Codycat

Anybody that knows what they are doing knows that for several years manufacturers were not putting large enough hitches to match towing capacities. its simple to remove factory hitch and put in correct size.

FishLife

Yep....

Vantaredoc

Yep. I have been upgrading hitches to the Curt class V hitch for years. I have a 06 2500 LBZ I bought new. I tuned it with EFI Live the day I got it and upgraded to the DSP5 on the fly switchable tune. I have pulled some heavy loads. I replaced the transmission with a stage 5 built and home brew converter around 90k miles. I also have a 2016 tuned and deleted 3500drw High Country and my favorite "go to" truck is still the LBZ.

Kendall

Codycat and Vantaredoc are absolutely correct. The first thing I did when I bought the truck in 2011 with 23,000 miles on it, was change out the factory hitch to a Reese Class V hitch. EFI Live was done a couple years later. I only pull 20 miles back and forth to service and to the ramp and storage 9 miles. When I went to Morehead City from Ocean Isle Beach for the Big Rock, I chose to go by water. A couple of weeks ago, when I went to Hatteras, I chose to go by water rather than trailer to Morehead or Hatteras. Running by water is fun, less risky, and less stressful. It does burn a few more dinosaurs and dollar bills, but I am not a manmade global warming New Green Deal advocate.

IMPLiberty

Have you seen doctor salaries? Especially one that’s been at it for some time. Hard to make more money than a doctor (while still being someone’s employee).

IMPLiberty

$45,000 trade in value on a truck with 200,000 miles? What dealership gave you that, so I can take my truck there for a trade in.

ParkRanger

That was long, long ago, just using it as an example. ARP studs took care of that. Leaking injector cups can also pressurize the cooling system.

Northcoast 24

I agree with the op. I prefer the older gms as well. But as I always say they are all nice when there new and all suck when there broke! These days I feel you really have to have a need for a diesel to justify the cost. And then it’s grab your lube and your ankles when they break! I’ll stick with my 01 8.1 thank you.

johnny.dollar

I had a crdiothoracic surgeon tell me some surgeons are making 250k a year.........I was like wtf low?

autobaun70

No doubt the new stuff is nicer and stronger, but agree with you 100%, for how you use it, not really anything to be gained by going to an emissions equipped truck.

if your towing tendencies included lots of long trips to the gulf or Florida, etc., I would see things differently. Particularly if you were hauling a full crew or family with you. The nicest LBZ equipped truck out there can’t hold a candle to a late model living room on wheels from any of the big three in terms of road trip comfort.

IMPLiberty

That is low for a surgeon whose been at it for a while. Starting salaries where my wife is looking are in that neighborhood. For what med school costs... they better make good money!!

Bleu

A new tow vehicle wrapped in a matching "Fishin' Physician" decal would be impressive to see going down the road.

Wreckdiver13

A lot of them go ask around

pizzacutter

We got the same maker & same vintage,, just powered by 8.1 gasser. Bone stock except upgraded hitch. Engine & Tranny never touched @ 130,000 miles. Pulls 20,000 lbs + with no problem. Say what u want about GM Heavy Duty trucks. The Physician & Me can show that they will pull 3 X their weight,, for decades..(not years), and still look and drive great

tarpononecharter

Maybe I'm missing something but not sure why anyone wants to tow these big boats in the first place. Doc I'd find a home for that Freeman on the water and in 30 minutes I'd be gone.

autobaun70

pretty sure it spends 99% if it’s time on a life behind the doc’s house. Trailers are a lot more convenient than scheduling haul outs...particularly for a cat.

Kendall

Autobaun is correct. I have a boatlift on one side of my corner lot, and the floating boat dock on the other side. I literally leave from my backyard on most all my fishing trips. However, for oil changes and servicing, having a trailerable boat is so much more convenient.


Here is the Boat Lift on one side

And the Floating Dock on the other side.

26,000 Pound Capacity IMM Lift

pizzacutter

Trailer serves so many needs for us. Service & repairs much easier & cheaper... Indoor storage for the winter (our boat is 34 years old)….. Go to Florida for winter & have boat delivered, with no wear & tear.....
(I have to admit I was once in the Modular Home biz,, so a lot of exposure to oversize loads.)

brisboats

Ok we have seen the Doc's truck, boat and now the house. All very nice.
Time for pics of the Wife.
B

dawgsfish

For what you do, seems like the ideal tow pig to me
theres no perfect truck, but the lbz is arguably the best duramax iteration produced. Not enough long term data out on L5P yet. I love mine, 270k miles and have done nothing aside from maintenance and wear items, along with some elective performance stuff. A lot of days I'd love to have a remote start, heated/cooled seats, etc. But I don't "need" anything a new truck brings to the table.

All trucks will have their faults. Have one buddy that dropped a turbo in his 2017 6.7psd with 150k miles, and another in a dodge that had the def system leave him on the side of the road.
My lbz could lift a head, drop a piston, or break a crank tomorrow, but knock on wood so far so good. It's simple compared to the new stuff and I know how to work on basically the whole truck inside and out.

It is embarrassing the hitches gm put on these trucks from the factory. Replaced mine with a b&w a while back.

With my preferred tuners efi tuning, there isn't another truck I've driven that I'd rather take on a road trip or use as a tow pig

May eventually end up in a 15.5-16 LML or an L5P if they become more affordable to delete, but not sure I'll ever be able to get rid of this LBZ, it's just been too good of a vehicle