Updated May 2025!
After 8 years and 125K miles, we traded in The Beast for The Beast Too, May 9, 2025 (after 8 years, 1 day.) The Beast was still doing a great job, but we wanted some of the more modern upgrades, like the Trailering Camera System, to “see through” the trailer in the rear view “mirror” when towing. (See comparison.) And, a really big Shout Out to Craig, Rocky, and Kevin at Evergreen Chevrolet!!!
The Beast Too – 2025 Chevy 2500 HD Silverado LTZ
- Crew cab with a 6.5′ bed
- 4 wheel drive train, powered with a Duramax 6.6 liter (403 cid) turbo diesel and a 10 speed Allison transmission
- The L5P diesel is rated at 470 hp and 975 ft-lb torque
- Radiant Red Tintcoat with a Gideon/Very Dark Atmosphere interior
- Z71 package (better shocks, skid plates & heavy duty custom floor mats)
- Tonneau Cover
- Multi-Flex Tailgate Step (& handle)
After factory additions:
- Under seat storage
- Bug screens
- Multi-Flex Tailgate Step Lighting
Lizzy – 2018 Airstream Flying Cloud 30RB
30′ 10″ feet long / Queen Rear Bed
Factory selected options:
- Truffle interior
- Backup camera (to be replaced, June 2025)
- Extra awnings package (3 for side & back windows)
- Solar Package
- Two (2) 80 watt Zamp Solar panels to the roof
- Batteries upgraded from Lead Acid to AGM
(& replaced April 2025, after 7.5 years)
After factory additions/subtractions:
- Removed Microwave, put in shelf to hold Printer, instead
- Third 80 watt Zamp Solar panel
- ProPride 3P 1400 lb anti-sway, weight distributing hitch for towing
- Trailering Camera, which integrates with 2025 Chevy 2500 HD Silverado display (added June 2025)
And we want to renew our really big Shout Out to Colonial Airstream!!! We had a great shopping experience (Thank you, Patrick) and have had nothing but great experiences with service and customization (Thank you, Gary, Kevin, the other Kevin, John and Scott.) Even through 2024, we’ve done planned Airstream service in New Jersey, at Colonial.
The Beast Too vs The Beast
| 2025 Chevy 2500 HD Silverado LTZ | 2017 Chevy 2500 HD Silverado LTZ |
| Crew Cab (full back seat) with a 6.5′ bed | Extended Cab (short back seat) with a 6.5′ bed |
| 4 wheel drive train, powered with Duramax 6.6 liter (403 cid) turbo diesel | 4 wheel drive train, powered with Duramax 6.6 liter (403 cid) turbo diesel |
| 10 speed Allison transmission | 6 speed Allison transmission |
| L5P diesel rated at 470 hp and 975 ft-lb torque | L5P diesel rated at 445 hp and 910 ft-lb torque |
| Length: 250″ Width: 81.9″ Height: 79.8″ | Length: 230″ Width: 80.5″ Height: 78.1″ |
| Radiant Red Tintcoat Gideon/Very Dark Atmosphere interior (gray/dark gray) | Siren Red Tintcoat Cocoa/Dune interior (tan/brown) |
| Tonneau Cover | Fold-N-Cover Cover (after factory addition) |
| Multi-Flex Tailgate Step | (plain old tailgate) |
| Chevrolet Trailering Camera System (integrated display) | Airstream backup camera (stand-alone display) |
| 2025 Dashboard Display (including digital rear view mirror) | 2017 Dashboard Display |
The Beast – 2017 Chevy 2500 HD Silverado LTZ
Aquired May 8, 2017, Retired May 9, 2025
- Extended cab with a 6.5′ bed
- 4 wheel drive train, powered with a Duramax 6.6 liter (403 cid) turbo diesel and a 6 speed Allison transmission
- The L5P diesel is rated at 445 hp and 910 ft-lb torque
- Siren Red Tintcoat with a Cocoa/Dune interior
- Added skid plates, heavy duty floor mats and under seat storage
After factory additions:
- Fold-N-Cover cover (installed by us and our neighbor Ed)
- A T-Rex grill insert & bug screens
- Rancho shocks (Z-71 package) gifted from our local Chevrolet dealer in Bellevue (installed with the help of Mark’s cousin Mike V).
