NOTE FROM SLIM: Sorry, I forgot to mention one thing, milage! The Silverado had 174,000 Kilometres or about 108,000 miles on it when I first got it. Thanks! SP 2nd UPDATE: This truck engine does NOT have AFM (Active Fuel Management), so no need to tell me to bypass it! PLEASE do not ask questions in this comment chain. Post them on a separate new comment so I can respond. Thanks!
watching this video, I realized how much you and your videos have been a part of my life for so many years. I have been following you since the white jeep and A-liner days. Your videos are always positive and are a bright spot in my week. looking forward to many Silverado adventures!
My gosh, I just found out I have been watching your videos for more than 4 years because I remember when you bought the Liberty. How fast time flies! Congratulations ;- )
Great truck Slim... My 04 Silverado 5.3 has 350k miles. Replaced water pump, heater hoses and connectors. This truck has been a real blessing to me and my family. I hope yours is for you....
That’s nice to know. We have a 2012. We towed a 19’ camp trailer from NH to our home in Alaska. We hardly drive it and we’re 70 and the truck on,y has 58,000 miles on it. I guess it will last us the rest of our lives.
Just wanted to say that in this crazy world we’re living in, I come to your channel about every day and look forward to another video. Great work, Slim, thanks for all you do. It’s funny that your search for solitude and peace brings me along and gives me mine.
Having owned many LS powered Chevys , you picked something that is easy to work on and every shop can work on it. It may ride a little rougher and be bigger than the Liberty but that’s the only positives it has over the Silverado. Just wait until you pull your trailer with it. It’ll pull it with ease and have the stones to get up and go should you need to merge on the highway or pass a logger.
Agreed. I have an old Jeep Wagoneer we take on road trips. Guess what lurks under that hood? Just went to Oklahoma and Texas and back from TN. That baby 4.8 from an Express van did great even with the Jeep sagged out with camping gear. I love that no matter where I am, I can get parts from any parts stores. Most that same day.
Slim, nice new ride. At 18:18, look under your truck at the inside of the driver's side rear tire as you're going through the mud puddle. There is either a hose or an electrical harness that's dangling, not connected to anything. I'm guessing it's the electrical harness for towing. Check it out because you don't want branches or rocks ripping it up. Take it to a pro for a good look over and safety check. I'm 66 and want to see you live a long life.
My 72 year old dad is still driving his 1995 4x4 Silverado Extended Cab Side Step. Almost 300k miles. He had a fresh paint job two years ago and removed the plastic bed liner which was replaced with a spray-in line to match the body paint. Almost zero mechanical issues to date, just basic maintenance. Zero rust. Southeast US
Since I bought my 1st pick-up, never went back. All "clean" gear goes in the cab, clothing, sleeping bag, etc... All "dirty" gear in the bed, ropes, chaisaw, atv, lumber, etc. Good choice on your make n model.
Just a word of caution with these trucks. I was a fleet repair shop manager. We had over 300 of them. They all needed cam and lifters between 140-160k miles. On 80% of them they needed torque converters and a transmission overhaul at 120-140k miles. Research these issues and decide if you want to preemptively do the maintenance on them. We started tuning the ecm’s on the trucks to disable the active fuel management and to not allow torque converter slip in 4-6th gears.
When Slim first started the truck with the camera next to it I thought there was a little "lifter rattle" but then again, I'm not a mechanic, just a little old lady with over a million back country miles driven these last 55 years (and many break downs in remote places)
You are going to enjoy the truck. I put a sheet of foam insulation and mdf on the floor. I cover it with foam tiles that are easy to remove and wash. When i camp in it, i put in 8 five gallon totes with three 2x2 pieces of 1/4 in plywood on top and a foam bed topper cut to fit. It is easier to move around with the bed elvated and you can see out the windows but still sit up straight.
That Jeep did you good regardless. Buying used (Fairly new) is the best way to go ! That Chevy will do it's job as well as Ford, Toyota or any other truck. It looks mighty good and all I would add are good quality mud flaps at all corners and a hood bug deflector ! Now check that loose left rear parking brake cable and get a set of good "All Weather" tires and get on the road ! Just be safe and we all enjoy your videos.
Nice Ride Slim. Being a pickup guy myself, I believe you will truly enjoy the versatility the truck will give you. Plus bigger is better when towing, especial gowning down steep grades. Enjoy!
Drive it like you stole it( you did!) LOL. We have 2009. 10 grand us. We love ours. Haul a 1971 vintage tag a long!!( used to haul a 28 ft dutchman..what a tank!) Happy trails!
We switch to a truck 2012 and never looked back. We decided on a diesel truck, as we tow large trailer. Our current truck is the 2016 dodge ram 2500, bought new and we are approaching 200K. We have a cab, but did something different for out needs. Will be putting out a video on it later. We do all our own maintenance on it. Enjoy...... simplyoffgridlife
Yes: "The view through the windshield was my television". I haven't had a TV for almost 50 years! Great choice for a new truck, and perfect color to not stand out like a sore thumb in the woods. My ultimate test would be driving on 4x4 boulder hopping roads up and down steep hills, not normal roads, even the forestry dirt roads. The puddles were great. That is the only time I have ever gotten stuck, was in a puddle that was super deep with a boulder under the surface. I'm 77and have always had 4x4's. I really miss them. I decided on my last vehicle to get a front wheel drive high top converted so I could camp in it with my old dog. But now I am limited where I can drive, darn. How many miles/km does it have on it? Giggling asit almost looks bigger than your adorable little trailer.
