Truck update

Chevrolet dealer just called. The fella is going on vacation and wanted to let me know he "put another $1000. off "on my truck and marked it with my name and gave me the name of another fella that could take care of me.
Sort of starting to feel gamey to me...But to my advantage...

This means I can get the truck for $43,332. before tax, title, license...

OUT THE DOOR $47,074.50

I hate to turn this down, so I'm emailing the GMC dealer to see if they will come on down... I guess I may reconsider if GMC will get close to this price. I can wait as long as required...

Leaning towards waiting...

Well now, a new development has arisen and I'm leaning towards waiting until at least the 2017 GM truck information is known. This new development is personal and has no relevance in the truck information. What does have to do with the trucks is that I'm annoyed GM has so thoroughly prevented new or any information from being leaked about the 2017's. Sure, we know there has been a slight front end redesign, as well as, what looks to be some sort of air intake in the hood area of the new 3500HD's. This leads me and others to believe GM/Isuzu has modified the Duramax and I believe from research that GM has strengthened the platforms. I cannot tolerate not knowing how much better the new trucks will be, therefore, I can't buy a 2016 at this juncture. For the record, it's still a wonderful feeling to have no debt. Heh!
I will be monitoring the situation and will post information as it becomes available.

 As soon as I get a minute, I will plasma cut light holes in rear plates to weld on ramps. Then I need to weld on receiver for draw bar winch plate, cut and move ramp spring catches, install work lights and take to a buddies shop building, put inside, remove all lights, jack trailer up off of tandem subframe and spray topcoat on bottom of bed plate, subframe and ramps and other areas to be finished... Completely! That is... Until I buy the 12k axles and wheel and tire assemblies...

2017 3500HD Duramax/Allison

Well now! Another curve-ball...Here I am trying to get the absolute best price on these trucks and my non-salesperson lady friend at GMC dealer informs me that GM is about to release the 2017's...Certainly this opens up more possibilities, not only increasing my page views for my blog by putting this info on blog, heh, but also that GM will offer greater incentives for 2016 trucks that will become much harder to sell due to new features and/or performance of the 2017's. Of course, my statements are theoretical, and should be viewed as such. I have gathered GM has modified the Duramax and/or the Allison in a manner to, at least on paper, be more competitive with the powerstroke you and come-apart... The reason I say on paper is because anybody can readily ascertain in real world operation the Duramax/Allison already outperforms both competitors in almost every head to head test. When Ford and Dodge put out numbers for torque and horsepower they cook the books. In actual street tests the powerstroke you and come-apart lose to the less powerful (ON PAPER) Duramax and Allison. Why do you suppose that is? Are they measuring from the crankshaft instead of the rear wheels? Whatever they have done and continue to do is about to come home on them hard... I think GM has gotten tired of reading all the smoke blowing crap from powerstroked-you and come-apart on you and decided to spank the little boys for misbehavior and send them to their rooms. It's a safe bet that when GM says the torque and horsepower figures are closer to the powerstroked you and come-apart, those boys are in serious trouble.
While I may be firing people up, I'm going to go ahead and point out another observation I've made. Having a conversation with my brother recently (A true hard Toyota fan) my brother suggested that since we KNOW Toyota owns Hino (diesel engine/big truck manufacturer) and has still chosen the 'familiar to Americans' come-apart for the Toyota diesels, can mean only one thing... Toyota will control every aspect of the come-apart manufacturing process and the engines will meet Toyota's specifications in every way. My belief is that Cummins will benefit tremendously from being told how to make the engines from Toyota and the come-aparts for other lines could become good engines in the near future.
Imagine for a moment Toyota decides to build a crew cab dually one ton... This post would be a whole lot different! In one clean sweep the Toyota would destroy the American truck capabilities and redefine the industry. We might finally have trucks worth owning from all manufacturers. Smoke on that for a little while!!!

As a parting note; If Americans could build a Lexus, wouldn't we have one?

