RE: Is my 08 Sierra set up to charge my trailer battery
Actually, on my 08 Chevy, I had to connect a wire that was wrapped up behind the fuse box under the hood. There are 2 posts on the front of the fuse box (again, under the hood) one is small and one is a little larger (don't remember placement) but this wire gets connected to the smaller of the 2. YOu will have to get (I think it was a 6mm) a nut from the local hardware store to use. I think this information was included in the manual. I also posted this information back in the late February time frame if you want to try and search for it, there was a link in that post that showed everything...
After all kinds of advice and much confusion on this subject I took my GMC 3500 SLT SRW into the dealer. They did exactly as Scot indicated in his post and now the trailer batteries get charged. However, unlike Scot, I read the manual from cover to cover and it did not mention the wire - only a fuse. Must have different manuals out. The thing I find frustrating is that when you buy a heavy duty truck with a tow package, why doesn't the manufacterer or dealer make sure the darn wire is hooked up prior to selling the truck to the customer?
Phil from Boise
RE: Chevy 8.1 engine?
I love my 8.1L it pulls great and is not a high RPM engine highest torque is at 3200. I would have loved to have a duramax but I could not justify the added cost. Sure the diesels last longer but the rest of the truck don't. Right now the resale value on any diesel is terrible no used car lots want them because they can't sell them. Things will change soon when fuel prices come back down.
Boy is this the truth! I had my pristine GMC 8.1 2500HD SLT 4x4 Extended Cab for sale for three months before it sold. Purchased it new about 2 years ago for $32,000 and added $5000 in upgrades. It only had 17,500 miles on it, but I kept dropping the price to get it sold. Finally settled for $23,000, which was about what the dealer offered me for trade-in at the time I purchased my diesel. The first question asked by potential buyers was "What is the gas mileage?"
Loved that truck but I also like the way the diesel pulls.
RE: First trip with Diesel Pickup
Congrats on the new TV. I am starting my 4th season with my old Dodge and despite the fuel prices it still puts a big grin on my face to load up and work it. Actually, $14 is a pretty good savings for a 3 hour round trip. That is nearly $5 an hour savings while towing!!! Did you go down on the Snake? If I see a guy running around Boise with a big :B on his face, I'll know it's you!!
We went to Three Island State Park in Glenns Ferry. Everyplace else we wanted to camp was snowed under!
Phil
RE: 6 year old Truck Batteries
There are three companies in the U.S. that make almost all auto/truck batteries: Exide, Johnson Controls, and East Penn. Here’s an interesting Web site for info on who makes what: http://www.batteryfaq.org/
When buying batteries for your vehicle look for three things.
First, the BCI group size. Many Fords take Group Size 65. GM’s may take a Group Size 78.
Second, the cold cranking amps. Don’t get anything less than what’s required by your engine, and don’t buy a battery with more than 100 CCAs over what you need (it’s a waste).
Third, the warranty. Buy the battery with the longest free replacement and pro-rated warranty you can.
If your vehicle uses two starting batteries, as do many diesel trucks, you should replace both batteries at the same time. If you don’t, the older batter will be weaker than the new battery and drag it down.
I agree with Dilbert 3703. Seven years is a rather good lifespan for batteries. As noted, some people do better. My past history is that my batteries fail at the most inconvenient time, when I am out in the boondocks, or out of town. If it were me, I would replace both of them. I would do this a couple weeks prior to an out of town trip just in case one or both were defective.
Phil
First trip with Diesel Pickup
A couple weeks ago we had a chance to try out the new truck pulling our Nash27T, which weighs about 8500 lbs. We only had a few days to camp so we went to a State Park about 1 1/2 hours away.
We previously made the trip pulling with our 2006 GMC 2500HD EC SB 8.1/Allison. It did fine pulling, but downshifted quite frequently on hills.
We have the '06 up for sale, and I was having second doubts about selling it with diesel fuel going up so high. However, this trip with our new 08 GMC 3500 SLT with the DMAX/Allison blew me away! Only downshifted twice on two significant hills. Mileage traveling to the campground at a steady 60 mph was 13.5 mpg. The gasser would have given us 8.5 mpg. On the way back we were basically going up hill most of the time. This time, I increased the speed to 65 and still got 12.5 mpg, where the gasser would have gotten us 8. Factoring gas and diesel prices, I figure I only saved about $14 in fuel costs over the gasser, but man oh man was the pulling nicer! In addition, the truck actually rode better than the 2500HD, and the interior on the new trucks is so much nicer. Thanks for all the advice from this forum on the info about gas vs. diesel. My bank account may be in pityfull shape, and my face hurts from the perpetual grin I have on my face while pulling the trailer, and it hurts to look at the diesel price boards at gas stations, but I am very glad I made the switch.
