2500hd gasser

revrnd · April 6, 2025

1 hour ago, Chuck FB said:

So did you drive through a Ford dealership to pretend you looked at them before heading to the Chev dealership LOL. That's interesting about the 1/2 ton with the 6.2 shifting harder and running rougher ( rougher is the word I used but that might not be the characteristic ). I have to wonder if the dynamic fuel management makes it sound odd when idling or driving easier where it would engage the system. I never did have a ride in my friends 2023 1/2 ton with the 6.2 to hear it or feel the ride but I imagine it has a nice ride, he likes the truck so far anyway but again a smaller trailer being pulled the few times he uses it during the summer. His is a crew cab with the 6.6 box as so many of the 1/2 tons I see around are the 5.5 box. His also has the trailering package.

Of a side note, because of the dual rear exhaust on his truck, he had one of those street sweepers as I call it on the hitch to keep rocks from flying up onto the trailer and the exhaust promptly ruined the plastic bristles, melted them to crap behind the exhaust outlets. So then he put a rubber belting unit on and it caused the heat to reflect back to the bumper and started melting the PPF that had been applied to the pained bumper ( its a High Country ). So he went to a muffler shop and they cut off the piping but left the outlets where they are mounted so it looks the same and then had a single tail pipe that curves around out the passenger side like a traditional exhaust was normally routed. I don't know what the gas HD would be like in that way as its coming out the corner so it might be an issue for one of those trailer protectors.

You can dive into your new trucks features/options after you have it in your hands, it will be very interesting to hear how it compares once you have had a chance to use it doing some towing.

I have a 'rock tamer' that I fabbed a couple of trucks ago. I was able to get a stainless 45* elbow from MBRP in Huntsville for my 2017 (not sure for the 2011) to direct the exhaust away from the flap. I did several trips towing the sled trailer including the round trip to Cochrane w/ the stock outlet this winter. It may not be an issue in the winter, but I will be reworking it before I start towing my TT.

I have noticed that the exhaust diameter is now 3 1/2" vs 4"(?) & wasn't able to find any SS elbows that diameter online (including MBRP). I'll likely have to find a shop that works w/ stainless to bend me 1.

I haven't known anyone w/ a 6.2 pickup or SUV, so I have no experience in 1.

Edited April 6, 2025 by revrnd

Chuck FB · April 6, 2025

40 minutes ago, revrnd said:

I have a 'rock tamer' that I fabbed a couple of trucks ago. I was able to get a stainless 45* elbow from MBRP in Huntsville for my 2017 (not sure for the 2011) to direct the exhaust away from the flap. I did several trips towing the trailer including the round trip to Cochrane w/ the stock outlet this winter. It may not be an issue in the winter, but I will be reworking it before I start towing my TT.

I have noticed that the exhaust diameter is now 3 1/2" vs 4"(?) & wasn't able to find any SS elbows that diameter online (including MBRP). I'll likely have to find a shop that works w/ stainless to bend me 1.

I haven't known anyone w/ a 6.2 pickup or SUV, so I have no experience in 1.

I noticed that MBRP makes the 4" system for the gas L8T where as Borla makes them as a 3 1/2" like the factory size. My guess is its hard to find a nice formed elbow that just anyone can make because the fancy systems are mandrel bent, the benders in muffler shops are not and they crush and ripple the metal to make the bends. But that might be the only cost effective way one can get your hands on a bent pipe and I assume they would have to expand the 3 1/2 stock to fit over your factory end. My High Country comes with the stainless steel tip that is straight but literally its just slid on most of the way onto the factory pipe, just something to pretend it was worth the thousands more for that trim LOL. Had you tried contacting Borla by any chance, of course they are made in the states so $$$ up here.

I have to wonder how goofy it might be to use a 4" pipe elbow and slit the pipe in lets say four sides to allow a crush with a clamp. Obviously the correct expanded inner diameter to just slip over 3 1/2 with a stainless steel step clamp is the proper way. I can find 3 1/2 45 degree "elbows" that have the one end expanded to fit over top but the problem is they are aluminized steel.

Edited April 6, 2025 by Chuck FB

revrnd · April 6, 2025

24 minutes ago, Chuck FB said:

I noticed that MBRP makes the 4" system for the gas L8T where as Borla makes them as a 3 1/2" like the factory size. My guess is its hard to find a nice formed elbow that just anyone can make because the fancy systems are mandrel bent, the benders in muffler shops are not and they crush and ripple the metal to make the bends. But that might be the only cost effective way one can get your hands on a bent pipe and I assume they would have to expand the 3 1/2 stock to fit over your factory end. My High Country comes with the stainless steel tip that is straight but literally its just slid on most of the way onto the factory pipe, just something to pretend it was worth the thousands more for that trim LOL. Had you tried contacting Borla by any chance, of course they are made in the states so $$$ up here.