I have the 2014 version of the same truck and so far it has been very reliable and easy to take care of. It is a good era for these trucks, still modern but not yet so full of fancy technology. There is really only one known issue with them - that engine does not tolerate missed oil changes because of the "active fuel management" system. So keep up on your oil changes if you want to avoid a VERY expensive repair. It also has a place already set up for a second battery under the hood, an easy upgrade to make if you are doing a lot of camping and want to run accessories and such off the 12v system while parked. You could put in a deep cycle battery and a regular starter battery with an isolation switch very easily, with everything under the hood.
The 5.3 is a rock solid engine if you stay on a strict maintenance schedule. It has narrow oil channels in the motor. Any sort of sludge or debris in the oil can cause problems. It's not a change oil 1,000 miles past due type of kit. My 2011 Suburban is 150k and going strong. Mechanically awesome......... electrics, not so awesome. The GM electrics gobblin lives in all of them. Happy driving Slim🫡
Congrats on the new vehicle. I was a SUV person myself for many years and different platforms from a Suburban to a Isuzu Rodeo and never cared to own pickups because an open bed is useless for my needs. Now that I have a Tacoma with a midrise camper shell I love it, I wished I had done this years ago.
Congrats on the new wheels! I’ve found the trucks/cars, like houses, tend to be the right price for the right people. Buy it. Own it. Enjoy it. Just don’t make payments on it. I will follow you wherever you take us, Slim. Thanks for the adventures!
I have a 2008 chevy truck, and 18 is the best I can get. The seat in this truck is like sitting in ur recliner. Best sitting vehicle I've ever sit in. Other than all those stupid errors keep coming up for no reason on the computer, I haven't had issues.
By now you probably have the back of your Silverado set up the way you want it, just an idea that worked for us: we put a sheet of plywood on top of the rails of the pickup bed (laying it up off the floor), close to the cab, putting our sleeping bags on top of plywood . This left the entire floor empty to put gear in full length.
I've got the Silverado's cousin, the GMC Sierra with the same 5.3 engine. I get 24mpg on the highway. It's a 2001 and I've had no issues. Buy a bed mat for the back, it'll be easier on your knees. It still rides really nice on a set of Goodyear Wranglers. They may cost a little more but they're worth it. If you don't need the back seat you might want to remove it to give you even more storage space.
Congrats on the new to you truck, Slim! I recently moved up to a full size RAM 1500 4X4, 5.7L V8 for towing my Casita. I love it and no apologies for the bigger engine. Having the extra power from my 6 cylinder truck is so nice when going up mountains. I have almost 13,000 lb. Towing capacity so now I don’t have to worry about taking along extra gear on long trips. Enjoy your new truck!!!!!
Hey Slim, I bought (and still drive) a 2003 Chevy Tahoe new in that year with that 5.3 L motor. Got 243,000 miles on it. Replaced the tranny 7 years ago. Other than that, that motor still runs like a raped ape 🦍 and no other major problems. Still rides nice, plenty of power with the tow package, and burns no oil. Not bad for a vehicle that’s almost the legal drinking age….
I have a feeling you will be very happy with your purchase. I had a Chevy for years and she had over 350,000 miles on her when the head gasket started to leak, sold her to a friend of my sons and he dropped another engine in her and hauled his race cars back and forth across the country (US) with her until she got hit by another car and caught on fire. All in all a WONDERFUL truck that served me well for almost 20 years LOL.
Truck "cap camped" for years in a Chevy just like that. Random recollections: You can remove the rear seat and put in a platform system for storage. I kept all my gear in plastic bins. In the bed it is hard to beat the installation of the BedRug system for insulation and finishing off the naked metal and saving your knees. I used a Roll-a-Cot for my bed, with a good pad and sleeping bag it was fabulous. The Roll-a-Cot has no middle leg...so it goes right up against the side of the bed. On the tailgate I mounted a soft mat on one side for crawling in and saving my knees...the other side of the tailgate I mounted a plastic cutting board. Happy Travels in your new rig!
Good choice on the Silverado. My 2010 has 306,000 miles or nearly 500,000 kilometers and is still running strong. Major repairs incl trans at 260k miles, rear end at 240k miles. That’s with occasional towing of 6-7,000 lb trailers. Safe travels!
I got a big smile on my face when i saw the chevy emblem. i got a black 2010 with the 4.8L with 4spd automatic. i swapped out to 4.11 gears, air lift air bags, and a bully dog tuner to pull the family camper. i enjoy ours and hope you will enjoy yours too! Keep up the good work Slim, love your videos.----- Tim in Tennessee.........
with the way vehicle prices have gone in recent years,i'd say you did well...any truck still legal and safe for the road under 10k cdn is rare these days,and one in good enough shape to be actually worth buying is very rare indeed...
Hey Slim you did good , I have a 2002 version of your new truck and I love it .I hope and pray that it and God will not leave you on the side of the road .
