Bigger is better. That ethos works with pizza, salary, cup size, and by the looks of this monster Chevy dualie, trucks too. Wanting to find a heavy hauler to help anchor our dualie issue, we came across a '09 Chevy 3500 owned by long-time customizer Justin Veit, of Insane Kustoms in Phoenix. He wanted to give the Bow Tie a boost in altitude by way of a 6-inch RCD lift, Ready Lift 21/2-inch torsion keys, and new wheels/tires. Teaming with Insane Kustoms, we made our way our to Phoenix, only to watch firsthand a truck go from mild to wild. With the lift in place, huge 24-inch, 10-lug semi wheels from Ekstensive Metalworks were ordered, along with the 8 to 10-lug adapters. Those wheels are mounted inside Nitto Terra Grappler all-terrain tires sized LT315/50R24. Totaling 36.6 inches, the tires add to the Chevy's lift and overall brute appearance.
| 2009 Chevy Silverado 3500 Buildup before
Keeping those wheels and tires churning is a 6.6L Duramax diesel. Strong right off the assembly line, Insane Kustoms wanted more, after all, bigger is better, right? Adding an intake kit from S&B Filters and an exhaust from MBRP helped the turbo breathe easier. S&B is quickly rising the filter ladder with quality parts, high-flow filters, and the best instructions on the market. MBRP knows a thing or two about diesels, and their particulate filter-back exhaust system is made out of T-304 stainless but doesn't break the bank. This super-sized fantastic four was handled at Desert Rat Off-Road Center in Phoenix. We brought them an all-stock Chevy dually and left with a huge rig fit for a giant. If your hauler is in need of a performance boost or you just want your very own monster truck, give the companies a call and tell them Truckin' sent you. If bigger is better, this thing should pretty much be the bomb.
| 2009 Chevy Silverado 3500 Buildup after
From The Driver Seat
This dually is sick. Huge right off the dealer lot, it now towers over most things on the highway and looks 18-wheelers in the eye. The Ekstensive wheels and Nitto tires are an incredible combination. Providing a smooth ride yet also giving the truck rugged off-road looks, the Nitto Terra Grapplers are a great all-around tire. The lift kit from RCD was one of the biggest surprises because the ride was compliant despite the sheer brute size of the 3500 and the Bilstien shocks did an impressive job of soaking up bumps. Power is never far from the righthand pedal. Smash the throttle and get ready for a tidal wave of torque. S&B did its homework because the intake kit went on with zero trouble and the MBRP exhaust simply bolted into place. Our only setback for this install was the price. Ten large is a hefty price tag, but big parts cost big dollars and like the old adage states: "if you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch." All in all, this truck is just a few mods away from being a magazine feature truck. For this reason, be on the lookout for upcoming issues where we'll show you how to install even more custom parts and if you're attending SEMA, look for the Truckin' stickers and you'll find this massive Chevy.
| 2009 Chevy Silverado 3500 Buildup right Side Angle
Your Questions Answered
Time Spent Working: 10 hours
Degree of Difficulty: Intermediate
Tools Needed:
Assorted metric sockets and wrenches, air impact, various allen keys, torque wrench, pry bar, drill and bits
Parts Used:
Six Nitto Terra Grappler tires LT315/50R24
$3,900.00
Ekstensive Metalworks 24-inch billet wheels and steel lug adapters
$3,600.00
MBRP XP-series performance exhaust 56026409
$322.18
RCD 6-inch lift for '09 Chevy 3500
$1,949.00
Ready Lift 21/2-inch torsion keys 66-3050
$219.95
S&B Filters air intake kit 75-5019
$269.95
Total costs: $10,041.13
(Pricing from autoanything.com, desertrat.com, and ekstensive.com and does not include tax or labor)
