LML 3500HD Dually - Nor-Cal Nick’s Hauler Project

[Nor-Cal_Nick]

After selling my 2008 Chevy 3500HD I was trying to hold out for a new body Chevy but I could not any longer and I picked up this 2012 Chevy 3500HD LML in white and LTZ package. Because this dually has to “Do Work!” I will not be going crazy big but a 4” lift is planned and 35” tires. I am still waiting to figure out what wheels will be going on this truck but I hope to have that dialed in soon. Soon I will have a better build direction and details to share but I wanted to show it off finally, it’s been sitting in the shop for a couple months and I started driving it a few weeks ago and started getting pretty excited to be building another dually to say the least.




Yes another WHITE dually, just a clean color to work with and very wide open for the final theme that we end up with.





From my last 2008 I really like how Chevy stepped it up on the LTZ package head unit and runs a USB plug in the center console, another awesome feature is the heated & air conditioned seats…. Love it! My last dually I ripped the wood grain trim off and installed the silver so I am happy seeing they made that a option on the 2012.



It’s very nice to have a truck that we can use to test fit or use for instructions on my personal time frame and a product I just finished instructions on was our new version 20” Rigid LED bar brackets that we offer. New version allows the light to roll back so you can run covers, something many people asked for.



Nothing crazy but got the first load out of the way haha…. I have a Goose Neck adapter that I am installing on my fifth wheel in the next following weeks so I can get hooked to something big!

More to come soon,


Nor-Cal Nick

[The_Mad_Norsky]

Awesome adventure.

Thanks for the follow up. Looking forward to more on your dually build up.

[fly-boy]

Killer you got your son on the KTM 50- was my sons bikes at 4 as well. Wait till he steps up to a 65- that is when the little guys get really fun to ride with!!!

Have been real happy with my LML so far and it pulls the WW great!

As for the goosneck adapter- I think you were really smart to get that thing off your trailer. I would love to run one but you really need your trailer designed from the ground up for it.

[mcsurveyor]

Awesome.

That is all.

[Nor-Cal_Nick]

*UPDATE*

Sorry it has been awhile, I have alot of projects for other truck owners I have been busy with and between this build and my "X-MAX" build I have to watch how fast I am putting money into these rigs. I never have a stock truck to test product on so it's been nice not going super fast into this project, plus it's been hard to top my last dually build because I can not get too far off the same path of the build because I do use this truck to the fullest.


I ended up purchasing the RV3 gooseneck adapter, the company was really nice and the product is STOUT for sure. ** Many have asked what my feelings on the RV3 adapter, I will give them further down the post **







The instructions say to bolt this on but I felt I would weld the perimeter and I also added an additional strap of metal to tie the pin box together better.






Believe it or not out of all the damn pics I took I never took a pic once the trailer was hooked to the gooseneck in the bed 😞

The first trip with the toyhauler was a small drive to Hollister Hills for a dirt bike trip with family and friends for the Easter Holiday:



I truck was 100% stock and it hauled like CRAP! The trailer load sat the rear of the suspension on the upper over load springs so every bump the truck and trailer jerked around like crazy. I thought I was going to rip the pin box off the trailer it was so bad. My wife even said WTH was wrong because the old dually was nothing like how this new one was feeling.

After the Easter trip we installed a set of Air Lift helper bags and also a set of Fox Performance Series shocks. This truck is running a B&W gooseneck so the Air Lift helper bag ubolt frame straps would not fit around the B&W side frame plate so we simply welded the mount to the frame on one side and used the ubolt on the other, later we can simple grind the weld to remove the mount and with the load being applied against the frame mount being weld doesn't hurt anything.

The next trip with hooked was a big father & son trip mid June, this trip really gave me a ton of feed back on the new LML truck against what i was used to on my LMM being a 6 hour haul each way and over a wide variety of terrain from rolling hills and large grades while on the high way. Then we had about an hour drive on a dirt wash board road until we where at our camping spot in the Gerlach NV. desert.



Playing just the tip at this fuel station lol.... I backed out after fueling up.



For the drive a buddy was in a 2008 Chevy 2500HD that is on a Cognito 4" NTBD & 35x12.50x20's with stock gears but running a simple 60hp EFI Live tune with a turbo back 4" exhaust. He also has a 56gal Titan Fuel Tank so after we fueled at the same spots we compared how much fuel we used and he was using about 7-8 gals less than my stock LML. Now we had no where the same load hooked behind us but on the grades over the summits he left me in the dust.... I will be addressing the power to mpg of this LML soon lol.

Something I have had my eye on for a while that I finally decided to install inside my toyhauler before this trip was a product by Bolt it On - Bolt It On, Serious Racks It is a very clean way to strap your dirt bike inside your trailer with out a hundred tie straps from all sorts of angles. Just makes organizing so mush nicer.








For the dirt bike riders or camping guys you should love these pics of the killer father & son trip we took, for the others that are not really interested I am sorry for the heavy pics.





The group that was part of this trip thought of all kinds of guy fun, from dirt bike riding, guns & night hunting, fire works & blowing "stuff" up this trip was AWESOME!

Full shooting range!







In the middle of no where and of course we have a visitor 🙂







The best part about riding in the desert is take a trip to town for lunch with a big group of guys.





I have been a big dirt bike rider for years and have been enjoying bringing my son up in the sport, recently he stepped up to a KTM50 mini and for the first time I got to ride some desert trails with him, he is only 4 years old but he did great on a couple long 1 hour rides, made me so happy.





Here is what 5 gal propane tanks look like after being hit with a high power riffle while in the fire!





Couple pics heading out of the area where we camped, talk about twisting up the toyhauler and truck.