Absolutely love the upgraded adventure mobile. This will open up a lot more opportunities for different places to camp. Parts are cheap and fairly easy to work on. Not sure of your plans for the camper shell but would love to see in a future video of a truck bed camper build for those more remote adventures. Puts a smile on my face how excited you looked with the new wheels and the ideas you might have with them. Thanks again for a wonderful video and happy camping.
Congrats Slim! I cant believe I've been watching your channel this long. I remember when you had the white Jeep, WOW. Enjoy those backroads with your "NEW" truck. 👍🏾
Definitely a great truck for your uses. The old 5.3 is rock solid and gets great mileage if you just cruise along at sane speeds. Plus good hauler for your cabin projects.
I have a '21 Silverado with the 5.3+8spd, on rural backroads I've pushed as high as 24mpg tank avg with super light stock highway tires. I upgraded 1 size wider tires and from a highway tire to a P-rated all terrain (P to keep weight down, Falken Wildpeak AT3W) and I've definitely lost some mileage. My 16-18mpg city mileage has dropped to more like 14-16. Next tires I think I'll go back to stock narrow width, but maybe get a taller ratio tire instead, the rolling resistance increase on the wider tire is definitely noticeable. I also tow a 17ft Casita Heritage with mine, and depending on location I was getting about 14-15mpg towing from Texas back up to Michigan. I'll be taking it down to Florida here in a month so we'll see how it still tows and mileage with the new tires.
Wow, I did not see that coming! I've watched your videos of the original liberty all the way to now, can't believe it's been that long already. As a Ram 1500 owner I've always envied your small/nimble setup, I've thought numerous times after watching your videos that maybe I should go smaller too, but I guess this is just proof that there are pros/cons to everything and there is no perfect setup. Your decision in the context of building the house in a remote area makes a lot of sense to me too. I wish you best of luck with your new rig!
Before I even watched,....I was willing to bet it'd be a truck,....and sure enough. I was a bit surprised you went up in size after saying something about thinking of improving fuel economy on the next rig. But for where you live - that's just what you needed. If you're gonna camp in it?,.......DIY " plywood bed liner". Those were popular back in the 80's when the mini Japanese truck fad hit - at least here in cali. Many of us made our own but companies sprang up selling them as well. Plywood covered in indoor-outdoor carpet with hinged storage areas front/back of wheel tub on each side. Camped in those many times. And you could still haul with them or just lift them out if needed.Congrats on the new truck. Cheers. 👍
You made a good choice going to GM. My experience with my 2007 GMC Sierra with the LS 4.8, bought used, is the best investment I made. My 4.8 had one collapsed valve spring while on my way home. I wasn't familiar with the 4.8. I've overhauled 350's before, which were simple carb or EFI's. I was hesitant on tearing the 4.8 apart due to my unfamiliarity with them. Guess what? I did a lot of research on TH-cam and I finally got to know this engine. After working on it for two months, I finally got this baby up and running smooth. LS's 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0 are all the same block except for their different configurations. All my replacement parts were ordered through Amazon. These engines are just as simple as the 350's to work on. Have fun with your truck, it's one you can depend on with proper maintenance. I service mine every 3,500 miles!
Kind of miss the Jeep, it was iconic but I understand the change. Looks like you got a great deal on a good looking truck and the very best of luck with the new to you, Silverado.
Slim, i hope your Silverado is as good as ours has been. 2004 1500 bought used in 2008. We have 240,000 miles on it and very few repairs. We pull a 4300 lb trailer. Such good times! Wishing you the same.
I love the new truck Slim! A nice upgrade from the jeep. The big thing with those trucks is make sure you get the transmission service done on the maintenance schedule. As long as you do the transmission maintenance you will get 300,000 miles out of it easy
My 2020 Ram with the 5.7l and etorque gets up to 24 highway if I baby it during summer road trips. A lot of people bash v8’s for gas milage but all things considered they don’t all get terrible milage. Obviously a lot of that has to do with the rear gearing, I have a 3.21 ratio which helps tremendously For the money, you did great!!! I’m not a Chevy guy at all but for $7300 USD I’d buy it
I have a 2010 Silverado and she’s been a fantastic truck. Make sure you have truck tires on it though. Some folks run passengers tires on these 1500’s. My truck has hauled everything over the years. I even transported my miniature horse in the back seat! I particularly love the suicide doors. You can tarp the open doors and it becomes a great dressing room. I used to show my not so miniature horse so costume changes were necessary. Enjoy the truck:)! Great choice 👍👍
If your Silverado is anything like our three, you will love it. We had a 1985 Silverado Suburban, which we drove for years.Then, we bought a 1994 Silverado Suburban, which still runs great and had 392,000 miles. Our current daily driver is a 1998 Silverado Suburban. It's awesome.
Wow! I just traded a 2013 Silverado extended cab Z71 with a camper shell. Got the shell used from a beer co distributer when they quit running that chassis for almost nothing. That chassis ran from 2007 to 2013 with only minor year to year changes. Hope you like it as much as I liked mine! Take care.
