jasonm

I use my 03 SS for towing. I have 90k miles on the pickup, and it runs and shifts like it's brand new. I'm not one to abuse my pickup though, either -- it's had a pretty good life in my heated garage all winter, and tows the boat on the weekends, and the construction trailer once in awhile. I do not have a tune, and I'm not lacking for power. To buy a duramax to tow occaisionally for a few months out of the year doesn't make much sense to me -- unless money isn't an object. I figure at 90k miles, if I have my GM employed brother in law put a new transmission in my truck, it's around $2500... A used duramax will cost me 10 times that. A new one will cost close to 20 times that. An equalizer (weight distributing hitch) will cost you about $300, but it will make towing your camper much easier on the vehicle. It picks up on the backend of the truck, and puts more weight on the front end of it, helping with control, as well as helping with the rear-end sag. Our Camper is a 31' Keystone... and it's heavy. I tow it back and forth from the campground (about 20 miles away) to home probably 2 or 3 times a year. A problem though is that you can't see in your mirrors. I HATE the aftermarket mirrors that slide on, or clamp on... They will wreck the painted mirror after driving a half hour. Fortunately -- when I do tow this thing, it's not far, and several corners so I can take a peek to see if anyone's back there. We live out in the sticks, so we don't have traffic issues to worry about at least. I would strongly consider either getting a smaller camper or getting an ultra-lite. Make sure you understand the towing limits of your truck - Understand that all that gear that you put in your camper weighs something, and if your water tank is full, that's an extra 300 plus pounds. Pay attention to loading it... You want to make sure that you're evenly loaded, not too much in the back end, etc. Weight is a big deal, and adds up quickly. That's part of the reason we have a seasonal site, and just leave everything in one spot. It may not be for everyone, but it works well for us - I keep a big outdoor kitchen/entertainment center there. It wouldn't work to haul it back and forth.

Not to mention what would happen to the prices of corn when we have a drought one year. We've been getting less and less rain every year....

Not to mention what would happen to the prices of corn when we have a drought one year. We've been getting less and less rain every year....

But..... see.... life happens. I'm not trying to tell you what to do, I'm just explaining why I feel the way I do. See, wives can get pregnant, jobs can get lost, people can get sick, hurt or die. Live for the here and now, and you've got no 'fudge money' in case something goes awry. As for the banks keeping the extra 1.25% for profit, sorry.... you're wrong. My bank called me to refinance, at the end of the month, because it will substantially lower my payment. It takes a month the bank lowers the rates, for whatever reason. As for service fees to re-write... my local bank charges nothing. Just like they charged when I opened the loan.

I'm with Dylan on this one.... I don't know that I'd tap into the equity of the home right now. I'm a nervous nelly anyway, but if the market for homes continues to drop, it's going to drop the value of homes (due to the foreclosure rates -- new owners will buy for pennies on the dollar for what the home is worth.) This will, in turn, drop the values of homes in that area, making it difficult to dump for a decent price. I'm extremely impatient, and I know there are things I want done to the house yet, but I'm going to do it the old fashioned way, and just buy them as I can afford 'em. Will DEFINATELY take more time, but I'll still have a house to live in...... hopefully. On a seperate note, anyone see the GM loss? $13.7 billion. We're seeing big companies losing money hand over fist, and the other big story.... Gold. This is the second time that we've had gold sales reach the level we've hit.... The first time was just before the Great Depression.

I personally don't like the qualities of water based polyurethane when comparing to oil. The only thing I like about the acrylics is the fact that they dry faster. However, they also dry harder. Seems like a good thing, right? It's actually harder, but also more brittle. Meaniing, if you drop something from countertop height, it won't just dent the floor, it'll crack the finish. With oil, if it gets dropped hard enough, it will dent the floor (same as water), but it won't split your finish. Also, if you're going to stain with an oil based stain (water, you're okay), then go over it with acrylic poly, you need to let it sit for a period of time. In my opinion, wait'll spring/summer. Then, use the oil finish. You will be happier in the long run. Just my $.02.

Thanks for the insight. I guess I was uninformed.

My communications skill apparently have taken a dive. Now, I just want to put someone's head through a wall. I'm having a discussion with a guy who CLAIMS to be a mechanic. We get discussing GMs AWD and 4WD systems.... and that's where this starts. He's telling me there's no difference in the AUTO 4WD feature on the Silverado and the AWD Silverado SS (Denali, Cadillac, etc.) He says it works the same way. This doesn't seem right, as when I hit the gas in my truck (AWD Silverado SS) in the snow, or ice, the traction is instant. When I hit the gas in my dad's truck while it's in AUTO 4WD, it spins the tire(s) for a quarter of a second or so, then 'kicks' in. Also, he says that 4WD is 4 wheels driving. I was always taught that you'd have traction with one wheel up front, and 1 in the back, unless you have posi, then you'd have both the rears spinning. Someone shed some light on this?

