Isgro
Member
Howdy folks. The name is Matt. I've lurked around the site for years, but haven't really posted. I recently picked up a 2018 Chevy Silverado double cab that I'm going to "build" into a jack-of-all-trades vehicle to suit a number of needs. I put build in quotes because it won't be on the level that a lot of you are working on, but I figured I'd share the various upgrades I'll be making.
First, a bit of background about me and my needs. I've been an avid traveler for years, but have mostly flown to Europe and South America for my adventures. I'd like to start exploring more around my own country. I've also been participating in car endurance racing for the better part of four years, and have always needed a vehicle around for towing cars and race support. My life and needs have evolved over the last few years, and I've reassessed situation on a couple of occasions. Back in 2017 I purchased a 7.3 1996 Ford E350 ambulance that I fell in love with. It was a solid rig, and towed extremely well. I set up the box up for comfortable camping, and race support, and enjoyed the hell out of it. Ultimately I sold it because there were two issues. 1.) It was 2wd and I didn't have the skills or money to convert it to 4wd. 2.) The state of Massachusetts requires anything rated for over 10k lbs GVWR to be on commercial plates. This came with commercial insurance costs. I got fed up with that after a couple of years (insurance was >2x more than a private policy).
I still miss the damn thing, but it was the right decision to sell. A few shots of it...
After I sold the Ford (October of 2019) I went without a rig for a while. It was the racing offseason, and I didn't really NEED anything. Then COVID hit, and I was bored at home. I picked up what I thought was a solid 2004 Chevy 2500HD, but it ended up being a turd. I kept that pile around for about 11 months, but sold it last month. That leads us to now. I haven't been on a plane since January of 2020, and it's looking like that will stretch towards the end of this year. I'm also antsy as hell to get out and explore stuff. My girlfriend and I have done some small trips around New England, but my VW Alltrack is only so "capable" for the stuff we want to do. We also both love the beach, and there are a good number of options for over-sand fun in Mass.
That leads to the most recent purchase — A 2018 Chevy Silverado LTZ double cab. It's a 5.3 with the 3.42 rear axle. I wanted a crew cab, but also wanted a 6.5' bed, and that combo is really tough to come by. This truck was lightly used and spec'd mostly the way I wanted it. The plan is to upgrade it to be able to tackle exploring off the beaten path with my girl (and my niece and nephews on occasion), to get us out onto the beach as much as possible during the summer, and to tow my team's various race cars and/or supplies and give me a place to sleep at the track. Everything I'm doing is going to be thoughtful and reasonable.
The truck when I got it (22's and all. Ugh, haha)...
I immediately swapped on a set of 18" GMC wheels with 265/70r18 General Grabber AT/Xs...
I've since converted the front tow hooks to d-rings...
What's next (short term)?
• I have a Leer 100R bed topper on order, and that should be installed on 3/31. Sliding, screened side windows, sliding front window, black headliner, double t-handle rear window.
• I have a Rough Country 2" leveling kit on hand that I need to install (haven't had time to get over to my shop for that yet)
• I'll be building a basic bed platform for the back. Something that will support a queen sized folding mattress. Since I want to use this as a truck, I want to be able to quickly remove the setup as needed.
• I'll be getting a rear attaching tent of some sort. Mosquitoes and black flies are an issue here as the warm weather comes back, so I want something that allows air flow, but keeps out the damn bugs.
• Trailer brake controller — It's on order and will be installed soon. Like I said, this truck is multipurpose, and I need to be sure I can appropriately tow my 17' car trailer.
What's happening longer term?
• I like to travel light, so I'll be looking at efficiently building out the setup and gear.
• I want to set up a decent, but compact camp kitchen.
• I want to figure out an awning setup. I've got a nice EZ up, but it's chunky and eats up cargo space. The bed topper won't have a roof rack, so I'm thinking about using heavy duty vacuum cups with a relatively compact roll-up awning. We shall see.
• Storage in the back. I want to maintain ease of removal of this setup, and don't want this eating a ton of storage space when it's not in the truck. Bins? Drawers? We shall see.