Phil from Boise
RE: Campgrounds in Northern California
The fellow asked for full hookups, so suggestions for CA state parks and Lassen NP won't work! Maybe if the OP provided more information on *where* in northern CA he wants to be and what kinds of activities are wanted, he'd get more relevant responses? :@
JT and others: I don't know what kind of activities the girls like! My "girls" are married now and I could not afford to RV or vacation when they were young. I'm thinking hiking,(not too strenous) biking, beach, swimming pool, exploring, etc. Laura's brother lives in Glendora, California which is in the LA area. He probably would not mind driving six to eight hours to meet us.
I am immunsuppressed, so I have to stay out of the endemic areas for valley fever. This includes most of Southern and Central California - mostly the desert region. Anywhere it gets cold in the winter and where there are pine trees seems to be ok.
I have a lot to work with already. You folks are great! Thanks for all the suggestions!
Phil from Boise
Campgrounds in Northern California
Wife and I are meeting up with her brother and his family for a camping trip hopefully in Northern California. They have two girls, one pre-teen and one a new teenager.
Can anyone suggest a nice campground in Northern Coastal or Northern Central California? It would be nice if the girls could enjoy some activities appropriate for their age. Looking for full hook-ups, and need a larger spur length to fit my GMC extented cab 3500 SRW and Nash27T 30' tow trailer with slide. We will be camping in July or August. Any suggestions?
Phil
What kind of fuel cans?
I plan to carry a couple extra diesel fuel cans with me so I can have 10 gallons or so in case I need it. I have seen the yellow plastic 5- 6 gallon cans and also remember when I was much younger that many folks carried gas or diesel in a metal container. What is recommended for those who carry extra fuel - plastic or metal? and why do you recomment that type of can?
Phil from Boise
RE: breathing problems
I hope some of you can give me some advice about what I have or what to do. I've recently relocated back to Kansas City, MO from the Gulf Coast of Florida. When I lived in KC before (moving to FL) I had a lot of respiratory issues...sinus, allergies. In the winter, when I would go outside it seemed like my sinuses would start draining and it felt like my lungs would fill with fluid so fast that I could not blow my nose or cough fast enough to clear either. And I'd cough so hard it felt like I was choking. In the summer...during the more humid months...it seemed like there was never enough "air in the air". And the same thing would happen. It would last a little while and then I'd be fine the rest of the day. I took Claritin daily, Flonase...and sometimes Benydryl...and carried Visine too because I'd get itchy eyes and little blisters on the rims. When we moved to Florida...the Clearwater area...I became perfectly healthy. All of my allergy medications just expired. Didn't need them. No itchy eyes, no sinus pain...no choking breathing problems. BUT...everytime I'd come back to KC to visit family...I'd have some allergies. And as soon as I got off the plane in Tampa they'd be gone in less than an hour!!!
Well...due to family issues (elderly parents) we've moved back to Kansas City. The winter has been rather long, cold and miserable. And my breathing problems have come back...now they are much worse. Today every time I went outside I started to gag and choke and had to come back in to clear my head and lungs. This doesn't happen everyday...but it has happened often enough that I never know what's going to happen and when. Now I'm back on the Claritin and the Flonase and it doesn't really help.
Has anyone else experienced this? What do you do about it? For that matter....what the heck IS it?? I'm about ready to move back further south!!
Thanks for listening.
covet's the sun
I don't mean to sound insensitive to your commendable concerns about your parents, but it appears to me that you should move to someplace where you can breathe better. If you offered to have them move with you and they refuse, then they have made a decision that is right for them - and you should do the same for your health's sake.
I am on zertec which works fairly well, and live in Idaho, where the air is somewhat clean except for the winters where we sometimes have inversions and the summers where we sometimes have forest and range fires. That's one reason we have an RV - so we can get out of town if we need to.
About seven years ago we had to move to the Chicago area from Idaho for five months prior, and three months after my lung transplant. My Pulmonologist, who was the Head of the Transplant Dept at Loyola University Medical Center indicated that the Chicago area and parts of the midwest were a "cesspool of allergens, funguses, and bacterias" and that anyone suffering from stuffy noses or trouble breathing should move to where they could breathe better. Long term exposure to things that prevent us from breathing well can later lead to serious illnesses and health consequences.
Take care of yourself or you will not be of any good to others.
Phil
RE: What's the secret with CPAP's?
I read all the posts to date. Wonderful advice from lots of helpful people. Whatever you do, don't give up! After many years of using a Cpap, I now use a BiPap - much easier to get used to and mimics the natural inhalation and exhalation somewhat. Ask you Doctor about it. I know your frustration. My wife says I still snore and still quit breathing on some occasions although I have been to the Doctor and CPAP/BiPap vendor many times for adjustment to higher pressures and different masks. Try various masks until you find one that is acceptable, or one that works fairly well. Studies have shown that lack of good sleep can contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Although for many people a sleep maching won't completely provide a good night's sleep, it is better than nothing. One more thing that people have commented on - make sure you are inhaling heated moisture, as it helps to keep the throat and nasel passeges from drying out.