Good choice as far as trucks go, and the color will blend right in with the greenery in summertime. Hope you get years and years of service out of it. (I have a 07 Chevy Trailblazer that i've had for 12 years, no major problems so far...)
I am glad for you. I love my Nissan Pro 4x4 for cabin needs. A guy gave me a fiberglass high top with 2 side awning openings and two rear doors. Got mine for 9k with 99k miles on it. Have had it for 6 years with only 2 repairs. I travel in my 32ft National Sea breeze. That had 11,040 miles on it. V-10 engine. Good so far (knock on wood) for 15,000 miles! Three years strong! Feel very blessed.
Good idea to get better tires. That will help a lot for your off road adventures. The AT tires will make the ride a little rougher/louder but worth it! Also towing with a V8 is some much nicer! Wow nice price! And you are great at letting us know what things cost you!
I think you have made a smart upgrade. I would probably have made an addition to my fleet, rather than replacing my Liberty. That way I could feed and repair two rigs instead of just one. Some old dogs never learn. Happy trails Slim. I always look forward to your "journal".
Good luck with new to u truck,not a big fan of Chevy's but it should do u good,1 thing to watch is oil pressure and lifter noise,root problem is a o ring on oil pump pick up tube splits causing air to be sucked in and lowering oil pressure, good luck.
I really think you would have liked the Toyota TACOMA, not the Tundra. They are the best trucks out there. You buy one and it'll last your entire life. My uncle has his 2006 Tacoma at just under 800,000 km and it runs like it's at 100,000km. Excellent on fuel and you can beat the hell out of them and they never falter. I actually bought one myself 3 years ago and I'll never get another truck. You got yourself a real nice truck though, very happy for you Slim!
It looks like someone has cranked the torsion bars up on that thing given the camber of the front wheels. Might want to look into that. Also, research what rear axle ratio it has based on the RPO codes in the glove box on a sticker. Lastly, lube the driver's door hinges LOL.
I put 360,000 miles on a 1987 Acura Legend that I did buy new. I always complained because it had a rubber timing belt and every 100K I had to spend the $800+ to have it replaced. I had it from 1987 to 2000, 360K, so I paid the $800, then $960, then $1090 over the 13 years. However, with every timing belt changed, that charge included a new belt as well as a water pump and something else I can't remember. Thirteen years, never stranded on the road and I believe it was the affirmative maintenance that contributed to its success. Congratulations on the new truck... I look at the Suburban as a truck.
I've got an '09 GMC Sierra and it's been a great truck. I've made my share of repairs on it, but none that are so large that I've had to question owning it. The 5.3L will deliver more than enough power for what you are doing with it. Looking at your truck it appears to have been "leveled" in the front end as it doesn't have the factory rake to it. Just something to keep in mine if you ever have any suspension work done on it. Nice rig!
NOTE FROM SLIM: Sorry, I forgot to mention one thing, milage! The Silverado had 174,000 Kilometres or about 108,000 miles on it when I first got it. Thanks! SP
2nd UPDATE: This truck engine does NOT have AFM (Active Fuel Management), so no need to tell me to bypass it!
PLEASE do not ask questions in this comment chain. Post them on a separate new comment so I can respond. Thanks!
How much do they go for in your part of the woods
How much were you able to sell the Jeep for?
Questions tend to go right for the personal information jugular!
That's a great deal for 6k
My dad has a 2011 2500 gas burner with over 300,000 miles on it. Has had no trouble
watching this video, I realized how much you and your videos have been a part of my life for so many years. I have been following you since the white jeep and A-liner days. Your videos are always positive and are a bright spot in my week. looking forward to many Silverado adventures!
Same here! Seeing that Jeep drive away got me a little misty, but the truck is awesome, so much better for camping. Gotta love Chevys!
Took the words right out of my mouth!👍🏽🤗
Wow, time flies! Didn't realize I've been watching for so many years. 😊
Me too. I thought for sure he got the last jeep within the last two years. Yikes.
Just wanted to add that I too have been following you since the 1st Jeep Liberty and the first A-Frame popup!
My gosh, I just found out I have been watching your videos for more than 4 years because I remember when you bought the Liberty. How fast time flies! Congratulations ;- )
Great truck Slim... My 04 Silverado 5.3 has 350k miles. Replaced water pump, heater hoses and connectors. This truck has been a real blessing to me and my family. I hope yours is for you....
That’s nice to know. We have a 2012. We towed a 19’ camp trailer from NH to our home in Alaska. We hardly drive it and we’re 70 and the truck on,y has 58,000 miles on it. I guess it will last us the rest of our lives.
Just wanted to say that in this crazy world we’re living in, I come to your channel about every day and look forward to another video. Great work, Slim, thanks for all you do. It’s funny that your search for solitude and peace brings me along and gives me mine.
Having owned many LS powered Chevys , you picked something that is easy to work on and every shop can work on it. It may ride a little rougher and be bigger than the Liberty but that’s the only positives it has over the Silverado. Just wait until you pull your trailer with it. It’ll pull it with ease and have the stones to get up and go should you need to merge on the highway or pass a logger.
Cant wait to see how he fixes up the truck bed- and insulates
I am not a GM fan but, LS motors are "the Balls". Best motor performance GM ever built.
