Donstar

One of the reasons this pandemic has provided me additional free time is my shopping trips are much more focused and less frequent. Today we found some Christmas goodies to send our Texas grandchildren and I was left with substantial quality time on my motorcycle. Since early spring, the mileage on my bike has surpassed the total of my last three riding seasons combined!

I fear getting off topic but you give an interesting response to Grump's comment. You do wear a seatbelt to protect yourself as well as your friends and family. (I will add consideration to first responders to my list of reasons for wearing a seatbelt.) I was driving when seatbelts became mandatory and the resistance amongst my buddies had a lot of parallels to the arguments against masks. There were passionate pleas about freedom of choice and arguments galore about being tied up in an accident preventing escape to being cut in half at the waist on impact The graphic scenes of crashes with and without seatbelts makes seatbelt requirements easy to accept. Seeing a stranger on a ventilator (or worse) from Covid19 is a harder leap to accept the need for ppe's. I have not spent any waking hours on a ventilator but have spent enough hours at the bedside of others to know its worth the effort to do what I can to keep healthy for myself, my wife, my children, grandkids and friends. I understand your comment but your personal safety protects many.

My comments are a personal reflection on how I'm coping with Covid19, particularly with the extra time that comes with the restrictions. I believe that if I'm not part of the solution, I'm part of the problem which is why I like to share my more positive experiences. The pandemic is great fodder for politics but my behaviors are a result of me doing my part for my personal safety and my respect for others. I appreciate reading how others are adjusting their behaviors in an effort to keep body and mind healthy during this very real pandemic.

I am so lucky to be in a community with exceptionally low numbers of cases and the majority of people respecting the safety of others. I believe the two are not a coincidence. I walk my dog daily in a beautiful forested off-leash park. Few wear masks in the trails but people keep plenty of distance from each other. On Wednesday, I must have been approaching a couple too quickly because the man called out, "Six feet, please". I thanked him even though I wouldn't have passed within six feet of him on my uncorrected course. Unfortunately the evening news often highlights altercations resulting those types of comments. For this reason many are reluctant to speak out in support of safety but I like to believe most will appreciate knowing you care. A few months ago I wrote a letter to the editor in support of masks and still receive appreciative comments. I know Covid19 precautions are a hot button item for some. I feel so much freer in an environment where all are following the basic and effortless protocols. (I too would be against masks if I believed they were analogous to a diaper. ? They truly are an effortless accessory to use when properly selected and used.) Covid19 protocols enable me to do everything I did pre Covid19. Yesterday I opted for an office visit with my Doctor over a telephone visit. I felt much, much safer visiting his office than pre pandemic! I hope crowded waiting rooms never come back and phone visits remain an option. Today we are going Christmas shopping at a large shopping mall. We need to mail all of our presents so early shopping is required. Temperature is taken at all entrances and masks are required in the mall. Each store follows strict protocols. I am actually more excited about Christmas shopping than I have been for years!

Friends we haven't seen for awhile met us for coffee yesterday. Our lack of connection is partially due to living 100 miles apart and the rest due to Covid19 related concerns. We agreed to meet at a coffee shop in a beautiful little village that is midway for both of us to travel. It is a place I haven't visited for about a year. The town's transformation in order to comply with Covid19 guidelines was palpable. We sat in the coffee shop for about two hours and wandered the downtown streets for another hour or so. It is a seaside tourist attraction and the restrictions didn't appear to detract from the bustle or enjoyment. The strategies including signage, abundant hand washing stations, mask availability, partitions etc. made non-compliance inexcusable. During our four hour stay, I never came within at least 10' of a person without a mask. Indoors it was always 100% adherence to mask wearing even though not compulsory in our province. The point that struck me hard was that I'm certain we must have crossed paths with people who were opposed to these changes but were complying. You would have stood out like a sore thumb if you were out of step with community expectations! The town successfully made it more comfortable and normal to comply than not! The population density of this little town is high and demonstrates how larger urban environments can be safe and fully functional when everyone participates. At one point we mused at the memory of the proliferation of "no shoes, no shirt, no service" signs in the 60's and 70's. We all had friends actually opposing/challenging such restrictions! I remember one friend in particular who stood his ground in a favored pub with his opposition to the no shirt rule. The "no service" part to this rule brought peer pressure onto our friend swiftly! Peer pressure (and beer) is a powerful motivator!

I totally agree! We know the "need" side of the equation is extremely subjective but the important thing is that the justification outweighs the other options. The variable that took me decades to get through my head is appreciating that life is full of unknowns and surprises. Just when you think you knew it all.... ?

I'd simply slow down. The fuel savings will more than compensate for the few extra minutes it takes to get to your destination. The faster you pull a parachute the more it resists. I did a lot of trial and error with my travel trailer and found the sweet spot just shy of 70. My truck could cruise at 80 but the fuel consumption at $5+ per gallon made this a senseless choice. I still arrived at my destination in good time, relaxed and with a little more cash in my pocket!

After re-reading this thread I believe deliberating between an AT4 or Raptor with the idea of fulfilling a needed baby item is absurd. Many/most of us on this forum have a comparable life experience and should be offering a stronger dose of reality. The second your first child makes his or her appearance you and your partner's views and priorities will explode. PPK's suggestion about keeping your current vehicle is the best. I assure you that leaving the purchase of a new vehicle until, at least, after the baby is born will result in far better choice than the two trucks you are now considering. BTW Congratulations! Your life as you now know it will be changed (for the better) forever!

