SERIOUS Diesel Cold-Weather Issues: Are GMC Trucks Failing?

[@beckyjacobs9176]

Since you changed your fuel filter, it will have a harder start. The first couple times after it has to bleed the air out of the filter system. Happens to my big truck every time I get the filters changed, stay safe

[@caseyramseyer9874]

100% came here to say this. The engine was turning over just fine, so batteries are good

[@tooanalytical4u]

Aren't you actually supposed to prime the pump after changing fuel filters?

[@waynesiminski8268]

@@tooanalytical4uyes you are correct

[@VincentTactical]

You’re supposed to cycle your key (without cranking the motor) twice for about 5 seconds each to let the fuel pump prime. Then it will fire right up.

[@henry17403]

Kyle works on the truck and it starts giving him problems. Go figure!

[@joshlaliberte3847]

When you change your fuel filter, just turn your key on before starting. You will hear the canister fill back up and build pressure. After about 10-15 seconds, turn off, then back on again to prime again and it should fire right up.

[@tooanalytical4u]

Was thinking the same. Any air in the system can be really bad for high pressure fuel pump.

[@pawsitivity-unleashed]

Yes! You can also manually prime it on top of the filter. Push it until it starts resisting then start.

[@jimwhalen6769]

No, you have to bleed it off on the filter head. There is a manual bulb pump that bleeds the air out! The newer Chevy trucks have the dreaded CP4 high pressure pumps that only pump when the engine is turning over! Now if he had an Fass fuel system, that has the electric pump that assists the CP4 pump in the engine.

[@theslowpra5457]

Yeah duramax’s don’t have a lift pump so it needs to crank to fill up. A fass lift pump would be a worth while upgrade for them and make changing filters easier

[@pawsitivity-unleashed]

@@theslowpra5457 This. I added one to mine and it works good.

[@Jeffbob442]

You guys are SO blessed to get 7 years of service out of your truck batteries...Most of all with a Diesel as they take alot of juice to start with all that compression! I am sure you replaced them by now! Great show today!

[@scottlewis5755]

I was thinking the same thing. I change mine out every 4-5 years regardless. Even the best top tier batteries fail around the 5 year point in my location. Easier to plan for it as a regular item than be stranded....That being said, my most reliable batteries have been the stock/from the factory batteries in my previous Tundra, FJ Cruiser, and Tacoma - they seem to have the battery supplier dialed in. For my dirtymax, a new pair every 5ish years is a small maintenance price to pay. I do still DD a Tundra and it is on the 5 year battery replacement routine.

[@ceimo856]

We only got 2.5 years out of our (2) 2022 batteries. Count your blessings👍

[@OpenCarryUSMC]

Battery longevity has more to do with cycles, trip length, and quality of the driving service. If you start and stop a lot, drive rough surfaces, etc. you’re going to wear them out faster. Same applies to RV batteries as well.

[@Seemore724]

For trailer bake issues, try spraying electronic tuner cleaner on both the trailer and truck seven way plug. This will help clean contacts for brakes and lights on the trailer. The cleaner will be available at any auto parts store.

[@cathykaufman4463]

Also available at Walmart, it worked for us too!

[@TxIndy01]

Maybe a little dielectric grease on the plug, too.

[@Seemore724]

@@TxIndy01 I would not reccomend usiing dielectric grease on this connection. As an electrician I only onul used it on permanent connections. The reason I would not use it in this application is because the grease will attract and hold dirt.

[@that.schamp]

@@TxIndy01 That is bad idea, probably based on the widespread (but false) belief that dielectric grease is conductive. Dielectric grease is non-conductive and will not improve an electrical connection. Because it is non-conductive, it can be used to prevent corrosion by sealing and insulating an electrical connection that is already made, but will never improve the quality of the connection. There are conducive greases - basically the same stuff, but with powdered metal suspended in the grease. That sort of grease is rarely used. I've seen it used as lubricant on a rotating assembly, but care had to be made to insure that the grease never leaked and caused a short. It has a gasket and a plastic cover to make sure grease never got out and an shorted the whole system.

[@drvannozzun]

I love your videos! Safe travels. We still gotta hear about the Hawaii trip and the tolls on the Pacific Ocean

[@StuPedasso]

OMG Dexy's meow -on cue- when entering Vermont was priceless! Mr. propane guy was amazing 🤩 Totally on board with Kyle's assessment of tourist towns and employee interaction. #thankshanks

[@stevenkaskus6173]

Congratulations on reaching your 50 state visit.

[@KimWithSaltyLiving]

@stevenkaskus6173 Hawaii too? I shipped my big car there, I know you can ship your camper too . I've only been watching them about a month so they could've done that for sure! I'll look around.

