Recommended Spares for a later model truck?

[mojave joe]

So back in '80 or so, some fuel hose, alumia seal, jb weld, belts & hoses, a fuel pump and water pump would pretty much get you out of a fix (if of course, you didn't break a major component). So what would be recommended spares to carry in a 04 GMC Sierra 3500 Duramax?

 

[dddonkey]

Belt, fuel filter (with tools to change), head light bulb, and if running big tires maybe a new heel bearing with tools. There is not much you can change on the trail other than that stuff, maybe a u-joint, the front diff and t-case actuator incase those go out, sometimes the 4x4 button in the cab will go. You also need to look if you have an LB7 or LLY engine each have there own issues and are good to know what to look for. You have a pretty good rig, I have 166k on my '03 and drive it daily, and would drive it anywhere in the US today as it sits.

 

[Buliwyf]

starter
battery
extra relays if you can't just swap your pump relay with your AC relay
fuses
wire
rear turnsignal/brake bulbs
trailer and truck plugs (how many times have we destroyed our trailer plug offroading and had to hookup and drag a dark trailer home!)

 

[LR Max]

As long as you aren't lifted and you aren't running bigger tires, it'll last a very long time in stock trim.

If it have over 100k on it, I'd replace the fuel pump, belt tensioner, and change all the fluids. Those items are easier repaired in the garage/scheduled at a reputable shop as opposed to on the side of the road 300 miles from home...at night...in the snow...uphill both ways.

I'd carry and OBD2 scanner and spare headlight bulbs. The GMT800 platform trucks seem to blow out headlights every once in a while. That said, they've made them extremely easy to replace.

But no, seriously, extremely reliable vehicle.

 

[Garrett@Oscaro]

As long as you aren't lifted and you aren't running bigger tires, it'll last a very long time in stock trim.

If it have over 100k on it, I'd replace the fuel pump, belt tensioner, and change all the fluids. Those items are easier repaired in the garage/scheduled at a reputable shop as opposed to on the side of the road 300 miles from home...at night...in the snow...uphill both ways.

I'd carry and OBD2 scanner and spare headlight bulbs. The GMT800 platform trucks seem to blow out headlights every once in a while. That said, they've made them extremely easy to replace.

But no, seriously, extremely reliable vehicle.

This. When I had my '85 4Runner, I would carry belts, hoses, fluids, a driveshaft, a rear differential, etc. Then when I went to the FJ Cruiser, I found I didn't need the spares. In fact, the truck hardly ever broke down. For that truck, I needed a front shock, rear lower link, and and air filter.

For your Duramax, look at common repair problems. From my quick search, they are: Glowplugs, Crankshaft, Rear Driveshaft, & Tie Rod ends. If it were my truck, I'd grab a pair of tie rod ends, an air filter, and fuel filter, then call it good.

 

[mojave joe]

Thanks everyone, that shouldn't take up much room, excepting the rear drive shaft...I think I'll wait on that.

 

[1stDeuce]

If you want to get rough with it, having a spare tie rod along isn't a bad plan, but you have to get pretty rough with a stock truck to do them in. I carry a serp belt and a fuel filter. And that's about it. There is no fuel pump. You already have two batteries, and one is enough in all but the coldest weather. You're not going to change a fuel injector on the trail anyway, and if a glow plug burns out, it won't even slow you down. Some bulbs might be a good idea. The wheel bearings will howl for a long time before they render your truck undriveable, so unless you always listen to heavy metal loud, they're not worth carrying for trial repairs, just buy one in the next town.

It is amazing how reliable vehicles have become in the last few decades...
Chris

 

[bob91yj]

I'm a service writer at a GMC dealership, drive an '06 Dmax.

I carry a spare front wheel bearing, front axle shaft (dirt cheap aftermarket, factory is stupid expensive), spare tie rod and tie rod end. I also carry regular maintenance items, fuel/oil/air/external transmisson filters, serp belt, when going to Baja. Diesel pick-ups are not common down there, parts can be hard to come by. If you have a lifted truck, make sure your spare will work. Factory spare wheel (SRW) will NOT work with RCD outer C's on the front axle, back spacing is wrong.

Spare rear driveshaft is a stretch, not sure if that was a serious comment or not. Pretty sure you have a 2 piece driveshaft, the carrier bearing is the only common failure/wear item I see on the driveshaft, the rubber webbing deteriorates over time. Honestly, not sure that I've ever had to replace a u-joint on a Dmax drive shaft front or rear. I've been at a GMC store for 9 years, I see a lot of abused trucks, overloaded/lifted desert rat trucks hauling overloaded trailers to Glamis, I have a decent sized clientele with Dmax trucks used as desert racing chase trucks as well.

Junkyards can be an excellent source of trail fix parts, used them on more than one occasion.

 

[Garrett@Oscaro]

Spare rear driveshaft is a stretch, not sure if that was a serious comment or not.

I've seen multiple newer GM trucks with a blown rear driveshaft. No, the major parts like U-Joints don't wear out, but the shaft does rip in half. They are large diameter, thin-wall tube (and if I remember correctly, the newer ones are Aluminum). A small dent turns into a tear and with the torque of the Duramax, the shaft rips in 2.

 

[bob91yj]

I'm not denying that you can blow a driveshaft, anything is possible. I have to draw a line somewhere on what is practical/probable to carry as a spare.

I'm just glad I don't drive a Ford with a 6.0L, those guys have to take a whole 'nuther truck to cover their bases!:sombrero:

 

[bfdiesel]

truck specific: Spare fuel filter, belt and if you have an extra alternator carry it. Truck will not run for more than 2-3 hours on just the batteries. I had an 04 sold it with 210k on the clock never had a starter or relay go bad, had a steel driveshaft that never twisted in two. Did loose a u joint but had plenty of warning and replaced them all. The only fuel pump you have is the cp3 and it is not really a change on the trail kinda job.

 

[mojave joe]

Thanks Guys,
I've got a reasonable list here. I've just dealt with the transfer case pump rub. Hopefully, I would see any serious failures in the near future.