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2007 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LS By Bill "BillaVista" Ansell |
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The Story of My TruckThe decision to buy my truck was a new experience for me - an impulsive, last-minute rush that worked out extremely well. Here's how it happened: For the last several years in my family we've been running three vehicles - a well-heeled '97 Saturn for daily commuting, a '99 Chevy Venture for family duty and my trusty old '78 Ford F250 for towing and hauling duties. Then one night the minivan that had been slowly but steadily breaking down decided to give up the ghost. My wife was driving it home alone on a rural highway, late at night, in a cold rain. Recently nobody had really enjoyed driving the van - the power windows and locks were intermittent at best, the HVAC worked maybe 50% of the time, the rear wiper was broken, the power mirrors weren't, the tailgate latch had seized shut, and a host of other annoying problems plagued the beast. Then this fateful night it decided to buck and surge and die, leaving my wife stranded beside the highway. |
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Having forgotten her cell phone she had little choice but to limp the POS home, at 30 km/h on the highway in freezing rain, coughing and sputtering all the way. When she finally made it home she was, shall we say, not best pleased. After she told me the tale, I figured I was facing either a few long days of diagnosis and repair, or a large bill for same from the dealership. How wrong I was. You see, my wonderful wife is nothing if not strong-willed and decisive - and she had had enough with this vehicle. It was a Thursday night. She said to me, "Your birthday is next week, pick out the truck you want, any truck and I'll buy it for you, I'm sick of that van. We'll trade in the van and you can sell the old Ford - we'll replace two vehicles with one." I was shocked, stunned! "I have just three conditions", she continued, "it must be brand new, it must have four doors, and it must have air, the rest is up to you." As you can imagine - I darn near soiled myself. Perhaps a better man would have gotten her calmed down - reassessed the situation in the morning, perhaps arranged for an estimate for the van repairs. Did I? Hell no! I jumped like a scalded cat - straight to the internet and all the truck manufacturer's web sites I could find, along with a good number of forums and enthusiasts sites. I'm an addict for research and time was not on my side - we were going test driving on Saturday. The next two days were a blur of frenzied research and not much sleep. When Saturday morning dawned I had narrowed the field to the "big- 3" of 3/4-ton trucks. We set off with an ambitious plan to test drive all the crew cab 3/4-ton offerings from Chevy, Dodge, and Ford. I tried to pretend I was calm and ambivalent, I remember saying, "Now we're just going to look honey, we don't want to rush into anything." Famous last words! Our first stop was the local GM dealer, Laplante Chev Pontiac Buick Ltd. , located at 632 Rue Principale, Casselman, Ontario, Canada. It's no secret that I'm no fan of car dealerships. In fact, my previous experiences with them are a large part of the reason I started buying tools and doing my own work many years ago - and here I am somehow now the tech editor the largest offroad web site in the world! But right from the start this dealership was different. I know it sounds cliché, but they are a small town dealership - big enough to give full service but small enough to care. And they've been family owned and run for generations. To make a long story short - we were greeted right away by Philippe and he was great - professional, courteous, and well informed without being patronizing at all. We talked about what we were looking for and within minutes he was handing me the keys to test drive a brand new 2007 Chevy 2500HD 4x4. It had 11kms on the clock. When I got back it had 42kms and I had just one question: "Is the radio supposed to stay on when I take the key out?" Philippe chuckled good-naturedly and explained that it is - just one of the many new features I would find myself getting accustomed to (it's called "retained accessory power"). Trucks have sure come a long way since 1978. Minutes later I whispered discreetly to Laurie, "I really want this truck." So much for testing them all! Oh well, I'd done my research and had secretly had my heart set on a Chevy since we left the house anyway. We came to a deal with Phil and I was suddenly the owner of a brand new truck. The next few days waiting for the licensing, dealer prep, and rust-proofing to be completed were pure hell. But then, on Wednesday January 17 2007, my 38th birthday, she was ready for me and all mine. When we pulled up I discovered Laurie had arranged to have it prepped and sitting outside with a big red bow on it! And that's how this journey began. I'm a lucky, lucky man in so many ways. Oh, and since I've been asked so many times, yes, Laurie does have a sister but she's already married - sorry guys!
The TruckMy truck is officially known as: 2007 Chevrolet Silverado (Classic) 2500HD (K25743) LS Crew Cab Standard Box 4WD 1SK Package That's quite a mouthful of a name! It breaks down like this: 2007 Chevrolet Silverado - Year, make, and model (obvious!) Specs and Tech DataBasic Specs
Features
The most useful information I made into a little graphic card I printed, laminated, and keep in the glove box. It beats digging through the 600-page owners manual for information.