I have to wonder how goofy it might be to use a 4" pipe elbow and slit the pipe in lets say four sides to allow a crush with a clamp. Obviously the correct expanded inner diameter to just slip over 3 1/2 with a stainless steel step clamp is the proper way. I can find 3 1/2 45 degree "elbows" that have the one end expanded to fit over top but the problem is they are aluminized steel.

Since I had to cut the MBRP 4" elbow to length, I did have a shop expand the 1 end to slip over the OEM tubing. It's them that I'll be talking to in the near future.

Chuck FB · April 6, 2025

8 minutes ago, revrnd said:

Since I had to cut the MBRP 4" elbow to length, I did have a shop expand the 1 end to slip over the OEM tubing. It's them that I'll be talking to in the near future.

Ok I thought perhaps you had already talked to them. Yes that would be the first step to see if they can make you a one off with some ideas up their sleeve.

Lpfm1990 · April 6, 2025

2 hours ago, Chuck FB said:

So did you drive through a Ford dealership to pretend you looked at them before heading to the Chev dealership LOL. That's interesting about the 1/2 ton with the 6.2 shifting harder and running rougher ( rougher is the word I used but that might not be the characteristic ). I have to wonder if the dynamic fuel management makes it sound odd when idling or driving easier where it would engage the system. I never did have a ride in my friends 2023 1/2 ton with the 6.2 to hear it or feel the ride but I imagine it has a nice ride, he likes the truck so far anyway but again a smaller trailer being pulled the few times he uses it during the summer. His is a crew cab with the 6.6 box as so many of the 1/2 tons I see around are the 5.5 box. His also has the trailering package.

Of a side note, because of the dual rear exhaust on his truck, he had one of those street sweepers as I call it on the hitch to keep rocks from flying up onto the trailer and the exhaust promptly ruined the plastic bristles, melted them to crap behind the exhaust outlets. So then he put a rubber belting unit on and it caused the heat to reflect back to the bumper and started melting the PPF that had been applied to the pained bumper ( its a High Country ). So he went to a muffler shop and they cut off the piping but left the outlets where they are mounted so it looks the same and then had a single tail pipe that curves around out the passenger side like a traditional exhaust was normally routed. I don't know what the gas HD would be like in that way as its coming out the corner so it might be an issue for one of those trailer protectors.

You can dive into your new trucks features/options after you have it in your hands, it will be very interesting to hear how it compares once you have had a chance to use it doing some towing.

I went to multiple ford dealers, and locaters, but outside of the STX or fully loaded lariats and above. There was zero that fell into what I wanted (7.3/10r140, and heated seats), plus my friend getting me a gms discount code, the trailboss fell to the price they were selling the stx 6.8 f250’s at…. So it was a “well, this is what’s falls into place”

I’ve loved my 6.2, so it’s still going to be sad to see it go, but I never let it run the DFM, I ran the pulsar lt in it, and when it’s not hooked up, I did the L9 and click off the start/stop, it’s always shifted like it has alllll the line pressure, and at an idle in gear you can feel the motor basically randomly misfiring, I’ve been suspect of the lifters in the truck for a long time. But it never throws a code? I’ve started it more then once and gotten out to watch the motor rocking back and forth as if it’s running on 7 or less cylinders… now I never commented it to my dad who went along to the dealer and his first comment in the 2500 was “wow this runs smoother then your current truck”.

I’ve never had an issue with my rock tamers melting, but they have been modified from previous trucks that I have it flipped around to go under the bed/bumper, and drilled extra bolt holes to secure it to the hitch (it was busted so I took it to work and milled it on a mill and tried something, and it worked, so it has zero chuck in it now)

it’s a moderately loaded truck, compared to my 21, I’m losing the sunroof (good riddance it was a gurgling nightmare with water in it), the leather and a the bose audio package (that’s about the only sad part, but oh well). Here’s the window sticker from it though

revrnd · April 6, 2025

I don't know how the actual Rock Tamer mounts, but mine uses a 'strap' under the drawbar. Using 2 bolts, my cross piece is pulled tight against the drawbar.

The next time I have it on, I'll take a couple of pics.

