2019 ZR2 Diesel

TwinStick

Explorer
Took delivery on or about 12/20/18. Color is called Red Hot. We ordered it. Mods will be slow & as needed/can afford them. It will be used to travel w/& w/o 19', high-ish ground clearance camper, that weighs 3500 lbs.

On that note, the mods have already begun.20181218_134153.jpg
 

TwinStick

Explorer
20181219_164147.jpg 20181219_164138.jpg 20190204_162901.jpg 20190204_162906.jpg 20190204_162912.jpg First mod was extending the engine block heater. Yes, that's an old microwave cord. Added a female plug on the end I cut. It does not get hot when in use. Plugs & cord remain cool.
 

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TwinStick

Explorer
The diesel & f&r lockers are the reason it's sitting in our driveway. Add the diesel to the Gladiator & it is out of our price range. Probably $60k +. We paid just shy of $20k less than that.
 

TwinStick

Explorer
It has Carhartt front seat covers, a chop Cabelas rear seat cover, all in gray. Truck has the no carpet option. ARE Overland truck cap w/Yakima sliding roof rack. I already have switched the new aero bars to my old round ones. Cargo Glide 1000XL bedslide. Reused my roof basket and spare tire mount/lock.

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TwinStick

Explorer
Have 589 HD shock skids, will soon have CBI A-pillar light mounts. Will install after winter. Also installing ARB fridge plugs for our 82 & 50qt fridge/freezers.
 

Explorerinil

Observer
The diesel & f&r lockers are the reason it's sitting in our driveway. Add the diesel to the Gladiator & it is out of our price range. Probably $60k +. We paid just shy of $20k less than that.
True, but sold Dana 44 axles, removalbe top, doors and fold down windshield and a ton of options make that a great choice.
 

Todd n Natalie

OverCamper
Took delivery on or about 12/20/18. Color is called Red Hot. We ordered it. Mods will be slow & as needed/can afford them. It will be used to travel w/& w/o 19', high-ish ground clearance camper, that weighs 3500 lbs.

On that note, the mods have already begun.View attachment 499360
Good looking truck! Do you have the camper already? I'm curious to hear how it tows. I'm guessing 3,500 lbs is the dry weight?
 

TwinStick

Explorer
Yes, have camper already. Yes, that is the dry weight. Towed it already with the 2018 ZR2 diesel we had for 2 days, that the dealer let us take home & tow with. It towed it with no drama at all. I was impressed. Thought it would be constantly upshifting & downshifting, like most modern gas auto's do while towing. Not the case at all. It shifted great. Only 2 areas where I didn't like what it was doing: in the city @ 30 mph in D, & @ 55 mph on secondary roads in D (both while towing). Both of those situations caused the 2018 (used w/3000 miles) to lug a little bit. Both situations were easily remedied by either putting it in L & limiting the gear to 3 or 4 @ 30 mph, or using L & limiting the gear to 5 @ 55 mph. Using t/h mode worked also @ 55 mph. I found that using the t/h mode did reduce the mpg towing, to around 12-13. While just leaving it in D netted 15-16 mpg towing. We put 200 miles on the test truck that day, just towing our camper. Up & down the steepest hills we have around us & on the Thruway @ 65 mph. I suspect lower gears (higher numerically) 4.10's maybe, would eliminate this issue but at the cost of mpg.

I have not towed with our 2019 yet but suspect it will be pretty similar, maybe better. I loved our/my "Holy Grail" truck when everything worked right, but hated it when it didn't. 2008 Dodge Power Wagon w/G-56 manual shift. towed our camper like it wasn't even there but needed LOTS of work. We are retired now & repair & maintenance cost MUCH more for that truck vs the Coloraaaado. Old truck got 6-10 mpg, empty or towing 10,500 lbs, didn't matter. The ZR2 is getting around 23-24 mpg empty & hopefully 15-16 towing. thats like a 140% increase in mpg, lol. The thing that is the hardest for me to deal with right now is simply the size difference. But I am adjusting. Love the truck so far. Love the ride. Hitting large potholes would throw my last truck into the other lane. This one just takes the hits so much better. I suppose $6000 in shocks would make the old PW take the hits better too though, lol.
 

TwinStick

Explorer
True, but sold Dana 44 axles, removalbe top, doors and fold down windshield and a ton of options make that a great choice.

Don't get me wrong, it will be a cool vehicle to be sure. It's rated to tow 2000 lbs more than our new ZR2, but we won't be able to afford one new. Adjusting to life at half pay is challenging as well. But we would rather adjust than to go back to work again.
 

02rangeredge

Adventurer
It has Carhartt front seat covers, a chop Cabelas rear seat cover, all in gray. Truck has the no carpet option. ARE Overland truck cap w/Yakima sliding roof rack. I already have switched the new aero bars to my old round ones. Cargo Glide 1000XL bedslide. Reused my roof basket and spare tire mount/lock.

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I know i'm late to the party, but why'd you mix and match covers? not go with a full set of either? I have a full set of cabelas trail gears and wouldn't hesitate to throw a full set into a crew cab
 

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