• I was to figure out a portable table of some sort. I know there are options out there, but have some ideas in my head that I might mess around with (I love a good project).
This thread will probably be a brain dump and organization spot for me. Happy to hear ideas and feedback.
First, a bit of background about me and my needs. I've been an avid traveler for years, but have mostly flown to Europe and South America for my adventures. I'd like to start exploring more around my own country. I've also been participating in car endurance racing for the better part of four years, and have always needed a vehicle around for towing cars and race support. My life and needs have evolved over the last few years, and I've reassessed situation on a couple of occasions. Back in 2017 I purchased a 7.3 1996 Ford E350 ambulance that I fell in love with. It was a solid rig, and towed extremely well. I set up the box up for comfortable camping, and race support, and enjoyed the hell out of it. Ultimately I sold it because there were two issues. 1.) It was 2wd and I didn't have the skills or money to convert it to 4wd. 2.) The state of Massachusetts requires anything rated for over 10k lbs GVWR to be on commercial plates. This came with commercial insurance costs. I got fed up with that after a couple of years (insurance was >2x more than a private policy).
I still miss the damn thing, but it was the right decision to sell. A few shots of it...
After I sold the Ford (October of 2019) I went without a rig for a while. It was the racing offseason, and I didn't really NEED anything. Then COVID hit, and I was bored at home. I picked up what I thought was a solid 2004 Chevy 2500HD, but it ended up being a turd. I kept that pile around for about 11 months, but sold it last month. That leads us to now. I haven't been on a plane since January of 2020, and it's looking like that will stretch towards the end of this year. I'm also antsy as hell to get out and explore stuff. My girlfriend and I have done some small trips around New England, but my VW Alltrack is only so "capable" for the stuff we want to do. We also both love the beach, and there are a good number of options for over-sand fun in Mass.
That leads to the most recent purchase — A 2018 Chevy Silverado LTZ double cab. It's a 5.3 with the 3.42 rear axle. I wanted a crew cab, but also wanted a 6.5' bed, and that combo is really tough to come by. This truck was lightly used and spec'd mostly the way I wanted it. The plan is to upgrade it to be able to tackle exploring off the beaten path with my girl (and my niece and nephews on occasion), to get us out onto the beach as much as possible during the summer, and to tow my team's various race cars and/or supplies and give me a place to sleep at the track. Everything I'm doing is going to be thoughtful and reasonable.
The truck when I got it (22's and all. Ugh, haha)...
I immediately swapped on a set of 18" GMC wheels with 265/70r18 General Grabber AT/Xs...
I've since converted the front tow hooks to d-rings...
What's next (short term)?
• I have a Leer 100R bed topper on order, and that should be installed on 3/31. Sliding, screened side windows, sliding front window, black headliner, double t-handle rear window.
• I have a Rough Country 2" leveling kit on hand that I need to install (haven't had time to get over to my shop for that yet)
• I'll be building a basic bed platform for the back. Something that will support a queen sized folding mattress. Since I want to use this as a truck, I want to be able to quickly remove the setup as needed.
• I'll be getting a rear attaching tent of some sort. Mosquitoes and black flies are an issue here as the warm weather comes back, so I want something that allows air flow, but keeps out the damn bugs.
• Trailer brake controller — It's on order and will be installed soon. Like I said, this truck is multipurpose, and I need to be sure I can appropriately tow my 17' car trailer.
What's happening longer term?
• I like to travel light, so I'll be looking at efficiently building out the setup and gear.
• I want to set up a decent, but compact camp kitchen.
• I want to figure out an awning setup. I've got a nice EZ up, but it's chunky and eats up cargo space. The bed topper won't have a roof rack, so I'm thinking about using heavy duty vacuum cups with a relatively compact roll-up awning. We shall see.
• Storage in the back. I want to maintain ease of removal of this setup, and don't want this eating a ton of storage space when it's not in the truck. Bins? Drawers? We shall see.
• I was to figure out a portable table of some sort. I know there are options out there, but have some ideas in my head that I might mess around with (I love a good project).
This thread will probably be a brain dump and organization spot for me. Happy to hear ideas and feedback.
