Duramax dual alternator option?

I ordered our D/A with dual alternators on purpose for several reasons. We use inverters for 110 AC operation anywhere on both our TC's and our 5th wheels and always have several big batteries that we want to recharge real fast.

Besides the two under the hood for the D/A truck, there's 2 batteries in the bed for the TC and another in the TC compartment all coupled together for the 1500 watt inverter in the TC and up to 7 for the 2500 watt inverter in the 5th wheel. All batteries are 12V group 31 deepcycle with a 225 minite reserve at a 23 amp draw. That's a lot of silent usable battery amps when dry camping and still living like we had a shore power hookup. True freedom rules! The 7 for the 5th wheel includes the 2 that are in the bed of the truck that are also used for the TC when it's on the truck. They stay in the bed!

Yes, we also do have generators: A built in 3400 watt propane generator in the big TC and a Honda EU2000 mounted on the back of the 5th wheel. However, generators make noise when running and inverters don't! We have silent 110 AC power always at night anytime for the TV and electric blanket etc and in the morning for making coffee and toast and to run the microwave etc. The generators are always there if or when needed for high amperage AC or the RV converter or we can simply start the truck during the day for half an hour and the batteries are quickly recharged.

Overkill to some but perfect to us as we have been RV'ing since 1965, know the real difference, and we like to be comfortable all the time anywhere and are.

It's all about what you want and how you intend to use it or camp anywhere anytime in comfort. We've had this inverter setup on all of our RV's and cabined boats since the late 1980's and use it. Sure have no reason to change now as we know what being truely "self-contained" anywhere anytime really is like and we love it!

The truck also has a 750 watt inverter that runs off the 2 batteries in the bed so we always have 110 AC in the truck also. Spoiled brats!

Skyhammer, our car has all that stuff plus heated rear seats and has one alternator. So far it keeps up.

Are the dual alternators - if you have the snow plow option or plan on putting one on at some time.

Engine block heater - Yes – I use it when the temps get below 20 degrees F – don’t need to but it helps the truck warm up faster. I use a timer and have the heater on an hour before I head to work

Good options in my opinion:
LTZ package (the package will come with good options):

8 foot box
Winter front cover
Spare tire
Spare tire lock
Trailering wiring provisions for camper, fifth wheel and gooseneck trailer
Skid Plate Package
All-weather floor mats
Integrated Trailer Brake
Remote Vehicle Start
Mirrors, O/S, Camper Full Feature
Duramax engine with the allison transmission

I ordered my last truck – wanted the increased GVWR in the 2011s

03/19/2011 - (1100) Order placed at dealership
04/05/2011 - (3800) Order produced and vehicle is being prepared for shipping
04/16/2011 - (6000) Vehicle delivered to customer


My order:
PACKAGE 1LZ
Miscellaneous Details
1SZ DISCOUNT OPTION PACKAGE
AU3 Power Door Locks
E2C ORDER TO DELIVERY EXPEDITE TO CUSTOMER
G80 Limited Slip Differential
JL1 Integrated Trailer Brake
K40 Engine Exhaust Brake
NZZ Skid Plates: Off-Road
R8A Processing Option
R9N CONTROL SALES ITEM NO. 89
R9Z CONTROL SALES ITEM NO.100
SLT LT Sales Package
SRW Single Rear Wheel
T96 LAMP FRT FOG, FMVSS (DO NOT USE AFTER 09 MAJOR GLOBAL P RGRAMS, USE T3U&VCS FAMILY)
UK3 Steering Wheel Mounted Controls
UY2 Wiring Provisions Camper (WIRING PROVISIONS CAMPER & 5TH WHEEL TRAILER)
V10 Diesel Engine Winter Cover
V76 Recovery Hooks

PRIMARY COLOR 46U Blue Granite Metallic

TRIM COMBINATION 833 Dark/Light Titanium Leather Interior Trim

ADJUSTER FRT ST AG1 Power Seat: 6-Way Driver Side

ADJUSTER PASS ST AG2 Seat Adjuster (Passenger Side)

WINDOW TINTED AJ1 Deep Tinted Glass

SEAT AN3 Seats: Front, Full Feature Bucket

LOCK CONTROL, ENTRY AP3 Remote Vehicle Start

COVERING FLOOR
B30 Floor Covering: Color Keyed Carpet with Floor Mats COVERING FRT
B32 Floor Mats, Front COVERING RR
B33 Floor Mats, Rear

MOLDING B/S B85 Moldings, Bright Body Side

DEFOGGER C49 Defogger, Rear Window, Electric

GVW RATING C7V GVW Rating 11,600 LBS, Single Rear Wheels (C7V GVW RATING 26,500 LBS)

HVAC SYSTEM CJ2 Climate Control, Electronic - Multi-zone

MIRROR I/S R/V DD8 Inside Rearview Self Dimming Mirror
MIRROR O/S
DPN Mirrors, O/S, Camper Full Feature

BODY EQUIPMENT E63 Body, Fleetside

AXLE RR GT4 Rear Axle, 3.73 Ratio

HEATER ENG K05 Engine block heater

CRUISE CONTROL K34 Cruise Control

ENGINE
LML Engine, 6.6L V8 Duramax Diesel, Turbo TRANSMISSION
MW7 Transmission, Auto 6-Speed, Allison CERTIFICATION
NE1 CT/MA/ME/NJ/NY/OR/PA/RI/VT/WA Emissions

