Posted 2005-10-25 9:31 PM (#32320) Subject: Chevy Kodiak 4500... anyone have experience with them?
Veteran
Posts: 115
We just traded for one, got a really good deal on it from a guy who really needed my dad's ton 4WD (he's pulling campers for FEMA and kept getting it stuck) Anyway, searched the forum but couldn't find much info about these trucks. Just looking for comments or experience with them. This is a 2004 model with the duramax and allison. It has about 15K miles. It's about 16 hours from me so I don't have any more details for now. I know it's supposed to have a "chip" in it as well but don't know what kind or any other specs. I'll be pulling a 3H slant with 8' LQ (steel frame and heavy) as well as a 30' flatbed to haul tractors.
Mr. Truck, saw that you'd tried one and were going to write a review but I can't find it...
Posted 2005-10-26 3:46 PM (#32361 - in reply to #32320) Subject: RE: Chevy Kodiak 4500... anyone have experience with them?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
I like the looks of it. I have no personal experience but some of my fellow rodeo'rs have used them with success. They like them vs. the 3500. I would too if they offered 4x4.
Posted 2005-10-26 5:58 PM (#32371 - in reply to #32320) Subject: RE: Chevy Kodiak 4500... anyone have experience with them?
New User
Posts: 2
We have the same 2004 truck. I had a chip and took it off, I feel it runs better without. Maybe not as much horsepower but smoother running and shifting for hauling horses. I like the size of the truck for pulling 12,000 to 16,000 lb goose neck trailers. Great braking and down hill control with the combination of Allison tranny and exhaust brake. You don't feel the weight pushing you around like I have with a one ton pickup. With the air ride suspension, it still rides stiffer then any one ton truck until you put a couple thousand pounds in the back. The height of the box will limit you to gooseneck or 5th wheel trailers you can haul, it is a few inches taller then my 4x4 one ton Dodge. We were lucky our trailers were not very close to the bed rails and work with the Monroe convertion box like in your picture. The receiver hitch is actually about the same height as the receiver on a one ton 4x4, but you have to get a reducer so your standard 2" hitches fit in the 2 1/2" reciver tube the truck comes with. I have put 20,000 miles on mine mostly hauling locally a triple axle 30' gooseneck flatbed for my business and some trips with a LQ 3 horse trailer including a cross country trip. The truck has been in the shop 3 times all for the same problem. The compressor for the air ride seats keeps going out and the worst part is the exhaust brake is tied into it and stops working also. I think this is sort of a safety problem if it decides to go out while you are coming down off of some of the hills and passes with a 6 percent grade or more and you need it.
Posted 2005-10-26 8:00 PM (#32378 - in reply to #32371) Subject: RE: Chevy Kodiak 4500... anyone have experience with them?
Veteran
Posts: 115
Thanks for the info Bright2day. Are the exhaust brakes standard on these trucks or was yours an upgrade. I'm not sure if this truck has those or not. Is there an easy way to tell? Keep in mind that I'm halfway across the country from it. My dad has it with him now but he's not very knowledgable about such things. I've been a little worried about the clearance of the gooseneck but we had plenty of room on the dodge ton truck so maybe it'll be fine. If not that would be a good excuse to put the flat bed on it that I'd rather have anyway, LOL!
Posted 2005-10-26 9:29 PM (#32384 - in reply to #32378) Subject: RE: Chevy Kodiak 4500... anyone have experience with them?
New User
Posts: 2
Hi Pony, The exhaust brake is an option. The on and off switch for it should be the very bottom, far right hand rocker switch on the panel to the right of the radio. You can also look under the truck on the passengers side and see it installed in the exhaust pipe.
What fuel mileage did the guy you got the truck from say he was getting with it?
Posted 2005-10-26 9:49 PM (#32387 - in reply to #32320) Subject: RE: Chevy Kodiak 4500... anyone have experience with them?
Expert
Posts: 2689
I think I want one.
There have been problems with tune up chips on the LLY engines.
Supposedly LB7s responded quite well to them, but since then...
Maybe a Microsoft syndrome, Explorer works better, but the new interface to the O/S that it uses cripples Netscape - - sort of thing.
Personally I don't see any need for more than stock torque and HP when towing horses - and with the co$t of fuel where it is, who needs to burn more of it ?
Anyway, nice truck, check 'em out in the deisel forums (foraa ? - jokin')
Posted 2005-10-26 10:00 PM (#32389 - in reply to #32384) Subject: RE: Chevy Kodiak 4500... anyone have experience with them?
Veteran
Posts: 115
bright2day...I think it's supposed to be getting 9-10 pulling FEMA campers. Those guys run them just as hard as they can though.
Just talked to a friend who drove it on a camper run tonight and she said it was riding very rough. Not sure what's up with that unless her air ride seat just isn't adjusted correctly. I know it's not going to ride like a pickup but she was talking major "snap" going over any little bump. Humm...
I'll have her check on the exhaust brake. The guy we got it from left all the manuals at his home shop so we'll probably never see them. I just bought a manual off ebay and am going to see if the dealer will send me the specs based on VIN number so we know what we've got.
Any input or advice would be great. I won't actually get to see it until I drive down to pick it up over thanksgiving.
Posted 2005-10-27 9:50 AM (#32401 - in reply to #32320) Subject: RE: Chevy Kodiak 4500... anyone have experience with them?
Member
Posts: 26 Location: Edgerton, Kansas
Paint pony, I personally own a chevy 4500 with a 2L custom conversoin for our horse trailer business. Huge stopping power and great turn radius. The truck is equipped with the edge juice with attiutde module as well as the bully dog programmer. The 2 work very well together, and the best part, it gets better fuel milege (16) on the highway and (10-11) pulling our largest trailers. The truck now has 52,000 miles on it and no problems have ever come up. They do ride very stiff even with air ride chassis and air ride seats. Hope you enjoy the truck as much as we have.
Chevy Kodiak 4500... anyone have experience with them?
