heck of a load

[Deere Freek]

I'm starting my new job and my first haul was an 06 1500 ccsb chevy and an 07 avalanche on a 2k wedge trailer. Went 500 miles from Hastings Mi to Des Moines Ia and the truck held together too. I did defuel eventually and egt's stayed from 900 to 1100 and coolant got up to 210 a couple times but not over on a couple of the long hills but it made the load just fine for a mostly stock 6.5. Good thing i got 4.10's

Got a GLE on order, should come in wednesday. I cant wait to get it installed and see how it works next time!!!! Talked to Heath, I'm at 90k on the injectors and was recomended to get new ones asap. He is currently out but hopefully i'll get them in soon.

I need some sort of suspension helper, would you recommend heavier springs or airbags? Also is there anything i can do about the coolant temps right off the bat?

Man i cant wait. This is better than Christmas

 

[Non Typical]

go with airbags. heavier springs will make for a harder ride without a load, while airbags will give you the ability to stiffen your ride with a load, but return to stock suspension without.

 

[Detroit Dan]

I got airbags cheaper than I could have got springs, and a heck of a lot more capacity and easier to install. Plus they're adjustable. Replacement springs are great until they adjust themselves down to where your old ones are now.

 

[midniteplowboyy]

If you can keep it at 210 you aint doing to bad.

If yours is an auto, you might remove the trans coolers from the front and install a big cooler with electric fans under the truck? Same goes for the engine oil cooler. If you dont use the A/C you could pull the condenser. How clean is the radiator? If you have 195ºstats its going to run 210.

Air bags would prolly be easiest. How much extra lift are you needing? I have an Add-a-Leaf and coil-over shocks on my 94, it helped quite a bit.

What ply are your tires. Do you still have your stock rims that you could put some highway tread 10ply 245/75's on? They'll roll alot easier under a load, wear longer, handle better and suck less fuel/hp than your AT tires. Plus they'd gear you back down just a touch.

Your going to love the chip.

 

[Deere Freek]

I know i need new tires lol. Mine are 10 ply but the tread sure isn't helping on mileage. When i talked to Heath they said that i should keep the 265's. In fact his tires on his truck are even taller than mine.

When i loaded the Silverado i had to put it on backwards and hang it over the trailer to get the Avalanche to fit which put allot of weight on the truck. Didn't look too healthy I'd guess it sinks 4-5 inches when loaded if not more.

And hell yeah i use the AC What's a good vendor for tranns cool fans?

 

[buddy]

Cooling your oil, engine and tranny will help quite a bit especially if you put the coolers away from water radiator. They dont necessarily need the electric fans., unless youre going to be hauling real slow or back and forth a lot like a plow with no air movement.

An immediate helper could be the DMaxx fan. The fan alone is not much cost at SSD, dont know if you need a new clutch, or if the clutch that comes with the fans are even different.

 

[DieselCash]

:nopics:

I would like to see what your truck looks like when it is working!

 

[Matt Bachand]

Awesome man!!! I can't wait to hear your difference with the new GLE. I love doing stuff like that to my rig, it makes the next couple days of work turn into 'fun'...

How loud is that straight pipe all loaded up?

Keep track of mileage too for us.

After GLE I would think next huge improvement step would be ATT.

Screw buying a D-Max if a nicely modded 6.5 will do the job. If you're traveling really far distances I'd keep a spare alternator with you, and try to find a cheap starter replacement to keep on board. And of course plenty of tools.

Should consider installing a fuel pressure guage in cab for monitoring.

Nothing would end up being more expensive than having to get that setup towed by a Class A big boy wrecker... I'd do everything possible to prevent. Spare belt onboard too. Ditch the V-PUmp if you havn't already.

Something to think about. Still a hell of a lot cheaper than a D-Max.

Drop to 180 T-stats, and go with a super-duty fan clutch to ensure that bad boy engages before 210. Days off will turn into maintenance days, get that radiator spotless inside and out, ...

Just realized your a 2500, watch the DOT stops if you're overweight.

 

[Deere Freek]

I do have a 2500 but when i went to go see how much i could tow with it they said they go by axles, not ratings. They also said it would be physically impossible for me to overload it with a 2 car hauler.

The exhaust is loud from the outside of the cab, there is a bit of a drone in the cab but you just get used to it.

Where would a guy get a good set of airbags at?

I'm getting a trans filter setup that has a spot for a tranny temp probe. Hoping to get one of those here soon. and then maybe a fuel pressure guage. and a ho lift pump. and then a att. lol it goes on and on.

As far as the dmax fan, the last of the 6.5's came with a 9 blade fan so i think i'm good there.

 

[davo727]

Re: the inline trans filter- I was told by a master rebuilder that it would cause the trans to fail. He said the cooler circuit is not designed for the restriction and that if I installed one to expect the trans to crater.

Not sure on the 4L80e but 4l60e have a 1/8 in pipe plug on the left side of the trans case that is perfect for a trans temp probe. Maybe the 4L80 has the same plug.

 

[1999gmc]

I got my airbags from summitracing.com. They work sweet. After I got them then my Dad got them for his Ford and the inlaws got them for their Dodge.

 

[qwomack]

Not sure on the 4L80e but 4l60e have a 1/8 in pipe plug on the left side of the trans case that is perfect for a trans temp probe. Maybe the 4L80 has the same plug.

The 4L80E has the same plug behind the shift linkage. My probe is located there and has provided consistent readings over the last 3 years.

 

[DieselCash]

I would get an after market deep transmission pan like mag-hytec. They come with a place for a probe in the side of the pan and hold more fluid, which will help keep the trans cooler.

Here is a link to mag-hytec;

http://www.mag-hytec.com/transmission.htm

There is many more brands out their than this one!

 

[Turbine Doc]

I need some sort of suspension helper, would you recommend heavier springs or airbags?

www.activesuspension.com is what is under mine with 5200# on rear loaded up with my g/n at 18k# she sits dead level, it's a progressive system you don't feel the spring until you start adding load, also have carried full load of moist grass sod even to the top of bed rails and all way across bed, still sitting deal level with that, IMO easiest and least expensive to put on plus no air up or down like bags, I've run bags, and prefer these over bags by far.

deep trans pan, is a plus, deep diff pan, PML pan/cover www.yourcovers.com and what I have on mine IMO just as nice as Mag-tech but less $$$, and derale trans cooler also a plus in heat reduction dept, keep your factory engine oil and trans coolers.

 

[buddy]

I have airbags, but that active suspension looks really cool. My airbags rotted and got holes because PO didnt use them at all for the 6 years they owned it. So I had to replace them, but not very expensive and easy install.

 

[JiFaire]

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Nor-Cal Truck (Nick).

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