Chuck FB · April 6, 2025

25 minutes ago, Lpfm1990 said:

I went to multiple ford dealers, and locaters, but outside of the STX or fully loaded lariats and above. There was zero that fell into what I wanted (7.3/10r140, and heated seats), plus my friend getting me a gms discount code, the trailboss fell to the price they were selling the stx 6.8 f250’s at…. So it was a “well, this is what’s falls into place”

I’ve loved my 6.2, so it’s still going to be sad to see it go, but I never let it run the DFM, I ran the pulsar lt in it, and when it’s not hooked up, I did the L9 and click off the start/stop, it’s always shifted like it has alllll the line pressure, and at an idle in gear you can feel the motor basically randomly misfiring, I’ve been suspect of the lifters in the truck for a long time. But it never throws a code? I’ve started it more then once and gotten out to watch the motor rocking back and forth as if it’s running on 7 or less cylinders… now I never commented it to my dad who went along to the dealer and his first comment in the 2500 was “wow this runs smoother then your current truck”.

I’ve never had an issue with my rock tamers melting, but they have been modified from previous trucks that I have it flipped around to go under the bed/bumper, and drilled extra bolt holes to secure it to the hitch (it was busted so I took it to work and milled it on a mill and tried something, and it worked, so it has zero chuck in it now)

it’s a moderately loaded truck, compared to my 21, I’m losing the sunroof (good riddance it was a gurgling nightmare with water in it), the leather and a the bose audio package (that’s about the only sad part, but oh well). Here’s the window sticker from it though

Oh so you had a disabled DFM and did it always run this way from new with that disabled. I wonder if somehow under that condition of idling its trying to cut a cylinder, yet I gather when driving and under a load it was fine ?. But those two items as per DFM and the stop start really turned me off of being thrilled with a 1/2 ton and also couldn't get the diff gearing I wanted AND the two speed transfer case if I chose not to get the 6.2. While the power would have been great, I was concerned over the prospect of by rights the engine needing premium as that is stupid expensive here, certainly compared to farm fuel which is only regular. And that sun roof, sounds like yours has the roof top penthouse with a swimming pool

Your new truck has quite a number of desirable items, the 10 way power seat, the tilt/telescope wheel, the multiflex tailgate, no rear sliding window ( I don't see the sliding window as a bonus, mine was forced to come with it ), LED headlights, remote start, large alternator, dual batteries and so on. I guess I am not surprised it has a the snow plow prep given its from a dealer in that area of New York state, if you like the truck and want a softer front end then you can certainly swap in a different set of torsion bars. I see they chose the upfitter switches which again with the snow plow prep, all makes sense. The one item that did surprise me that they did not order it with is the block heater, perhaps its never the temp that we get here in Alberta as its a must here. If Chev would have been clear on the website as to the so called off road tires actually being BFG KO3 tires I would have chose that but the salesman seemed positive that they were some sort of mud tire. By the time I figured out they were in fact the KO3, the order could not be changed. The standard 20" tires are ... well they are tires but don't really do a lot for me. So far I like the way this truck runs, seems smooth and sitting there idling its quiet and not noisy going down the road although have no load on it. I'd like a nice 304 stainless exhaust but I don't want the sound that comes with it, I guess I am past that stage in life ! ( or on a general basis to have that noise constantly ).

I wonder if they get a lot of their trucks from the Oshawa plant at that location, I had assumed that mine would be built in Oshawa but it was built in Flint and then however they ship to Canada and I assume that is by rail all the way to Edmonton and trucked up here.

Lpfm1990 · April 6, 2025

3 minutes ago, Chuck FB said:

Oh so you had a disabled DFM and did it always run this way from new with that disabled. I wonder if somehow under that condition of idling its trying to cut a cylinder, yet I gather when driving and under a load it was fine ?. But those two items as per DFM and the stop start really turned me off of being thrilled with a 1/2 ton and also couldn't get the diff gearing I wanted AND the two speed transfer case if I chose not to get the 6.2. While the power would have been great, I was concerned over the prospect of by rights the engine needing premium as that is stupid expensive here, certainly compared to farm fuel which is only regular. And that sun roof, sounds like yours has the roof top penthouse with a swimming pool

