I have a brand new 2008 2500 HD Ext Cab 4x4 with less then 1500 miles on her. I have never owned a diesel before. I am some what handy but don't have a lot of money. I bought the truck to pull a 34ft 5th Wheel.

Question 1. What the heck does a DPF look like and where is it?

Question 2. What Mods can be done that will not cost a lot?

Statement 1. I have to convince my wife that these Mods will benefit the truck...:eek:

Thanks so much for your help and advice......

pretty much any mod that actually helps will "technically" void the warranty. the dpf looks like a cat. if you look at the exhaust under the truck there will be 2 canisters toward the front. the one closer to the front is the DOC and the second is the dpf. use the search feature. this has been asked thousands of times.

DuraLee, Welcome to the Forum, The Search Feature is handy. There is a modification to the Air filter housing, that you can do yourself. I think it is called the PPE Air Filter Mod. You can also remove the resonator from the top of the motor and plug it with a couple of different methods for a few bucks. The resonator is the black box with the 6.6L on it. Most mods will void your warranty according to some dealers, some dealers care and others don't. As for your Wife, Good Luck, most of us ask for forgiveness, not permission.

X2 on the asking for forgiveness. As for the warranty. It is true some dealers care and some don't. However. If it is a large issue and gm gets involved then they will care. I'm not trying to talk you out of anything just trying to make sure you are fully informed. Again a search will reveal days of reading on the subject.

If you plan to travel all around the country with your 5th wheel, you will be better off the less you do in terms of mods. I am sure you will be reading many different posts and finding out how it will very from one dealer to the next. If your truck breaks down in poduntville and you are bone stock there will be less discussion about warranty.

Here is an interesting post that a fellow is going through in dealing with warranty issues.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244397

Good luck

welcome and good luck with any mods. once you start its down hill. as for the wife......see my sig, i'm with the others

Question 2. What Mods can be done that will not cost a lot?
.

Welcome! An inexpensive mod to your new truck would be upgrading from halogen headlights to HID or high intensity discharge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_discharge_lamp) headlights.

They're cheap, (under 100 dollars shipped) and are a peice of cake to install. (See my installation guide here (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289923))

The make night driving much easier and less straining on the eyes, trust me, you'll love them.

*wikipedias "results in glare" is b*ll. Properly aimed, you'll won't blind oncoming traffic.

Thanks so much. In talking to the Little Woman it looks like I will remain stock for at least a year.... She has a good point we plan on traveling pulling a 34ft 5th wheel and should something happen..... My answer was Yes Dear after all "SHE" let me buy it in the first place......

Good Answer!!!

I'm in the "ask for forgivness later" club;) Welcome to the fourm. As for warrenty it seams it really depends on the dealer that you pull into? Mine does not seem to care, but lots will void you if you change anything:(

Good luck with Wifey:D

No comment on the mods; I don't have any other than airbags - which I recommend (so I guess I DO have a recomendation - DOH!)

BUT

To all the guys here with the "ask permission" mentality: You married them, guys - they didn't adopt you!

If you (even in humor) refer to your interaction with your wives as "asking permission" you are handing them permission to act like they're your mothers. I recommend against that for sure. Just my $.02

atleast yall have the money to possibly do mods. i am single but have no money

If you look in my garage you will see some pictures of an under seat storage box. I made it in a few hours, painted it and wa-la. It's just full of stuff, from maps to gloves, spare fuel filter,(which I highly recommend)and filter wrench. There is a blanket, road flares and I don't know what all.
The other thing would be nerf bars from wheel to wheel. I made the mistake of getting the bars cab length and it's hard to reach inside the box as I am only 5'9".
The next thing would be the extra fuel tank and toolbox. Sure is nice thumbing your nose at those high price stations in some places and being able to make it to a large truck stop. The list goes on and on.

phil85207 I sent you a PM

i suggest you do a search on towing with the duramax ie tow/haul mode. once again welcome to the site. i'm a newbie and this site has helped me out big big big time. My dealership quoted me a small fortune just to change the fuel filter. i used this forum to save me big bucks and don't have to wonder if shit is done right because i double check everything myself. enjoy your ride, i love mine.

If you tow a good amount with it you will break it in faster and get better mileage. If your going to mod for towing or fuel mileage then wait before modding. I'm not sure that the mods get you so much better mileage vs. a broken in truck and for the coin for the mods plus possible warranty issues I don't see how it adds up. If you want to mod for power because you want to well that is a different story.

Air bags - Bilstein shocks - tools for fuel filter changes - bigger tank unless stopping for fuel every 250-300 miles while towing is no biggie........ Nice rig!

Is that not a long box so you have a 26 gallon tank? Better make it 200-250 mile stops for fuel when towing..........

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/garageimage.php?do=full&p=84042&d=1233890740

Welcome and congrats on the new truck.

I would hold up on the mods if you want to keep your warranty.
But if you are towing a lot, a mod that will be good is a larger fuel tank or an in bed tank. If you have the puny 26 gallon tank, you're not going to be too happy with the fuel range, especially when towing. Just a suggestion. Oh, if you don't have one already, might be a good idea to have a code reader handy. It's just super handy to have one.

-Ronnie

How does a extra tank work? Where do I get one and how much? Ballpark $$$ is OK

Thanks.......

How does a extra tank work? Where do I get one and how much? Ballpark $$$ is OK

Thanks.......

I have the Titan Super Series 52 gallon. I think I paid around $1250 or so installed. It replaces your stock tank. I used EFI to modify the tune for the extra fuel. Shhhhh!!! I don't have a DPF either. :eek:

Oh my... Extra tanks are expensive. I will live with stopping for fuel. It will do my old bones good to get out of the truck once every couple hundred miles or so.

Oh my... Extra tanks are expensive. I will live with stopping for fuel. It will do my old bones good to get out of the truck once every couple hundred miles or so.

Yea, they're not cheap. I was kicking myself after I got the new tank. You know, buyers remorse... But after taking a trip from NorCal to Vegas and not having to stop for fuel, well, things were alright. I was grinning from ear to ear ... We still made stops to pee and drop the kids off at the pool and stuff, but I didn't have to buy fuel at those inflated prices that you always see on the Interstate.