Just got a 2015 Silverado Z71 Midnight Edition

seaneboy · September 22, 2015

I love this thing.. It's my first pickup, not my first truck, but wow, I am really liking it.

There's a few things I'd like to do to it... One is put some LED's in the rear for backing up, as well as in the front for when it gets nasty out here. I am thinking in the grille might be the best option, but I do not see any grill-insert LEDs just yet..? I was probably going to go with the $150 special on the LEDs off Amazon I think, unless someone has a better suggestion. I'm not really looking to spend a few months payments on the LEDs...

I also really want to put a compressor in the truck box to fill my tires.. however I have a feeling that in order to fill the tires in less than 20 minutes, I'd probably need some serious CFMs... I deflate down to 15 psi, we honestly might have the deepest beach sand in the world here on the South fork of Long Island... I have been looking at the Vair that everyone likes ( I think it was a 450c or something?) But I don't think it's ~1 CFM cuts it..? I cannot find any sort of 'timing' chart on the fill, is there some sort of calculation I could do without calling in a mathematician?

Where are at on the leveling kits? The quick reading I did said something to the idea of "Z71 = no good on leveling kit" - could that even be true? What am I looking at for cost, if possible?

Thanks for any input, and potential pointers you guys might have for a new owner!

BTW: Here's a pic of the truck!

Willie will · September 22, 2015

Looking good and you will get addicted on upgrading her lol. if u upgrade the tail lights don't forget about the hyper flashing.

seaneboy · September 22, 2015

Looking good and you will get addicted on upgrading her lol. if u upgrade the tail lights don't forget about the hyper flashing.

These are the things I need to know.. enlighten me kind sir to your noble ways...! Ahh, finding some stuff..I was actually thinking along the lines of this LED light bar (would have to be smaller): http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81DQmMv-t0L._SL1500_.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Xprite-Light-Flood-Combo-Led-180W-11/dp/B00LNJI1KI

But, now you've got me thinking of the tails.. himmph.. haha.

Willie will · September 22, 2015

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/177251-led-install-with-resistors/

When I upgraded my brake/turn signals my turn signals went into hyper flash. The link I put up is what I did to solve the problem and the LEDs are really bright. I love them. I also upgraded my fog lights to led since I didn't want to pay for the HIDs.

seaneboy · September 22, 2015

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/177251-led-install-with-resistors/

When I upgraded my brake/turn signals my turn signals went into hyper flash. The link I put up is what I did to solve the problem and the LEDs are really bright. I love them. I also upgraded my fog lights to led since I didn't want to pay for the HIDs.

Oh dude, I totally forgot about DDM and their reverse lights! I had the HID's in my old Tahoe (smoked lenses).. I'll have to check them out. Do you have before and after? I was going the route of an isolated setup, like these:http://www.amazon.com/TMS%C2%AE-1260LM-CREE-Light-Off-road/dp/B00EA0ZB7I/ref=sr_1_9?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1442894380&sr=1-9&keywords=led+light+bar

Pardon all the amazon links, it's just convenient to link all from there...

99silveradoz71 · September 22, 2015

Sharp ride.

Willie will · September 22, 2015

Oh dude, I totally forgot about DDM and their reverse lights! I had the HID's in my old Tahoe (smoked lenses).. I'll have to check them out. Do you have before and after? I was going the route of an isolated setup, like these:http://www.amazon.com/TMS®-1260LM-CREE-Light-Off-road/dp/B00EA0ZB7I/ref=sr_1_9?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1442894380&sr=1-9&keywords=led+light+bar

I'm

Pardon all the amazon links, it's just convenient to link all from there...

Sorry I don't but trust me there bright! Those light pods look good. I would of got it my self but I have no place to put them. And for 20 bucks why not!

Willie will · September 22, 2015

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/155567-led-front-light-bars-pods/page-55

This page has a lot on light bars!

seaneboy · September 22, 2015

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/155567-led-front-light-bars-pods/page-55

This page has a lot on light bars!

Haha, I'm already there.. thanks man!

BlackZ71Silverado · September 22, 2015

I don't know where you read that the Z71 can't have a leveling kit but that's incorrect. Z71 suspension truck is the same as any other GM pickup, it's nothing special. Z71 is a suspension code, just like Z85, Z83. You can use a leveling kit of your choice.

The Rough Country kit is popular, cheap and easy to install.

If you buy a good set of projector LED bulbs for your reverse lights, that really helps. I have them in place of my OEM bulbs and they have been great.

I also just installed 35W HID's in my low beams, huge difference and well worth the $40.00 or so.

Sent from my crappy iPhone 6

using Tapatalk

slj2008 · September 22, 2015

Leveling kit on a Z71 - YES you can, I did it to mine. happy with it. LED's -low , high, fog , back up & line of fire lite bar with rev. have fun with your truck .

Tattooo · September 22, 2015

I love this thing.. It's my first pickup, not my first truck, but wow, I am really liking it.

There's a few things I'd like to do to it... One is put some LED's in the rear for backing up, as well as in the front for when it gets nasty out here. I am thinking in the grille might be the best option, but I do not see any grill-insert LEDs just yet..? I was probably going to go with the $150 special on the LEDs off Amazon I think, unless someone has a better suggestion. I'm not really looking to spend a few months payments on the LEDs...

I also really want to put a compressor in the truck box to fill my tires.. however I have a feeling that in order to fill the tires in less than 20 minutes, I'd probably need some serious CFMs... I deflate down to 15 psi, we honestly might have the deepest beach sand in the world here on the South fork of Long Island... I have been looking at the Vair that everyone likes ( I think it was a 450c or something?) But I don't think it's ~1 CFM cuts it..? I cannot find any sort of 'timing' chart on the fill, is there some sort of calculation I could do without calling in a mathematician?

Where are at on the leveling kits? The quick reading I did said something to the idea of "Z71 = no good on leveling kit" - could that even be true? What am I looking at for cost, if possible?

Thanks for any input, and potential pointers you guys might have for a new owner!

BTW: Here's a pic of the truck!

Beautiful truck brother !

TheTunaHunter · September 22, 2015

Welcome and great looking truck! (I swear someone at GM saw my truck and came up with the Midnight Edition!) I'm a South Fork guy myself and can sympathize with the soft sand. That said, I've had my truck on the beach at least 60x this summer with no issues. Even with the 3.08 rear end and my heavy DuraTrac's , airing down to 20psi has taken the truck thru even the softest spots.

For LED lighting, I run 2x generic Amazon spots on the TREX hood hinge mounts and then 2 floods off my back rack- love the setup and provides more than enough lights.

In terms of on board air, my first choice would be a Power Tank - look them up , I think the value/utility is a far greater bang for your buck than an onboard compressor type system. I'll be picking one up in the next couple weeks for air-ups/ pneumatic tools / to blow sand off my fishing gear.

Leveling kits: I run the RC 2" spacer and so far have no complaints, just make sure you get an alligment and snug everything up after the first 1000 miles. I also hit everything with a torque wrench every 2/3 months. The kit is cheap and I think all in I was about $320 with install and aligment.