Well, after some prodding by a few members I have decided to begin my build thread for my 2013 LML Dually.
This is not intended to be a my pecker is bigger than your pecker thread or a brag thread, but I collection of the things I've done to my truck based on my unique desires, needs, and whims. I do it with an eye towards folks that have an interest in learning different ways of looking at and doing things and will do my dead level best to do these in the format of DIY with pics and instructions to help those who want to know how and why I did things a certain way.
A word of caution. I typically over think and over engineer and over spend. I try for the subtle and factory appearing look wherever possible. (since I have an LB7 on a 12 inch lift with 37s for the not so subtle)
This will take a while to get up to speed since I bought the truck in June 2013 and have many mods and projects to get caught up on.
Here is how it began. My DD was a 2007 MB CLS that I bought new in 2007. At 70,000 miles on it and the month before I bought the LML, it cost me $6000 in repairs for an AC evaporator and air struts. I had enough, plus I wanted to get a 5th wheel and my LB7 was not the right truck to pull it with because it looks like this:
So, I traded this:
On this:
Drove 6 hours to Vernon Texas from Houston after cutting the deal over the phone.
And so it begins.
In keeping with some other build threads I'll try to keep this page as an index of sorts and a list of mods:
Table of Contents
Post #1
*2013 GMC K3500SLT, Victory Red and tan, heated/cooled leather, navigation, sunroof, and all options except rear sliding window and rear entertainment
* B&W Turnball and Companion 5th wheel hitch
*Rhino Liner - Didn't know the difference between low and high pressure. Wish I had known and specified high pressure.
* Ceramic Tint
* Expel clear bra on the front and the rear fenders
* Raptor 6 inch oval wheel to wheel steps.
* Weather Tech floor liners
* Replace mud flaps with diamond plate aluminum
Post #7
Replaced all the shocks with Bilstein 5100, including adding a 5100 steering stabilizer
Denali Radio wood grain bezel
Post #9
Nicktane 1micron microglass filter and filterhead with fender well door
Post #22
60Gal RDS tool box tank combo
Post #29
De-badged - not de molded
Post #30
Phillps HID 6000K low beams
Post #31
Amsoil Dual Remote Bypass and amsoil oil change
Post #33
Rear ended and color matched mirrors and bumper
Post #40
Crushed the new tailgate...remove replace
Post #41
Fleabay 6000k HID fogs
Post 45
Physical mounting of the on board air components
* Viair dual 440C compressors/ 5gal tank
* Wolo train horns
* Firestone Rideright airbags with custom fabricated valving
Post 57
Pondering the CTS mount location
Post #75
LB7 Sob Story
Post #82 and #83
Wiring system for the air system, air bags, horn switch, compressor switch, trailer TPMS
Post #87
First interior LEDs (fail) and dually fender marker lights
Post #94
Transynd flush and fill
Post #103
AD165
Post #113
Custom CTS Mount
Post #114
Glock Holster
Post #132
EAS wiring for Pressure and temperature gauge
Post #137
EAS EGT Pyro installation
Post #155
Rear Diff Cover fabrication and installation of the temp probe
Post #177,19,200,210,249
Parts coming in for the delete party!
Post #307,313,314,315,316,319,322
Delete party!
Post #347
First Oil Analyis results with Amsoil extended drain interval
Post# 439
New steel valve stems and 7 tire rotation
Post #475
New wheel well tool box
Post #497
New antenna for the TST trailer TPMS
Bought it with the Rhino Liner and B&W turnball and companion installed.
Glad I opted out of the GM steps as I went with the Raptor 6 inch oval wheel to wheel, which I love because it helps me get into the toolbox and unhook the 5th wheel. Drove the back roads for 500 miles to break in the rear end on my way to Memphis from Vernon, straight from picking it up at the dealer. Had to pick up the family from an extended visit to the in-laws. So I ended the first week with 1200 miles.
First stop was my parking garage at the office to prove the guys at the office wrong, that it would actually fit. Of course I had to bribe the building manager with a bottle of Jack to raise the entrance pipe about an inch to keep it from hitting the roof.
The next week I took it to the shop to have Xpel clear bra put on the hood, front fenders and bumper cover as well as a custom patterned full rear fender piece for the hips.
