Any have opinions/suggestions for GM side steps?

2010
Silverado 1500
crew cab
victory red


black vs chrome
3" round vs 6" oval?

I'm partial to the 6" oval black steps due to size, price, and color (will hide road rash better than chrome)

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 2:34 PM. Reason : oh yeh; what about dual battery setups? does GM still make one?]

11/16/2011 2:26:40 PM

not sure about the new ones, but some of the previous models had an extra battery tray. it'd be pretty easy to wire in another one. just like running an engine and house battery on a boat.

11/16/2011 2:40:38 PM

Yeh, mine has the extra bay and I could wire it myself; however, I'm concerned that could void my warranty. I guess I just need to call a dealer to see if they still do that (and if i remember correctly, they used to have several GM dual battery kits to choose from)

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 2:42 PM. Reason : .]

11/16/2011 2:41:47 PM

call 3 or 4 different dealerships and ask them if it will

11/16/2011 2:42:40 PM

yep, all said it would void the warranty. and apparently GM/chevy won't install it because there's no code for it... funny, because this same setup is used in several of their trucks.

the guy also said it would make it a 24v system... uh, if it's wired properly, wouldn't it be in parallel, thus still 12v? and he said it would kill the alternator... which may be true, but the same load would still be pulled, only the batteries see 1/2 the load each. and if my research is correct, the stock alternator can handle a 2 battery system regardless. and this doesn't even assume using an isolator.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 2:55 PM. Reason : .]

11/16/2011 2:55:01 PM

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 2:57 PM. Reason : nvm i misread]

11/16/2011 2:56:35 PM

Found the RPO code for dual batteries (TP2 or TP3, but TP2 seems to be the popular code). I'll need an oil change soon, so I'll just ask in person.

11/17/2011 11:51:39 AM

Quote :

"the guy also said it would make it a 24v system... uh, if it's wired properly, wouldn't it be in parallel, thus still 12v? and he said it would kill the alternator... which may be true, but the same load would still be pulled, only the batteries see 1/2 the load each. and if my research is correct, the stock alternator can handle a 2 battery system regardless. and this doesn't even assume using an isolator."

That guy doesnt know what he is talking about. I installed dual batteries in my van and it is as simple as hooking up an isolator and wiring it up. The alternator will not see any more load and you are correct that the alternators load will just be split.

i just wired up this http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200343388_200343388 , added a battery tray over the other wheel well, wired it all together and that was it. Nothing hard, nothing that should void a warranty.

11/17/2011 12:39:01 PM

^thanks.

contacted chevy directly and they said there's no provisions to install a second battery in vehicles that didn't come with it from the factory; and any damage/failure due to the modification wouldn't be covered under warranty (duh). my concern is if I did have electrical issues at some point, chevy would try to say it's the modification's fault. hell, i may just buy a deep cycle battery, strap it in the extra bay and manually move it over if i ever need it.

[Edited on November 18, 2011 at 8:30 AM. Reason : .]

11/18/2011 8:30:26 AM

unless you plan to put it on a charger every week, it'd probably be a waste of money



[Edited on November 18, 2011 at 9:29 AM. Reason : especially somewhere that sees temp extremes like under the hood]

11/18/2011 9:07:52 AM

true and I'd have to but a charger as well....

recommend a jump pack?

11/21/2011 1:37:34 PM

simple solution would be to install second battery with the isolator and then wire the second battery to its own fuse box. Then wire any accessories to this fuse box. This will isolate the electrical stuff you wired from any of the factory stuff.

For example in my van i have anything engine related hooked to the factory fusebox and i have all of my "leisure" stuff hooked to the fusebox i installed. (Radio, amp, all of my 12V receptacles, interior lights, television, off road lights) The other advantage to this is that I have never ran my starting battery dead, because none of the stuff that could "stay on" accidentally is hooked to the starting battery. At tailgates I can blare my stereo, run the tv, turn on an obnoxious amount of lights and generally do anything i please since this is all hooked to my "leisure" battery. If this battery dies, i can just crank the van right up and recharge the leisure battery.

11/21/2011 2:41:37 PM