New Chevy 09 3500 4x4

[08Silverado]

I agree, had I known 18" rubber selection was so horrible I would've made my purchase decision more carefully. I only put approximately 15K + miles on my truck per year so price isn't the utmost of my frustration. I just wish the tires I'm looking for were easier to find and weren't special order.

 

[Outback]

I can tell you now without any reservation that Goodyear has a hit with these tires. I like them better than the new BFGoodrich Krawlers. The Krawlers are nice but road manners are not anywhere near the new Goodyear MTRs with Kevlar. Traction is also better in all medias I have been in so far. I dont know about serious rock crawling. No perceptable tread wear yet with about 1500 miles. Thats not allot for now but at least thats better than some tires I have had. I will continue to post updates on the tires wear characteristics. I will be hitting the road Monday and I will be out in the field for 3 to 4 weeks.

 

[Bigfeet]

So what's been new with the truck? How is she doing?


Bigfeet

 

[Outback]

I have had a few other issues. My trailer brake system has some type of electrical problem. Sometimes it works sometimes not. It is in the truck system itself since I still get the error off and on even when the trailer is disconnected. The other issue is the drivers window sometimes works sometimes it doesnt. Again I suspect an electrical issue. At least my brakes and steering havent had anymore issues! I currently have about 20k on the truck. I have been assigned a new position until A replacement person can be found. Im not driving nearly as much. The main problem is this truck is not suited to the new position. I may change to one of our older vehicles better suited for the job. I cant say I would be sad to see this truck go! Ive had her in the shop now 5 times. Of course the window works fine when in the shop and the trailer brake system isnt flashing "Trailer brake system needs work" or whatever it says. No codes either are found! The tires are performing excellently! They are excellent in all medias I have had them in. They shredd mud like a shredding machine! I havent had them in soft sand yet though so that is my next test I want to see them in. But I cant choose where we go so that may have to wait awhile. The front tires are wearing excellently. The rear tires are not. This is do to a constant heavy trailer with hard acceleration. Im not one to wait until you get off the "ON" ramp before you start to accelerate. I always flog her pretty hard. BUT then again they are not your ideal long lasting highway tires. BUT they sure help me pull this 10K trailer around off road!:Wow1: I have slept in the back of the truck in the Caravan shell and I am very happy with her. She is sealed up from all the dust and I just turn my fan on to create a positive air pressure inside the shell. I did find a few holes in the bed that needed sealing up but thats a chevy thing. So thumbs up for the Caravan camper!

 

[Outback]

Since ive been camping in the boonies without my little Military trailer I built up (Im towing our removal trailer) Ive been using a little water heater shower unit I bought for $99 at Wal Mart. It uses a small propagne bottle to heat a set of copper coils that the water passes through via a small battery operated pump. Ive taken quite a few showers now with 2.5 gallons of water per shower and the batteries are still working great. It will never replace a home or hotel shower but you still get as clean! I will post some pictures of the unit later. BUT for $99 bucks you cant beat it! Ive seen a simular unit here somewhere on the forum for $600 bucks. Not sure what the advantages are? The only thing I added to my unit was a 5 gallon bucket. Everything fits inside the bucket plus my shampoo and soap, 1 propagne bottle and a brush. I just seal the lid after everything dries out and it stores pretty nicely. I will be looking for a square bucket to see if I can get everything in it. I believe the square bucket would save some more space when storing away.

 

[92 red cummins]

did you install your piaa lights yet?(pics please):smiley_drive:

 

[78Bronco]

Bumper

Has the bumper worked out?

It looks awkward and does nothing for approach angle on your truck.

 

[redthies]

I feel your pain on the Chevy clearance issue. I used to build roads on Vancouver Island in BC. Most of the terrain is very rocky. As in reefs of rock, and a LOT of blasting required. The blasting company we work with will only buy Chevs. I would spend all day in a Komatsu 308 excavator cleaning off the rock for the drills, and then at the end of the day, I would have to put half of it back so the stoopit chebys could get out! I drove a Landcruiser wagon and the SMART driller who refused to drive a chev and bought his own F350 would drive out of the bush no problem. Then comes the radio call "Help! our chevs can't get out! Come back and build us ramps so we don't bottom-out" What a pain in the butt!

 

[brut4s]

any updates on the tires? How are they working for you?

 

[Outback]

The tires are off road demons. They work EXCELLENT on loose gravelly road and accell in mud! On road traction in all but winter conditions to date are great. Havent had winter condition yet. The wear on the back drive tires was pretty severe. I have been towing a 10K trailer most of the time with tires at 75 PSI except when on dirt buckwashed boarded roads. I drop them to 40 psi which really helps with the bouncing and jarring! With about 22K on the tires the backs are now bald in the center. about 3/4 across the tread. The fronts are in pretty good shape and should easily last another 25 to 30K. If this was a jeep and no towing they would last pretty good for an MT tire. Excellent offroad and on. I will be installing a new set on the back in the next few days before being re-deployed in the field.

 

[Outback]

I havent installed the PIA lights yet or the brushguard. Will after next time off opening occurs. As stated earlier I am not a fan of this off road bumper but its ok for my type of work. I like an exposed winch. I like approach angles ect. This bumper takes away from both. If for some reason you had a very lifted Chevy then it would be ok at best.

 

[Outback]

The truck has been acting ok lately but our other trucks in the fleet have been acting up. Safe mode + 15 mph for 120 plus miles ect. It seems to happen when yopu are out in the boonies! BUT for me the last 5K miles have been ok with the occassional trailer brake system electronic failer. This is on the Chevy side of the trailer and NOT the trailer itself. So as long as my brakes and steering work I monitor it and bring it in occassionally to a Chevy dealer but "NO CODES" as of yet. POS.

 

[Outback]

Of all the problems with this truck my biggest complaint with it is its lack of ground clearance. No matter how great your tires are when your in the mud and that frame starts to hit your done!

 

[87FoRunner]

Chevy is notorious for low hanging frames. That's why I hate body lifts on them, all that tire and still no clearance.