Option Suggestions Before I Order? Advice?

[Spurshot]

I'm not a fan of my All Terrain seats. The silly "carbon fiber" textured vinyl bolsters cover about 1/2 the seating surface. You pay for leather and get 1/2 vinyl. It looks crappy after 18,000 miles. It's less comfortable. The A/T Rancho shocks will beat you to death and rattle everything in the truck loose. Most guys that got Ranchos, dump them for something aftermarket. If you're an off road guy, think about filtration vs horsepower gains over the stock filter system. I know you'll change your oil more often than the max recommendation, but if you're letting in more/larger abrasives than the stock air filter, those frequent oil changes may be offset by the air filter choice. Save your money, forget the K&N. Get a tune.

[Spurshot]

I'm not a fan of my All Terrain seats. The silly "carbon fiber" textured vinyl bolsters cover about 1/2 the seating surface. You pay for leather and get 1/2 vinyl. It looks crappy after 18,000 miles. It's less comfortable. The A/T Rancho shocks will beat you to death and rattle everything in the truck loose. Most guys that got Ranchos, dump them for something aftermarket. If you're an off road guy, think about filtration vs horsepower gains over the stock filter system. I know you'll change your oil more often than the max recommendation, but if you're letting in more/larger abrasives than the stock air filter, those frequent oil changes may be offset by the air filter choice. Save your money, forget the K&N. Get a tune.

[Coach Hill]

I have to agree with spurshot. Before I ordered my truck, I looked at the entire Sierra line. I actually liked the exterior of the AT better than the Denali I ended up ordering, but the seats completely turned me away from the AT. That carbon fiber looking vinyl was a no go for me. Actually, the entire carbon fiber theme didn't do it for me, but that's just personal preference. Also, I wouldn't order the Z71 package again because of the crappy Rancho shocks. Replaced with Bilstein 5100's and much better ride. In the end, I LOVE my truck. Best vehicle I've ever owned. Almost a year now and 11,000 miles. Good luck on your decision!

[Bill_F]

I didn't read the whole this, so sorry if it has already been said, but the OEM rubber mats suck. I would drop that and buy either Husky/Weathertech mats (I have Husky x-act in the front and weathertech in the abck and love the combo).

 

Not a fan of the AT look, for the same reasons listed by Spurshot and the Coach, but to each his own on aesthetics.

 

I personally would drop the K&N filter as well... any extra dirt is too much, esp since you will likely see no gain in power from extra air with a stock tune and no other performance bolt ons.

 

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html

[JRaschke11]

Well I sold the motorcycle, the Corvette, the G6, and the 2500HD before I moved overseas. I will be stepping off an airplane with my wife and two children and don't even own a vehicle. I don't necessarily HAVE to buy now, but it makes sense. I prefer not to buy an interim vehicle. I haven't had good luck selling anything I have owned less than two years and coming out ahead.

 

In the end, I would love cooled seats but the price I would pay for the Denali is a solid $8000 more than the SLT. I can't see $8k worth of value in the upgrades, both options and standard, along with being able to put an exhaust and some other aftermarket mods immediately on the SLT.

[Isriam]

heres my list of suggestions.

 

1. go short bed not standard, just a preference of mine

2. dump k&n stay stock

3. buy a tuner and custom tune

4. dont buy z71 or AT, go stock or max tow. anything but AT/Z71

5. ac seats are not amazing, but are nice to have.

[JRaschke11]

In my 2004 SLT and 2012 2500HD I had the Z71 and never noticed an issue. Is the suspension that bad on these newer models?

 

I don't see why GM can't be like Subway... Just give me the option of everything and anything I want with a price tag attached. I point, you build. Doesn't matter if I want cooled seats with splash guards and bigger gears and mayonnaise.

[JRaschke11]

After owning my 2004 CC short bed from 2006-2011, I can say I would absolutely positively never even consider another CC short bed. Way too small for my taste and usage. Also personally I think the truck looks kinda goofy being more cab than bed.

[JRaschke11]

Also thank you for all the comments and suggestions. I have been reading these forums for a few hours a day lately, and it's helpful to consolidate some of this info in one thread for me.

[05cyclone]

I don't understand all the hate of the z71 with rancho shocks. I have no complaints about mine at all it is smooth as butter. But I am coming from a cammed gto with with a track suspension with solid motor and trans mounts lol

[galliher_nc]

I don't see factory trailer brake controller as one of your options. If you plan to tow at all, I'd add it to the list.

[thefishhawk]

I don't understand all the hate of the z71 with rancho shocks. I have no complaints about mine at all it is smooth as butter. But I am coming from a cammed gto with with a track suspension with solid motor and trans mounts lol

I agree, sometimes I think there is a bit of a princess and the pea complex going on around here ;) it's a truck, I want to feel the road a bit. I'm not saying the Bilsteins aren't probably better, I'm just not sure what everyone complains about so much.

[JRaschke11]

I don't see factory trailer brake controller as one of your options. If you plan to tow at all, I'd add it to the list.

 

In the foreseeable future I won't be towing anything bigger than a trailer with two four-wheelers on it. Although I tend to use my Grandpa's car hauler to pick up stranded family and friends on the road, so maybe you are on to something.

[n i c k]

I agree, sometimes I think there is a bit of a princess and the pea complex going on around here ;) it's a truck, I want to feel the road a bit. I'm not saying the Bilsteins aren't probably better, I'm just not sure what everyone complains about so much.

I didn't really understand how awesome it was to have a smooth ride while offroad until I was in a newer(few years old) stock Dodge Ram. We were antelope hunting and driving a hundred miles each day off-road (50 miles of nice graded dirt roads, 50 miles of nasty rutted, rock filled dirt roads).That Ram felt like it was on asphalt the whole time. I have yet to drive or ride in a stock truck that felt that good. And no, our newer Chevy's and Sierra's aren't even close to how nice the Rams drive off-road. So I have to laugh when I read about how someone feels the these trucks ride great off-road with Rancho's or Bilsteins, because they don't.

[Isriam]

my last truck had rancho's and it was stiff like a racecar. after that i'll never buy an "off road" package. was great for plowing across rough terrain, but my truck is a city driver.