Jeeper's Chevy Colorado 2.0

I have been waiting and waiting for the right time to buy another truck. My last Colorado seemed to just keep running, despite the nearly 300,000 miles it had on it. I have been really wanting to buy a new Ford Ranger, and with the 2019 models being on sale it seemed like a good time to look at one. I was less excited about the Ranger after we drove it. It was fine, but not everything I had made it up to be in my mind. I was really hoping for a long bed this go round.. but the Ranger doesn't have that option in a 4 door truck. I was willing to look past this.. but long story short, Larry Miller Ford played too many games when negotiating.
We went over to a Chevy Dealer and tried out the 2019 Colorado. Another long story short, after driving a couple trucks, I preferred the cloth seats and the gas engine.
We did some chatting, and I walked away with a new truck.



It's a v6. Has a rear locker. It has the upgraded 'black out' package.. so I have black emblems instead of gold

First item for me was to get a topper for it. I work out of the truck and need tools and such to be protected from weather and theft. I had to order a shell, so I made sure to get side access windows this time. I am quite excited to have them this time, and anticipate it being a nice feature.






It took 9 weeks for the dumb shell to come in. I have been dying to get it here so I can start on the other things I want. I have got my bed boxes almost done, and tools loaded. I needed to see how much difference it made on the rear suspension so that I could get the right parts for the lift. With the additional weight on the bed the rear fenders sit exactly 1" higher than the fronts. Looks like I will be adding an add a leaf to the rear that will get me about 1-1.5", and then a 2.5" for the front.

I have a long list of Items that I need, and a few that I want, that will hopefully happen pretty quick.

 

[N-Smooth]

I normally don't support murdering batteries for accessories but this is a noble cause. Enjoy an ice cold Dew while you hook up your jumper pack and laugh at all the RME critics because your battery has a warranty

 

[Unimog]

Or just add a lithium battery that does nothing but the fridge and is disconnected when the engine isn't running. It will be expensive up front, but it will rebound many many more times and running it dead won't be nearly as costly in the long term.

 

[nnnnnate]

How about plugging in the fridge at home with house power.

 

[jeeper]

Thanks for all the replies guys.. I didn't think anyone would actually care

Someday I will go to a dual battery.. but there are a LOT of other projects in line first.
For now I will just leave it on a higher safety setting to preserve my battery, and carry out a days worth of drinks from the house fridge when I leave. They will already be cold, and the fridge will get cold real quick once the truck is running, so it wont be any issue at all.

 

[Kevin B.]

and carry out a days worth of drinks from the house fridge when I leave.

Like a neanderthal.

This is not very expo of you, Brian.

 

[jeeper]

Like a neanderthal.

This is not very expo of you, Brian.

dock 4 points from my expo card. I deserve it.

 

[I Lean]

The solar panel on my camper is a game-changer. I absolutely love it, and the worry-free aspect of it. I NEVER plug the thing in anymore, because the battery is always charged and ready. I hooked my Cruiser up to it via jumper cables so the solar panel would keep that battery full also, on a trip where my battery was failing.

I say all that to recommend a solar panel. 😁 Mine is a 100 watt panel with an MPPT controller, but I bet a 50W and PWM controller would do what you need It to. Mount it to your shell and always have a cold fridge and a charged battery.

 

[jeeper]

The solar panel on my camper is a game-changer. I absolutely love it, and the worry-free aspect of it. I NEVER plug the thing in anymore, because the battery is always charged and ready. I hooked my Cruiser up to it via jumper cables so the solar panel would keep that battery full also, on a trip where my battery was failing.

I say all that to recommend a solar panel. 😁 Mine is a 100 watt panel with an MPPT controller, but I bet a 50W and PWM controller would do what you need It to. Mount it to your shell and always have a cold fridge and a charged battery.

I am one of those snobs that park in the garage. The times I need additional charge is when it is parked, over night, in a garage. I don't think solar would be excellent under those condition.

I would be interested in seeing you set up some time. We tried solar on our trailer, and it was underwhelming. I think we may have had a bad panel or something.

 

[I Lean]

I am one of those snobs that park in the garage. The times I need additional charge is when it is parked, over night, in a garage. I don't think solar would be excellent under those condition.

Oh, I thought you said something about being parked all day in the sun. In a garage at night is a bit different. 🤣

I would be interested in seeing you set up some time. We tried solar on our trailer, and it was underwhelming. I think we may have had a bad panel or something.

Sure thing, any time.

 

[J-mobzz]

I am one of those snobs that park in the garage. The times I need additional charge is when it is parked, over night, in a garage. I don't think solar would be excellent under those condition.

I would be interested in seeing you set up some time. We tried solar on our trailer, and it was underwhelming. I think we may have had a bad panel or something.