WHEEL PYV Wheel 18" Aluminum
QWF Tires: LT 265/70R18 BW ALS

LOCK SAF Spare Tire Lock

DIGITAL AUDIO SYSTEM U2K XM Radio

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM UE1 OnStar

WIRELESS INTERFACE UPF Bluetooth for Phone

SPEAKER SYSTEM UQA Boston Acoustic Premium Audio System

RADIO UUI Radio, AM/FM Stereo, Auto Tone, CD/MP3, USB Port

LICENSE PLATE FRONT VK3 Front License Plate Bracket

MARKET BRAND X88 Nameplate - Chevrolet

PACKAGE, CONVENIENCE YE9 Trim Level: Convenience Pkg Comfort & Decor

TRAILER PROVISIONS Z82 Trailering Package

CHASSIS PACKAGE Z85 Handling/Trailering Suspension

COLOR COMBINATION ZY1 Solid Paint Application

Mocha Steel Metallic EditionMocha Steel Metallic Edition $395

POWERTRAIN:
Duramax® 6.6L V8 Turbo-Diesel engineDuramax® 6.6L V8 Turbo-Diesel engine $7,195
Allison® 1000 6-speed automatic transmissionAllison® 1000 6-speed automatic transmission $1,200

Rear axle, 3.73 ratioRear axle, 3.73 ratio

GVWR, 11,600 lbs. (5262 kg)GVWR, 11,600 lbs. (5262 kg)

Engine block heaterEngine block heater $75

Trailering wiring provisions for camper, fifth wheel and gooseneck trailerTrailering wiring provisions for camper, fifth wheel and gooseneck trailer $35

Skid Plate PackageSkid Plate Package $150

18" forged polished aluminum wheels18" forged polished aluminum wheels

Tire, spare LT265/70R18E all-season, blackwallTire, spare $360

Cold Weather CoverCold Weather Cover $55

INTERIOR:

Front bucket seatsFront bucket seats Standard
All-weather floor matsAll-weather floor mats $69

AM/FM stereo with CD player and MP3 playbackAM/FM stereo with CD player and MP3 playback Standard

My additions to the truck:
Bed Rug bed liner, Luverne SS running boards, Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 air bags, Reese Custom Base and Rail Kit, Handy fifth wheel tail gate, rear wheel liners, rear seat storage tray, console storage tray, front lower bumper billet grill, Bushwacker bed rail cap, PML rear diff. cover, Bilstein 5100 shocks, steering stabilizer, Edge Insight CTS.

joe b. wrote:

When the dealer ordered the truck we ended up buying, I think they added just about ever option available. Sometimes though to get an option you want, you have to order a "package" of options. So I also have electric seat heaters, a very valuable item to have in south Florida.

But Joe, you have to admit, on your trips to Alaska, those seat heaters feel very nice on a cold morning....:)

I had to get dual alternators when I ordered my truck. I have a 152 and a 200 amp alternator.
On cold dark mornings I am drawing near 300 amps at start up.
I have supplemental heat, which is basically a 1200 watt electric heater. It starts automatically when I start the truck and turn the heater on.
Add in the 2 seat heaters, heater fan, headlights, fog lights,cab lights and all the other lights such as tail gate lights and fender lights.Also when I start the truck, the air compressor usually fires up.
There is also other electrical draws such as the stereo, Nav screen and interior lights and what ever I have plugged into the AC and DC plugs.
So, for the first 15 minutes or so I need a lot of amps.

joe b. wrote:
I found it interesting that in the past, getting a 4WD was a separate option, but on our Chevy, it was included as standard on the Silverado 4WD model...

I am actually not surprised that 4WD was standard on the Silverado 4WD model.

I have the dual 125 amp alternators on my 2011 Chevy diesel. They were on the truck as ordered by the dealer. It was a $270 option on the window sticker. Not sure it is/was a real need for me but so far, 20,000 miles it has been trouble free and sure recharges the truck camper battery quickly when I start driving in the mornings. I used an extra heavy gauge wire when I wired the truck camper to the truck alternator system. I probably wouldn't order the dual set up, if I had the choice, but I would sure compare the cost of the dual system to just getting a larger single alternator.
My last truck, a 2002 Dodge Cummins diesel, worked fine for 144,000 miles, with a 95 Amp unit as I remember it being. Most of those miles were either hauling our TC or pulling our 5th wheel.

When the dealer ordered the truck we ended up buying, I think they added just about ever option available. Sometimes though to get an option you want, you have to order a "package" of options. So I also have electric seat heaters, a very valuable item to have in south Florida. LOL I found it interesting that in the past, getting a 4WD was a separate option, but on our Chevy, it was included as standard on the Silverado 4WD model, making it difficult to figure out just how much I paid for the 4WD. Part of their marketing I would guess.

According to my Duramax owners manual, the engine block heater (which is standard NOT an option) does not even activate when plugged in until temps reach zero degrees F.

Gregg

Duramax should have block heater standard and its really not needed unless your in temps below 0 I have have a 2011 Duramax and it is by far the easiest starting dsl i have evr owned, even without using ythe block heater in below 0 temps.

Engine block heater, yes.
Dual Alternators, no. This option is for tucks that idle a lot and require a lot of electrical power. Like a ambulance or tow truck. If you want to upgrade. Consider the 160 amp alternator. But 125 amps should be enough.