First road trip

[AMPRG]

2 minutes ago, CombsL83 said:

35-40k for a new truck and you get cheap looking trinkets like that. Obviously I cared since I said they looked bad. Guess I should have said IMO that way nobody got offended.

The gauges are personal preference. I don't see anything wrong with them. They are simple and practical. Are you looking for Boeing 747 cluster on this truck?! 

[Mikedfw]

52 minutes ago, AMPRG said:

The gauges are personal preference. I don't see anything wrong with them. They are simple and practical. Are you looking for Boeing 747 cluster on this truck?! 

I agree that they look bad. Yes they are simple, but they look for cheap and very dated.  If these trucks were cheaper it wouldn't be a big deal, but they charge too much to be using stuff like that in my opinion. Still like the trucks overall though. 

[CombsL83]

1 hour ago, AMPRG said:

The gauges are personal preference. I don't see anything wrong with them. They are simple and practical. Are you looking for Boeing 747 cluster on this truck?! 

As long as you guys are happy getting Aveo-esque gauges in your $40k trucks that's all that matters  

[HondaHawkGT]

7 hours ago, CombsL83 said:

As long as you guys are happy getting Aveo-esque gauges in your $40k trucks that's all that matters  

They still look better than this $40k garbage:

 

[Moend]

My personal opinion on the gauges. They can be better and don't like that you have to be 18 with 20/20 vision to figure out where the heck is 55mph. I know you can switch to the other screen and all that jaz but its hard for me at least to tell where 55 65 75 basically all the ones with x5.

You can get better gauges but you have to step up to an LTZ or High Country. Personally I couldn't afford or justify the step up.

Last thing trucks that are beyond work trucks are overpriced in general and kind of expected. Think about it as buying a boat to eat fish. you will never ever get your money worth even if you fished every day and cought some. In all truth an honesty half of us don't need one including myself but want one. And stuff you want they get you for it

[Moend]

On 6/20/2019 at 11:01 AM, Smitty said:

The gauges are personal preference, who cares, look at that MPG!  It's a truck...

Also my best 25milew was 29mpg. I don't think I will be beating that number and time soon. My over all mpg went from 16 to 17.2 and let me tell you I was not babing it. Let say I may or may not hit the limiter no body knows

[OnTheReel]

I have the digital cluster in my LTZ and it may look fancier but the four “gauges” across the top of it are tiny. Functionally I think the midlevel gauges work better and are easier to read at a glance. I also think they are better laid out and easier to read than Ford or Ram. 

 

Funny how the general layout and DIC screen size in the T1s is the same as what was in the 2018, but somehow it’s now unacceptable in 2019...

[BenThere]

Well, I LIKE the gauges on my Z71; same as the OP's.  Basic, analog gauges that tell you where you are at a glance.  Same as with my Vette.  Old school, but perfect for monitoring the status of the truck.  The gauge set is exactly what I like and want.  Perfect! 

 

Taken three road trips in my truck so far, including to the majestic canyon lands of southern Utah.  WRT the Rancho shocks, yeah, on the road, it becomes obvious they are not intended for road racing. The truck does get kinda "floaty" on the curves..... The turn-in come late and it takes a while for the all that heavy truck to "catch up" with it, reacts kinda abruptly when it finally does react to it, and you need to be ready for it.  A little disconcerting at first, but ya learn how to deal with it without the wife getting nervous.... just have to be thinking ahead of the truck. The 6.2L  more than makes up for the "floaty-ness" on the highway, nothing holds that motor back; it's like hills don't exist.  And, that 6.2 really powers you out of the curves after the apex, it's wonderful!  Ask the guy in the Roles Royce Wrath that I "ran with" between Kingman and Vegas .

 

But, off-road, the Ranchos start to really show their stuff.  Did a miles and miles of dirt/gravel roads and a more miles of off-roading to get to that out-of-the-way trail head for serious hiking in the Bears Ears / Grand Gultch area.  They just soak up and "comply" with the road and its rough condition. They've had record rainfall in that neck of the woods, and I did a LOT of mudding as well.  The bear hunters really tore the wet roads up, they were in really bad shape.   I found that I didn't have to "air down" like I did on my old 2001 Sierra Z71.  Very pleased with the truck's off-road performance!  With the dealer installed 2" factory lift and the Ranchos, the suspension really reached and stretched to the terrain, mud, rocks, boulders, wash-outs, and all; the Goodrich T/A KO2s stayed in contact with the surface magnificently.  The more I did, the more I wanted to do.  Extremely capable truck. My friends with their smaller X-Terra and Rancheros were impressed how "that big truck" had no problem with the same terrrain they were negotiating. I'll be doing more challenging roads as time goes on. 

 

I was concerned about that "fuzzy" stuff in the wheel wells, that they might be tough to clean after some serious mud action.  It does seem to retain more that the typical smooth finish, But they clean up just fine at the DIY car wash with the pressure washer wand (after some time with the garden hose at home first).   Utah mud is sticky stuff.  

 

One other thing, that 6.2 DID NOT get the kind of mileage the OP did.  Pushing 16 mpg is the best I've been able to get on the highway,  my driving style is hardly compatible with economy driving.   I don't care, I LOVE that 6.2.  Wouldn't mind a bigger gas tank, tho.......

 

Next trips, ABQ and DEN.  With the San Juans between me and DEN.  Will be spending some off-road time around Silverton, Teluride, Lake City and Eureka on the way.  

