Jump to content

I got rocks!!

Shaners

By Shaners
in Hobbies, Tech & Outdoors

Recommended Posts

brmiller Enthusiast

brmiller

Posted
Posted

Hey!  Check this out!  One half-ton of pea gravel!

 

bedfull_o_gravel.jpg

 

Can't tell too well, but check out the "lowered" rear suspension:

 

with_gravel_side.jpg

 

We go back for the other half-ton today or whenever we get the first load unloaded.  Truck ran great with a full load.  Stopping took noticably more length, but the engine charged right ahead on take-off.  Excellent!

 

Brendan

brmiller Enthusiast

brmiller

Posted
Posted

All done!

 

empty_bed.jpg

 

Yeah, I bet most folks (maybe even Chevy too) thought that these things would get babied and no real "work".  I had reservations about some dufus dumping a ton of gravel with a bucket loader spilling rocks down the side and scratching up the paint.  But he was smarter than that and wouldn't use his loader.  This meant we had to shovel it in by hand.  Ughh.  But I'm glad he didn't just back up and dump on our new truck.

 

The finished project:

 

gravel_and_steps.jpg

 

Tomorrow we wash the truck!

 

P.S.  Shaners-  You really think we could have hauled the whole ton?  We weren't sure either--have no experience with these things.  Didn't want to overload it by accident.  If you look at all the GVWR and GM propaganda, it says 1300lbs. payload including people.  In the end, we didn't need a whole ton--the half-ton was plenty.  So we're done!

Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I think you could have hauled it (the whole ton)...  There are people with 1/2 ton pickups that haul heavier loads for short distances.  But it is a "new" truck and it's always a good thing to experiment to see what your capabillities are.  Your AV wasn't squatting a whole lot with the load you had on it.  Moving that gravel by hand is alot of work isn't it...

Jpshostr Senior Enthusiast

Jpshostr

Posted
Posted

I never thought I'd see an Av with something other than groceries in the bed, you proved me wrong and I'm glad you did.  I'm with Shaners, you could've hauled the whole ton in one trip, but maybe you just needed an overnight break between each half ton!

HillHound Senior Enthusiast

HillHound

Posted
Posted

Nice pictures-I love to see pics of our trucks loaded or pulling a trailer or 4 wheeling!  By the way-are there any kinds of bedliners available yet for the Avalanche?  Might be nice to have for someone like you.  I did see a couple of guys at the Southern States loading up an Avalanche with several bags of feed but I'm not sure how heavy the load was.

Stepside Z Senior Enthusiast

Stepside Z

Posted
Posted

I didn't think anybody put anything in the back of those things. The truck (and now I feel much better about saying that thanks to your pictures) looks good and nice looking project.

chevy4x4trucks Senior Enthusiast

chevy4x4trucks

Posted
Posted

I'm one of those guys who wouldn't even fathom doing that to an avalanche.  Heck, I feel bad loading all of that stuff into the bed of my pickup.  Although I'm a neat freak and don't like my truck getting dirty at all.

brmiller Enthusiast

brmiller

Posted
Posted

Hey, thanks guys for all the swell comments.  There were several times when I thought a "dump option" would have been good.  Shoveling that much rock out by hand was indeed a pain.  We had to shovel it in one spade-full at a time when we picked it up.  But to unload, I just put another tarp underneath the "mass" and let it hang down over the bumper (tailgate was removed).  We scooped it down the "shute" to a waiting wheelbarrow.  Note to Av-owners:  The cutout in the center of the rear bumper where the license plate goes is the perfect width (and height) for a wheelbarrow!

 

We put a tarp down on the bed and up over the sides for two reasons.  One, to keep gravel from escaping out the water drainage holes front and rear of the bed.  And two, because I didn't want the rain gutters and hardtop cover tracks filling up with mud and rocks.  If you look at my "empty" picture, you'll see that cleanup shouldn't be too dificult.  Oh, there was one more reason to use the tarp--I didn't want to scratch, or worse, crack, the side cargo lights with all that rock as we shoveled it in.

 

And chevy4x4, I'm the same way--especially when something is new--want to keep it clean and purty-lookin'.  But my wife kept telling me "What did we get a truck for if not to haul loads of stuff?"  She was right, and said she'd help clean it too. :P

 

Brendan

 

P.S.  And JP, it's 'bout near time to get groceries too!

chevy4x4trucks Senior Enthusiast

chevy4x4trucks

Posted
Posted

My dad always wants me to haul stuff around for him in the truck, rocks, dirt, woodchips, you name it.  I'm always very worried becuase I don't want to risk the people messing up w/ the front end loader and hitting the truck, or people scratching it w/ shovels or there jacket zippers when the pull stuff out of the back.  I can look at the side of my truck and see marks where people let there coats hang down and rub the side of the truck.  That's one of my biggest pet peeves.  

