The Consolidated Truck and automotive thread. DIY, Performance, problems.

[blacklabel]

I run DuraTracs on my truck. Great off and on road performance, and they've done really well in rain and snow. They also wear very well, I have about 12k on them and they still have plenty of tread.

They better after 12K miles.

My last set of Hankook Dyanpros went 54K before I replaced them. They're economical, great in the mountains and did well the past few winters.

[Irving]

My $0.02:

For your stated purpose, throw some BFG A/T tires (in the stock size) on it and call it good.

Agreed.

[BushMasterBoy]

The only tires worth a crap on ice are studded tires. I have had to cancel trips because of black ice. Nothing scarier than a tractor trailer jack knife in front of you on black ice. I got the cheap steel wheels, now I have to go get studded snow tires! Only thing worth a damn in certain snow conditions is chains. You got chains? Usually can find them cheap at thrift stores and yard sales.

[fitz19d]

Anyone have a prefered mechanic/place for either Toyota or truck in general? Looking at reviews while high from sales, looks like the service department of Stapp right next to me is fairly horrifying. So far looking at using Ehrlich Greeley or Mountain State.

Wish the ford dealership was a good choice, but I fear them not being able to do certain things as readily or not be as familiar with due to way different brand?

[Holger Danske]

HID light help needed. Any experts out there.

I bought some new headlights for the excursion from amazon, which came with the cheap Chinese bixenon 35w HID lights. Install was no problem the lights work but I dont get any high beams. This is a 9007 bulb and I changed all the pin combinations without luck. When I switch from low to high the lights are momentarily brighter then return to the low beam brightness. I'm wondering if the ballusts arent getting enough power from the OEm harness and need to direct wire from the battery.

[wyome]

Yokohama geolanders at-s work really well in snow....rate higher than bfg

[fitz19d]

I'm no electrician Holger, but 35watts doesn't seem like that much to ask of the stock system. I'd hazard as the random idiot theory that it's just a bum bulb. Are the high's a separate gas pocket right? Maybe that's burned out.

[Erni]

Question on automatic trans fluid changes. My 05 suburban 1500 with 5.3L engine has 85k on it and the original trans fluid. I heard from some friends that changes that late in the life of the trans can result in bad shifting. Any truth to that? How hard of a job is this? Is it better to just have a shop do it?

[zteknik]

Question on automatic trans fluid changes. My 05 suburban 1500 with 5.3L engine has 85k on it and the original trans fluid. I heard from some friends that changes that late in the life of the trans can result in bad shifting. Any truth to that? How hard of a job is this? Is it better to just have a shop do it?

Normal service interval for trans fluid is at 60k, with 85k you should be good. Anything over 100k for a first trans service is unadvisable.

[fitz19d]

Updates for mine.

@Bushmaster, apparently according to the original purchase info window sticker, it allegedly has a tranny cooler and some other tow related things to go with the hitch/tow mode/controller. Wonder would trans fluid temp be readable with the plug in sensor since I dont have it on dash?

Going with the pics I originally posted for "vision" Couple weeks ago blacked out wheels. I still need to go back and resilver the toyota symbol.
Tonight I did bumper corners and hood. Was in a rush since I started late and weather getting too cold to do it. Peeling tape messed up a couple edges and one little tear in bottom left of pic I'll have to touch up later. Usually need to peel tape while black still wet, then once full dry retape and did gloss. I had tried doing both in one go. Happy for what an amateur I am. Appearance really changes a bit over a couple days so dont know if I'll stay happy with it. I liked the wheels which whernt tacky but were sensitive to fingerprints for a day or two really hardened up and got to a good point after a week of totally drying out.