Why not wire a couple terminals off the battery and poke it through the grill or put in a flush mount plug? Or even just come off the wires for the fridge in back and put a flush mount plug on the shell. It would take 15-20 minutes to install and be hardly noticeable and you could plug it in to like a 2 amp charger when you pull in the garage with little effort.

CERRXIAN 55cm 10AWG SAE Socket Solar Weatherproof Sidewall Port DIY Cord, SAE Quick Disconnect Wire Harness Panel Mount Power Cable with Cap https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TB7XH2H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_v1wrFbK9JVA62

 

[jeeper]

I need to have a way to use my snow plow in the winter, and I figured I should get planning for it now. I prefer to have a 2" receiver hidden in the bumper. I can then use any sort of tool/hook/winch/plow/ect by simply setting it in. I can buy THIS hitch for super cheap. Easy install. However, it is super low, and looks like a tiny weiner poking out the front. I already have one of those, and don't think the truck should also. So not really an option.



589 makes the hitch I would be interested in.. HERE, but it is $500. But I like it's hidden factor. But It's $500 for just a receiver.




The other option I am looking at Is a Warn 'hidden' bumper, HERE. It can be had for as low as $750. That is not a whole lot more than the $500 receiver. My hope would be that there is enough room above the winch for me to be able to weld in my own receiver for the plow, and I would then obviously always have the winch. I like the bar on top as well, and could see some HID round lights in there.
However, If I go cutting and welding on this one, then I will have to repaint or powder coat it again..




Or the last option is just to build my own receiver again like I did on the last Colorado. I probably have enough metal and paint kicking around to do it for free again.

 

[moab_cj5]

Personally I would vote 2 or 4, unless you really want a bumper. Option 3 sounds neat, but you'll likely have hidden costs that could cause that to be significantly more than the other options as you get into it.

 

[Kevin B.]

I vote option one. And then hang the biggest set of trucks nuts you can find off it.

Bonus points if they drag on the ground.

 

[mbryson]

I vote option one. And then hang the biggest set of trucks nuts you can find off it.

Bonus points if they drag on the ground.

This for the win. More Bonus points if they are chrome to match the other trim

 

[bryson]

So your fridge shuts off via voltage cutoff just overnight? Something is wrong with your truck/battery, your wiring, or your fridge.

Keep that poor little fridge FULL all the time, and it'll be much happier. Use water bottles (so you're not tempted to drink it) to take up all the empty space leaving only enough room for your daily Dew(s) and Baby Ruth(s). A full fridge will be much, much more efficient.

 

[jeeper]

I bought the front hitch receiver I mentioned above. The wife and I got it installed tonight in about 3 hours.







While I had it apart I took the bottom air dam off to give a little more clearance.

 

[Kevin B.]

That tucks in there real nice.

 

[jeeper]

Ha. I didn’t realize how bad I am at keeping this going 🤦🏼‍♂️ I’ve already worn out the set of bigger tires that I never even posted about having..
There have been many changes in the truck from the last postings, but most obvious..
-I’ve got a dual battery set up so all the accessories in the bed run off an aux battery.
-Went to 265/70r17 tires.

I got my annual text Monday from the dealer checking on me. So I’ve had it now for 3 years and 1 day.
I spent some time with it today doing it’s 45,000 mile oil change/tire rotate/air filter check

I find in super lame that chevy uses screws to hold on the air filter cover. Every other vehicle in the world is a tool-less check with clips or clamps.



My warranty expires in 5,000 miles, and I’ve got a couple things that I should get done before.
The one that is super lame is that the dash lights behind the hvac indicators have gone out. So at night I can’t see what buttons to push to change the air from vents to floor or defrost. That shouldn’t happen until like 200,000 miles.

 

[nnnnnate]

My 2018 GMC has a couple of the button lights that flicker. I thought it was weird for a vehicle with 24k miles when I bought it in September. I've wondered what it would take to fix but haven't looked it up or anything.

 

[jeeper]

I did some of the M word on my truck today.
55,000 miles.
Oil change, rotate the tires, transmission drain and fill, transfer case drain and fill, axles drain and fill, and replaced a bad wheel sensor.

But…. When I bought the truck, it had a small drip from the front diff. It looked to me that the drain plug wasn’t in straight, allowing the leak. I took it to the dealer for a warranty fix. When I got it back, it looked better, but not perfect.. but my eyes aren’t calibrated micrometers so I assumed it was ok.
Today when I drained it, it had less than a cup of oil in it.



The plug and axle are striped. The magnetic plug was covered in shavings and gunk.



Bottom line, dealer just cranked the plug in, didn’t check the level, and sent it out.
I’m sure I have no recourse at this point.. but I knew I should have checked their work, and now have hosed myself because I didn’t. 🤦🏼‍♂️

I was able to get a new plug to thread in enough and seem to get tight. Hopefully it will be ok.

But it does feel good to have all new fluids in the truck.