New 2011 Silverado - First Truck

[jbonnell]

Hello to All

 

I finally decided to take a break from the Corvette world and buy a truck. I live in a rural area by a lake and as you know, when you need a truck - you need a truck.

 

I traded my 2008 JSB Vette for my new Silverado Z71 Crew Cab. I got the LT model and added a nice Nav unit (for the iPod functionality more than Nav). The truck is very comfortable. It has the chrome side steps, 20" wheels, bug guard and the wind guards for the windows. It came with the GM bed liner.

 

After driving vettes daily for the past 10 years this takes some getting used to. It is like driving the Battlestar Galactica after driving vettes. I really look comical trying to park it.

 

I want to be able to carry just about anything in the bed without worry. I want a soft cover, bed divider and some sort of tie-down system (straps?). Ideally I'd be able to have the cover on it and the bed divider in it at the same time. I've seen bed dividers from GM and on the Walmart website.

 

I am unsure of the bed cover and the other systems. I have emailed Matt (a member here who had a great post on covered last year) asking some questions regarding the Truxedo cover that he uses.

 

Any suggestions regarding cargo management systems would be appreciated. I've seen straps, a net system and, as I mentioned , a couple of bed dividers. I assume I would use the tie points in the four corners of the bed. I intend to keep the cover in place all of the time except when I need full bed access.

 

Ideally I'd be able to get some sort of convenient storage box that fits well in the bed without taking up much space to store the unused cargo management components in (like straps of net system).

 

As I said, I am a newby truck owner. Any suggestions are welcome.

 

Thanks,

 

J

[Stevens03]

Congrats on the new truck

[foghorn23]

Congratulations on the new truck and welcome aboard. Glad you stayed in the Chevy family and didn't get one of those

Gee Emm See's (just kidding Stevens11 )

 

GM trucks in any flavor are awesome

[jbonnell]

Congrats on the new truck

 

Thanks Stevens11. I am enjoying it.

[Turbo810]

Nice truck. Congrats.

[Stevens03]

Congratulations on the new truck and welcome aboard. Glad you stayed in the Chevy family and didn't get one of those

Gee Emm See's (just kidding Stevens11 )

 

GM trucks in any flavor are awesome

 

Now thats funny right there...

[oldmann]

Congrats! See me avatar for cover. The gm tie down system is great!

[SparkySparks]

Welcome to the Truck world. I have the Truxedo LoPro bed cover and I love it, took a little work to get it water tight but that was more the design of the truck then anything. I don't have the cargo management system so I wont be much help there. I use a 2x6 as a devidder and I have a rubbermaid container that fits perfect between the board and the tailgate. I keep all my extras in a duffel bag under the rear seat for the most part, trying to make time to build a under seat storage box with a lid so I can have a nice flat area when the seat is up but still have space to store stuff. I know a few people with the cargo management system and they really only use it for a place to tie things to.

[jbonnell]

Welcome to the Truck world. I have the Truxedo LoPro bed cover and I love it, took a little work to get it water tight but that was more the design of the truck then anything. I don't have the cargo management system so I wont be much help there. I use a 2x6 as a devidder and I have a rubbermaid container that fits perfect between the board and the tailgate. I keep all my extras in a duffel bag under the rear seat for the most part, trying to make time to build a under seat storage box with a lid so I can have a nice flat area when the seat is up but still have space to store stuff. I know a few people with the cargo management system and they really only use it for a place to tie things to.

 

Thanks Sparky. I have decided to get the same cover that you have. I think I am going to stear clear of the cargo management system. The rail system plus the sliding divider cost about $500. I can get what looks like a good divider from Walmart for $79. Since I only use the truck for personal things that come up I don't think I need to spend $500 on a system.

 

I have a backup camera but I'd like to have the backup sensors too. That would cost $751 just for the bumper with sensors. Joe recommeded what looks like a good solution and I also ran across this:

 

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/wihimorebaup.html

 

It slips into the trailer hitch receiver and is wireless. You can use it as a step too...

[maccini]

Congrats on the new truck! I bet you don't mind driving around in the parking lots now! You can find spaces and see whats coming around the corners, lol.

 

Truxedo lo pro all the way! I have one on my 2011 silverado crew. I had one on my 2006 silverado crew also. When I ordered my Truxedo they asked if I had the GM cargo option because they make one custom for that. I don't have the cargo so no help there.

 

For back up sensors. On my 2006 I had a local car audio place install one for me. It cost around $250.00 at the time (2006) and it worked great.