Curt manufacturing Hitch Rails, Line-X, install permanent...

Loads of fun installing goose hitch rails. Do yourself a favor and remove spare from the start...Forget the 'I'm smarter than that approach' because although you/I can get it done, I didn't figure out anyway to torque the nuts without removing the spare...Unfortunately, Curt's spacers DO NOT completely make up space between ridges formed in bed, I added 5/8 inch washers under spacers. (same washers used for installing the frame brackets, bought at TSC) Also, get eight to begin with, you need to use spacers and 4 more washers UNDER the bed. It's a fun install, no kidding...A full truck lift so you can stand would be a tremendous help...I did mine on a creeper and directly on the shop floor...
Another note; I had a vibration at 70 mph, I felt like it was the right rear tire, since I removed the spare, (steel rims have matching spare...) I decided to go ahead and exchange right rear tire with spare, problem solved, I'll take that tire and wheel and have balanced again, if it happens to be out of round I'll go see the dealer...(Goodyear sucks, imho...) I'll put Michelins on when I feel like spending the money, probably the ATX 2... Attending to my lady, will get under goose tomorrow...
Here's the images...

Pulling Truck

Okay folks... The new Duramax is rated at 445 HP and 915 Ft LBS... I believe this is correct... I do not know when it will hit the ground for purchase. In any case, I expect I will give them a year to work out any bugs, mine isn't for show, it's for go... With that in mind, I tried to get a crew one ton dually with Duramax and was basically told to forget it when I mentioned the price of several months ago. $47k plus is where we start today... I located a 2016 3500HD crew, single rear wheel, short bed, gas, stickering for 44,340. with touch screen, bluetooth, 4x4, and towing mirrors with turn signals and messed around at $36k and they laid right down...Could be contributed to their knowledge of me leaving and buying a Tundra half ton to tow and haul with. Toyota called during negotiation... Who can know? That was my next stop. Suffice it to say... I'm not missing the Toyota. This truck is a beast. I hadn't realized that GM had fully boxed the entire frame, not just the front, I'm happy with the feel of this truck. I have to order the goose frame rails because GM signed on with Curt manufacturing and has already drilled and welded nuts in the frame for Curts brackets...On the way...I'll drill holes in bed and take to Line-X then install rails and get under goose...Glad nobody bought it yet... I may just keep it...I'm very fond of it though it can't carry forklifts...I may just build a shorty tilt bumper pull for forklifts and be happy... Must admit the idea of a hydraulic dove is pleasing...

Plans changed

Well, looks like I need a trailer with a hydraulic dovetail because forklifts will not load onto this trailer with dove angle, forklifts are too low to ground... So! Anybody interested in purchasing my trailer? I need to build another one. I will entertain $8500. as she sits or we can negotiate modifications... I'd like to move on this as quickly as possible... 615-971-2516  JD

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???