Your new truck has quite a number of desirable items, the 10 way power seat, the tilt/telescope wheel, the multiflex tailgate, no rear sliding window ( I don't see the sliding window as a bonus, mine was forced to come with it ), LED headlights, remote start, large alternator, dual batteries and so on. I guess I am not surprised it has a the snow plow prep given its from a dealer in that area of New York state, if you like the truck and want a softer front end then you can certainly swap in a different set of torsion bars. I see they chose the upfitter switches which again with the snow plow prep, all makes sense. The one item that did surprise me that they did not order it with is the block heater, perhaps its never the temp that we get here in Alberta as its a must here. If Chev would have been clear on the website as to the so called off road tires actually being BFG KO3 tires I would have chose that but the salesman seemed positive that they were some sort of mud tire. By the time I figured out they were in fact the KO3, the order could not be changed. The standard 20" tires are ... well they are tires but don't really do a lot for me. So far I like the way this truck runs, seems smooth and sitting there idling its quiet and not noisy going down the road although have no load on it. I'd like a nice 304 stainless exhaust but I don't want the sound that comes with it, I guess I am past that stage in life ! ( or on a general basis to have that noise constantly ).

I wonder if they get a lot of their trucks from the Oshawa plant at that location, I had assumed that mine would be built in Oshawa but it was built in Flint and then however they ship to Canada and I assume that is by rail all the way to Edmonton and trucked up here.

It does have the rear slider, and all our hd’s come from Oshawa here, very rare to see block heaters outside of the diesels (and even some dealer won’t order them, you have to add it yourself), and temp wise it rarely gets much below 0f which is like -20c. When I go sledding in tug hill it gets much colder there (-20f in Feb isn’t unheard of). But yeah, it’s definitely got the standard plow setup, and the ride isn’t bad at all, our roads are far from smooth here and it was fine for me on the decent length test drive I took it on, I had a 2012 Chevy 3500 srw before. So I knew what to expect in reality and it’s still a smoother front end than a solid axle truck.

the multiflex tailgate is an option I wouldn’t have taken if I ordered it, zero need for it for me, maybe I’ll change my mind down the road? And the upper level headlights are nice over the custom/base lt ones, the tail lights are gonna take some getting use to, I don’t care a ton of the new led ones, I liked the led ones my 21 has. But good thing I can’t see them while I drive

revrnd · April 6, 2025

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to how the Chevs are allocated to Oshawa or the US plants. When the salesman was looking for an Oshawa built 2500HD LT SBCC for me last Sept', he added & deleted options to the filter tool. It didn't seem to make a difference. Trucks with 1 & 2 to start the VIN would still appear in the results & that was searching in southern Ontario.

I did find out afterwards that Oshawa is only building Chevs, so no way to get an Oshawa built GMC.

About the slider, I always had it (ordered or aftermarket) in my regular cabs. My '24 is the 1st truck w/o it. Always nice to crack it depending on the weather when you dont need the AC on. For those w/ the rear slider in a crew cab how is it for noise and/or buffeting in the cab? I mentioned lowering the rear windows to my brother & he said I wouldn't like it due to the buffeting of the wind.

I had the window behind me dropped a couple of inches & I found it annoying @ about 50 mph. Put it back up.

Edited April 6, 2025 by revrnd

Lpfm1990 · April 6, 2025

I didn’t pay any attention to the gmc’s here. We don’t have many gmc dealers, and the ones we do pretty much only have Denali ultimate duramax’s on the lots, and I don’t want nor afford a $110k truck, but I’ll have to swing by a few and just see what their stickers say for build location

my 21 half ton came out of Fort Wayne, which was rare for 21 here. Most were Mexican plant built at the time iirc

revrnd · April 6, 2025

9 minutes ago, Lpfm1990 said:

I didn’t pay any attention to the gmc’s here. We don’t have many gmc dealers, and the ones we do pretty much only have Denali ultimate duramax’s on the lots, and I don’t want nor afford a $110k truck, but I’ll have to swing by a few and just see what their stickers say for build location

my 21 half ton came out of Fort Wayne, which was rare for 21 here. Most were Mexican plant built at the time iirc

I had to go to the town north of me early last summer & stopped in to get an air filter for my Monte Carlo SS. I couldn't find any Oshawa built HDs on their lot & they had a bunch. I didn't pay much to the trim levels.

My brother bought a '24 LTZ a week or 2 after my LT & it was an Oshawa Truck too. It was being driven by the dealership's parts guy, a 'company car' as we used to call it @ work.

You mention sledding @ Tug Hill, so obviously you're in the Watertown & Syracuse area. What is the biggest 'centre' to your location?

Here in Canada the dealer network was set up as Chev/Olds & some added with Cadillac and Pontiac/Buick & GMC. Before Pontiac disappeared (after the announcement), I read that percentagewise Pontiac sales were bigger in Canada than the US. Having the GMCs in half the network may have played into more of a presence for GMC here as well.

