Red_5

I don't have an answer for you but am curious as well. I'm looking to replace my '15 Sierra 1500 6.2 max tow with a 3.0 diesel max tow. I like the gearing and added payload but am bummed that you no longer can get a 2 speed transfer case with the max tow. It only comes with off-road variants. I wish they'd come out with an overlanding combo which would be max tow and off-road parts combined hopefully including a selectable rear locker.

^^ If you're getting new springs up front, why not go with the 6112s? I have those up front and 5100s in the back along with a slightly taller block.

Thank you!

Man, I have searched but haven't been able to find the answer. I found a GM part skid plate 22944882 but not sure if it's plastic or metal and I'm not sure how sturdy it is. I found an aftermarket skit plate that works with big lifts but my truck is only leveled with 6112s. I also found a skid plate that works on Silverados but not Sierras. I have a '15 SLT 4wd Max tow with 6.2 if that helps find a skid plate that will fit. Thanks!

I don't remember if I ever updated on my situation. About 2.5 years ago I installed 6112s on top setting and 5160s (5100s with remote reservoirs) with taller rear blocks on my '15 Sierra 4x4 Max tow. I am/was perfectly happy with the improvement in ride quality. My 5160s started leaking just after 2 years of ownership but less than 2 years of being installed. They might have had 25k miles on them. Bilstein and the place I bought them from told me tough luck which was disappointing considering how close to the warranty time period that they failed. I replaced them with 5100s which have a lifetime warranty and I don't think I can tell a difference in ride quality.

What a disappointment. I ended up buying a pair of 5100s to replace these, hopefully they last longer.

I just got off the phone with Bilstein and found out the 5160s have a 2 year warranty. Unfortunately, I'm just over that from the time of purchase but they haven't been installed for 2 years. I'm hoping to hear from the dealer to see if they can help before pulling the trigger on a pair of 5100s that have a lifetime warranty.

I just noticed oil leaking from one of my 5160s. Less than 2 years old and only about 25k miles on them. Unfortunately, I think they only have a 90 day warranty.

Since they’ve only been available for our trucks for about 2 years that’s a pretty short time for failure. I think the 6112s have some sort of lifetime warranty but the 5160s have a 90 day warranty. I would reach out to Bilstein and see what they have to say. I’m coming up on 2 years of my 6112s/5160s and I’m still happy so it sounds to me like you have a failure.

I had my 6112s on the truck for over 1.5 years now and am still very pleased with them. I have E load rated KO2s on it and they’re currently at 65 psi, truck is still comfortable. I have a Max Tow so I can’t compare to the Ranchos or cheaper Bilsteins but the 6112s have been great so far.

I would price out a 1/2 ton with the tow package vs the 2500 with the equipment you want and buy whichever is cheaper. A properly equipped 1/2 ton will tow that trailer without a problem too. If you need to load up the bed too while towing then obviously get the 2500. I would rather drive around a 1/2 ton but I need the payload of an HD.

Leveling the truck reduces fuel mileage along with bigger, wider, heavier wheels and tires. Tires have a surprising amount of aero drag. As Earl mentioned, have you adjusted for the gearing of the larger tire circumference?

Does the 6.6 gas engine require premium fuel like the 6.2? On our trips towing last summer through CA, OR, NV, UT and ID the premium fuel required for my 6.2 was the most expensive at every stop, I looked. From memory diesel was around the price of regular unleaded which was often $.50 a gallon less than the premium I was buying. Also, the direct injection gas engine needs frequent intake valve cleaning. You can do it yourself for less than $15 or pay over $100 at the dealership. I do it myself now before each oil change. An oil catch can might help too. I also noticed that no one mentioned resale value. You will definitely make up a nice chunk of the $10k diesel premium when selling/trading in down the road. Resale value and fuel economy together can certainly reduce the cost gap. Unfortunately, the emissions crap have made diesels less reliable and expensive to repair. The Ford 7.3 gas seems like it might be a good way to go since it's port injected and runs on regular unleaded. I'm shopping for an HD currently. I've always wanted a diesel but I'm still not sure.

What a great topic, pretty much what I was looking for. I'm looking at upgrading my '15 Sierra 1500 Max Tow to either a 3500 AT4 or maybe a , gasp, Ford F350 Tremor. I really like what comes with the Tremor package but I also tow a tongue heavy 8k Outdoors RV travel trailer. Honestly, I'll be towing on road more than I'll be driving off-road but I do go off-road and am hoping to go off-road more often with a more capable truck. My current truck has the 6.2 and actually tows really well with a 12k Equalizer. I haven't had the trailer suck with this setup but I have in the past towing an enclosed car hauler with an SUV without any sort of anti-sway device. I'm currently struggling with payload of my truck with my current trailer. If I can upgrade, I'm going straight to SRW 3500 so I can be somewhat future proofed. I know off-roadability and towing prowess are at odds with one another. One wanting soft suspension and soft tires the other stiff suspension and stiff tires. Maybe the AT4 is the right mix? Those of you with the AT4, were you GMC drivers already? Would you even consider the Tremor?

I pulled the assemblies off and took them to a shop and had them swap the the tophats. After watching the guy do it I felt it was money well spent. I’ve swapped springs on a small car years ago so I’ve had that life experience.

I have 6112s set on their highest setting up front and 5160s in the rear and it the truck rides better than stock - I have a Max tow and standard bed so not sure how that compares with your truck. I also have E load range K02s usually at 65psi and the ride is still fine.

I did keep the stock control arms. I know there's some debate about it but I think it will be fine. Now that I'm towing a tongue heavy travel trailer again, I wouldn't mind a little more rear height.

I agree, it seems crazy to me that that rack would cause this problem. I was going to put a rooftop tent over the bed of my truck but maybe not after seeing this. Hopefully I’m just not understanding the the problem.

Sorry you guys are having problems. I’ve had my 6112s/5160s on for nearly a year and am still happy. I rarely deflate my tires when not towing because I’m fine with the ride. Hope you can figure out the problem.

I have those shocks, 6112s on the highest setting, and I’m on stock control arms on my ‘15 Sierra NHT. They’ve been on for almost a year now.

Thanks for the info, I’ll look into the tool and GM tech sites. The job has already been done by the dealership, it was the only part of what they did that I didn’t pay for. My front differential fluid was cooked and they said it was a maintenance issue - I have 54k miles so it’s still under powertrain warranty. They said oil should have been changed at 40k but they never mentioned it at previous visits. My Powertrain warranty by time is almost up and I won’t go back.

My 6112s seemed to get better with age. They seemed to need to break in some. I went from stock NHT suspension with 42k miles to the 6112s and 5160s and didn’t notice much initially but after a few hundred miles I noticed the improvement.

My '15 Sierra with 54k miles is at the dealership for service and for the brake issue. They said my brake pump failed and it along with the belt are being replaced under extended warranty for those parts due to the recall.

I just did the Seafoam intake cleaner and when pulling the plastic box between the MAF and throttle body, I found what seemed more like engine oil in the bellows just after the MAF. It looks like this box has PCV hoses on each end too so it's entirely possible that at least some of the oil I found could be some engine oil. It didn't have the solvent smell that I remember smelling in the intake airbox but who knows. The Seafoam product comes with a U shaped straw that you hook on the throttle body so it has a more direct path to the intake valves.

Anyone know how you locate the TSB for this problem? I've seen in other threads there's a TSB but not sure how you locate it to share with the dealership. I'm hoping to take my truck in soon. Thanks.