2016 K2500HD work truck

[1976gmc20]

Well, I got the steps put on this afternoon

[1976gmc20]

I finally got the topper today, but the lights aren't hooked up yet. They were "too busy" after making me wait over two months.

We got about 3" of rain in the past couple days and the county road is a bog. I guess I just don't get the "mudding" thing - it's too much work to get it even sort of cleaned up again. Next I need to get some sort of splash guards for the back of the fenders.

Some white paint came off with the mud under the fenders. Does it make sense that the primer is some sort of olive green color ?????

[Matt Man]

Any pictures of the truck with the topper?

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Matt Man

Any pictures of the truck with the topper?

Sorry - not yet. I should get the 4Runner in there too. And maybe some pictures of the topper interior build.

The Jeep went to the shop to try to figure out the lifter/rocker noise. It's sort of an extra vehicle now but since we have it then we might as well keep it and use it to bang around the property and the neighborhood.

[1976gmc20]

Wasn't the best time of day for pictures...

[Palf70Step]

Looks Good!

[1976gmc20]

In case it isn't obvious, the panel with the 2x4 cleat slides back and the mattress unfolds to make a double bed, with about 2' x 5' footwell remaining in front of the tailgate. The mattress was saved from an old hide-a-bed couch. I designed the system over a couple years of planning and adapted my idea to the 2016 bed. The front legs of the 2x4 slide rails sit just ahead of the front tie down eyes that stick out of the side of the bed near the front, so it can't slide towards the tailgate. The front half of the panel is screwed down to the slide rails so the whole thing stays in place. It all could be removed by pulling four 1" screws, but it's a bit of a hassle just getting those panels in place.

Ignore the stupid baling twine. That remains from a couple weeks ago when we hauled a new wood stove back from town.

And we bought a bunch of those heavy duty storage containers and planned the bed height so that they would fit

[davischevy]

That kick up in the back of the camper top will make it a lot easier to move around in there. Mine was a flat top and I couldn't change clothes in it. You are ready to go to Chicago, if any body is ever ready to go to Chicago.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by davischevy

That kick up in the back of the camper top will make it a lot easier to move around in there. Mine was a flat top and I couldn't change clothes in it. You are ready to go to Chicago, if any body is ever ready to go to Chicago.

We can sit up on the mattress at the foot of the bed when the bed is pulled out.

Not going to/through Chicago again If we go to Michigan to visit the kids/grandkids then we plan to go through the UP. It's really about the same distance from here.

[1976gmc20]

Did they change the bolt pattern when they went from 16" to 17" wheels ?

Does a 16" wheel fit over the brakes?

I've got a couple of "brand new" LT235/85r16 and the chart says they are within 0.4% of the same diameter as 265/70r17. Was thinking a junkyard 16" wheel and one of those would give me a second spare.

[bhc41051]

Needs mudflaps

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Greg58

I helped a friend fix his V-10, E-350 van when it blew one out. It took 3 of us all afternoon. Had to buy a Helicoil kit and it really sucked.
One of us was a School Dist, mechanic who had done it before.
He told my buddy to sell that thing before it happened again! He didn't listen and within 6 months it happened again. This time he paid to have it fixed and sold it immedeatly!
Best thing was he bought a 2004 GMC 2500 4x4 with 8.1 and Allison. He absolutely loves that truck, only bad thing is he is a leadfoot and only gets 9mpg.
Maybe your daughter will have better luck!
Greg

Not so great luck, I guess ...

She hit black ice and rolled it last month

[1976gmc20]

Oh, and the six speed automatic blew up on my pickup.

I've got it back now with a new GM transmission with 3yr warranty. It was almost $6K installed along with a couple other little things.

[57taskforce]

That sucks, did they tell you what failed in the old transmission?

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

That sucks, did they tell you what failed in the old transmission?

Planetary gear but they couldn't tell me why.

Apparently the random vibrations that I thought was a tire with a bad tread belt was actually the transmission. This new one as much as hiccups and I'm taking it right back to them!

[57taskforce]

Man that sucks. I know the Camaros are known to have planetary gear issues but that’s after they are pushing a lot more horsepower than stock. The ZL1’s that have the 6L90 with run to about 900-1000 wheel hp before the tranny becomes the weakest link. The 6L80 is good to about 650-700. Sorry that happened to you.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Man that sucks. I know the Camaros are known to have planetary gear issues but that’s after they are pushing a lot more horsepower than stock. The ZL1’s that have the 6L90 with run to about 900-1000 wheel hp before the tranny becomes the weakest link. The 6L80 is good to about 650-700. Sorry that happened to you.

Thanks

Yeah, me too but the bright side is I'm starting out again with a new factory transmission. I'm not planning on abusing it so maybe I'm set for a good long time.

Now if we can just afford the gas to go somewhere, or they will even let us travel state to state, no papers

I really do need to go down to Monte Vista this year and take care of something. Was planning on making a little tour of it, see our friends north of Gunnison, get a hamburger at Rifle, and who knows what else?

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

Thanks

something. Was planning on making a little tour of it, see our friends north of Gunnison, get a hamburger at Rifle, and who knows what else?

WE had a great meal at Slogar Restaurant in Crested Butte a couple of years ago.

Tell me more about "Get a hamburger at Rifle." We parked our RV's and spent the night in the Rifle Wal Mart parking lot the last time on the way back from Moab. We just had Pizza Hut deliver, but a hamburger is always good.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by davischevy

WE had a great meal at Slogar Restaurant in Crested Butte a couple of years ago.

Tell me more about "Get a hamburger at Rifle." We parked our RV's and spent the night in the Rifle Wal Mart parking lot the last time on the way back from Moab. We just had Pizza Hut deliver, but a hamburger is always good.

"Shooters Grill" where the waitresses open carry and the owner is now the 3rd District Representative in DC

CB & Mt CB is not one of my favorite places. Just seems kind of "uppity" I guess. I sold a few loads of wood up there and it was always a pain. Only retail customer that ever stiffed me was in Mt CB. I might have to drive through there if we go from Taylor Park up to Rifle over Kebler/McClure passes, but I guess I could drive a few miles farther and go up Ohio Creek instead. That's always pretty.

[1976gmc20]

Nothing important to say, but I just made a quick trip into town and back this morning and I have to say that I really like my pickup, despite having had to replace the transmission.