cross 'em. It's a pretty common event. Mine have all been replaced, as have those on most of the pre-'07.5 Duramaxes I know.
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Tystevens
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10/31/11 09:25am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 9,000-10,000 lb TV Recommendations
Here's a 2002 Excursion V10 w/38K on the ticker. $18,995
Every once in a while a low mileage one shows up in the sticks. You'd have to fly to Omaha NE then drive out.
Sometimes it's worth it, if the deal is right. I flew from California to Ohio to buy my 2005 Suburban 2500 with the 8.1L gas. It was extremely low miles, perfect condition, and the price was right. Some guy had it sitting in his private warehouse and never drove it.
The 8.1 'Burb and the X (V10 or diesel) are getting more and more rare -- you have to do what it takes if you want one. I have a friend who flew to Texas to get his 7.3 X, as he looked for about a year and couldn't find one he liked locally.
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Tystevens
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10/28/11 03:32pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: changing tires question
A simple question guys! when changing tires,were is the best place to locate the jack?Not so simple, really... Go by the manufacturer's recommendation.
Lots of manufacturers say under the frame near the axle. Our's specifically says not the frame, but under the axle.
But, we don't jack - we use a Trailer Aid:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4152i8YL57L._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Or the leveling blocks work in a pinch. At home, I use my oil changing ramps. Lots quicker and easier than messing around with the jack.
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Tystevens
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10/28/11 09:36am |
General RVing Issues
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