[@bullseye0112]

You are a very patient person Kyle, sometimes to your detriment but it shows a level of grace

[@mountainskyaerialphotograp3921]

Thanks for the tour! This year, I pulled a no-no, and put gas in my Diesel. Only about a half tank. I noticed that my truck would crank and crank and then start. Well, long story short, I wound up siphoning as much our of the tank as I could. Then filled it with diesel and hoped for the best. I also put in some diesel fuel additive which helped. Fortunately, no damage and it is still running fine. Never purchase diesel at a "BP" gas station because the diesel pumps are green for "GAS" not diesel. Also, if you have not replaced you batteries in 7 years, you have done good. They should be replaced soon before it leaves you stranded somewhere. Thanks guys!

[@johnthorpe6333]

Hi Guys On, the batteries that slow cranking that morning was your warring, The next cold morning it will not start. Replace your batteries as soon as possible. I know the time frame is delayed, so I hope you have changed the batteries already. Many years ago, we took a weeks' vacation to see the fall foliage. We went to New Hampshire for three days then went to Manchester Vermont for Columbus weekend with no reservation. On our third try we ended up in a ski lodge three miles out of town. Now we have an RV and I stay away from holiday weekends. Yes, October 15th or so New England rolls up the sidewalks and puts the see you in the spring sign out. See you next Thursday.

[@crashweekly7925]

I did the exact same thing with my F350, smelled gas as I was pumping and stopped, I had half a tank of diesel in the truck and ended up putting 1/4 tank of gas in it. The truck wouldn't start unless I let the fuel pump run to build pressure and then she would start. I just kept topping the diesel up and added the additive to it. Been over a year since then and it's been running fine since. Putting gas in a diesel will run but diesel in a gas engine will not. I wouldn't recommend putting gas in a diesel engine on purpose unless your name is whistlin diesel who would do something like that for views.

[@mountainskyaerialphotograp3921]

@@crashweekly7925 Agreed. What's funny is that I actaully got better fuel milage after the incident than before. I was getting up to 26 MPG pulling the 5th wheel, before I was getting 21-23 MPG.

[@crashweekly7925]

@@mountainskyaerialphotograp3921 LOL, I had my trailer connected when I did it and luckily was only 10 minutes from home. I managed to get the trailer dropped off and brought the truck home. I didn't want to get stuck with a 36' 5th wheel plus the truck dead somewhere on the side of the road. On my truck I can bleed the fuel filter under the truck and get a lot of the water or fuel out of it that way. Not going to lie I panicked a little once I figured out what I had done. I pay better attention now than ever before. Makes you wonder what they could do to the fuel to give you better fuel economy. Big oil would never do it because the more you drive the more you spend.

[@bobsuzannetravels9054]

Replace both Batteries. You're beyond the time limit which is usually 5 years. Try contact cleaner on you plug and receptacle for the Trailer and Truck

[@slalomking]

AGM’s can last 7 years

[@nancycampbell6737]

As others said, your batteries prolly getting weak and changing fuel filter, along with cold, challenges batteries. Same thing happened to my Duramax. Change fuel filter, longer crank times showed up weak battery. That was at only 3.5 years. If you get 7 years, that is AMAZING!!! Also, as my battery misbehaved, various unrelated errors popped up, like emergency brake problem. With new batteries, no more issues. These trucks love good battery power!! If you swap the batteries, it is more work than you might expect. I am 74 and I did it, but it took nearly 3 hours of WORK....

[@jamesb.1156]

I'm sure Karl pumped up the button on top of the fuel filter after is fuel filter change... The L5P trucks have a lift pump ...... I'm not sure of the years the Hanks have (?).

[@Shopsktkolsc]

We say prolly too!! Somehow we started saying it years ago and unfortunately it’s become a habit. lol we have to be careful not to use in business settings.

[@patrickloring6914]

I always enjoy! I saw what you were talking about with the people of the town. I thought it before you "kind of" mentioned it. I like to think I'm an up person. One of my favorite hobbies is laughter. I don't think that gentleman at the counter was having fun. That's sad. You all keep laughing and having fun! 😁

[@MOTORVESSELFREEDOM]

We boaters say “a boat is fixing things in exotic locations” and “everything is broken, you just don’t know yet”

[@kerrijesmer8402]

I've commented 2 or 3 times before, so as if we're your only commenters and we really know you, let me catch you up. 😂😂😂 Hubby retired about a month ago. We bought our 5th wheel about 8 months ago. Been watching you guys for around 4, maybe 4 & 1/2 years. Moved full time into our RV almost 2 months ago and today we signed our house away AND bought our one ton truck to haul it! First stop - back home to Colorado for Christmas, then on to Louisiana for my nephew's wedding in New Orleans. We'll keep watching you, and I'll be blogging about our travels. We are so stoked! Thank you for all your honesty about this life! We love you guys and Sexy Dexy is da bomb!