Still hate the whole darn sleep apnea/CPAP/BIPap thing, but I wear it, even while camping. (I have a twelve volt CPAP machine I use when dry camping.)
Phil
RE: Diesel engines.....
Okay....a neighbor of mine, is in the market for his first ever diesel pick-up.
We were talking about the top three....Ford, Chev., and Dodge. He's buying a diesel pick-up for the engine, not the cab, chassis or bells / whistles.
I told him that I had heard more than once, that the Cummins in the Dodge, is a "medium-duty" rated engine, and that the Ford and Chevy were "light-duty" rated engines. He said that he had heard the same thing.
He wants to get some feedback on what we've heard. He doesn't have a computer, nor is he one that uses them.
Any truth at all to the medium-duty vs. light-duty engines?
It is my understanding that GM puts the Duramax/Allison combo in the medium duty GM trucks. I bought an '08 GMC3500 SLT 4x4 SRW with the DMAX/Ally, but really considered the Dodge for the Cummings motor. I like all the amenities of the GM and the Allison tranny, but if I were to buy for just the motor, then the Dodge with the Cummings would be my pick. Just my opinion from a GM guy.
Phil
RE: When will the diesel Price insanity Stop?
Just when I purchased my first Diesel, it started to rise and now I've seen it over $4 here. And after $117 to fill up the other day, I'm parking it. I had said that the better mileage of the PSD made it a better driver than my Expedition but at a $1+ difference in gas vs diesel, I had to bite the bullet and get a car. I expect to save $175-$200 per month, which goes towards the car payment. At some point, I expect that I will be happy to drive a gas burner, just not right now :(
It's all yours and five'ers fault for these high prices !! :W:W
I know what you mean about the car...driving a '96 Buick Regal to and from work..would much rather be driving the truck !!
It's my fault also. Ordered the GMC 3500 Duramax in November. A few weeks later it began going up!
Phil from Boise ($4.099/gal diesel)
RE: What would you have done?
I like "PrivatePilot's" advice. Get his tag numbers and report him.
Last fall heading out of town with our tow rig to camp, I was in the left lane pulling our trailer because I had to make a left turn at the next light. A white full-sized van came up on my right and cut in front of me to make a left turn across the median. This guy cut in front of me so hard he was almost up on two wheels. I hardly ever curse - unfortunately my wife heard some very bad words come out of my mouth. I could not help it. What he did was so incredibly stupid and rude that I just want to follow him into the shopping center and give him a piece of my mind - or worse. However, after my not so nice words, I took a deep breath, acknowledged that he was a rude driver, and decided he was not going to ruin my day.
I wish I would have gotten his license number and reported him. I agree with lots of posters on this topic - he could have a gun or one of us could have gotten hurt. Best to just move on.
Phil
RE: Diesel Brand Suggestions...
I get 17-18 mpg in the city, 22-23 mpg on the highway, and 12-13 mpg towing a 39' 13,000 lbs fifth wheel with a Chevy Silverado 3500 Dually with a Duramax/Allison. The Duramax/Allison combination is the best combination on the market - period.
22-23 highway and 12-13 towing?? Wow you must driving 45mph. I have a gm 3500 4x4 dually cc/ duramax allison and the most I have ever seen empty is 14 unloaded .. maybe down a big hill coasting 22-23. I get about 9-10 towing 7000lbs.. thats driving the speed limits and not getting my foot into it. I WONT buy another gm pickup at least no more duramax for me.. Lots of problems and most of the dealers and gm "customer service" just dont care. My next deisel would be a dodge cummins..
Ditto what djdave said! 08 GMC3500 SRW driven VERY conservatively - 10 - 12 mpg in town. Have my 06 2500hd 8.1/Allsion on the market for sale - maybe I will keep it!
Philaura
RE: Transfer Flow auxilary tank.
Did anyone get a larger OEM tank so you still have your truck bed free?
Yep, I bought a 52 gallon from Titan Tanks in Idaho and installed it myself on our 08 f250 CC SWB.
Had a transfer flow 45 gallon installed on my 06 2500hd 8.1/Allison.
RE: Long Lasting Vehicles
I envy you guys. I am an idiot - I trade my vehicles too often and know I take a hit financially. I have owned 40 vehicles in 40 years, although in the early days all I could afford to drive were junkers. Hopefully we can keep our '05 Buick LaCrosse and '08 GMC3500 DMAX/Ally for awhile!
Phil