 

To the OP, sounds like you had a good trip.  We learn a lot about our new trucks on that first trip.  Glad you got the mud flap problem sorted out.  Have fun with that truck! 

 

 

[Moend]

3 hours ago, BenThere said:

Well, I LIKE the gauges on my Z71; same as the OP's.  Basic, analog gauges that tell you where you are at a glance.  Same as with my Vette.  Old school, but perfect for monitoring the status of the truck.  The gauge set is exactly what I like and want.  Perfect! 

 

Taken three road trips in my truck so far, including to the majestic canyon lands of southern Utah.  WRT the Rancho shocks, yeah, on the road, it becomes obvious they are not intended for road racing. The truck does get kinda "floaty" on the curves..... The turn-in come late and it takes a while for the all that heavy truck to "catch up" with it, reacts kinda abruptly when it finally does react to it, and you need to be ready for it.  A little disconcerting at first, but ya learn how to deal with it without the wife getting nervous.... just have to be thinking ahead of the truck. The 6.2L  more than makes up for the "floaty-ness" on the highway, nothing holds that motor back; it's like hills don't exist.  And, that 6.2 really powers you out of the curves after the apex, it's wonderful!  Ask the guy in the Roles Royce Wrath that I "ran with" between Kingman and Vegas .

 

But, off-road, the Ranchos start to really show their stuff.  Did a miles and miles of dirt/gravel roads and a more miles of off-roading to get to that out-of-the-way trail head for serious hiking in the Bears Ears / Grand Gultch area.  They just soak up and "comply" with the road and its rough condition. They've had record rainfall in that neck of the woods, and I did a LOT of mudding as well.  The bear hunters really tore the wet roads up, they were in really bad shape.   I found that I didn't have to "air down" like I did on my old 2001 Sierra Z71.  Very pleased with the truck's off-road performance!  With the dealer installed 2" factory lift and the Ranchos, the suspension really reached and stretched to the terrain, mud, rocks, boulders, wash-outs, and all; the Goodrich T/A KO2s stayed in contact with the surface magnificently.  The more I did, the more I wanted to do.  Extremely capable truck. My friends with their smaller X-Terra and Rancheros were impressed how "that big truck" had no problem with the same terrrain they were negotiating. I'll be doing more challenging roads as time goes on. 

 

I was concerned about that "fuzzy" stuff in the wheel wells, that they might be tough to clean after some serious mud action.  It does seem to retain more that the typical smooth finish, But they clean up just fine at the DIY car wash with the pressure washer wand (after some time with the garden hose at home first).   Utah mud is sticky stuff.  

 

One other thing, that 6.2 DID NOT get the kind of mileage the OP did.  Pushing 16 mpg is the best I've been able to get on the highway,  my driving style is hardly compatible with economy driving.   I don't care, I LOVE that 6.2.  Wouldn't mind a bigger gas tank, tho.......

 

Next trips, ABQ and DEN.  With the San Juans between me and DEN.  Will be spending some off-road time around Silverton, Teluride, Lake City and Eureka on the way.  

 

To the OP, sounds like you had a good trip.  We learn a lot about our new trucks on that first trip.  Glad you got the mud flap problem sorted out.  Have fun with that truck! 

 

 

Thank you much. Honestly I have no idea how the heck I got that good of an mpg. I had it paddle to the metal few too many times. Specially when passing the wife drove just a shay of 4 hours out of 30+ hours of driving. And like you said once you get used to the ranchos the floatyness become more of entertainment and keep you awake lol.

 

You guys talking about the 6.2 makes me regretting not having one.

[BenThere]

On 6/21/2019 at 9:33 PM, Moend said:

Thank you much. Honestly I have no idea how the heck I got that good of an mpg. I had it paddle to the metal few too many times. Specially when passing the wife drove just a shay of 4 hours out of 30+ hours of driving. And like you said once you get used to the ranchos the floatyness become more of entertainment and keep you awake lol.

 

You guys talking about the 6.2 makes me regretting not having one.

You won't regret feeding the 6.2......

[Smitty]

On 6/23/2019 at 7:42 AM, BenThere said:

You won't regret feeding the 6.2......

I'ts my first GM with a 6.2, I had several 5.3 and 5.7 and I will never go back.  the additional cost is WELL worth the enjoyment!  It get's better gas mileage than any previous V8 I had to boot! 

[BenThere]

16 hours ago, Smitty said:

I'ts my first GM with a 6.2, I had several 5.3 and 5.7 and I will never go back.  the additional cost is WELL worth the enjoyment!  It get's better gas mileage than any previous V8 I had to boot! 

I have to agree.  Just wish it had a bigger gas tank.......

[f8l vnm]

On 6/15/2019 at 9:26 PM, Moend said:

Sir you are 110 percent right. So my dumb ass decided not to use all the hardware that came with mudflaps. and when removed the short ones that came on the truck I left the sheet metal nuts that are not needed for new flaps.

So the mud flaps are rattling and hitting those nuts and made all sort of noises. I have to deal with it till I get home since I don't have the hardware on me. But I am glad its nothing serious. 

Made it to our destination and got some nice picture 

Where is the 400 mil range fuel economy ?

And RIP to uncle Buck and Shanice. what a great movie it was 

[Moend]

9 hours ago, BenThere said:

I have to agree.  Just wish it had a bigger gas tank.......

I wish mine had bigger tank too. 36gal would be the best

[Moend]

9 hours ago, f8l vnm said:

Where is the 400 mil range fuel economy ?

And RIP to uncle Buck and Shanice. what a great movie it was