[@KathrineSmith-t1v]

Columbus Day weekend is always busy in all of New England. Stow is beautiful, there is a lot to see in that area of Vermont. Sounds like you’ve enjoyed your Northern New England trip. I love that part of the country.

[@lindapage3399]

It’s so cool to watch you driving through NH and VT! Welcome to our neck of the woods!! As for foliage traffic- it’s been out of control for over 50 years, and Stowe is tiny because that’s what they are selling- small town New England 😁 There are many other places that are just as lovely in Vermont without the crowds. Like Putney. 🍁🍂

[@theresageorge5796]

Great advice! Some other lovely VT towns are Middlebury, Vergennes, Bennington. Even St. Albans (near the Canadian border) is an adorable town with good shops and restaurants . . . . .

[@rsmobley4685]

I love watching yalls travels. I always wanted to retire and live on the road but my health had other ideas.

[@MarilynDuncan-kk8de]

Congratulations on making it to all 50 states and big thank you for taking us along. Best to you both wherever the road takes you in 2025

[@trulymichiganaerialrandycl4873]

I must have missed the episode of them going to Hawaii...lol

[@OpenCarryUSMC]

@@trulymichiganaerialrandycl4873I wanna know how they got the trailer there.

[@KimWithSaltyLiving]

Wow, where is the Hawaii one? Did they ship the camper there? I moved there years ago and I had to ship my big car on a slow boat. Did they really go there or was he joking?

[@trulymichiganaerialrandycl4873]

@@KimWithSaltyLiving lol

[@KimWithSaltyLiving]

@trulymichiganaerialrandycl4873 well I mean, when you say all 50 states, what does that mean? Hawaii is in the 50 and it's completely possible to do that. I'm new to them so I'm just going by what he said. And he didn't laugh after it either. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@sigmet5713]

Your trip to Stowe brought back some great memories of my parents taking me and my sister on a trip through there in the 70's when we were kids (we live in Ottawa, Canada). I'm going to be 60 next year and it seems one cannot fully appreciate how special those moments are until you're getting up there in age. Man, I am way overdue for an adventure!

[@scottmulrooney8483]

Glad to catch back up with Dexter, and you guys! It's been awhile for me, glad you guys are still at it! I love the NE US, have family in Preaque Isle Maine. Stay safe and head towards warmth or heat your tanks and pipes!!! Stay safe y'all and please pet Dexter for me!

[@jmbisaccia]

Big fan and 32 year Vermont resident! Congratulations on making our little state your 50th! Glad we could be the caboose of your journey. In regards to the traffic that you encountered in Stowe…..That was the worst possible traffic weekend and it is every year in that little ski town. Early that Saturday morning there was a major Wind event that toppled the giant tents for the craft show, leaving thousands of people with no other activity, but to hang around town. Columbus Day/indigenous people’s day weekend is always crazy on route 100 because it is typically peak foliage, as well and a long weekend for people to come in from Boston, etc. I’m glad you had a nice visit at Lone Pine campground and I hope you got to see Lake Champlain and even got down to Burlington to enjoy Church Street. The manager at lone Pine Campground was correct in saying that we do have some social problems in our little city/state but I still feel there’s no better place to live in regards to beauty, recreation and friendly people. Hope to see you up here again, and try to hit mid June or July and I’m sure you will fall in love with this area.

[@jgolicz1651]

I will be moving into a year round campground near Lancaster PA in January. You last few videos have been great to enlighten me on cold weather camping. I am very excited. Thanks Hanks

[@friskydingo5370]

10:30 Congratulations 🎊 on the 50 state, finally. Batterys ,diesel, and me don't like the cold. 😆 Remember to unhook the battery when servicing your vechele. It will reset the codes. 👍

[@tsasearchbagful]

We love us some Darn Tough socks. I have a pair with 1200 hiking miles on them…still going

[@krisg3984]

"a gilch in the Matrix or something.". 😂😂😂 good one Carl !😊 Im glad you two are taking a few extra days to rest & unwind in between , we will continue watching you, . You keep everyday life on the road together , real that way.

[@darlene6670]

There is just not enough banjo music in my life. Loving it!!!

[@stevenwallick376]

Glad you guys are throwing in experience tidbits thru the video

[@EdExTechur]

When your battery is getting old (low voltage output?), all kinds of weird things can happen. Mine started having problems with brakes and power steering, and several dash lights came on. Upon replacing the battery, everything resolved itself. I've been using the Rand-McNally Gazetteers for years(over 50)... they have everything from Interstates to mountain hiking trails and parking areas. Great guides for travelers.

[@charlesowens7069]

Hello Hanks, I was having problems with the trailer breaks and turns out the plug went bad. OK, so the RV is 6 years old, so we changed the plug and that was it. All working good now.

[@lenward474]

Careful...if you put pressure on cold temp three guesses when air temp goes up...overpressure...careful

[@DianesPaperArt]

Thanks for the video. Looking forward to compilation of all your thoughts. Planning a trip to the area myself, a much older couple and want to be prepared.

