2500HD Decisions

Wild Clyde · May 12, 2003

I took a test drive in a new 2003 2500HD yesterday and liked it a lot. The only thing that I didn't like is the fact that the front of the truck is dog gone ugly! It looks like a bad monster from a Japanese horror movie. I want to buy this truck, but am not sure if I can get up every morning and look at the front of it.

Is there a grill guard or anything else that can be used to make the front of this truck look better?

Are the 2004 trucks are going to look any better?

Any advice on a brand of spray-on bedliner? The dealer is promoting Line X.

The truck is missing the GM heavy duty trailering package/trailer receiver. Would you insist on having the dealer install the GM package by ordering the parts, or is there a better aftermarket choice? If so, what brand?

Thanks for any advice you have. I am a current Ford truck owner and am considering the switch to a Chevy.

Frank S · May 12, 2003

First off,welcome aboard.There are a bunch of great people here and I think you'll find alot of very useful info.

Secondly,if you don't like the new Chevrolet front end,go look at the Sierras.They are still pretty much rounded and the front doesn't contrast with the rest of the truck like the Silverado seems to.

LineX is a very good bed liner brand but you may want to look into having it down by a shop seperate from the dealership unless you feel it necessary to add in to the financing of your new truck.Dealerships usuallty charge upwards of $500 for the liners when they can be done by an independant shop for $300-350 so you can save a little bit there.

bummed-n-Md · May 12, 2003

ditto on the welcome.

My dealer was advocating a spray-in also, and I think it was Line X, but I did not know which Line X dealer it was.

I had already researched it and was commited to getting a Line X from the Line X shop around the corner from my office. Not only was it cheaper than the 'dealers' by about $100.00 but more importantly, the Line X dealer I went to has an extremely excellent reputation for high quality work.

I have a short bed and had an over the rail done. Whole thing after sales tax and everything came to $455.00. The quality of the work was well worth the price. I dropped off the truck at 8 am, they took me to work and at 3 pm they picked me up from work.

bummed.

MarkD · May 12, 2003

Welcome!

I paid $375 for a Rhino spray-in liner. I look at it this way...If you pay the dealer to have it done, then the dealer is the Liner companies customer, not you. Being the person handing over the cash to the liner co. could help if there are ever any problems.

odoh · May 12, 2003

The Coasters singing group had a song 'If you wanna be happy'. Ugly

yes but "she can cook" :thumb:

03GMC2500HD · May 12, 2003

I was in the same boat end of last year. I have always owned Chevrolets but I didn't think I could stand looking at the front of a new one in my driveway everyday. Actually I can live with the front view, its the profile I have a problem with. That foot of fender in front of the front tire looks awkward to me.

I went with the GMC and really like the looks of it on the HD's along with the chrome side moldings. I put a billet grille in it and chrome plated the tow hooks and that really cleaned the front up!

The trailering package is something I don't understand either. A HD is made for towing and has all the coolers, gears, and suspension yet the thing doesn't have a hitch. $180 added option?

I also plan on the Line-X as my next investment!

BadBowtie · May 12, 2003

I think I could get used to waking up to this every morning!

It is owned by 03HDINTEX, he posted more info here.

I love the Arrival Blue and the Ranchhand on his truck!

-John

ScramblerHD · May 12, 2003

Clyde, I recetly purchaced an 03 HD,CC,LT,D_Max Chevy (say that 5 times fast) and have the same problem you are talking about. Actually this is the first Chevy I own as I have always prefered the GMC front end. I do not like the front end to much especialy the contrast of the front bumper. Black on top with the grey on bottom!! on the GMC the bottom cowl is color mached which I think looks much better. For me it was mearly a $$ deal. the Chevy dealer had the truck and gave me a fair deal while the GMC guy only had ex-cabs in stock. I plan on seeing if I can paint the two to match installing a grill insert and maybe a bull bar to dress it up. You may also want to look for a place which has Speedliner brand for the bed I had that in my last truck and found it to be better than the Rhino. Well when I wake up in the morning I still think the GMC looks better.

PS BadBowtie that looks sharp love that color! :thumb:

Shaners · May 12, 2003

I would either have the dealer install the "complete" trailering package for the factory price ($180), or I would have him find you a truck with it already installed.