No other mods before it was off to Ohio to pick up the new 5th wheel. Stopped for a ROTM photo.
and then picked this up
Installed the steps
The replaced the dealer advertisement on the mud flaps
a few pop rivets and some diamond plate
Then added the Weather Tech liners
This is not intended to be a my pecker is bigger than your pecker thread or a brag thread, but I collection of the things I've done to my truck based on my unique desires, needs, and whims. I do it with an eye towards folks that have an interest in learning different ways of looking at and doing things and will do my dead level best to do these in the format of DIY with pics and instructions to help those who want to know how and why I did things a certain way.
A word of caution. I typically over think and over engineer and over spend. I try for the subtle and factory appearing look wherever possible. (since I have an LB7 on a 12 inch lift with 37s for the not so subtle)
This will take a while to get up to speed since I bought the truck in June 2013 and have many mods and projects to get caught up on.
Here is how it began. My DD was a 2007 MB CLS that I bought new in 2007. At 70,000 miles on it and the month before I bought the LML, it cost me $6000 in repairs for an AC evaporator and air struts. I had enough, plus I wanted to get a 5th wheel and my LB7 was not the right truck to pull it with because it looks like this:
So, I traded this:
On this:
Drove 6 hours to Vernon Texas from Houston after cutting the deal over the phone.
And so it begins.
In keeping with some other build threads I'll try to keep this page as an index of sorts and a list of mods:
Table of Contents
Post #1
*2013 GMC K3500SLT, Victory Red and tan, heated/cooled leather, navigation, sunroof, and all options except rear sliding window and rear entertainment
* B&W Turnball and Companion 5th wheel hitch
*Rhino Liner - Didn't know the difference between low and high pressure. Wish I had known and specified high pressure.
* Ceramic Tint
* Expel clear bra on the front and the rear fenders
* Raptor 6 inch oval wheel to wheel steps.
* Weather Tech floor liners
* Replace mud flaps with diamond plate aluminum
Post #7
Replaced all the shocks with Bilstein 5100, including adding a 5100 steering stabilizer
Denali Radio wood grain bezel
Post #9
Nicktane 1micron microglass filter and filterhead with fender well door
Post #22
60Gal RDS tool box tank combo
Post #29
De-badged - not de molded
Post #30
Phillps HID 6000K low beams
Post #31
Amsoil Dual Remote Bypass and amsoil oil change
Post #33
Rear ended and color matched mirrors and bumper
Post #40
Crushed the new tailgate...remove replace
Post #41
Fleabay 6000k HID fogs
Post 45
Physical mounting of the on board air components
* Viair dual 440C compressors/ 5gal tank
* Wolo train horns
* Firestone Rideright airbags with custom fabricated valving
Post 57
Pondering the CTS mount location
Post #75
LB7 Sob Story
Post #82 and #83
Wiring system for the air system, air bags, horn switch, compressor switch, trailer TPMS
Post #87
First interior LEDs (fail) and dually fender marker lights
Post #94
Transynd flush and fill
Post #103
AD165
Post #113
Custom CTS Mount
Post #114
Glock Holster
Post #132
EAS wiring for Pressure and temperature gauge
Post #137
EAS EGT Pyro installation
Post #155
Rear Diff Cover fabrication and installation of the temp probe
Post #177,19,200,210,249
Parts coming in for the delete party!
Post #307,313,314,315,316,319,322
Delete party!
Post #347
First Oil Analyis results with Amsoil extended drain interval
Post# 439
New steel valve stems and 7 tire rotation
Post #475
New wheel well tool box
Post #497
New antenna for the TST trailer TPMS
Bought it with the Rhino Liner and B&W turnball and companion installed.
Glad I opted out of the GM steps as I went with the Raptor 6 inch oval wheel to wheel, which I love because it helps me get into the toolbox and unhook the 5th wheel. Drove the back roads for 500 miles to break in the rear end on my way to Memphis from Vernon, straight from picking it up at the dealer. Had to pick up the family from an extended visit to the in-laws. So I ended the first week with 1200 miles.
First stop was my parking garage at the office to prove the guys at the office wrong, that it would actually fit. Of course I had to bribe the building manager with a bottle of Jack to raise the entrance pipe about an inch to keep it from hitting the roof.
The next week I took it to the shop to have Xpel clear bra put on the hood, front fenders and bumper cover as well as a custom patterned full rear fender piece for the hips.
No other mods before it was off to Ohio to pick up the new 5th wheel. Stopped for a ROTM photo.
and then picked this up
Installed the steps
The replaced the dealer advertisement on the mud flaps
a few pop rivets and some diamond plate
Then added the Weather Tech liners