[@jacklugejr8568]

Good job on maintenance! Most important thing you can do to ensure your gear is operating at optimum!

[@rockettdog17]

I think Dexter said, "yay!" 😄 Love this!

[@davidweimer9449]

Yes! Leaf peepers! Not a Vermont resident but I have spent many years traveling to see family in New Hampshire from Upstate New York on Columbus Day weekend and the traffic is horrible, memories back 30 years of Leaf peepers causing bumper to bumper traffic.

[@blueridgebiker6209]

In a cold climate diesel fuel will hell. Makes it hard to burn. When changing fuel filters make sure you completely fill filters with fresh clean diesel fluid displacing all of the air out. Go to a truck stop and buy Anti hell. Put in fuel tanks. Also plug in block heater in 110 AC to warm oil. Cold oil is very thick and hard for starter to turn the engine. Hope this helps. Glad you got all 50 states. Now get PR. US province. Love your videos. Long time watcher. Old trucker. Blueridgebiker in NC.

[@blueridgebiker6209]

Anti Gell, sorry.

[@lenyancey5236]

"Not bad, $50 out the door." ? Ha ha. That's my whole month's entertainment allowance! Do you guys still do your nursing jobs? Love your channel.

[@PamW2009]

Route 100 is awesome. Went on the motorcycles in a big group once, and then I went again by myself on my motorcycle. You brought back the memory of our last day at Terrace Pines in October. It was damp, but stopped in time for pack up. They closed on the 14th though. Would've preferred Tuesday the 15th. Thanks for another sweet Thursday video.

[@calledtojourney]

We also ate at the Backyard a couple years back, but there weren't nearly as many people as when you guys were there. That traffic was nuts! Be safe out there! 👍

[@anthonyrider9190]

Glad you got to see Vt. Being from Vt. we get use to the tourism, and do appreciate the business it brings to our community. We tend to stay out of those areas during the busy time, and unfortunately the issues that the bigger cities are seeing with the drugs is sad. Burlington isn’t that big to begin with, but we use to visit the church st area but haven’t in a few years. Vt has a lot of history and some of the back road towns offer that if you have the time. We camp a lot in the Twin Mountains, the 302 corridor is such a pretty drive. I have 1 tire on my truck every time it’s below 40 the pressure sensor doesn’t work. Enjoy your channel, bummed you were so close, would’ve loved to have met you.

[@rlt78]

We camped a lot at Beech Hill in Twin Mountain.

[@anthonyrider9190]

@@rlt78 twin mountain Koa and Woodstock Lincoln koa. Are our favorites in that area.

[@dalehuber6281]

Wow! You made all 50! That is great, and i love the video of Stowe!

[@lucianestridge7964]

Love your videos. I am an rv transporter and sometimes the breaks do weird things. Most of the time you can unplug the power cable and it will reset.

[@jmbateman69]

Lived in Vermont for 9 years and loved it. Everyone should experience Vermont at some point in their life🫶

[@bobstupak2091]

I run 1st interstate batteries from Costco in my 2015 gmc 2500 diesel. Best price I found. Then follow you tube videos on how to swap batteries. Keep up the good videos.

[@MrFturner]

Best to replace that battery. If its 7 years old, it doesn't owe you anything and actually lived a little longer than normal.

[@KYTrailRider]

Batteries don't always give you a warning when they're done. They just be done! Put them on your immediate shopping list!

[@brenthudson2058]

Don't be surprised when you find out there's two batteries

[@badgerpa9]

your batteries will have a date code on them. Did you pump the filter full of fuel after changing it? Turn the key not starting it just let the pump run when it stops turn the key off for a couple seconds and turn it on again and it should be filled to then start it. Loved Dex's answer he did not seem overly happy though. It always reminds me of my old Siamese.

[@IH-nr7dx]

Another real video - love it. Weekend warrior here and a few longer trips. A simple way to narrow down a brake problem to TV or trailer is: 1) find a safe place - parking lot, wide shoulder, etc) 2) disconnect your 7-way and pull the safety pin for your trailer brakes. 2) Do a tug test or you can just listen for the buzzing sound at your trailer axels. If the trailer brakes work, your issue is with the TV - fuses, connection, wiring, brake controller, etc. If the brakes don't work - it's likely restricted to the trailer. Faulty ground or wiring issue is almost always the culprit. Your fix was simple, but if if gets more complicated than a restart, the above test can save some time. Happy travels!

[@barbarapadgett5538]

Another great video. Thanks for taking us along on your journey to fabulous places like Vermont!