If you were to buy GM parts/wiring harnesses, I would think that you would have over $600 in materials plus labor (maybe more). The trailering package should include an auxillary tranny cooler, class V hitch, 7 pin plug/wire harness, possibly different shocks (I'm not sure about this on the HD's but the shocks are different on the 1500 series trucks).

timk49 · May 14, 2003

Dude go easy on the front end looks. I love my 2003 2500HD. The guys I work had comments when I first bought it but now they are saying that the front end is growing on them. It's an awesome truck.

Line X is a great liner Mine was $400 add on at the dealer. It seems to be indestructable.

Naga418 · May 14, 2003

I like the front end as well. Not sure why but I do. I recently completely switched teams. I always drove Ford then just a few weeks ago I bought an 03' 2500HD and I have no complaints. Getting a Speedliner sprayed in as we speak for $325 not at the dealer and as someone else mentioned it is nice to now be a new recognized customer at a good shop.

Have fun and the front end will grow on you if you don't like it now. I think part of it is that we have all gotten used to seeing the more rounded fronts of the past and this one is strange compared to that.

HD Dave · May 14, 2003

I agree....when I first saw the new front end I was not wild about it. But then it really started to grow on me! Now I like it more than ever. It's weird how that happens.

Must be a Chevy thing!

LARSONEM · May 14, 2003

The 03 Chevy front end didn't do a lot for me either at first, but I got one and like it. I thought the 99-02 was a very nice looking vehicle. The 03 will grow on you. I looks different depending upon the model and color combinations. I have a 2500HD CC D/A in dark green. The color matched fender flairs take some of the overhang out of that front fender. Personally, I think the overhang looks really big on the 1500. And personally, I'm not a fan of the fender flairs on the 1500, as they appear to not have enough tire to fill out the wheel well. On that subject, the 2500HD series ought to get something other than the 245's from the factory.

Anyway, you can get the hitch from the dealer (GM) and install it. The GM hitch has the 7 lead wiring plug attached to it and all you have to do is pull the lead down from by the spare tire and plug it into the back of the outlet. Depending upon the truck model, like the 2500HD with the Allison transmission, the cooler is already in place. I don't know why dealers just don't order the hitches/trailering package to begin with. $200 - $250 on the window sticker is peanuts compare to the price of a new truck these days, then it's their for the customer, plus if you don't need it, it's good for added resale.

If you are moving a brake controller from a 99-02 truck to a 2003, you will have to switch the dash/running light wire with the brake light feed as GM has changed the pin/wire locations in the harness. Or you can buy a new harness for the brake jumper. Moving the wires is cheaper. Unfortunately, GM doesn't give you a brake jumper harness any more with the purchase of a new truck.

Wild Clyde · May 15, 2003

Thanks for all of your replies. I know that I found the right forum to ask my questions because of all of the great feedback that you folks provided. Your collective Chevy knowledge and loyality is refreshing.

I told the dealer this afternoon that I will buy the truck after he agreed to add the factory trailer hitch for the same price as the factory installed option. I haven't received the paperwork yet and hope that he honors his agreement.

I am going to add the LineX liner to the bed and over the rails.

The looks are growing on me. I asked if the 2004 models are going to look similar, and was told that the answer is "yes". The dealer called a contact at GM headquarters to verify this info. I agree that the GMC trucks look a little better, but there are none available in my area (San Francisco Bay area) with the right combination of color and options for me (red, big block, 5 speed, radio w/cd and satellite XM radio).

I would like to put big tires on the truck. I am aware of the speedo calibration issue. What's the largest tire that I can safely put on without lifting the truck. It's a 2500HD 4x4 extended cab short bed. I like Weld Wheels and will buy new wheels to match the tires.

Thanks again. :hail:

Shaners · May 16, 2003

I would like to put big tires on the truck. I am aware of the speedo calibration issue. What's the largest tire that I can safely put on without lifting the truck. It's a 2500HD 4x4 extended cab short bed. I like Weld Wheels and will buy new wheels to match the tires.

Thanks again. :hail:

You can run 285/75/16's with a small crank on the front torsion bars. The Weld wheels may require a little more cranking or some slight trimming of the front air dam because of the different offset/width.

Save your stock wheels and tires or talk to your service dept first before selling them, because they may not honor service work unless the puny 245's are on the truck...

Welcome to the forum, and enjoy your new truck!!!