Back from the dark side

jeb · July 23, 2004

Hi folks,

It's been a long time since I posted here and I didn't have that many to start with so I thought I'd share my story. I owned an 01 HD2500 4x4 CC Chevy dmax/ally. Great, great truck. But I'd come from a long line of 'burbs and really preferred those. But I was spoiled on diesels after the dmax so I was pretty much forced to go to an Excursion. Not that we have anything against Ford but I sure wish GM was putting the dmax in the 'burg. We got an 03 Ex Lmtd 4x4 6.0PSD last Sept. It was a very nice truck. The motor was not as impressive, fuel efficent or as fun to drive as the dmax but was still a strong motor.

As you probably know, that was the first year for that motor and ford has had some major, major issues with this motor. Mine was one of the many bad ones. I had 4 EGR valves replace, 2 turbo actuators, a FICM computer, wiring harness chaffing, turbo replaced and 4 oil leaks in about 10k miles or less. I also got 2 "reflashes", one of which took away the quiet idle (Pilot Injection). Long story short, I went through a Dispute Settlement Board process and Ford was forced to either buy the truck back or give me a new one, my choice. I took the money and ran as I just could not take the chance on that motor again.

I looked hard at the Nissan Armada, Denali XL, Caddy ESV, Yukon/Burbs and even some of the underpowered stuff from Toyota. We ended up finding an 04 GMC Yukon XL 2500 SLT 4x4 w/Quadrasteer and Autoride. It's got the 6.0 (only option with QS but it's the motor I wanted anyway) and is Silver Birch. I'm just about to 500 miles now so not a lot so far. First tow coming tomorrow. I haul a 19.5'x8.5' Vee nosed enclosed double axle trailer with 2-3 dirtbikes, so about 4-4.5k or so.

It's like coming home to get back into a GM. I think I'll be very happy with the truck but I'm sure I'll miss the diesel at times, too. Although not the 6.0PSD.

I hope to learn and maybe even contribute here.

99silveradoz71 · July 23, 2004

Welcome back and congrats on getting your mind right

QUIKAG · July 23, 2004

Congrats on coming back. Most of us will say the grass isn't greener on the other side, you're living proof.

elgineddie · July 23, 2004

Welcome back!!!

Now let's start adding MODS!

Ed in Chicagoland

dannyukonxl · July 23, 2004

sweet truck, got the same one with the 8100, great inside room too, i tow a 10 foot enclosed with 2 bikes... so 2500 pounds max and i couldnt even tell it was back there, just wait until you get about 1500 miles on it, then it will start coming to life

jeb · July 24, 2004

Thanks guys. I'm doing my first pull this morning with it. 493 miles. It'll be a fairly slow (55mph limits all the way) pull of about 200 miles so it'll be a good break in run for it.

I drove some 02-03 6.0's that had a lot more pep so I know I'll have to wait a while for it to get fully broken in. It took into the teens of thousands of miles to get my last 2 diesel trucks broken in so this will seem like a blink of the eye.

OUMike · July 24, 2004

Welcome back I have a neighbor with an 04' F250 King Ranch with the same motor. Hasn't had any trouble with it yet, but it hardly gets driven. He does however miss his 95' Z71 Ex Cab that was totalled a while back.

He'd been fishin' down in Kemah, TX about 6 months ago and his truck was sittin' up on the side parked. Some girl had come flyin' down HWY146 and lost control. Was just a good thing nobody got killed.

Good luck with your Yukon!!

Elwood 2000 · July 24, 2004

Well, I considered selling my Silverado to get a Jeep Rubicon. The thought of being off road with NO top and NO doors was/is very appealing. I advertised it here and a couple other places, but thankfully I didn't have any takers. I think it would be tough to live without.

I will wait until next year to get the new Jeep and keep my Silverado.