[@John_Be]

Thanks for the advice on the socks. I just bought some and they will be here on Saturday. My feet are freezing

[@charliebrushwood9019]

Thanks Hanks that was a lot of people and traffic, we like less people. Your truck taking a bit to start could be where you changed your fuel filter. Have a safe trip. Thanks for all you both do! Charlie and Darlene from NC

[@mjb7517]

I had the exact same truck as you, I had no block heater and had to cycle the glow plugs 3 times but it would start, even down to -30!

[@ScottenJonesVideo]

As it gets cold make sure you add diesel fuel treatment so it doesn’t gel when it gets cold. Up north stations are supposed to switch to winter diesel but you never know how much summer diesel is mixed in. I had my old truck diesel gel in Massachusetts even though the station I use said they were using winter diesel. I add treatment as soon as we get near freezing.

[@rockercover]

Those integrated trailer brake controllers seem like they would be the best. First hearing of any trouble with them, thanks. Had several add on external controllers. Low amperage start up might be one suspect. If you have 7 years of use out of any automotive battery... That is exceptionally good. Thanks for another beautiful and informative vid.

[@carhaulerdood]

Hey Hanks! Thanks for the great videos. Just a little tip I’ve learned from tire shops. Rule of thumb I’ve always heard is check the tire pressure at 72° and set to recommend PSI. Every 10° colder or warmer can affect tire PSI by 1-2 lbs. if you were to fill them at 32° and traveled south, you could potentially be overinflated. Keep up the great work and stay safe out there!

[@CRD4Liberty]

Are you running your engine block heater? Compression ignition engines need hot air in the cylinder to fire the diesel fuel. You can also buy an electric blanket to go around your truck battery to keep it warm in cold weather.

[@DreamingOutloudRVing]

OMG😂 Thick quality paper! That is SO exactly what Paul ( my better half) would say! The Vermont Country Store is a really fun stop too!

[@lschap]

Not a mechanic but in our experience we needed a new battery and alternator. It’s definitely worth looking into. We replaced our battery thinking that was the only issue but about a year later we still had issues of our truck having a hard time turning over when connected to our rv - our alternator was bad too. We stopped to fuel up and our truck wouldn’t start. I don’t want that to happen to you guys. It was terrible.

[@marymurphy2164]

Vermont was my 50 on July 4th, 2016. All of the small towns in VT have something special to offer. I liked collecting pics of the covered bridges.

[@ChrisStudebaker-v7e]

My goal for short stays is to get comfortable but not too fancy. We aren't full-timers but definitely feel the sting of moving associated with short stays. I've seen all of your videos and appreciate all that I have learned from them. Thank you!❤

[@stevebowers9943]

Nice video. Sometimes you have no choice but to roll with it when your trailer brakes malfunction. That's when your engine braking helps a lot. Our 5th wheel is only about 9k loaded and we've had to roll witj no trailer brakes a couple of times. Frayed wires on the slide side.

[@ricklaplante1687]

You two are always welcome to come to Wytheville Va for some down time. We have six acres and power and water. Come on over. Save travels.

[@johnhead1067]

Hi Hanks, futher to what Becky Jacobs said, it sounds like you have the perfect storm for battery issues. I am surprised that you have 7 years out of your battery. When you changed your filters the engine had to crank extra to clear the air that you introduced to the fuel system. On an old battery that constant cranking wihtout a good long idle afterwards would lower the voltage on the old battery. Lower voltage will relate to the braking issue for sure. I have had six diesels and never run a battery over 5 years. Some of that comes from living in Canada and dealing with the Canadian winters.

[@j.l.o.racing]

Hey, I just started watching this video. Gotta say love the all stars. Woot woot.

[@jbjlock26]

As others have said, you may not have gotten all the air out of the fuel system following the filter change. But I’m of the 6 year battery life school! You’re on borrowed time after that! You might not get any warning so bite the bullet sooner rather than later! I’ve marked the Backyard in Stowe in my notes for a future trip! I actually have a “Guide” in Apple Maps for each state to save notable places! Your campsite in VT actually reminded me of a NH campsite we had years ago! It was formerly a drive in movie theater! Lots of green grass, and the sites all in straight rows! A bit farther up from where you were is access to the “island” on Lake Champlain. Lots of beautiful country and close to Montreal if you are looking for the city experience!

[@trevorw4715]

There was a recall on the new trucks, (2024 GMC 3500) where you would loose trailer brakes if the trailer batteries had a higher voltage than your tow vehicle batteries. I had this issue all summer and has since been repaired....not saying this is the issue but could be similar all the symptoms you had were the same as mine, rig plugged in trailer batteries topped up and cold weather truck batteries would be lower. a work around for me until it was fixed was to leave the truck running when hooking it up, but any time i stopped and shut the truck off i would have to do the same. unplug the trailer and plug it back in with it running as the alternator would be charging and the batteries would simulate a higher volage. love the channel by the way !!

