Is my truck capable ?? Chevy 2500
- Thread starter Zatara
- Start date
4Rescue
Expedition Leader
As much as I loathe all things GM, those Border patrol trucks look spot on. Great ride height, taller skiny tires, and being gov issue, I'm sure the're beefed up plenty. And they really are boxy classic looking pick-ups (which I kind of like) Do they run the diesels or the 6.0 gasser motor in those??
And to answer the original question: No, your truck is not hopeless, it's got 4wd, low range and a driver, it'll go more places than it probably should. It's size might be a limiting factor depending on teh terrain you're driving, but like someoen said, in the wide open desert country, the size just adds comfort. Go for it.
As far as the odd year, my buddy has the same truck (black 2000 2500 with the 6.0 Gas motor) and he ran into the same issues of finding a really quality suspension lift that wasn't really expensive, in the end he just left it stock. I'm sure that by now there are plenty of options being that it's a chevy and a very popular truck.
I was just taking a shot at GM, but I honestly can't tell you why they use them... They certianly aren't the most reliable trucks on the road... So I would actually have to guess it's because they get them very cheap as fleet vehicles go. Besides, I belive the BP uses a number of different vehicles don't they??kcowyo said:
And to answer the original question: No, your truck is not hopeless, it's got 4wd, low range and a driver, it'll go more places than it probably should. It's size might be a limiting factor depending on teh terrain you're driving, but like someoen said, in the wide open desert country, the size just adds comfort. Go for it.
As far as the odd year, my buddy has the same truck (black 2000 2500 with the 6.0 Gas motor) and he ran into the same issues of finding a really quality suspension lift that wasn't really expensive, in the end he just left it stock. I'm sure that by now there are plenty of options being that it's a chevy and a very popular truck.
absolute
Adventurer
Time for some more Chevy Love!!
I have an 05 HD ext. cab long bed w/6.0 and I have taken that truck more places in the PNW and West then I could have ever imagine! My truck started out as a toy hauler (Quads, Motorcycles, Sleds, Camper & Occasional K5 or Jeep), but the more I've built various off road toys, I always end up taking my HD! My current setup is 1/2" crank on Torsion Bars, Yokohama Geolander AT2's in 285, 16x8 aftermarket wheels, Raider Topper, Line-x Bed, back up cam, GPS, CB and a bunch of things that making it great! Looking in to the Cognito level soon. I really can't justify spending 2-3K for 35's. If i keep the truck long enough i'll end up doing a SAS! But that will depend! let me know if you have any questions or just shoot the chevy love... J/K
oh yeah... my CJ has chevy love, but more on that later! (still need to do a build page!)
I have an 05 HD ext. cab long bed w/6.0 and I have taken that truck more places in the PNW and West then I could have ever imagine! My truck started out as a toy hauler (Quads, Motorcycles, Sleds, Camper & Occasional K5 or Jeep), but the more I've built various off road toys, I always end up taking my HD! My current setup is 1/2" crank on Torsion Bars, Yokohama Geolander AT2's in 285, 16x8 aftermarket wheels, Raider Topper, Line-x Bed, back up cam, GPS, CB and a bunch of things that making it great! Looking in to the Cognito level soon. I really can't justify spending 2-3K for 35's. If i keep the truck long enough i'll end up doing a SAS! But that will depend! let me know if you have any questions or just shoot the chevy love... J/K
oh yeah... my CJ has chevy love, but more on that later! (still need to do a build page!)
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Colorado Ron
Explorer
Maybe you guys have or have not seen my build thread, but I think they make a great platform.
Build Thread:http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8605
Build Thread:http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8605
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4Rescue
Expedition Leader
Wow, I almost didn't see the exo, that's very slick looking.Colorado Ron said:Maybe you guys have or have not seen my build thread, but I think they make a great platform.
Build Thread:http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8605
Colorado Ron
Explorer
Thanks guys! I love how it turned out!
outsidr
Adventurer
The interior components have all held up well. I think that since Chevy typically has more knobs slides, buttons, and gizmos in the interior there is statistically more to break. Dodge and ford are typically more simplified or have less features so this plays a roll in the "chevy Inte3riors suck" stigma. Granted, some of their attempts at controls are better than others year to year. But it is something to consider none the less...
