STEPPING UP
The January 23, 2011, online article, “Bestop PowerBoard Install,” asserts that the installation of Bestop’s PowerBoard takes an hour less than “other automatic running boards.” Not true. First, it’s important that any comparisons be application to application. With the GM truck, both the AMP and the Bestop installation guides tell the installer to look for the pink connector under the dash. If that isn’t present, the installer is then instructed to go into the door panels. Therefore, to suggest that it is easier/faster to install Bestop is absolutely incorrect. Also, every vehicle application [for power running boards] is different for trigger wire locations; some under the hood, some only under the sill plates, and some in the sill plates and door panels. This is true for both Bestop and AMP. – Mark Wronski, Director of Marketing/AMP Research
Mark, we stand corrected.
BEDSIDE SEPARATION
Do you guys have any fix to keep the bedsides from separating from the spot welds at the front of the bed? We service gas wells and the rough terrain is doing a number on our Chevy and Ford 1/2-ton beds. – R. Mendez, Medina, Texas
Truck Supply & Outfitters here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, does a lot of pre-delivery prep work for several companies like yours. One thing they do to all of those new pickups is fab a bed reinforcement “cap” out of 2×2- and 2×3-inch 3/16-inch angle iron. The 2×2 piece goes along the front of the bed and it’s welded to the 2×3-inch pieces that extend back about four feet along the top of the bedsides. They bolt the “U”-shaped reinforcement to the top of the bed rails. They’ve never had a comeback related to those spot welds breaking. (See article at propickupmag.com/heavy-duty-bed-fix)
CLOGGED EGR MANIFOLD
Will those water/methanol diesel injection kits clean the intake and EGR manifolds of diesel pickups? Several of our higher-mileage Chevys have a lot of oily buildup in the manifolds as you can see from the photos I have attached. We were thinking of removing or blocking off the EGR system and installing injection kits to get more power and better fuel economy. – Bryan Sikes, Shelby, North Carolina
“No system will clean what is already built up in the manifold or EGR,” says AEM Performance Electronics’ Lawson Molica. “However, if properly used these systems can help reduce this buildup.” By the way, removal (or altering) anything related to the engine’s smog system is a violation of federal law. In many states tampering with smog components prevents you from getting that vehicle’s tags. Also, few auto dealers will take modified vehicles in trade. So if you are a business owner those factors have to be weighed into any engine modifications related to the intake and exhaust systems.
DUAL BATTERY WIRING
I have a 2007 Chevy Avalanche with the open dual-battery tray that I’d like to use the same as you did on Project Bedrock [See “Battery Double-Up,” April 2012]. Does the alternator wire come off the mega fuse and go to the aux battery? Can I leave the factory wires the way they are and run a new wire from output side of the mega fuse to the isolator relay? I am a bit of a perfectionist and like the factory look. – Pete Brugmann, Cleveland, Ohio
P.S. The ProPickup website is great! Got it logged into my favorites and just finished reading the article on tire testing in snow [“Kings of Cold,” October 2011]. A great article for me because my Avalanche sucks on stopping and turning in snow. Even more so when I have the snowmobile trailer hooked on.
Pete, leave the factory wiring untouched. Follow the Cole Hersee wiring diagram we have posted with the web how-to article and you’ll be just fine. GM techs say this is the same wiring setup they use for the “TP2” dual-battery option for heavy-duty pickups. The battery cable running between the “mega fuse” off the main battery and the post on the Cole Hersee smart relay carries the charge from the alternator to the auxiliary battery. Wire the optional momentary switch into the solenoid circuit to give you the added boost to help the main battery crank the Avalanche in cold weather. Use the auxiliary battery as the power source for the trailer plug.