Agreed. I have an old Jeep Wagoneer we take on road trips. Guess what lurks under that hood? Just went to Oklahoma and Texas and back from TN. That baby 4.8 from an Express van did great even with the Jeep sagged out with camping gear. I love that no matter where I am, I can get parts from any parts stores. Most that same day.
Reasons I work on my 98 ford van
I'd be surprised if it rides rougher than the Liberty; it's a lot longer wheelbase and only a 1500, so fairly soft suspension.
Slim, nice new ride. At 18:18, look under your truck at the inside of the driver's side rear tire as you're going through the mud puddle. There is either a hose or an electrical harness that's dangling, not connected to anything. I'm guessing it's the electrical harness for towing. Check it out because you don't want branches or rocks ripping it up. Take it to a pro for a good look over and safety check. I'm 66 and want to see you live a long life.
Good Catch, something I'm sure Slim will be checking out.
Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada
Looks like ABS sensor or brake line.
Shocks, tires and a tune up should be in order. Nice truck!
I noticed that too. It looked like a stick caught on the E-brake cable, because they loop around right there.
Holy cow Slim! You had that trailer on one wheel!
And the color, forest service green. How appropriate.
My 72 year old dad is still driving his 1995 4x4 Silverado Extended Cab Side Step. Almost 300k miles. He had a fresh paint job two years ago and removed the plastic bed liner which was replaced with a spray-in line to match the body paint. Almost zero mechanical issues to date, just basic maintenance. Zero rust. Southeast US
That is a beautiful truck! Great job Slim!
Wish you miles of smiles and great adventures.
That is a steal of a deal. Down here in South usa it would be double that easy.
Very nice. Money well spent.
Since I bought my 1st pick-up, never went back.
All "clean" gear goes in the cab, clothing, sleeping bag, etc... All "dirty" gear in the bed, ropes, chaisaw, atv, lumber, etc.
Good choice on your make n model.
Love the color, i once had a 2007 2500 6.0 liter, unfortunately white lol. I do now have a tundra.
Just a word of caution with these trucks. I was a fleet repair shop manager. We had over 300 of them. They all needed cam and lifters between 140-160k miles. On 80% of them they needed torque converters and a transmission overhaul at 120-140k miles. Research these issues and decide if you want to preemptively do the maintenance on them. We started tuning the ecm’s on the trucks to disable the active fuel management and to not allow torque converter slip in 4-6th gears.
This. And get a nice big trans cooler. Good trucks once you get them set up right
Good tips.What tuning did you use ? Thank you
Lmao!
As soon as I saw it the first word that came to mind was “lifters”!
When Slim first started the truck with the camera next to it I thought there was a little "lifter rattle" but then again, I'm not a mechanic, just a little old lady with over a million back country miles driven these last 55 years (and many break downs in remote places)
You are going to enjoy the truck. I put a sheet of foam insulation and mdf on the floor. I cover it with foam tiles that are easy to remove and wash. When i camp in it, i put in 8 five gallon totes with three 2x2 pieces of 1/4 in plywood on top and a foam bed topper cut to fit. It is easier to move around with the bed elvated and you can see out the windows but still sit up straight.
That Jeep did you good regardless. Buying used (Fairly new) is the best way to go ! That Chevy will do it's job as well as Ford, Toyota or any other truck. It looks mighty good and all I would add are good quality mud flaps at all corners and a hood bug deflector ! Now check that loose left rear parking brake cable and get a set of good "All Weather" tires and get on the road ! Just be safe and we all enjoy your videos.
Nice Ride Slim. Being a pickup guy myself, I believe you will truly enjoy the versatility the truck will give you. Plus bigger is better when towing, especial gowning down steep grades. Enjoy!
Good luck! The camper shell will give you a better fuel economy with the trailer. Nice coulor, like the greens.
Drive it like you stole it( you did!) LOL. We have 2009. 10 grand us. We love ours. Haul a 1971 vintage tag a long!!( used to haul a 28 ft dutchman..what a tank!) Happy trails!
Congratulations on the new truck, Slim!! It's a beauty and you got a great deal!
We switch to a truck 2012 and never looked back. We decided on a diesel truck, as we tow large trailer. Our current truck is the 2016 dodge ram 2500, bought new and we are approaching 200K. We have a cab, but did something different for out needs. Will be putting out a video on it later. We do all our own maintenance on it. Enjoy...... simplyoffgridlife
Yes: "The view through the windshield was my television". I haven't had a TV for almost 50 years! Great choice for a new truck, and perfect color to not stand out like a sore thumb in the woods. My ultimate test would be driving on 4x4 boulder hopping roads up and down steep hills, not normal roads, even the forestry dirt roads. The puddles were great. That is the only time I have ever gotten stuck, was in a puddle that was super deep with a boulder under the surface. I'm 77and have always had 4x4's. I really miss them. I decided on my last vehicle to get a front wheel drive high top converted so I could camp in it with my old dog. But now I am limited where I can drive, darn. How many miles/km does it have on it? Giggling asit almost looks bigger than your adorable little trailer.
Neat truck! But isn’t it funny how we get attached to our old vehicle? I always did.
Best of luck with your new Mean Green Machine! LOL! Safe travels and Happy camping!