Edited April 6, 2025 by revrnd

Chuck FB · April 6, 2025

25 minutes ago, Lpfm1990 said:

It does have the rear slider, and all our hd’s come from Oshawa here, very rare to see block heaters outside of the diesels (and even some dealer won’t order them, you have to add it yourself), and temp wise it rarely gets much below 0f which is like -20c. When I go sledding in tug hill it gets much colder there (-20f in Feb isn’t unheard of). But yeah, it’s definitely got the standard plow setup, and the ride isn’t bad at all, our roads are far from smooth here and it was fine for me on the decent length test drive I took it on, I had a 2012 Chevy 3500 srw before. So I knew what to expect in reality and it’s still a smoother front end than a solid axle truck.

the multiflex tailgate is an option I wouldn’t have taken if I ordered it, zero need for it for me, maybe I’ll change my mind down the road? And the upper level headlights are nice over the custom/base lt ones, the tail lights are gonna take some getting use to, I don’t care a ton of the new led ones, I liked the led ones my 21 has. But good thing I can’t see them while I drive

I guess the way I interpreted the window sticker I thought it was the full heated window as I never caught anything about a sliding window ( I don't recall how they worded it on my window sticker either ). It must be a logistics thing to have the trucks come from Canada, however I had been lead to understand they do not build the long box HD in Oshawa and would have to come from the Flint plant. My sales guy made the comment that the trucks they receive mostly come from Flint and that only if Flint is way behind that they will come from Oshawa, no idea if that is true but seems odd.

I had to laugh at the plow package still riding better than a solid front axle setup, of course there are so many variables with tire size and spring rates on solid axles as well that dictate the end result. That reminds me I test drove a used Dodge 3/4 gas years ago and it was a standard cab. I swear it felt like the axles were directly bolted to the frame, like a horse drawn lumber wagon from the old west. That sure didn't sell me on wanting one, of course they are different now.

These tailgates are high off the ground and I figured it made sense to get it given ... well I am not getting any younger. I would suggest you set yours so it won't open the top portion if you accidentally touch the top button momentarily, certainly when you are towing or have a ball slid into the receiver.

Speaking of the cold, an example of this winter our coldest day was I think was around -43F and last year we hit -52F ( actual temperature, not that wind chill effect ).

Edited April 6, 2025 by Chuck FB

revrnd · April 6, 2025

You are correct on no long boxes out of Oshawa.

About the 2nd comment about Flint being behind to explain why a truck would be allocated/scheduled to Oshawa, I dont know.

My knowledge base ends at 2008, so who knows what they've dreamed up since? I do know that back then, 'sold' trucks were prioritized in how they were scheduled in the plant.

Maybe if Flint's throughput is slower than Oshawa's, then the order defaults to Oshawa.

Back in the late 70s early 80s, when Fremont CA was still a GM plant, I think a lot of western Canada's trucks came out of there.

Edited April 6, 2025 by revrnd
Corrected South Gate to Fremont.

Chuck FB · April 6, 2025

17 minutes ago, revrnd said:

You are correct on no long boxes out of Oshawa.

About the 2nd comment about Flint being behind to explain why a truck would be allocated/scheduled to Oshawa, I dont know.

My knowledge base ends at 2008, so who knows what they've dreamed up since? I do know that back then, 'sold' trucks were prioritized in how they were scheduled in the plant.

Maybe if Flint's throughput is slower than Oshawa's, then the order defaults to Oshawa.

Back in the late 70s early 80s, when South Gate CA was still a GM plant, I think a lot of western Canada's trucks came out of there.

Mine would have been or should have been classified as a sold truck, after the order had been accepted I had asked if there was any constraint and he claimed no. For certain reasons I wanted the truck before year end and he claimed there was a good chance it could be due to how fast they were being built ... not sure if I was played to give them the business but it certainly did not get into my hands before year end, it was scheduled to be built in the middle of Jan and showed up a month after that. The only plus to that is that by that time there was a 4000.00 factory rebate and now its 5000.00 had I waited a couple more weeks but I have issues seeing into the future.

I don't know if it makes any difference as to which plant when it comes to the diesel as both plants would build them but that has been the theme of so many trucks sold being a diesel here at least on the consumer end. Fleet sales may be something else but they don't typically show up on the dealers website to see how they are spec'd.

I didn't even realize California ever produced vehicles.

revrnd · April 6, 2025

My bad, it was Fremont not Sputh Gate that built C/K trucks to 1981. The plant then became the NUMMI joint venture with Toyota (the last models built being the Matrix & Vibe). The plant was closed & then sold to Tesla in 2010.