First 2500 HD, Tips, Advice, Problems?

[HammerHead0313]

New to the forum, got a 2500 HD 4X4 with the L96 6.0 back in august last summer. Love to truck except the gas mileage (LOL); it will stay 100% stock but I would like to swap from the 245 tire to a 275 on the stock 17 rim. Not sure if it will fit and need recommendations on new tires. I would also like to put some skid plates on for my summer trips to Utah but haven't found anything online, would like so options from ya'll. Other than those two minor upgrades are there any problems I need to be ready for? L96 durability? Transmission model? Or anything else ya'll can thing of please let me know.  

[Rvduck]

Nice looking truck, I like white trucks, on my second one. I don't like the white rear fender wells they send out on the white trucks. As soon as my factory order came in , I sprayed my rear white wheel wells with black plastidip. They match the truck's front wheel wells now and really improved my truck.

Mine is a Dually and had more white paint showing than a SRW and the first time you went through a puddle  the wheel wells behind the tires looked terrible. Enjoy that Fantastic heavy duty gas engine, the 6.0 might be a little thirsty but rock solid and a real work horse.

i liked my 08 Duramax, went with the 6.0 to pick up the extra 700 pounds of payload on a Dually  and will not go back to a Duramax Dually unless they match the payload of the 6.0 gas, and get rid of the ugly Diesel Exhaust tank hanging down below the truck. 

[HammerHead0313]

14 minutes ago, Rvduck said:

Nice looking truck, I like white trucks, on my second one. I don't like the white rear fender wells they send out on the white trucks. As soon as my factory order came in , I sprayed my rear white wheel wells with black plastidip. They match the truck's front wheel wells now and really improved my truck.

Mine is a Dually and had more white paint showing than a SRW and the first time you went through a puddle  the wheel wells behind the tires looked terrible. Enjoy that Fantastic heavy duty gas engine, the 6.0 might be a little thirsty but rock solid and a real work horse.

i liked my 08 Duramax, went with the 6.0 to pick up the extra 700 pounds of payload on a Dually  and will not go back to a Duramax Dually unless they match the payload of the 6.0 gas, and get rid of the ugly Diesel Exhaust tank hanging down below the truck. 

Black plastidip is a great idea, thank you. Your truck is a beast btw, looks good. 

[sdeeter19555]

Have the TPMS set for 50psi at all four corners so it rides better...

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

[Waaazooo]

How do you reset the value for the tpms? Mine was at 80@ and I lowered it to 65r 60f.

No complaints on mine.


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[txab]

You can also use 3M rubberized undercoating on the wheel wells . Done properly it will last for years and years. I've had it on for 14 years on one vehicle

[cdh027]

3 hours ago, sdeeter19555 said:

Have the TPMS set for 50psi at all four corners so it rides better...

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l
 

can this be done by the end user or is it a dealer thing?

[sdeeter19555]

Dealer or end user with programmer.

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

[redwngr]

Rear wheel well liners. can help save wheelwell paint.

 

GM 'skidplate' is plastic, but it doesn't look like you're planning on rock crawling so it might be appropriate. 

 

https://accessories.chevrolet.com/search/2018/Chevrolet/Silverado 2500 HD#/12002/Exterior?sortId=2

 

Both can be found on the 'exterior' tab.

 

 

[Cowpie]

Of course, one can just learn to ignore the TPMS.  I am rather adept to not even noticing the TPMS warning light on the dash.  Can't even recall when I last noticed it.  I do get the DIC warning messages at start up, but I just dismiss those.    I usually run about 50 PSI all the way around, and inflate accordingly when I am going to load up.

 

Not everyone's style, but the "cat in heat" rake was more than I cared for.  I dropped the back a little with a set of McGaughy's shackles.  I also put on a set of SumoSprings on the back.  Rake is more to my liking so that it is easier on these beat up knees of mine to get in and out of the back.   I can load up over a ton and it just brings it to level.  

 

I was inventing new swear words about the stock Michelin LTX AT2 tires that came with the pickup.  I sold them and put on BFG KO2's the next size up.   Greatly improved the ride, handling, etc.  Most might not need that much tire, but I deal with several miles of gravel roads whenever I leave the house, and the pickup has to do work out on the property occasionally.

 

And white is where it is at!!!

 

Plan on keeping my 2015 2500 6.0 for a long, long time.  Hopefully, last pickup I ever buy.  I don't put over 6000 miles a year on it.

 

Fuel prices are such, in my area, that I have been using E85 exclusively for a while.  It is so much lower than diesel, that even with the lower fuel economy of E85, I have a lower cost per mile for fuel than the diesel.   And even lower cost per mile than regular gas.  This is a repeat of several years ago when we had those record fuel prices.  My previous pickup lived on E85 for almost two years back then for the same reason. 

[2016HD]

Drive it Like you Stole it!! Minor repairs. Keep it at the happy RPM When towing 4500-5000rpm and they will love it!! Up hills etc. Do your regular maintenance and enjoy!

 

[Cowpie]

Naw.   Just drive it like you would throughout its life.  Every vehicle I have bought for the last 40 years... car, light truck, heavy truck, etc... I just drive right from the start the same way it will be used throughout its life.    

 

Right on. Follow a good maintenance regimen and enjoy!

[ewbldavis]

On 2/15/2018 at 6:34 PM, redwngr said:

Rear wheel well liners. can help save wheelwell paint.

 

GM 'skidplate' is plastic, but it doesn't look like you're planning on rock crawling so it might be appropriate. 

 

https://accessories.chevrolet.com/search/2018/Chevrolet/Silverado 2500 HD#/12002/Exterior?sortId=2

 

Both can be found on the 'exterior' tab.

 

 

Husky Liner makes these too. Nice truck OP.