Me too. Is this a problem that's notorious for this year? I've had the truck since new, and heard about many other things, but not the instrument cluster.....

$3000 seems a little steep. I purchased the warranty on my '03 for the same reasons as Stitches040. I bought my truck new, and the warranty was around $1500 for 5 years/100k. I'm already glad I did. I've had a few minor things go wrong, but I take it to the dealership, no deductible, get a rental car for a day, and get it back washed up. To me, it was worth it. I know I don't have to worry about anything going wrong with my wife or kids in it when it's -20 degrees. Towing is included as well. For me, it's one less thing I have to worry about... and I have enough to worry about.

I built a house 2 years ago for some folks that saved their change in the biggest glass bottle I've ever seen. They decided once the house was built, they'd take it to the bank, and buy a flat screen with what ever they had in it. They brought the bottle to the bank, and the employees laughed as they put the big jar up to the change counter, and started dumping it in. They got about halfway done, and the change machine broke. They all laughed, and said they'd count it up, and give them a call once they got the total and they could pick up the cash. The next day, they got the call. So, they climbed into the car, and went to the bank. Got there, and the bank VP handed them an envelope with $800+ in it, and another envelope with 3 - 9mm shells, and some small cow magnets. The VP smiled and told them they had jammed up the machine but they have a service contract with the counter company, and there wouldn't be any charge. He did ask if they'd be a little more careful about emptying out their pockets into the change jar though.

I've done the same thing. In fact, there were two of them, and I downed them both (this was probably 15 years ago now -- I'd a been around 16 or 17) When I got up to them, they were both bambies. My uncle drug them out with his 4-wheeler, and said it was a good thing I shot them both... so we'd each have enough for a sandwich. Today, I went out to the woods to scout a little bit. Got to the back of the 80 acres, and I ran into someone else's huntin' junk. In our land!!! So, i took it down, and threw it in a pile up by the house. Later, a guy drove up to my dad's house and asked if he'd taken some hunting stuff out of his land... he said that he hadn't. The guy asked if maybe I did, and Dad replied, you can check with him tomorrow... He's not home right now. Legally, I have to give the guy his crap back, but I can make him sweat it out a little bit. If you hunt on someone else's land, just show them the courtesy of asking first. This kid came in from the back (the neighbors from out of state said it was o.k.) and snuck into ours. He said he was just there 'taking pictures'. I have his SD-chip from his deer camera. I should upload some of the pictures that he's taken with it. Not all were of game... some of him and his girl friend. What kind of loser takes a game cam to family reunions for pictures?

I'll stick my neck out there. I'll start off by saying I'm NOT RELIGIOUS. Religion causes division. Division causes wars... I am a bible thumper, instead. By no means perfect, but I am saved, and forgiven for my screw-ups.... and I do a lot -- I'm a professional. Here's what I believe -- Take it with a grain of salt. There will be wars that break out, I'm not sure where (although the middle east area is the general consensus), or when (Bible is pretty clear on this: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father....." Mathew 24:36) Then there will be a great man to step forth -- to bring the one world order -- The one form of money (Right now, from what I am seeing, it could be the Amero, as the dollar is probably gonna be non existent relatively soon... it's worth is dropping every day.), the one world government (possibly from the United Nations???). Anyway -- This guy will be extremely likeable. He's gonna push a 7 year peace agreement, and it'll get passed. Then, 3 1/2 years into it, it's gonna be trashed. But, I'm POINTED to believe that the second coming of Christ will happen before this. There will be a 'second chance' so to speak for those that turn to God during the tribulation. However, I believe that won't include many people (if you aren't saved now, what are you gonna do once the churches, and the INITIAL believers are all gone?) Back to the second coming of Christ (I am jumping around here, and I apologize.) I think this is gonna be a bitter/sweet day. When the believers are taken up, the world is gonna be in pain. Cars will be un-manned, christans everywhere will be plucked outta here. It's going to be HORRIBLE down here. This is how the wars will begin so I believe (along with millions of Christians world-wide.) Maybe this won't happen tomorrow, or 50 years from now, but it's how I believe. Just as Joshua said to Israel, "....choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:2, 15)"

A couple of years ago, there was a TV show that 2 companies did 2 seperate Class A's -- fitting with everything that you'd want in a home. Marble tops, floors, 4 Plasma TVs, Exterior entertainment center.... every bit as nice as this. The one had a price tag on it of $2 million. The other one was done on an entry level budget of $1.6 million.

These are the ones that I have on my SS Cooper HT pluses. I like how they handle the snow and ice. It's like night and day when comparing to the stock tires. The road noise was something I was concerned about when I was purchasing, but my concerns were unwarranted. They're a good tire choice for all-weather. I looked at the Yoko's but they state right in their sales pitch '...... even in light snow....'