I have the 2014 version of the same truck and so far it has been very reliable and easy to take care of. It is a good era for these trucks, still modern but not yet so full of fancy technology. There is really only one known issue with them - that engine does not tolerate missed oil changes because of the "active fuel management" system. So keep up on your oil changes if you want to avoid a VERY expensive repair. It also has a place already set up for a second battery under the hood, an easy upgrade to make if you are doing a lot of camping and want to run accessories and such off the 12v system while parked. You could put in a deep cycle battery and a regular starter battery with an isolation switch very easily, with everything under the hood.
The 5.3 is a rock solid engine if you stay on a strict maintenance schedule. It has narrow oil channels in the motor. Any sort of sludge or debris in the oil can cause problems. It's not a change oil 1,000 miles past due type of kit. My 2011 Suburban is 150k and going strong.
Mechanically awesome......... electrics, not so awesome. The GM electrics gobblin lives in all of them. Happy driving Slim🫡
Congrats on the new vehicle. I was a SUV person myself for many years and different platforms from a Suburban to a Isuzu Rodeo and never cared to own pickups because an open bed is useless for my needs. Now that I have a Tacoma with a midrise camper shell I love it, I wished I had done this years ago.
Congrats on the new wheels! I’ve found the trucks/cars, like houses, tend to be the right price for the right people. Buy it. Own it. Enjoy it. Just don’t make payments on it. I will follow you wherever you take us, Slim. Thanks for the adventures!
Very nice truck. I'm sure you'll really like it.
Wow that is one nice looking silverado
Truck looks good, especially for its age! Enjoy.
I have a 2008 chevy truck, and 18 is the best I can get. The seat in this truck is like sitting in ur recliner. Best sitting vehicle I've ever sit in. Other than all those stupid errors keep coming up for no reason on the computer, I haven't had issues.
❤ " Forgot the cooler, so it is just peace, liberty and just-ice for all" , ❤
By now you probably have the back of your Silverado set up the way you want it, just an idea that worked for us: we put a sheet of plywood on top of the rails of the pickup bed (laying it up off the floor), close to the cab, putting our sleeping bags on top of plywood . This left the entire floor empty to put gear in full length.
Yes we did the same thing. Worked great.
That's a pretty cool truck. When you first brought it near the camera, I thought it was a diesel, as it had a kind of clattering sound.
love the blooper at the end Slim 😀
You're the first to notice it. Thanks for watching until the end!!!! SP
She's a beauty and on St Patricks Day you'll be covered in GREEN. You did good Slim
I think you got a good deal Slim. Congrats on the New Truck! 😊
I've got the Silverado's cousin, the GMC Sierra with the same 5.3 engine. I get 24mpg on the highway. It's a 2001 and I've had no issues. Buy a bed mat for the back, it'll be easier on your knees. It still rides really nice on a set of Goodyear Wranglers. They may cost a little more but they're worth it.
If you don't need the back seat you might want to remove it to give you even more storage space.
Congrats on the new to you truck, Slim! I recently moved up to a full size RAM 1500 4X4, 5.7L V8 for towing my Casita. I love it and no apologies for the bigger engine. Having the extra power from my 6 cylinder truck is so nice when going up mountains. I have almost 13,000 lb. Towing capacity so now I don’t have to worry about taking along extra gear on long trips. Enjoy your new truck!!!!!
Nice one! I have several contractor friends here in Maine who drive Chevy trucks of that vintage...you got a great deal and it should serve you well!
I think a video about tires and tune up, back seat removal bugout equipment setup could be very interesting. 🎉
Hey Slim, I bought (and still drive) a 2003 Chevy Tahoe new in that year with that 5.3 L motor. Got 243,000 miles on it. Replaced the tranny 7 years ago. Other than that, that motor still runs like a raped ape 🦍 and no other major problems. Still rides nice, plenty of power with the tow package, and burns no oil. Not bad for a vehicle that’s almost the legal drinking age….
I have a feeling you will be very happy with your purchase. I had a Chevy for years and she had over 350,000 miles on her when the head gasket started to leak, sold her to a friend of my sons and he dropped another engine in her and hauled his race cars back and forth across the country (US) with her until she got hit by another car and caught on fire. All in all a WONDERFUL truck that served me well for almost 20 years LOL.
Truck "cap camped" for years in a Chevy just like that. Random recollections: You can remove the rear seat and put in a platform system for storage. I kept all my gear in plastic bins. In the bed it is hard to beat the installation of the BedRug system for insulation and finishing off the naked metal and saving your knees. I used a Roll-a-Cot for my bed, with a good pad and sleeping bag it was fabulous. The Roll-a-Cot has no middle leg...so it goes right up against the side of the bed. On the tailgate I mounted a soft mat on one side for crawling in and saving my knees...the other side of the tailgate I mounted a plastic cutting board. Happy Travels in your new rig!
Good choice on the Silverado. My 2010 has 306,000 miles or nearly 500,000 kilometers and is still running strong. Major repairs incl trans at 260k miles, rear end at 240k miles. That’s with occasional towing of 6-7,000 lb trailers. Safe travels!