- Airlift helper bags and Fox Performance shocks, Thoughts & opinions:
The helper bags helped alot, the trucks ride height was much better where I could be at my unloaded right height but with the trailer hooked up. This gave the rear suspension available travel up or down with out bouncing off the over loads while driving down the highway, the ride improved big time and the rear bounce was reduced drastically between the helper bags and Fox Performance Series shocks. I am still not 100% satisfied but now that the trailer and truck are riding level the handling was acceptable as was the ride quality. Remember my pin weight is very heavy so it will take alot to dial it in to be the best, a lighter set up would be much easier to clean up. The only difference on my old LMM dually was larger tires, Sulastic Shackle and large style helper bags. I am positive with a 35" tire and Sulastics on this dually and I would be at the same ride quality as I had before I had upgraded to the large helper bag set up. Larger bags will run less PSI but while holding the same amount of weight so the truck would ride better with less bounce from the bag pressure.


- For the RV3 gooseneck adapter, Thoughts & my opinion:
The adapter is strong, the problem I see is the leverage on the front of the trailer. I can only speak about my feelings with this item installed on my Weekend Warrior CR3905 toyhauler.... the W/W trailers do have a longer pin box than others and I think with the length/leverage of the set up with how high I have the RV3 adjusted to puts alot of stress on the nose of the toyhauler. I have checked everything as far in as possible with out taking off the panels that cover the nose structure and nothing I can see has shown signs of failure or stress cracks but with a few hauls on this set up and my gut feeling I have decided that I will be removing the adapter and going back to a standard pin box for now. I have a few idea's of my direction with the dually and taking the bed off to run a flat bed and then lowering my toyhauler and then re-installing the adapter but in a much more reduced height to reduce the leverage. Originally that was the reason I went to the adapter so I don't have a fifth wheel hitch mounted to a flat bed.


I am not sure what the next upgrades will be but at some point it will have a Cognito 4" up front and I am looking at a Kelderman rear air ride suspension set up for the rear.


Sorry for the long post but thank you for following along with my project.


Nick

[Nor-Cal_Nick]

M GO BLUE wrote:
Nick...you last name start with a D?

If you are the one I am thinking of I purchased some parts from you a few years back for my secondary fuel filter replacement on my Chevy...

Not me, you are talking about Nick D from Sac that started DP.com. Great guy and I do business with him also.

[M_GO_BLUE1]

Nick...you last name start with a D?

If you are the one I am thinking of I purchased some parts from you a few years back for my secondary fuel filter replacement on my Chevy...

[Nor-Cal_Nick]

dmax_83 wrote:
Excited to see your lml build, your lmm looked mean (saw it on diesel place). Also, I bought my bilsteins from your shop and couldn't be happier. Keep up the good work Nick!

Thank you, great to hear you are happy with them, Bilstein's are simple and sweet to clean up these trucks.

[Nor-Cal_Nick]

rottidawg wrote:
Nick,

I have the same truck only in a 3/4 ton version. After my first 4WD trip I knew that the front air dam-cow catcher thing had to go. An air ratchet and about 20 screws and no more snow plow.

Subscribed to your build.

I agree, these trucks look killer factory but front end too low in factory form for sure. I am considering ditching the front bumper all together and doing an aftermarket set up, just not thought it out that far yet.

[Nor-Cal_Nick]

fly-boy wrote:

Nor-Cal Nick wrote:

fly-boy wrote:
I will be interested to see the 35"'s on there- I am not sure I can fit 35" tires without some cutting in front.

If it works I am all over 35's as soon as I need new tires.

I can't show you 35"s, you will give away all my secrets to the monster truck driver HAHAHAHA!!

Just giving you $%#t. But yes this will have 35"s, just like my previous because I feel it's the best all around combo hands down.

Never asked him about 35's- but if you are saying they fit than I am sure they do. I did not turn up the keys at all after doing the 4"Cognito kit...
At any rate- looking forward to seeing what you do.
C

Here is 35x12.50x20 on a 20x9 5"bs wheels, Cognito 4" set at 4"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9rQ2BqDuk0

[dmax_83]

Excited to see your lml build, your lmm looked mean (saw it on diesel place). Also, I bought my bilsteins from your shop and couldn't be happier. Keep up the good work Nick!

[rottidawg]

Nick,

I have the same truck only in a 3/4 ton version. After my first 4WD trip I knew that the front air dam-cow catcher thing had to go. An air ratchet and about 20 screws and no more snow plow.

Subscribed to your build.

[fly-boy]

Nor-Cal Nick wrote:

fly-boy wrote:
I will be interested to see the 35"'s on there- I am not sure I can fit 35" tires without some cutting in front.

If it works I am all over 35's as soon as I need new tires.

I can't show you 35"s, you will give away all my secrets to the monster truck driver HAHAHAHA!!

Just giving you $%#t. But yes this will have 35"s, just like my previous because I feel it's the best all around combo hands down.

Never asked him about 35's- but if you are saying they fit than I am sure they do. I did not turn up the keys at all after doing the 4"Cognito kit...
At any rate- looking forward to seeing what you do.
C

[Nor-Cal_Nick]

fly-boy wrote:
I will be interested to see the 35"'s on there- I am not sure I can fit 35" tires without some cutting in front.

If it works I am all over 35's as soon as I need new tires.

I can't show you 35"s, you will give away all my secrets to the monster truck driver HAHAHAHA!!

Just giving you $%#t. But yes this will have 35"s, just like my previous because I feel it's the best all around combo hands down.

[fly-boy]

I will be interested to see the 35"'s on there- I am not sure I can fit 35" tires without some cutting in front.

If it works I am all over 35's as soon as I need new tires.