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • CamGTP
      Gas Prices

      By CamGTP · Posted

      It varies a ton around me. Some places are still at $5.00 or higher and others are way down into the $4's.   Offroad diesel was $4.02 at the one station I passed today.
    • Hdwrguy
      2027 Chevrolet Silverado: Official Discussion

      By Hdwrguy · Posted

      So after reading the reveal from Chevrolet, I kept asking myself...why did the trim levels change?   Here are the official ones:   Work Truck (WT): The quintessential fleet truck, built with durable, easy-to-clean interiors for commercial or utilitarian use. Custom: A stylish, road-oriented trim that adds a more refined appearance, standard dual exhaust, and modern exterior styling. Custom Trail Boss: An entry-level off-roader featuring a 2-inch factory suspension lift and 34-inch mud-terrain tires on a budget. Silverado: Serving as the new base consumer truck (replacing the previous LT trim), it comes standard with the Z71 off-road package when equipped with 4WD. Trail Boss: Steps up the off-road hardware with the 2-inch lift, 34-inch tires, monotube shocks, an exclusive off-road hood, and more premium interior options. ZR2: The flagship off-roader. It boasts 35-inch mud-terrain tires, Multimatic DSSV dampers, front and rear electronic lockers, forged carbon-fiber interior accents, and an available hardcore Bison Edition (co-developed with AEV). High Country: The pinnacle of luxury. It replaces bright chrome with modern satin chrome, 22-inch wheels, premium leather, real wood interior trim, a panoramic sunroof, and an exclusive front-passenger touchscreen. As others have stated, why would you want a Silverado - 'Silverado' - wth?? LT needs to remain!!!   Also, there will no longer be a dedicated Z71 model.  All 4x4 trucks will have the Z71 package. Carplay is also something that cannot be removed.  Hopefully it will remain.     I am excited about the 5.7L V8 (350 C.I.D.)  Old school Chevy power.  My only concern is whatever version of AFM/DFM cylinder deactivation.  Too bad that isn't an option a buyer can choose to have or not.   I will definitely be stopping by my local dealership when these trucks start showing up.
    • richard wysong
      Gas Prices

      By richard wysong · Posted

      I haven't seen diesel for less than $5.30 anywhere in my area
    • Chuck FB
      OCI, not when but why?

      By Chuck FB · Posted

      The not as clean as one would assume theme with the new engine oil, that reminds me of comments over the years with mechanics not always being so on board with filling an oil filter, not from the center anyway due to that typically being the clean side of the filter, danger of some contaminant falling into the filter if not careful but the realization now that the oil may not be as pure as one had assumed it would surely be. Yes it would be possible to fill from the small holes but that means messing with something to prop open the anti drain back valve if the filter is so equipped and not damage that valve in the process. Me, I have hardly ever prefilled an engine oil filter however I have prefilled diesel fuel filters with a filter on a fuel bulk tank and for anyone that has messed with diesel engines with filters and units that have a limited or no way of priming them, putting on a dry filter is a bad day to say the least with those crappy systems. But anyway back to not so clean engine oil, indeed perhaps its not so bad after all that I have not made a practice of prefilling oil filters.    As Grumpy Bear commented on keeping things clean, that I really have to wonder what the typical practice is at a dealer or any other shop that changes engine oil, do they make sure to wipe or wash off the oil plug and certainly if it fell into some gunk or onto a dirty floor, or that they wiped the filter mounting flange and didn't go and use some dirty rag and end up adding dirt to the inside of the head of the filter mount. Or be careless in how they stored or handled the new filter and if they were bumping into items under the vehicle with the filter opening facing up and having dirt drop right into the filter and if so right into the threaded center that is on the clean side. The top side, did they clean away the built up gunk that may be around the filler before removing the cap or to be really careful at that point that something right close to the filler hole that was hidden under the caps flange won't fall into the engine. Or did they clean the funnel or was that just laying there covered in oil from the oil change before and dust kicked up from sweeping the floor stuck to the oil and now that will go running into the next persons engine due to just not cleaning the funnel as "they won't know anyway" attitude as that young guy is more worried about taking a break so he can go outside and smoke a joint. Just random points that came to mind when I think about what some hired personnel may do that the shop foreman has no idea of or perhaps the whole attitude of some shops may be "eh ... who cares, they will never know the difference anyway".  
    • CamGTP
      Gas Prices

      By CamGTP · Posted

      $3.69 for 87 octane.   $4.24 for Diesel in town.

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...