I got a big smile on my face when i saw the chevy emblem. i got a black 2010 with the 4.8L with 4spd automatic.
i swapped out to 4.11 gears, air lift air bags, and a bully dog tuner to pull the family camper. i enjoy ours and hope you will enjoy yours too! Keep up the good work Slim, love your videos.----- Tim in Tennessee.........
with the way vehicle prices have gone in recent years,i'd say you did well...any truck still legal and safe for the road under 10k cdn is rare these days,and one in good enough shape to be actually worth buying is very rare indeed...
I just saved a 03 Nissan pickup that was sitting for 3 years and I saved it because prices for trucks are over kill high
Congrats Slim. Also nice to see the old Aliner too.
Sounds like the engine has problems!
Hey Slim you did good , I have a 2002 version of your new truck and I love it .I hope and pray that it and God will not leave you on the side of the road .
Absolutely love the upgraded adventure mobile. This will open up a lot more opportunities for different places to camp. Parts are cheap and fairly easy to work on. Not sure of your plans for the camper shell but would love to see in a future video of a truck bed camper build for those more remote adventures. Puts a smile on my face how excited you looked with the new wheels and the ideas you might have with them. Thanks again for a wonderful video and happy camping.
Congratulations!
Note your trailer is going to look really small behind this truck 😊
WTG on the new truck. I'm sure you'll enjoy the new ride going through the back country.
Congrats Slim! I cant believe I've been watching your channel this long. I remember when you had the white Jeep, WOW. Enjoy those backroads with your "NEW" truck. 👍🏾
In Arizona we call those scratches Desert Pinstripes
Definitely a great truck for your uses. The old 5.3 is rock solid and gets great mileage if you just cruise along at sane speeds. Plus good hauler for your cabin projects.
Nice buy! Hope your happy with her.
I have a '21 Silverado with the 5.3+8spd, on rural backroads I've pushed as high as 24mpg tank avg with super light stock highway tires. I upgraded 1 size wider tires and from a highway tire to a P-rated all terrain (P to keep weight down, Falken Wildpeak AT3W) and I've definitely lost some mileage. My 16-18mpg city mileage has dropped to more like 14-16. Next tires I think I'll go back to stock narrow width, but maybe get a taller ratio tire instead, the rolling resistance increase on the wider tire is definitely noticeable. I also tow a 17ft Casita Heritage with mine, and depending on location I was getting about 14-15mpg towing from Texas back up to Michigan. I'll be taking it down to Florida here in a month so we'll see how it still tows and mileage with the new tires.
Good luck slim.
Wow, I did not see that coming! I've watched your videos of the original liberty all the way to now, can't believe it's been that long already. As a Ram 1500 owner I've always envied your small/nimble setup, I've thought numerous times after watching your videos that maybe I should go smaller too, but I guess this is just proof that there are pros/cons to everything and there is no perfect setup. Your decision in the context of building the house in a remote area makes a lot of sense to me too. I wish you best of luck with your new rig!
Before I even watched,....I was willing to bet it'd be a truck,....and sure enough. I was a bit surprised you went up in size after saying something about thinking of improving fuel economy on the next rig. But for where you live - that's just what you needed.
If you're gonna camp in it?,.......DIY " plywood bed liner". Those were popular back in the 80's when the mini Japanese truck fad hit - at least here in cali. Many of us made our own but companies sprang up selling them as well. Plywood covered in indoor-outdoor carpet with hinged storage areas front/back of wheel tub on each side. Camped in those many times. And you could still haul with them or just lift them out if needed.Congrats on the new truck. Cheers. 👍
Nice looking, well-priced and useful too!!! Looking forward to your future travels or constructions!
No-Sail mudflaps front & rear, maybe a hula skirt when towing to protect camper, possibly running boards if the mood strikes you. Nice rig!
Congratulations! I think this will suit you well. It was fun seeing all your old rigs, many memories. Enjoy it.
You made a good choice going to GM. My experience with my 2007 GMC Sierra with the LS 4.8, bought used, is the best investment I made. My 4.8 had one collapsed valve spring while on my way home. I wasn't familiar with the 4.8. I've overhauled 350's before, which were simple carb or EFI's. I was hesitant on tearing the 4.8 apart due to my unfamiliarity with them. Guess what? I did a lot of research on TH-cam and I finally got to know this engine. After working on it for two months, I finally got this baby up and running smooth. LS's 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0 are all the same block except for their different configurations. All my replacement parts were ordered through Amazon. These engines are just as simple as the 350's to work on. Have fun with your truck, it's one you can depend on with proper maintenance. I service mine every 3,500 miles!
Congratulations! May you get great use of it.
Congrats on the new/use truck. I loved my 2011 Chevy Silverado
Kind of miss the Jeep, it was iconic but I understand the change. Looks like you got a great deal on a good looking truck and the very best of luck with the new to you, Silverado.
Slim, i hope your Silverado is as good as ours has been. 2004 1500 bought used in 2008. We have 240,000 miles on it and very few repairs. We pull a 4300 lb trailer. Such good times! Wishing you the same.
Ooooh do I see a camper in your future? Love the green.