I agree with option 3. If you and your wife want a pickup then you can get a well equipped SLE or LT with a base engine for much less than an AT4 diesel. Stan mentioned the Texas edition. I have a similar package (Kodiak) in my '15. You will get the more popular extras with these promotional packages. You will likely never find yourself in a situation where you need an extra found in AT4 or Raptor. Your focus will/should be on giving your baby the best options!

It takes very little to impact the mpg's on our trucks. They achieve optimal efficiency when stock, unladen and driven gently. Any changes to these factors and fuel consumption will increase. Your mpg's, with the changes you've made, sound right based on what I'd expect. I'm sure your truck looks good and I'd switch out of the mpg screen. On my last truck I put on larger, heavier tires and took a significant hit at the gas pump. I simply changed my driving behavior by eliminating an unnecessary trip or two during the week. It sometimes costs to look good!

I agree that you may have no issue with this slightly larger tire size even with a stock suspension. Until recently I would bump my tires up a size at tire change time. There is some inner thinking/feeling that this makes our trucks tougher and more capable. The reality is that the stock tire size gives you optimal efficiency. The Toyo open country AT3 also higher load rating in your stock size. Tires, for most of us, are a major expense and I choose quality over quantity. I do appreciate the value of a truck's appearance. Larger tires and a moderate lift are my preferred look. However, until I can afford to get the look along with improved off-road capabilities, stock is my choice.

I agree that the battery will be your culprit. I'm not surprised when a vehicle battery packs it in after a year or lasts closer to ten. If your truck is still under warranty, I'd take it to the dealer in case there is some other electrical issue.

Any thoughts as to why they stopped? I know money is the overall reason but there must be an underlying reason for it not to be a profitable feature. I've owned flex fuel vehicles for over a decade and used e85 for the first time a month ago. My local gas bar now offers it and the price is substantially less than regular gas. I know the mpg's are worse but if its better for the air we breath and gives me more horsepower then it's a no-brainer, imo!

I am glad to see that it is still available and wish GM would continue to enhance this engine and offer it in all models. Ford had an inline 4.9 6 cyl that was popular in all of their trucks for decades. I owned several. It was also found in their 1 tons! Op's engine has two and a half times the horsepower of the old ford and gets double the mpg's. (guessing) I currently own a truck with a 4.3 Ecotec and wouldn't hesitate to get it again!

I don't have an EV (yet) but there is definitely a different level of planning required for long journeys. My new cell phone and "newish" Milwaukee power tools remind me of how rapidly battery technology changes. With minimal planning, I haven't t missed a call because of a dead phone or grabbed an uncharged drill out of my tool chest for many years Most appreciate that range/charge considerations will only continue to get better. The length of charge time I believe is an argument that has lost momentum. I know the speed of our progression to EV's can be partially influenced locally by voting but it will happen. I'm quite excited about reducing and eliminating my need for gas station fill ups.

I am always excited to go out driving in a fresh snowfall. Twenty Canadian winters on Michelin LTX MS/LTX MS2/ Defender tires, in P and LT ratings, have given me the confidence to get out before the snow plows!

Thank you for sharing this story. Over almost 50 years together my wife and I have each "specialized" in different areas. We now find we're more and more showing each other how we do things for that time when one of us is alone. Your example hit a real note with me as I just recently completed a shepherds pie with potato topping lesson! My task recently was to see my wife setting up and using her cell phone for things other than voice calling. She does fine with technical stuff just as I know my way around the kitchen but it is interesting how the years have found us assuming specific roles.

There is another thread where a member is looking to replace his 4.3 in a Silverado at 250k miles. I don't know if he ever found out what was exactly wrong with the engine or what kind of maintenance it had received. I'm sure Pepper is good for a million!

Congratulations on your loss! We struggle with the Covid15 as well and I'm going to share your plan with the best half. I chuckled with the loss discrepancy between you and your wife because this has periodically caused frustration in our house. Losing a pound requires a far greater commitment from her. I love the TV commercials of all the unfulfilled weight loss and personal improvement goals generated by more home time during this pandemic. Guilt is a powerful motivator! I'll start tomorrow....?

Haha. I usually have a plan for what I'd buy next if my truck suddenly became a no fault or no pain insurance write-off. I'd have no choice but to replace it with a red Silverado Trail Boss or Sierra AT4! ?

I'd seek the opinion/price of a business that specializes in vehicle alarms. Their product knowledge will be current and they can offer you various levels of protection. Chances are high that a thief is equipped to outsmart a typical DIY deterrent. I have a friend who lives in a higher crime area of the city. Her car was a frequent target for windows breaking in the night. She now leaves her glove box door open, console empty and doors unlocked. She is going on a year now break-in free! I keep an old steering wheel club handy in case, I feel the need for added security. It serves as a placebo for my peace of mind when parked in the open in a questionable community. ?

I really like the seat cover. Is it a commercially available product?

Very nice truck! I recently found a similar truck that caused me to get out the calculator and do some serious arithmetic! In the end my ''15 c/w no payments won the day. I never considered leasing but this is an interesting option worth investigating next time! Congratulations on your new truck!

Your truck will do a fine job in "D" when pulling a trailer. If you have tow/haul mode it will reduce the amount of gear hunting. I like to play with the "M" mode but I know the truck will do fine without my help! I would be out of character if I didn't take this opportunity to whine about the loss of manual transmissions in pickups!

Weird but it fit.