[@PVid1]

I had the same problem on my 2024 GMC 3500. Going through heavy city traffic on a sunny day, trailer brakes came on and off again a few times then quit completely. First thought is always your wiring connections, but after doing a quick internet search at a truck stop, discovered the voltage problems and the GMC brake module issue. I was able to disconnect my solar panels on my trailer and I was good to go. 9 months later GMC issued a recall on the brake module. So I would think even older GMC brake modules are sensitive to voltage fluctuations too.

[@matthewwheatley4740]

@@PVid1 This is really interesting. I had the same issue with my 2021 Sierra. I cleaned the pins and thought that was the fix, but I wonder if it was in fact the voltage differential between the truck and rig, esp since we have 2 fully-charged lithiums back there. Huh!

[@michaelevans3307]

Seven years?? Wow!! Because we spend considerable time boondocking 100 miles plus away from civilization we preemptively change the batteries in our truck every three years. Kudos to you for safety checking your trailer brakes prior to pulling out. PS, don't forget to use a quality fuel additive, especially when in operating in cold climates.

[@ronstoner1656]

Remember when MS DOS was the operating system, then windows. When in doubt reboot the system. Well modern vehicles are in that same situation now. Whenever we get a random error the first thing we do is stop and restart the engine. if I connect the trailer plug while the engine is running we will get an error for trailer brakes. Stop and start the engine and we now have trailer brakes. Happy trails!

[@sherrypeacock3345]

Love this video, especially Vermont! Thanks for sharing your experiences. They are very helpful & informative. You guys are so cute too! ❤❤

[@RobertMurray-b1e]

When I hitch up my TT if I have the truck running the whole time it doesn’t register the brakes. I shut it off and start back up as you did and it works fine. Happy travels!

[@timothyswatzell221]

Great video as always. Batteries. A new battery is 100% at 80 degrees f. Every 10 degrees below 80f it can lose 3% of life. That’s a new battery. As for the starting you have to run it for awhile after chasing the fuel filter. Be safe

[@lingoss5328]

YES IT IS TRUE!!!!! We live in NH. We avoid heading to northern NH during peak foliage season...especially the typical tourist spots.

[@mrsmac5196]

So, that's why we stay out of Stowe on any weekend, but they are setup for it! Have been for decades. Helps know the backroads😉 We prefer hanging around north of there - Morristown, Jeffersonville, Cambridge, Belvidere, great scenery, food, breweries, etc. Best of all, Newport! We live in NH and are part timers. Yes, the foliage situation is crazy, and it seems crazier every year! We were at Dolly Copp the week before Indigenous Day. Left on the Friday. Nope to the weekend crowds.

[@Chris-jo7qi]

Love the content and genuineness. You elicit such great interviews with your open personalities. Happy holidays. 🎉

[@ScaggsArchery]

The startup was probably delayed due to changing the fuel filter, it more than likely made the truck have some air in the fuel lines and had to re prime the fuel system to release all air. Love the videos guys.

[@bills8874]

Did you let your fuel pump prime/charge your fuel lines after changing your fuel filter? You have to activate your key and listen for the pump. Do that a couple of times before you attempt the first start after the change. We have a 2018 2500 HD Silverado. Basically the same as your Sierra.

[@garyhanson4133]

Nicely done Hanks! This has been a great series. Being from tourist area of Glacier Park and Whitefish I know how they feel. Its something you have to wrap your head around. As you saw with the Real Estate prices, it gets so the locals that grew up there can't afford to live there. Enjoy your travels.

[@dougcjohn]

Great Video, always enjoy! Fuel filter, should always Prime after filter change. Hit Start button without starting, listen to fuel pump in tank. When it stops, cycle off and back on… continue to cycle fuel pump until you don’t hear air… then do 1-2 more times. Now start and it”ll pop right off! It’s actually not healthy to run your High Pressure Injector pump without fuel. The diesel is the lubricant for pumps lobes. That’s also why it’s not healthy for a diesel to run out of fuel. Safe Travels

[@RogerLaPointe-v3m]

As a lifetime Vermonter of 71 years welcome to our state 😁 Just realized you’re just down the road from me. about 1 mile

[@Aussonthetrail]

Darn tough socks is from Vermont. Been a big fan for years and pretty much the only socks I wear anymore unless they are alpaca socks. Nothing beats warm, thick alpaca wool socks in the winter

[@emtffwentz87]

Kyle, not sure how familiar you are with diesel operations but quick run down, Diesel operates off of heat rather then spark as a diesel truck gets older the glow plugs get weaker in my years of experience the older the truck gets the you want to cycle your ignition more. You may need to start cycling your ignition/wait to start light 2 or 3 times prior to actually starting, also as someone else mentioned it takes a few drives to purge all the air out of the fuel system after a change of filter. And also consider anti gel additives.