Detailed SpecsFor complete details on my truck, please see: My Chevy Silverado 2500HD Standard and Optional Features in: Adobe PDF format My Chevy Silverado 2500HD Specifications in: |
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Load label for the factory-installed trailer hitch. Notice also the 7-pin wiring diagram moulded into the cover - nice touch. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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GVWR sticker applied to driver's door jamb. Sticker gives GVWR, GAWR - front, and GAWR - rear information, along with tire size, rim size, and tire pressure information. |
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Inside the glove box is this decal that gives camper loading information, for use with slide-in campers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RPO CodesGM uses a 3-digit code, called an RPO (an acronym for Regular Production Option), to identify the options with which a specific vehicle is built. They are listed on a label or sticker called the Service Parts Identification (SPID) label. On late-model GM trucks this label is found inside the glove box. Some of the most famous RPO's are Z28 (performance package found on Camaro's) and LS1 (specific type of V8 engine). By recording your RPO's and looking them up in a reference table you can identify the options with which your vehicle was built. Most RPO's can be found in the following: |
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The Service Parts Identification (SPID) label found in my truck. This label includes other information along with the list of RPO's, including the V.I.N., wheelbase, paint codes, and vehicle model number. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Below is a file I made listing all my trucks RPO's and their de-codes, available in: Microsoft
Excel (xls) spreadsheet format, or More Info |
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GM Canada's Official 2007 Silverado Brochure (pdf file) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2007 Chevy Silverado Standard And Optional Features (pdf file) |
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2007 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Key Features (pdf file) |
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GM 2007 Performance Parts Catalogue (pdf file) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chevy 2007 Trailer Towing Booklet (pdf file) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Summary of my truck as "built" on the GM Canada web site (pdf file) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Excerpts from the 2007 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Owner's Manual (pdf file) - all the most important stuff- fuses & locations, replacement bulbs, fluid specifications & capacities, maintenance schedules, etc. Apologies for the poor quality scan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Detailed Information |
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Detailed Information on the Vortec 6000 6.0L V-8 (LQ4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Detailed Information on the Hydra-Matic 4L80-E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Review and Owner's LogFirst ImpressionsPlain and simple - this is by far the nicest vehicle I have ever even been in, let alone driven. It's a long way to step up from an old '78 to a 2007 and things have changed! This thing feels nothing like a truck - it's smooth and whisper quiet, the steering is responsive, the brakes are excellent (gotta love hydroboost), and the interior is a work of art. Everything is where it should be and all the controls are easy to operate - with or without gloves on. I'm blown away - it's simply a gorgeous vehicle. The other thing I didn't plan on, but I'm lucky it worked out the way it did, is that I bought a 2007 Classic. That means the truck is a 2007 model year but in the "classic" body style - the same as the 2006. The "new" 2007 is a completely different truck and, though it's a great truck and is getting rave reviews, I much, much prefer the look of the "classic". I particularly love the headlights and front end on the "classic" - I've admired them since they came out. And, in my opinion, this is important. Don't kid yourself - no matter how great a truck's specs, or how popular or trendy it is - it has to look good to YOU. It's a very personal thing, taste, but I strongly believe that to be able to live with a truck and be happy for a long time, you have to be able to walk out to it every day and look at it and think - man, I love my truck. I'll admit, I didn't even consider the new Toyota Tundra full-size, even though I know it has impressive specs, simply because, to me, it is just butt ugly. You gotta love your truck. Already I find myself looking for any reason to drive the truck. Not only that, but when I'm driving, I find myself actually setting the cruise at or below the speed limit (I know!) because I don't want to get there too fast, I don't want the drive to be over - I'm not kidding - that's how much I'm loving driving this truck. Fuel Mileage
Things I love or enjoy most about my truck:- The ride and drive - compared to anything else I've ever driven it is superb. I hope it remains that way for many, many thousands of miles. |
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DIC displaying current fuel mileage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DIC displaying remaining engine oil life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Grab handles. I love the big, beefy grab handles located for every outboard passenger - front and rear. There are even two for the front seat passenger. Not that I can see myself beating this truck off road - but they're still cool. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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wheel. For me, this is unheard-of luxury! - Steering wheel mounted audio controls. This is an option I never would have ordered, but you know how modern vehicles all come with pre-defined sets of options. Mine happened to come with audio controls on the steering wheel. In very short order I have grown to like them so much I will always look for this feature on future vehicles. The convenience and safety is very enjoyable. |
