What mods will your TV get this year?

In an effort to improve towing stability on the highway, I installed new Bilsteins, Steering gear brace (SBS), trackbar bushings and one new tierod. The handling wasn't too bad but hey, why not shoot for perfection? Or at least how it was when new. I'll also be getting the Prodigy.
So what is everyone else doing?

ScottandGrace wrote:In an effort to improve towing stability on the highway, I installed new Bilsteins, Steering gear brace (SBS), trackbar bushings and one new tierod. The handling wasn't too bad but hey, why not shoot for perfection? Or at least how it was when new. I'll also be getting the Prodigy.
So what is everyone else doing?

Which Bilsteins did you use, the blue and yellow or the sliver and black? What's your thoughts on the truck after the mods? I'm thinking about installing the SBS and Bilsteins as well.

Earl

Earl, my truck has stock suspension and tires (no lift) so I used the Blue and Yellow. The ride difference is incredible. They soak up small bumps so that you dont even feel things like expansion joints. Even driving over the curb into our driveway is far less abrupt. I feel they were well worth the price. Heck, even my wife noticed the difference!
As for the SBS, I'm dont really know yet. It seems like the steering is tighter and it even seems to return to center better ~ but I don't know why it would really. I haven't towed with it yet (not 'till may) so I'm not sure if it helped there or not.

Thanks for the info! I have stock suspension and tires as well. I did add airlift air bags on the rear and that made a huge improvement other than the truck has a raked look while loaded like it does while empty, which I don't like. I'm thinking about adding a level kit to the front to level the truck out. Than when loaded with air bags the truck will be level.

Please post how the truck performs when you tow.

Earl

I think I may try some of the Beil's this go round. I used another big name brand last time and they did OK, but not a big difference.

I'm also gonna be using some of the high performance Diesel fuel that will be at the pumps sometime around June should be around $4.00 a gal .

I will be adding a bed mounted auxiliary tank to my tow vehicle so I can extend my range while towing. The stock 26 gallon tank in the new Chevy HD's is ridiculous. Nothing like looking for diesel every 180-200 miles.

Earl, couldn't you just reduce the air pressure in the air bags to level the truck?

It ain't a mod for the truck, but it could be considered a truck saver.

check out the camper hooked to the truck at the top of the page on their web site.

http://www.westhaverassociates.com/ZAXIS/

I had DP Tuner live tune my chip from their stock tunes. Jody noticed an exhaust leak in the up pipes between the manifolds and the turbo. After I fixed that, it's ready for the season with a lot better shifting and more consistent power now that the turbo is getting all the exhaust flow it needs.

I added reverse lights under the rear bumper last weekend. I'm tired of never being able to see behind me at night.

Wired them through a relay so they operate by the tranny or by a manual switch.

Did the same on the back of the Cat. Works by tranny or switch also.

kcnielsen wrote:Earl, couldn't you just reduce the air pressure in the air bags to level the truck?

Airlift states to add enough air to maintain the empy ride height when loaded. I tried adding only enough air to make the truck visually level when loaded, but didn't ride right and felt like the air bags were bottoming out. I only made two trips since I installed the bags, so haven't had much playing time with air settings.

Earl

MountainMan wrote:I added reverse lights under the rear bumper last weekend. I'm tired of never being able to see behind me at night.

Wired them through a relay so they operate by the tranny or by a manual switch.

Did the same on the back of the Cat. Works by tranny or switch also.

Ooh, thats what I need to do but I've had some trouble finding good lights. What did you end up using?

Philip, I'm going to try some of that fancy stuff too as soon as it becomes available. I'd ask where you get it but I'm affraid it will be available everyplace..

I'm not adding anything this year.....


Wife says I am modded out on my TV. I can't really argue with her.......only thing I would still change is going to a Maxbrake controller.


Steve

ScottandGrace wrote:

Ooh, thats what I need to do but I've had some trouble finding good lights. What did you end up using?

I used small 2" x 4" 55 watt driving lights. I wish I had done this mod a long time ago!

Even when not towing, its nice being able to actually see what is behind you in the dark.

Here is the only pic of the rear of the truck I have at the moment. You can see the reverse lights fairly well. They tuck up nice and tight to the bumber. The hitch hangs down lower than the lights for protection.

The bucket lift is for sale!

Mopar_Earl wrote:

kcnielsen wrote:Earl, couldn't you just reduce the air pressure in the air bags to level the truck?

Airlift states to add enough air to maintain the empy ride height when loaded. I tried adding only enough air to make the truck visually level when loaded, but didn't ride right and felt like the air bags were bottoming out. I only made two trips since I installed the bags, so haven't had much playing time with air settings.

Earl

I didn't know that about air bags. I just installed Timbrens but I havn't tried them loaded. Unloaded the truck rides the same as before. I am looking forward to loading up the cat sometime soon.