[@John-u3p1u]

I have a very awesome diesel mechanic. Just thought I would share something I learned from him concerning older diesel engines. About every third tankful, doesn't matter the quality I use Walmart brand inboard outboard oil. About every third tank run 1 cup with a fill up of fuel. Keeps things lubricated and especially the injectors.

[@charlesb4267]

@@John-u3p1u While a good idea for pre emissions diesel engines, its a no no for diesel engines that have a DPF as that oil doesn't burn as clean and would add to the soot level. These new emission engines are difficult at every turn to keep happy, always something they don't like and that always means $$$ to rectify the crap that went wrong within the emissions system.

[@emtffwentz87]

@@John-u3p1u yeah older wouldn’t recommend it on theirs as it has the def system

[@John-u3p1u]

@@emtffwentz87 I'm a 2007 Ford F-350 with the 6.0 Everything has been deleted and as I mentioned it has been bulletproofed. By one of the best mechanics in the state if you want my opinion :) You probably know that the 6.0 engine was a nightmare when it came out however, once it was fixed the way it's supposed to be they are awesome motors/engines.

[@DreamingOutloudRVing]

So funny! We work camped there for a season. Some great friends made, mostly the seasonal folks but craziness in season!!

[@smw4671]

We have a 2020 2500 GMC AT4 and just had similar issues. When it started getting cooler and batteries seemed weak. After sluggish start we started getting random errors and warnings (service parking brake, tire pressure alarms). Changed both batteries (change both as if one is a little weak it puts more strain on the new one) now we have no warnings or random engine codes. Its amazing how temperamental electronics and sensors can be due to low voltage on these newer vehicles.

[@65Max]

Stowe VT - you brought back awesome memories for me. Skiing in VT was our thing for winter vacations (Mad River Glenn) while living in Yonkers NY... before we moved to Alabama, that is. Batteries do not like the cold - all batteries. Plus Li batteries will not take a charge when below 32F - warmers (like you have) are essential for full timers Trailer brakes... with them, my '05 1/2 ton brakes like normal, without it's really a challenge to slow and stop without overworking the truck's anti-lock system. Downhill in lower gear helps... but not as well as a diesel. In all my travels, the long, downhill passes were my most concerning. Go slow to go another day.

[@kathyline11]

Love Vermont and Stowe is the best, you guys definitely hit it at the wrong time, weekday is best and definitely not a Holiday weekend or a big event happening, but the beer is great no matter what time you go!

[@jimm2442]

You have a good truck. I am a retired mechanic and GM is my personal choice in the HD line up. You may want to have your batteries checked on the truck. I have seen weak batteries especially when it gets cold cause all kinds of issues that seem unrelated. I do carry a bidirectional scanner just in case I or someone else has a check engine light come on. The scanner gives me a starting point to diagnose and repair an issue. If possible you can also plug the truck in overnight to keep the coolant temp warm and making start up easier. Using a good electrical contact cleaner on the trailer and truck on the 7 pin connector is also a good idea. Safe Travels, Enjoy and Happy Holidays to you.

[@charlesb4267]

My ears told me the batteries ( or battery connections ) are not up to par, that was what my senses told me. Yes it cranked over "ok" but nothing overly spectacular which means I'd bet the system voltage dropped rather significantly during that longer crank period. I am no mechanic by trade but have dealt with farm equipment and highway tractors etc for years and batteries towards the end of their useful life can mess with a person, everything from the ECM not getting sufficient voltage to having a GPS guidance system crash and loose its settings all because of creating too low a voltage by engine cranking. I wish I was in the know about bidirectional scanners in how to make use of one ( that would be some steep learning curve ! ) as even for gas engine vehicles these days it seems your hooped unless one has access to a mechanic with the tools and know how or gains the knowledge and tools themselves. The problem is from what I see anyway in looking at lists of various brands of bidirectional scanners is that they are very expensive for ones that can do most everything and expensive yearly update fees. Not to mention that from what I hear as an example, 2024 and newer GM pickups with the global B system is beyond access for some high end scanners ... that sounds too much like John Deere with them trying to pull the trick of no one having the right to repair other than themselves. Any recommendation for a bidirectional scanner ?

[@melissamanning4271]

We have this same year and trim and it’s currently in the shop to have the transfer case replaced. Very pricey. Is there something we can do to prevent this type of repair again? Is this a normal wear and tear for a 2016?

[@charlesb4267]

@@melissamanning4271 I won't pretend to know the weakness of that vintage of transfer case but does your transfer case have a 4 high auto setting ( otherwise the lower model trim trucks came with a 2high/4high/4low selector ). How many miles on your truck ?. I know one thing that tends to get neglected and that is changing out the transfer case oil every so often or run low on fluid.

[@writer455]

You are correct Sir, batteries are the first choice, service trailer brake is one of the biggest hints on a Silverado battery going south .January will be my 30th year with Gm service.