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Steering-wheel mounted audio controls. Note that the lower four buttons are for controlling the DIC. They come only with the steering wheel mounted audio controls option and it is my understanding that, without them, your use and control of the DIC is more limited than with them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Things I've gotten used to.Features or characteristics I wasn't sure I liked at first, but that I've grown to understand or like: - Auto-dimming rear-view mirror with compass and temperature readout. What with the power button, power-on light, chromatic sensor in the glass, compass direction readout and outside temperature readout this is one busy mirror. When you glance up there's a lot to see / pay attention to. At first, unused to this, I found it disconcerting. Now I've gotten used to it and can glance up to view the traffic without being distracted. The auto-dimming is a great feature too - I'm really enjoying that. - Integrated turn signals. The flashing red arrows integrated into the outside rear view mirrors as turn signals took a couple of days to get used to - especially at night. Every time I glanced out the side window while the turn signal was on I saw the flashing red and immediately thought the cops were after me. Not good for the heart! Perhaps just the sign of a misspent youth, I'm now comfortably used to them! Things
I'm getting used to. - Washers on wipers. The truck has the design that places the washer spray nozzles on the wiper arms themselves, as opposed to on the hood facing the windshield. While this is good because it means snow and ice accumulated on the hood/ at the base of the windshield don't obscure the spray, it also means that each and every time you use the wash feature, the first wipe of the blades across the glass is dry as the fluid isn't projected ahead of the blade - not sure I like that. - HUGE towing mirrors. Awesome for rear-view and for reducing blind spots, the optional "deluxe wide-load, vertical glass with lower convex spotter glass, heated with integrated turn signals, manual extending and folding" outside rear view mirrors are so large that they can actually obscure your vision forward. I find that, especially at a 4-way intersection, a small car, if positioned just-so on the road to your right, can actually be completely obscured by the large mirrors. Caution! - Cruise. It seems, just a little, that the cruise control may be a bit surgey. I'm not 100%convinced as it could well be the poor road conditions I have locally as much as anything. I need to report back after some more miles on various different roads. Things I'm not so crazy about.I guess nothing's perfect - stuff I really don't like: - Tires too small. This is my tow rig and family hauler. I'm concerned with fuel mileage and ride quality. I may never really off-road with this truck. But, having said all that, 245/75R16 tires (30.5" tall) just look WAY too small on a truck this big and long. Even my wife commented on it and suggested I buy bigger tires when the time comes - and she's usually imploring me not to modify things! - 4wd indicator. With the electronic-shift transfer case (which, I must admit I'm enjoying a lot, despite thinking of myself as a dyed-in-the-wool mechanical lever type guy) the only indication you have of being in 4WD is the tiny amber light next to the button. And the button's are partially obscured by the steering wheel to boot. It would be much better if we could have a nice red 4WD or 4X4 indicator light on the instrument panel itself. |
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This picture illustrates how the steering wheel blocks the drivers view of the 4WD engagement buttons, and thus also the tiny lights that indicate which gear the transfer case is in. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Power windows passenger lockout feature. Hey, I have a 7 year-old and 4 year-old in the back, so the ability to lock-out their windows (so they can't be constantly playing with them) is great. Why, however, is the only option to have all windows powered, or ONLY the drivers? What about my poor wife in the passenger seat? With the kids in the back and the lockout feature engaged she has to ask me to let her operate her window - super not cool! - Inadequate floor mats. The stock floor mats simply suck. Pathetic. This is a truck, it's going to get used in the winter and the dirt - why can't GM provide us with decent stock floor mats - something more along the lines of Husky or Weather-Tech rather than these postage stamps we get. |
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Stock drivers-side floor mat. Very poor coverage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Drivers foot well after removal of stock matt. Shown after 1600km of Canadian winter driving. Look closely at the area up by the accelerator pedal. Bad enough is the amount of salt and crud that gets on the carpet because of the poor coverage of the matt. Worse still is the moisture that gets under the matt. This comes primarily from the area up by the accelerator where, of course, your boots always are. Any snow or ice or mud or salt on your boots falls on the carpet, melts, and runs under the matt. The area under the parking brake pedal is also a serious flaw in my opinion. |
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- Owners manual. This has just gotten silly. The manual is over 600 pages long and every single paragraph starts with something like: "You may have a feature described below..." It's awful - not very readable and huge amounts of useless information. O.K., I understand why they do it - it saves a lot of money and time to print just one manual that covers a huge range of trucks, but the result sucks. Imagine how nice it would be to have a custom-tailored owners manual - one that is all about your truck and only your truck; one that covers all the options and features you have and none that you don't. And I don't think that's too much to ask when paying $40-50,000 for a vehicle. And with all the computerized assembly processes in place today I can't see that it would be that hard to do. It couldn't be that hard to tie something like this into the RPO code system. Imagine this - each part of the manual is contained in a separate chunks of code. As each truck is built a computer keeps track of the features and options, by V.I.N., and as each is added, the computer adds the appropriate chunk of code to a compilation file. When the truck is done the computer assembles a complete manual from the chunks of code and burns a disc. Each customer is provided with a complete, customized manual on CD or DVD. How cool would that be?! Photo GalleryFollowing is a gallery of some pics of my truck with various small upgrades:
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