Hi Slim congratulations on you new vehicle, thanks for the ride down memory lane, glad the truck meets need thanks for sharing stay safe
I love the new truck Slim! A nice upgrade from the jeep. The big thing with those trucks is make sure you get the transmission service done on the maintenance schedule. As long as you do the transmission maintenance you will get 300,000 miles out of it easy
Good choice ,Slim!
My 2020 Ram with the 5.7l and etorque gets up to 24 highway if I baby it during summer road trips. A lot of people bash v8’s for gas milage but all things considered they don’t all get terrible milage. Obviously a lot of that has to do with the rear gearing, I have a 3.21 ratio which helps tremendously
For the money, you did great!!! I’m not a Chevy guy at all but for $7300 USD I’d buy it
That is really good for such a large engine
Could from the smile on your face driving down that back road you’re a happy man. It looks like a good deal. Enjoy your truck.
I believe you made a good choice on the truck and I am excited to see your future adventures with it. Take care Slim
I love to see your grin when you say "a lot more power". Enjoy the new truck. He 6' bed will be great for quick weekend trips.
Good luck with your new vehicle. 😊
I have a 2010 Silverado and she’s been a fantastic truck. Make sure you have truck tires on it though. Some folks run passengers tires on these 1500’s. My truck has hauled everything over the years. I even transported my miniature horse in the back seat! I particularly love the suicide doors. You can tarp the open doors and it becomes a great dressing room. I used to show my not so miniature horse so costume changes were necessary. Enjoy the truck:)! Great choice 👍👍
Great find!!
If your Silverado is anything like our three, you will love it. We had a 1985 Silverado Suburban, which we drove for years.Then, we bought a 1994 Silverado Suburban, which still runs great and had 392,000 miles. Our current daily driver is a 1998 Silverado Suburban. It's awesome.
From an Australian viewer congratulations on your new vehicle Slim .. looking forward to the new addition with you travel and cabin videos 👍
Awesome find! Can't wait to see your truck reno videos!
Wow! I just traded a 2013 Silverado extended cab Z71 with a camper shell. Got the shell used from a beer co distributer when they quit running that chassis for almost nothing. That chassis ran from 2007 to 2013 with only minor year to year changes. Hope you like it as much as I liked mine! Take care.
Definitely a good deal on the truck being so clean and 4x4
Good choice as far as trucks go, and the color will blend right in with the greenery in summertime. Hope you get years and years of service out of it. (I have a 07 Chevy Trailblazer that i've had for 12 years, no major problems so far...)
I am glad for you. I love my Nissan Pro 4x4 for cabin needs. A guy gave me a fiberglass high top with 2 side awning openings and two rear doors. Got mine for 9k with 99k miles on it. Have had it for 6 years with only 2 repairs. I travel in my 32ft National Sea breeze. That had 11,040 miles on it. V-10 engine. Good so far (knock on wood) for 15,000 miles! Three years strong! Feel very blessed.
Good idea to get better tires. That will help a lot for your off road adventures. The AT tires will make the ride a little rougher/louder but worth it! Also towing with a V8 is some much nicer! Wow nice price! And you are great at letting us know what things cost you!
Congratulations on the truck. You keep me thinking of new ideas!
I think you have made a smart upgrade. I would probably have made an addition to my fleet, rather than replacing my Liberty. That way I could feed and repair two rigs instead of just one. Some old dogs never learn. Happy trails Slim. I always look forward to your "journal".
Nice! Hope you have fun with it!
Good luck with new to u truck,not a big fan of Chevy's but it should do u good,1 thing to watch is oil pressure and lifter noise,root problem is a o ring on oil pump pick up tube splits causing air to be sucked in and lowering oil pressure, good luck.
Good morning from Perth, West Australia.👋
Good Morning Perth!
I’m in NSW Australia
I really think you would have liked the Toyota TACOMA, not the Tundra. They are the best trucks out there. You buy one and it'll last your entire life. My uncle has his 2006 Tacoma at just under 800,000 km and it runs like it's at 100,000km. Excellent on fuel and you can beat the hell out of them and they never falter. I actually bought one myself 3 years ago and I'll never get another truck. You got yourself a real nice truck though, very happy for you Slim!
It looks like someone has cranked the torsion bars up on that thing given the camber of the front wheels. Might want to look into that. Also, research what rear axle ratio it has based on the RPO codes in the glove box on a sticker. Lastly, lube the driver's door hinges LOL.
I put 360,000 miles on a 1987 Acura Legend that I did buy new. I always complained because it had a rubber timing belt and every 100K I had to spend the $800+ to have it replaced. I had it from 1987 to 2000, 360K, so I paid the $800, then $960, then $1090 over the 13 years. However, with every timing belt changed, that charge included a new belt as well as a water pump and something else I can't remember. Thirteen years, never stranded on the road and I believe it was the affirmative maintenance that contributed to its success. Congratulations on the new truck... I look at the Suburban as a truck.
I've got an '09 GMC Sierra and it's been a great truck. I've made my share of repairs on it, but none that are so large that I've had to question owning it. The 5.3L will deliver more than enough power for what you are doing with it. Looking at your truck it appears to have been "leveled" in the front end as it doesn't have the factory rake to it. Just something to keep in mine if you ever have any suspension work done on it. Nice rig!