Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[mknittle]

Tell the truth Dan, you bought it because the colors go together nicely.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ha ha, you know several people have commented about the colors matching but they don't to me. The truck is "Greystone Metallic", the trailer is a sort of tan and brown. I think they look good together but they don't really match.

Glen, yes I agree. The only thing that made my truck look smaller was the 11-1/2' 4400 lb. Lance that was on it. But this thing simply dwarfs it.
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[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

But this thing simply dwarfs it.

under statement of the year
that thing is huge

[Dan in Pasadena]

Apologies in advance to the moderators as this is waay off topic, but we're truck enthusiasts, afterall!

Greetings from the Kern River Valley!

The 5'er towed beautifully even up Hwy 178 over Walkers Pass (summit around 5000 ft.). No "bucking & chucking" at all. My air bags with basically no pressure at all; maybe 5psi. Brake controller set from 2.5 to 3, trying to figure out what is best.

I'm worried about my 5 year old original General tires. I've had great tread wear with them - BUT, last summer I had a tread separation on a rear tire. Replaced it w/same.
A month ago (pre-5'er) I had another tread separation on a front tire but this had been on of the rears I'd rotated up front. This time it was a pro-rated replacement.

Remember that before I would routinely carry a 4400 lb. Lance 1181 slide-in camper and sometimes tow my 22' wakeboard boat, so more weight (I think) ON the rear tires than the 5'er puts on them now.

So now I have two nearly new Generals in with the four originals. One of the rears looks a bit suspicious....a very, very small crack at the tread line. No separation yet but...

I'd like a taller tire (to fill the wheel well space a bit) as the originals always looked undersized to me. I'd love to be able to afford aftermarket bigger rims too but its probably over my budget as 6 new tires will be what? $1200-1800? Suggestions from you that tow heavy 5th wheels?

[G&R's57GMC]

Time for 4 tires

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

Time for 4 tires

I wish. It's a Dually. It's six or nothing. Load range E tires are about $200 each too...eek!
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[G&R's57GMC]

I know it a dually, didn't you just replace 2 tires ? That's why I said time for 4 tires.

BTW what was your mileage towing that beast ?

Looks like the chrome ball will have to wait now

[Dan in Pasadena]

Mileage? Mileage? What's this "mileage" you speak of? Lol

Got about 10mpg. But my truck is totally stock. Still has the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) which means it periodically goes into regeneration mode which causes fuel from the tank to burn away soot in the filter. Lowers your mileage since its not being used to power the engine.
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[vht]

You don't need all that room. Cut a door in the back so you can take the truck with you.

[G&R's57GMC]

10 mpg .... not bad considering the load.

What do you get without the "load" ?

[Coupeguy2001]

no wonder your truck isn't finished.........

[_Ogre]

someone needs to remove ''build'' from his signature link
life does get in the way, eh?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

10 mpg .... not bad considering the load.

What do you get without the "load" ?

Running empty I've gotten as high as 18 mpg. Which is impressive given the size of the Dually. But that's running 55-60 mph. If I'm unloaded I'll usually drive a bit faster, 70 - 75 sometimes.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

someone needs to remove ''build'' from his signature link
life does get in the way, eh?

That's why it says "kinda" in my link. Not just cause my '55 isn't a frame up job but because I tell myself, "Life isn't a dress rehearsal, this is all you get. Better take maximum enjoyment from it".

I'm sitting on a small bluff overlooking the slow running Kern River, waiting for the BBQ to get up to temperature. I'm thinking how nice it'd be to have my '55 here towing my jetskis. We're gonna store the 5'er up here so if I can get her reliable enough, there's no reason I CAN'T do this. Maybe next summer!
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[G&R's57GMC]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

That's why it says "kinda" in my link. Not just cause my '55 isn't a frame up job but because I tell myself, "Life isn't a dress rehearsal, this is all you get. Better take maximum enjoyment from it".

..... We're gonna store the 5'er up here so if I can get her reliable enough, there's no reason I CAN'T do this. Maybe next summer!
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If you do store the 5'er up there don't forget to winterize it and take the batteries home and put them on a Battery Tender.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yes, I agree though we'll use it at least a couple times more before "winter" - such as that is in SoCal. Even here in Kernville it rarely snows and freezes are infrequent.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok, so back to my '55 and my addiction to chrome!

Yesterday I stopped in "just to look" at The Truck Shop and I ended up buying a new hood ornament and polished stainless tailgate chains. Along with the new windshield wiper bezels I bought awhile ago, this SHOULD just about wrap up all the exterior stuff. Well... Except for stainless tail light bodies....and deluxe exterior trim - if I do that.

Pictures coming after work today.
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[dubie]

a real sucker for the shiny aren't you Dan. I suffer from the same thing which is why building a shop truck was difficult for me. I was always battling back and forth in my head on whether to go chrome everything with base/clear paint or leave it with painted everything and keep the factory pitted pieces. I chose the latter of the 2 for this one but our 58 GMC will have pimp proportions of chrome

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Ok, so back to my '55 and my addiction to chrome!

Yesterday I stopped in "just to look" at The Truck Shop and I ended up buying a new hood ornament and polished stainless tailgate chains. Along with the new windshield wiper bezels I bought awhile ago, this SHOULD just about wrap up all the exterior stuff. Well... Except for stainless tail light bodies....and deluxe exterior trim - if I do that.

Pictures coming after work today.
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Way to go Dan. You can never have too much chrome, LOL.

I put the stainless chains and clear chain covers on my truck about a year ago. A few days ago I noticed that they are marked right and left, and sure enough, mine were reversed. It doesn't take long to swap them but I thought I'd mention it so you won't make this same mistake.

I have a set of the cab trim but I'm having second thoughts about installing it as I can't make up my mind if I want to ever paint my truck or not. I wouldn't want to paint the truck with that trim on but doubt I could remove it without damaging it if I install it now.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

...I put the stainless chains and clear chain covers on my truck about a year ago. A few days ago I noticed that they are marked right and left, and sure enough, mine were reversed. It doesn't take long to swap them but I thought I'd mention it so you won't make this same mistake....

Oh, I'd never make that mistake. I'm waay too smart!

I'm sure I'd have never thought of such a thing. What makes them unique to a side? I thought that might apply to four eyed Fleetside trucks, but yours isn't one of those, right?

Clear covers, huh? I hadn't intended to do that. I figured the clear would get cloudy/crappy looking after awhile so I was gonna put the same bicycle inner tube covers on - yeah, makes no sense to get shiny chains then mostly cover them. Hey, it's a disease I tell 'ya!

[G&R's57GMC]

At a boy Dan , Your right the clear will yellow and look like c..p.

Besides the tease of just a little bit shine on the chains is like a scantly clad woman ....

Now go find a chrome ball for your 5th wheel hitch lever

[Russell Ashley]

I'm afraid "chrome lust" has gone way beyond teasing for me, LOL.

This is with the chains installed correctly. I thought the chain hooks looked more correct when I had them reversed. The clear covers haven't yellowed any after one year but the truck is garaged and only sees sunshine when I have it out for a drive. I like them and they're cheap so I'll just replace them if they yellow.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Russ I see you have the chain on "right".

My Dad always insisted the hook had to go in the hole from the bottom up, then over - like yours is in this photo. NOT just hooked through the eyelet. I don't see that it makes much difference but I can't get myself to do it any other way even all these years later.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

BEFORE:


AFTER:


Polished Stainless Tailgate Chains
- MEH.....Doesn't Look like much in the photo but looks much better in person:

[Kim57]

Looks good.
Kim