GMC versus Chevrolet

Update... Well, I'm not mentioning the dealers for obvious reasons but I've managed to get two competing for my business. The GMC is definitely higher, does not have the 7" touch screen with Bluetooth. But does have a second more powerful alternator which would be good for numerous reasons including resale. The Chevrolet has the Michelin ATX 2 and the GMC has Michelin LTX which is more of a street tire, less aggressive, in my experience probably last longer. The Chevrolet without the extra high capacity alternator does have the upgraded stereo with Bluetooth, but it's only a $200. option, it's also snow plow prepped $385. which I will likely never use. The Chevrolet does not have the L.E.D. light strips above and below the headlights. The GMC looks better in my opinion. As of now the difference is more major than these little items.
Chevrolet $44,332.
GMC $46,000.
I've been buying new trucks since I was 27 and in every case I settled, I'm not sure I will settle this time. I plan to keep the truck for an extended period and my preference is the GMC.
They are going to have to change out stereo head unit to the 7 inch touch screen with Bluetooth and lower the price to be more competitive with the sister Chevrolet.

Get this; Another lady just called me from another dealership stating that she might be able to get an LT crew cab 4x4 dually with pickup bed close to the same price. This is not the same truck, but close. The regular dually's with pickup bed are rated slightly different (200lbs) in weight carrying capacity in bed, the frames are slightly different to accept the pickup bed as opposed to upfitted flatbeds, dumps, boxes etc. Having the pickup bed would be advantageous, I wouldn't be in a rush to build flatbed, I could use truck for intended purpose right now, the removed bed could become valuable in a few years...
Stickers
GMC $51,350
Chevrolet $50,114
Chevrolet LT with pickup bed 52,400.

So! Anyone with any interest can see how this truck buying process is going. Hard to believe there are actually people with so much extra money that they readily lay out $20k or more for the same truck with the Denali trim... I can see the sunroof having appeal, possibly express up and down for all windows, heated seats etc but $20k???

GMC 3500HD 4X4 Crewcab Dually Diesel and Allison...

Well people, I'm getting into looking for my truck pretty hard. I've got a dealer in north Georgia at $46,565. and another here in Tennessee at $46,572. However, the Chevrolet dealer has quoted $45,556. and the Chevrolet has a couple more options. These are cab and chassis models so I will probably be building a bed rather quickly if I do it. I'm getting covered up with outside work, busy, but I am seriously considering the truck. GM isn't offering the incentives,($1750.) Ha! GM can do better... I'm researching and hoping to find a little better deal... Tax, title and license puts me back over $50k. I'd like to stay under that if possible, plus, it has occurred to me that now may not be the best time due to new emissions regulations bogging these trucks down... Could be wise to wait on more reviews. I looked at a new medium duty M2 106 crew cab 4x4 Freightliner that costs more than a class 8 Volvo (new) so that made me stop thinking about a medium duty truck instantly.
Does anybody have any ideas about how to buy one of these trucks any cheaper?

Just rambling...Ordered winch today, gave bids and contemplated welding on receiver for steel mounting plate I need to make for winch. Re-thought about making ramps hydraulic... Like idea, don't like the weight...

Ramps

I decided to work on trailer ramps yesterday and today. I cut and welded (8) eight 1.25 inch square tubing support tubes for diamond plate load /travel surfaces on each ramp. Then welded diamond plate and ground smooth rough areas then primed. During initial calculations I decided to leave an 1/8 inch space to make ramps come flush with bed only after adding some type of cushion to prevent metal on metal contact from ramps to dove. It is almost time to decide what sort of cushion to obtain. I welded on side triangles, previously sheered with other pieces, After working it out in my head I couldn't see another sheet beyond the two required to cover load surfaces, therefore the insides of ramps are left open. Manufacturers use the side plate as ramp support but I have a complete self supporting frame. Of note: after adding the plate my assist springs are no longer sufficient and I must make adjustments. I've yet to determine the use of more springs (added weight) or cutting and re-positioning current spring catches... Both include numerous complications. I'm slightly annoyed my ramps are so heavy. I could have made them lighter and been just fine. As it stands I cannot imagine anything crushing or damaging them, it would probably take over a hundred thousand pounds and nothing like that will ever be getting on my trailer. At best I could put two 15k axles under it and it's still overbuilt for that, but never would the trailer be required to carry more than 30k. Ramps will soon be forgotten as a non issue...
I'm adding the rear plates after I cut stop, tail and turn mount holes to add additional lights to ramps. I don't think it's necessary, but I've decided higher mounted lights will be safer, and redundants are good in case of light failure... Also, it would be simple to add reverse lights to ramps as well but I have mixed feelings about them. I may or may not.