1976K5Chalet
Observer
If i didn't loose it on the last hard drive frag....working in the oilfield i seem to loose a hard drive in said laptop about every 9 months...if it happens again i am going to a panasonic toughbook and that will be the end of it. Anyways i had a GM GSA pdf or two on the package of add ons designed specifically for the gsa fleet vehicles....and i will say if some of that stuff was standard issue on a truck labled HD...i wouldn't be tearing my hair out trying to find the most suitable solution to my dilema of busted tierods and self adjusting torsion bars to name a few...but at the same time the HD was built for the masses and it is the best riding .75 to 1 ton on the market bar none. Its just not designed to hold up to what i drag her thru getting in and out of the rig locations i work out here.
Other than the cancerous IFS front end i love my HD to death...i have added a bully dog triple pup out the gate while i was in calgary...next was the afe air filter..then the buckstop outback bumper....which i can attest will take a bridge hit rather nicely ....and recently a 45 gallon transferflow fuel tank went in....33K miles and at 75-80mph we are knocking down over 18mpg in perf mode....so other than then ifs front...i am extremely happy!
If i can find those darn PDF's i'll share them with all!
DW
Other than the cancerous IFS front end i love my HD to death...i have added a bully dog triple pup out the gate while i was in calgary...next was the afe air filter..then the buckstop outback bumper....which i can attest will take a bridge hit rather nicely ....and recently a 45 gallon transferflow fuel tank went in....33K miles and at 75-80mph we are knocking down over 18mpg in perf mode....so other than then ifs front...i am extremely happy!
If i can find those darn PDF's i'll share them with all!
DW
you can find a lot of information from the brochures at the gm fleet site http://www.gmfleet.com/
the military parts and service manuals give some nice details
http://www.gmfleet.com/government/products/GMDefense.jsp?navSec=products
As far as why does border patrol or government use GM, its cost of ownership. When you run a fleet the $ spent is what matters, and thats including initial cost, repairs and maintenance. Some may think their preferred brand is more reliable but sometimes it takes extra or costly maintenance to make it reliable or they don't count their planned down time for maintenance, kind of like when microsoft says their os is the most reliable but count the monthly reboots for patches.
What do you guys think of the 1500's for an expedition vehicle. I had to move up to full size to have a kid capable cab and still have the 6' bed because all the small trucks have a shorter bed when you have the large enough cab. IMHO GM still have the most downtime free trucks, some may think they might not be as reliable but I don't have to take mine in to a dealer for things like a timing belt or other scheduled maintenance like my co-workers with some of the "better" brands. None of my gm trucks have ever seen the inside of service garage. I know my truck isn't going to be a rock crawler, just a simple base camp for spending time outdoors. I need to take some pics and start a thread of my own soon.
the military parts and service manuals give some nice details
http://www.gmfleet.com/government/products/GMDefense.jsp?navSec=products
As far as why does border patrol or government use GM, its cost of ownership. When you run a fleet the $ spent is what matters, and thats including initial cost, repairs and maintenance. Some may think their preferred brand is more reliable but sometimes it takes extra or costly maintenance to make it reliable or they don't count their planned down time for maintenance, kind of like when microsoft says their os is the most reliable but count the monthly reboots for patches.
What do you guys think of the 1500's for an expedition vehicle. I had to move up to full size to have a kid capable cab and still have the 6' bed because all the small trucks have a shorter bed when you have the large enough cab. IMHO GM still have the most downtime free trucks, some may think they might not be as reliable but I don't have to take mine in to a dealer for things like a timing belt or other scheduled maintenance like my co-workers with some of the "better" brands. None of my gm trucks have ever seen the inside of service garage. I know my truck isn't going to be a rock crawler, just a simple base camp for spending time outdoors. I need to take some pics and start a thread of my own soon.
I don't know what the Border Patrol uses for their Chevy suspensions, but Superduty Headquarters has installed expensive Donahue Racing (Icon) on Ford Excursions. It's nice to see our tax dollars well spent.:smiley_drive:
Here is the link to the page I found it. http://www.sdhqoffroad.com/gallery/ford-ex3.asp?image=imgs/ford/ex0021.jpg&title=
Here is the link to the page I found it. http://www.sdhqoffroad.com/gallery/ford-ex3.asp?image=imgs/ford/ex0021.jpg&title=
Kermit said: