Amcguy1970

A lift isn't helping towing (it does the opposite actually), and these trucks stock can do plenty of the construction sites/b-roads. Let's just be honest here, 99.9% of these trim level trucks aren't going to be used for dirty work or leaving the pavement with some serious off roading outside of a dirt parking lot or an easy dirt road to a trail head. All that a lift is wanted for is looks, plain and simple. It isn't making the difference between getting somewhere and not, it is the suburban dads that want all the luxury features for the drive to work and then they want the lifted stance for the rugged image as if they think those two-go hand in hand. You want luxury, GMC makes the AT4 which has like 99% of the same luxuries as the Denali (why they put the off-road versions loaded up with luxury is beyond me, that's counter intuitive; especially with the ZR2 and AT4X). But I digress, it is solely an image thing and funny to watch all the fuss about it. Ford lets you get a Tremor package with the Platinum if that is any consolation. GM really should make these things a package, well most really. It should be trim levels (LT, LTZ and HC or SLE, SLT and Denali) then you pick the package, (Z71, TB and ZR2 or X31, AT4 and AT4X). Then you have visual packages like chrome, sport for painted or blacked out if you want black bumpers and wheels. Personally, I would limit box checker trims to Z71 or maybe dealer installed TB as that helps keep factory development costs down and prices a little more in check. Plus it better aligns with those users and their uses. Truck prices are getting out of control and heavily driven by the options on those luxury models trickling through the line with their development and testing costs. With that any price increases should be weighted based on trim price at a percentage. A base Pro shouldn't increase $1,500 and a Denali $1,800; the Pro should increase maybe $500 and the Denali $2,000+. Workers aren't able to cover the same increases or see the same impact as someone buying a Denali... Tyler

Elegant and classy then wrap everything in black? Yeah, you missed that boat... Do what you think looks best, not what others say. If you really just want to follow what the crowd says, put up a vote and just pick what most people say you should; problem solved. Never understood these threads asking others what you should do, I do what I think is/looks best. Current in trend is blacked out with black wheels, so that is what most will say this time. Tyler

I know a long bed isn't the same as the standard bed, but most people use that term when referring to the different lengths. That is why I put both in the name as this is the half ton (1500) section. The Crew Cab only has two bed choices, short and standard in the half tons; but historically people interchange the terms short/regular and long/standard, so I put both in there. People also us the acronym CCSB for the short bed and CCLB for the long bed instead of having to type it all out each time. So standard bed would also be CCSB and that acronym wouldn't work now... If it makes everyone feel better, I can rename it to just standard bed and hope no new members think the standard bed is the short bed that most everyone has. Let me know what you all think, and I can change it. Just trying to get pictures in there so people can see different set ups with the longer, err I mean standard, bed. Thanks LAAC for the pic, it certainly looks longer at some angles. Tyler

I don't believe you will be eligible. It has to be children once the family member that worked for GM passes. When my grandpa was alive I was able to get that discount, after he passed I lost it but my parents still are able to get it. I picked up a GM card that I couldn't use earlier with the GM family discount; that gives me 4% on all purchases. In the years since he has passed I have racked up a ton of points and will continue to until it is new truck time in a few years. Would have been nice to combine that with the GM discount (many years ago you could but they stopped that and only have a much less rewarding card now for those with the discount program), but these points will give me a larger discount in the end. GM Legacy | Family First | GM Vehicle Purchase Program (gmfamilyfirst.com) Tyler

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=GM+Auto+stop+start+disabler Another thread about this, here are a few of the threads that came up with a quick search... Tyler

There is a T1 pics thread going, but with the rarity of the crew cab and standard bed (long bed) compared to the short bed, let's get a thread together to see pics; this was we don't have to dig through hundreds of pages just to find this particular setup. Pure Z71 has one of the most prominent CCLB trucks but let's have others with that post. Stock, leveled, lifted or even lowered, just post them up here. I am leaning more and more towards this bed when it comes times to replace my current truck so would like to see how some of these look in different trims and set ups. I don't have one so I can't contribute but let's see them. Tyler

It's just the nose on these trucks these days. They are so large and sit higher than the bed which gives the perception of looking nose high. I always keep rake in mine for towing and hauling (car trailer, boat/jetskis, hauling, etc), plus I like it to visually look level rather than measure level. I hear you on that with getting the longer bed. My pops did that years ago when he thought he might as well get the 8ft bed on his extended cab truck (this was back in '95) since it was more truck for $200, well after getting it and moving down to Texas (he bought the truck in Minnesota before we moved) it didn't fit in the garage. Fortunately, my garage is plenty long, just the parking garage at work is the last issue. I do know the added bed length would be handy and used, then pics like yours sure sway me that way visually as well. Like I said I am still a few years out from a new truck, so maybe I will start a thread on long bed, err I mean standard bed pics. Looks like only the regular cab in the half ton can get the long 8ft bed, I bet the HD's can get it in more cab styles. Tyler

Have you been looking at anything with the economy the last 3 years? Material and energy costs, supply chains and labor costs/staffing... They didn't just raise the prices because they could and wanted to, much of their manufacturing costs went up and they did to keep margins mostly intact. Honestly many things doubled in price at the peak or more, they probably could have realistically raised it more with numbers to support it I bet if they were trying to keep the Cost of Production the same. From worker shortages and having to pay them more for retention and hiring (that is increased Labor right there which is always one of the companies largest expenses and translates to their SG&A costs), then you have increased transportation costs from shortages, covering loses from down time from covid and worker shortages, materials have gone up a ton (steel was way higher than pre-covid from late 2020 through 2021 and even with the drop is higher than pre-covid); and so many other factors. Let's not forget the wasted costs for Covid specific items they bought like masks, dividers, testing, labels/markings/posters, vaccines and sanitizer/cleaners; all of which everyone in the world was trying to buy at that time. So yes, their actual costs went up. 8-10k per vehicle I don't know, I haven't been on the production finance side of a company yet, only the warranty side of a large truck manufacturer. Now profits were up a ton as were margins (mostly tied to not selling as much with reduced supply and higher demand) so they could have easily reigned that in to reduce the price increases; but they were hurting from low sales and other factors so they took what they could get to avoid sunk costs from having to buy at the peak materials and all the other factors. Factor in economists and the news mentioning a recession (though it isn't looking like it will be bad even though some sour pusses want it to crash) they have to save money and build up reserves and cash on hand to cover a bad period. Contracts are negotiated well in advanced, so if things change and money slows significantly, they have to cover those contracts or write them off and take a loss. Are vehicles too high, yes, but it isn't just the companies, it is the consumers. Look at who are buying most of these trucks these days. Most of them are just box chckers that have zero use for a truck other than to pad their suburban image; and they want all the luxury options they can get that the German luxury brands offer they had in their prior vehicle they traded in. Unfortunately, those costs to develop the 15" touch screen with HUD, massaging seats, massive sunroofs and torture test the 20" wheels off road (seriously, how larger wheels are even offered on an off road package is beyond me) get passed through the lineup; and in turn you see the base models pricing out workers who use these trucks for their business and livelihood. So if you want to put most the blame on someone, put it on the guy driving the Ultimate Platinum Carbon Laramie that won't see any dirt or bed work let alone having anything hanging off the pristine tow ball, they are a hefty reason your LT went up 10k and Tim the landscaper has to buy a used and who knows how abused truck for his landscaping business. On buying used trucks, seriously, part of the reason I don't ever want to buy a used truck is what some people on here do. I want my truck to be reliable for me and for my business if I had one; but if the guy before me tuned his truck, put on spacers for his massive wheels and tires to run around on with large spacer lift, that isn't going to be reliable and trouble free for a work truck or myself. I want to buy new and have a warranty and know it wasn't messed up by some uninformed yahoo reading what to do and wire into his truck on the internet. That was quite the rant from your one sentence, but hopefully it helps shine some light on things and informs some people on here. Tyler

It needs it now, it looks nose high both visually and when just using the cursor to measure. Did you adjust your headlights down? These new LED's are hella bright when I come up on these new Sierra's and Silverado's. I will say this makes me go back and for with going the long bed route next time around. Midsize trucks I would have for sure gone long bed with the crew cab, but the full size it is a toss up. Still have a couple years until I decide. Is there a long bed pics thread somewhere? That would be nice to see, a place where all the different CCLB's can be seen from stock to leveled to lifted. Tyler

Does the AT4x have a different charging pad than other trims? I am guessing they are specific based on the thread title? Tyler

Once again for the upper deck, these shocks (especially when set a higher setting) aren't for smoothness. They help control larger bumps but are worse on small ones. So flyboygt and coloradocub were in for a surprise when that is what they were thinking they are going to do. Manage your expectations and thoroughly read what it is these shocks do. Tyler

Um, the Pulsar is a low scale tuner type device, alternating how the vehicle was designed to operate sure can cause warranty issues; so no it isn't BS. People love dropping the "Magnuson Act" like it give complete protection, well it also works the other way for the manufacturers. The Pulsar even states to remove it prior to retain factory warranty. If they know it was on there they can deny your warranty depending on what you are trying to claim. Shoot, going in for a shudder caused by DFM and having a device on there specifically to change DFM, I would deny that too if I knew about it. Tyler

He's probably like me and just think it looks silly and would rather have the cleaner stock looking hood that gives better sight lines. I'd be tempted to do the same thing when it comes time to replace my truck if I go with a TB. I want the suspension, but all the other black items aren't my type at all. Tyler

That's with every oil change and any oil. I always hear a nice difference after the initial start with an oil change. I would hope one would notice a quieter sounding engine, my wife does... And this thread couldn't have been posted in the other Amsoil 0w20 oil thread you started with just an update; it needs its own thread? Tyler

After everything you put us through and the countless threads started? In all seriousness though Amsoil will correct it, along with the rear window leak if you have that with the oil change. Did you baby this engine at break in? Tyler

You do realize most of the clientele isn't of the cares about the type of oil used variety, right? The price the multi-level marketing leader pays for the oil won't be the same charged to the quick lube person coming in. So that 7.50 the direct marketing leader pays will be $15 to the consumer, they aren't going to pay that for an oil that slightly outperforms the main brands. Amsoil is good, maybe the best if I could ever get past all the self-funded "third party" oil analysis articles out there. But worth the price to a quick lube client or most of the car guys out there, nope. Now if you are in a direct marketing business then yes, it would be as 50 cents isn't much for a premium oil. Tyler

The Trailboss/AT4 is basically a strut leveling kit (similar to Bilstein) and that is at 2", then these guys want to sit level so they add another 1-2" on there with another kit (IE a spacer either on top or bottom); so they are over 2" and it can hit or miss cause problems. GM uses the same control arms for both a stock truck and a TB/AT4 and that is 2", anything over you are really pushing the boundaries of the front suspension. If you don't off road much at all and it is mostly for looks then chances are you will be good for a while, if you off road or tow and haul (which you shouldn't be level at that point) then you can cause front suspension issues. The TB/AT4 also includes longer CV axles btw. Point is anything over 2" whether stacking kits or a single large adjustable coil over can impact the front suspension and steering and wear out sooner, make noises or fail. Tyler

You really shouldn't exceed 2", those stacking kits north of 2" are hit or miss having problems. Tyler

Ah so you stacked the kits. Are you going to do a block in the back with the shocks to get rid of the cali lean? Tyler

Didn't even want to try and search first? Tyler

You might want to let the engineers that designed and tortured tested these engines what you found and they have missed... Tyler

Um, that would constitute that they don't. I mean I could get a ton of tire sizes to fit, but how bad. If 37's roll down the road but rub, then they don't fit... Tyler

I love reading posts of people who over sell something. Smooth? Do you just drive one small section of a local newly paved road? The roads throughout Texas are not smooth in many cases, that or we have different ideas of smooth. Long yes depending on where you are. East Texas is plenty hilly with turns, not like out west. The hill country can have plenty of open spaces but usually those that don't have passing zones every so often. 75 on two lanes is not unheard of here, I think heading out west to hunt past Breckenridge it is 75+ if I remember correctly (I don't have one of those fancy speed reading sign models to jog my memory). In all my years of driving here and in trucks that have limiters, I have never once hit the limiter trying to pass someone, and I am usually the one doing the passing. So not sure what kind of driving some of you do to necessitate that, but limiters are there for a reason on trucks and if you are needing to go well over 100+ to pass a huge line of vehicles on a two lane, that is not a good time to pass and definitely in the wrong vehicle. Roll the dice enough and they eventually can come up snake eyes. < Lives in Texas for a long time... Tyler

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I live in Texas, point me to these two lane back roads that is anywhere remotely better than a highway that is not under construction (construction zones don't count). So, you couldn't wait four miles to pass? We have plenty of animals to hit as well as rogue live stock that may get out, I see that many of times. Your truck has always been 98mph, nothing has changed. Probably best honestly. Tyler