2009 Chevy Silverado Towing Install

[NorthCOVideo]

My ever changing setup. In the console from top to bottom, TYT TH-9800 quad band radio, in the middle a Uniden BCT15X, and on bottom Uniden 980SSB CB radio. On the dash Uniden BC-RH-96 connected to a BCD396T in the glove box. The tablet I primarily use for a set of gauges when I'm towing trailers for my company, it uses a bluetooth OB2 adapter to pull data from the truck. On the left side of the steering wheel I have a boost gauge and pyrometer on the dash, remote for my airbag compressor and the switch panel is for my various lights. The first pictures are of my current setup, later I'll post up pictures of my antennas, lights and my prior setup. Forgot to add the UV5R in the cup holder.

 

[03msc]

Looks good! It's nice to see a utilitarian install on here now and then, a real world work environment. Well done! Looking forward to the other pictures yet to come.

 

[NorthCOVideo]

Old Setup and Lights

Here's a picture of the old setup and my lights and stuff. Old Uniden 760XLT on the dash with the Uniden remote head. As far as lights 30,000 lumen light bar on top, 1,200 lumen LEDs in the fogs, 1800 Lumen light heads on the tool box and back bumper. As for towing a B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch, airlift air bags and wireless one compressor, that's what the small remote it for on the dash. Pictures of the antennas to come. I'm still playing around with different antennas to see which works better with each radio.

 

[phillmobile]

29mpg? i worry when am getting 50

 

[NorthCOVideo]

That reading is a little off, typically I get anywhere from 20-24 mpg. The truck is a diesel lacking emissions control devices, most of those trucks get 17-18 on a good day.

 

[Kasmus]

Sorry, I don't know much about cars: why does the airbag compressor have a remote? Aren't airbags inflated by pyro charges or something like that?

 

[KB7MIB]

He's not referring to the supplemental restraint system kind of airbags in the steering wheel or the side curtain types that deploys in the event of a crash. He's referring to a load leveler/stabilization airbag that is a part of the rear suspension when towing heavy loads, such as 5th wheel trailers.

John
Peoria, AZ

 

[ShawnInPaso]

Slick setup !

 

[Kasmus]

He's not referring to the supplemental restraint system kind of airbags in the steering wheel or the side curtain types that deploys in the event of a crash. He's referring to a load leveler/stabilization airbag that is a part of the rear suspension when towing heavy loads, such as 5th wheel trailers.

John
Peoria, AZ

Thanks! Never heard about these before. ;-)

 

[Tracker]

Is that 5th wheel even bolted in?

 

[NorthCOVideo]

Yup, it attaches to a B and W Turnover ball goose neck hitch under the bed which is rated at 30,000 lbs, so instead of the goose neck ball there is a shaft that goes down in its place and then gets torqued against the pin that holds the ball in place. The 5th wheel hitch a B and W Companion is rated at 18,000-20,000 lbs. I love this hitch, if you are looking for a new hitch and can do it this is a great option to go with.

 

[scannermanner1]

Yup, it attaches to a B and W Turnover ball goose neck hitch under the bed which is rated at 30,000 lbs, so instead of the goose neck ball there is a shaft that goes down in its place and then gets torqued against the pin that holds the ball in place. The 5th wheel hitch a B and W Companion is rated at 18,000-20,000 lbs. I love this hitch, if you are looking for a new hitch and can do it this is a great option to go with.

+1 those B&W 5th wheel hitches are soo nice all you haft to do is pull the pin and lift the hitch out and you've got your bed back

 

[scannermanner1]

29mpg? i worry when am getting 50

LOL try 7mpg in a semi !

 

[scannermanner1]

Thanks! Never heard about these before. ;-)

It also makes the ride not as rough, there extremely common under the back (between the axial and the frame) of semi trucks they make it ride A LOT smoother, and semi trailers too like when you see "air ride equipped" on the side of a semi box trailer then the trailer has air bags in the same place as described ^^^ above, basically just means the cargo gets a lot smoother ride.

 

[Tracker]

Ohhh ok, I guess it's just how the pic was taken ....it doesn't show any bolts on the hitch to the bed/frame...

 

[NorthCOVideo]

Antenna

Maxrad 800, hooked to the 396T.
Tram Wide Band window mount, not currently in use, great performance on high bands but not so great on lower bands.
36" Firestick FireFlys for the 980SSB, I had them setup co-phase but didn't work well because of distance between them, so just the one on the drivers side is hooked up and the other is for looks and it does look kinda weird without the 2.
Larsen Tri-Band VHF/UHF/800 up front hooked to the BCT15X, it does really well for what I listen to on that radio.
Finally a Browning 2m/440 for the TH9800.

 

[NorthCOVideo]

Here are some pictures of the speakers I'm using as well. I have a RadioShack Amplified hooked to the BCT15X, a Motorola on the 980SSB. I put a small Audiovox or I think that's what they are calling them behind the remote head, it projects off the windshield really well, and then a RadioShack no amplified on the TH9800. There has been a lot of experimenting with the antennas and speaker to get good performance and the right sound.

 

[scannermanner1]

Nice !!! What do you think of that work light (if you would call it that) on the top of the cab ?? Are they worth the money and effective ??

 

[NorthCOVideo]

I would say it is pretty good for the money I spent on it. Its not a rigid or anything expensive like that, I think I paid like $160 for it on Ebay.

 

[scannermanner1]

I would say it is pretty good for the money I spent on it. Its not a rigid or anything expensive like that, I think I paid like $160 for it on Ebay.

O that's pretty good.

The ones I seen where on display at the local parts store and came in 3 different sizes, and the largest one (like what you have) if I remember right was somewhere between 500$ and 1000$

BTW nice install ! I should have said that in my above posts lol