[@writer455]

​Is it leaking ? If it is leaking is it a seal or a hole in the passenger side of the case

[@PatrickDavis-l3p]

We are full timers and just had a total engine failure on our 2020 GMC AT4 Sierra trying to leave Maine. Stranded on the side of the road in Massachusetts with our fifth wheel wasn’t fun. Truck has been in the shop since October. Never thought we would be wintering in Maine.

[@CCain24]

Lifelong VTer here. If you want to visit VT for the foliage, you should come the 3rd or 4th weekend of September. Columbus day weekend is always crazy, and Stowe is the busiest of them all. If you come back again, the Fairfield area provides some amazing foliage drives without the crowd.

[@jeffreygunn3530]

I spent two weeks in Vermont for a military class in February a few years back. That was the coldest I've ever been. It got above freezing (barely) one day out of the 2 weeks, and it rained. The next morning, everything was covered with several inches of ice. I was really happy when I got back home to Colorado and got to warm up.

[@PittsWithAPurpose]

Good video guys! I can't wait to see the northern half of New England next summer.

[@Tbar24]

Many small towns may not want so many tourists but at the end of the day it brings in money that keeps them and businesses alive. Pros and cons.

[@Thewanderingturtletale]

The best deal on batteries is Costco. I just bought 2AGM for $200/each for my 2017 F-350 (3rd set since new). The pair before this were $400/each. Also, you may want to start thinking of adding a diesel additive for lubricity and winter starting (anti-gel). Good luck. Keep up the great content. Fair winds and following seas.

[@Trekking_America]

About your trailer being disconnected it probably has corrosion a little bit on your plug or the male pins on truck side where you plug it in. What I have done for the last 20 some years is put dielectric grease on the plug so corrosion is not an issue once I put the grease on it the trailer stay connected all the time, if it does not see the trailer connected your truck will not output on the brake controller. Hope this helps.

[@TeapotBrown]

Thanks!

[@Saintly2]

Wait a minute!!!! That using the Trailer Brakes when you need to pull forward!!!!! WHAT?!?!?!? That's brilliant! I hate that when I need to pull forward a touch to get the hitch to lock that I then have to later on move the trailer to get the chocks out!!! Frustrating step removed! Thanks, Kyle!!!

[@ptrivilino]

Just watching this. Probably just missed you guys at Lone Pine. We were there the end of September.

[@gypsycrossroads]

Well, looks like we need to take a trip to Vermont! Thanks Hanks!

[@gadfly544]

We were in the U P of Michigan , Wisconsin and Minnesota in October this year. Beautiful fall colors and nice off season prices most places. Great weather

[@campnut6076]

Carl, I had a 2018 Silverado 2500 gas truck I bought new. I was constantly getting the trailer brake warning even after changing the trailer plug end . Had it to the dealer twice for the issue, was told it was a known issue without a fix yet. They told me not to plug in the trailer while the truck was running, only while truck was shut off. Following those instructions I never got the warning again up to 2022 when I upgraded to a 3500HD. Planning a trip to Maine next year, can't wait for the Hanks tips & tricks for RVing the Northeast.

[@ayranmcintosh]

I noticed your kitchen slide seal they didn't kay flat all the way. Make sure they lay flat all the way to keep the rain and cold from coming into the RV. When that happens to us, I use a broom handle to shimmy it in place.

[@OpenCarryUSMC]

Lost our trailer brakes entirely during our recent 3000 mile trip. The wiring through the front axle was shorted and I was able to get them working by simply pulling the wire out on one side. So I’ll be replacing the wires now that we’re home. The truck battery being low won’t affect trailer braking unless you also have a failed alternator as the alternator provides power when the engine is running. Check for brake power output at the truck to trailer connection. As you use the trailer brake controller to increase braking action and see if the voltage to the brake circuit increases with increased application at the controller. If that checks, your problem is in the trailer wiring.

[@SusieBardol]

Good morning, Hanks, love watching all your very enjoyable adventures! Keep safe, you two are the best! Did you know why the series is named “Hawaii 50”, cause it is the 50th state. Just a little trivia. Thank you for all the hard work you guys and Dexter do so we can experience RV life through out all your travels. THANK YOU!

[@jimroberts1391]

I have 2024 GMC with Solitude, my trailer brakes have been nothing but problematic , They went out every travel day including going down mountains Thank goodness the exhaust brakes work so good , although i could reset them by shifting to park it was discouraging ,I had GMC replace my trailer brake module, nothing changed ! replaced most of the wiring from trailer to truck , nothing changed ! Finally after trying everything including turning the solar off ,turned batteries off , etc, eventually I contacted the company that made my electric over hydraulic trailer brakes they make a diode that stops any extra current from back feeding to truck This solved my problem so grateful to have reliable trailer brakes after 6 months of traveling and losing brakes every single time we would move , maybe this helps you or someone else .