what are the differences between a ppv/ssv and regular Tahoe?

[Ron C]

So I recently bought this 2013 Tahoe, not too old 'low' miles for towing and because of the cargo space (no 3rd row seats) for weekends and road trips.

Anyway, there seem to be some things (I am discovering) that seem different. The hitch for example has a small white box/panel next to it with a bunch of buttons (it says 'kidde' on it(?))

But more general, are there any significant difference between a ppv/ssv and regular Tahoe?

Ron

 

[2011SSVHOE]

Welcome Ron, Need pictures, especially of the hitch.

PPV/SSV units are built with heavy duty cooling systems, larger alternators. skid plates
most have less goodies as to keep the costs down, Most are built without roof racks, OnStar, fog lamps, center consoles, side moulding and lack of emblems. rubber steering wheel with no radio controls, and no DIC

most will have steel wheels, cloth front seats with vinyl rear seats with no 3rd row seat vinyl floor covering.
They all have extra wiring for installation of radios and lights

SSV Special Service Vehicle is 4 wheel drive
PPV Police Pursuit Vehicle 2 wheel drive not set up for towing and lowered from the factory.

lets see some pics!

 

[Ron C]

Welcome Ron, Need pictures, especially of the hitch.

PPV/SSV units are built with heavy duty cooling systems, larger alternators. skid plates
most have less goodies as to keep the costs down, Most are built without roof racks, OnStar, fog lamps, center consoles, side moulding and lack of emblems. rubber steering wheel with no radio controls, and no DIC

most will have steel wheels, cloth front seats with vinyl rear seats with no 3rd row seat vinyl floor covering.
They all have extra wiring for installation of radios and lights

SSV Special Service Vehicle is 4 wheel drive
PPV Police Pursuit Vehicle 2 wheel drive not set up for towing and lowered from the factory.

lets see some pics!

Mine is 4wd, so I guess that makes it an SSV (I have the impression it is lifted a bit?) It has power seats (driver passenger). Indeed no fog lamps (can they be added?) No side molding, but do have the bowtie emblems. I have no idea what a DIC is. I like it that it doesn't have the 3rd row (I was already wondering what to do with the 3rd row seats, since I want the vehicle for towing and the cargo space.) Yes on the steel wheel and the vinyl/rubber flooring (I like that, with the dirt/mud/snow around here). I figured the extra wiring etc.

Here are a few pics. Hitch, console area and windshield. (wondering what the white box on the hitch is, the black lid 'thing' the center console would go over (it says "do not step on" and what is this thing next to the mirror? and what are these "extra parts" in the last pic?

 

[Ron C]

btw: I can post a few more pics, but don't want to hose the thread.

 

[kbuskill]

The thing mounted to your hitch is a key locker... if you knew the combination there is probably a spare key in it in case you got locked out.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Yup. Keybox.

 

[Ron C]

The thing mounted to your hitch is a key locker... if you knew the combination there is probably a spare key in it in case you got locked out.

Ahh.. ok... Hmm.. I don't know the combo, wonder if I'll ever find out
(I no one at the dealership knows the combo, I probably would have to try some different method to get it open or removed). Do these things have a default/factory combo (in case someone set it back to that ... yeah right .. hahaha)

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Ahh.. ok... Hmm.. I don't know the combo, wonder if I'll ever find out
(I no one at the dealership knows the combo, I probably would have to try some different method to get it open or removed). Do these things have a default/factory combo (in case someone set it back to that ... yeah right .. hahaha)

Hammer and chisel. Maybe a drill.

 

[Ron C]

Hammer and chisel. Maybe a drill.

Yeah it doesn't look like it is going to be a whole lot of work. Also, I went through some sheets of paper I found in the glove box, with some names on it.. Maybe I'll try to contact them first.


update: There are a bunch of videos on youtube on how to figure out the code on these things, so I might just try that.

 

[2011SSVHOE]

I have no idea what a DIC is.

Ron, a DIC is a driver information center , It can display a lot of info about your car. the police/ govt vehicles don't have them but the wiring harness is right behind the panel. switch is like 20 bucks and you will have to modify the dash trim.

the black lid 'thing' the center console would go over (it says "do not step on"

That thing is your airbag sensor.

looks like you have the wing nut for the jack, and a piece of seat closeout trim


Ron lets see some pictures of the outside.

 

[Ron C]

Ron, a DIC is a driver information center , It can display a lot of info about your car. the police/ govt vehicles don't have them but the wiring harness is right behind the panel. switch is like 20 bucks and you will have to modify the dash trim.



That thing is your airbag sensor.

looks like you have the wing nut for the jack, and a piece of seat closeout trim


Ron lets see some pictures of the outside.

Alright, I might need to take a few more, this week/weekend.

- outside look
- tires
- cargo area

 

[Maks]

Looks great. Looking forward to getting one myself.

 

[2011SSVHOE]

Alright, I might need to take a few more, this week/weekend.

Ron that's a nice one I like them off road tires.

Start modding !!!!

 

[Ron C]

Looks great. Looking forward to getting one myself.

I like them, you should!!

 

[Ron C]

Ron that's a nice one I like them off road tires.

Start modding !!!!

Oh I will, it's going to be my road-trip and weekend 'truck' .. so console first, than probably the stuff I take on trips. I looked at some youtube videos for upgrading the regular AM/FM radio with one that also has GPS in it. It seems that it can be done fairly easy.

 

[jmm121783]

yea looks a a CBP truck, any stickers or info on it? The tires are a huge plus! shouldnt be too noisy either since they arent cheap

 

[Ron C]

yea looks a a CBP truck, any stickers or info on it? The tires are a huge plus! shouldnt be too noisy either since they arent cheap

CBP as in Customs and Border Patrol? I don't know, unlikely probably, since it was from UT, I was told. Yeah the tires are nice, a little noisy, but I am used to 33" Super Swampers on a CJ.. compared to that they're quiet. No stickers on the vehicle, was thoroughly cleaned. I found some printed emails in the glovebox though that confirm the UT thing. I like the tires, once I need new ones, I might get the same ones.

Ron

 

[CrashTestDummy]

Are those Work Truck (W/T) wheels, or silver-painted PPV wheels? If they're W/T wheels, they'll be about 2/3 the weight of a PPV wheel. Not as heavy duty, but the lower mass will help mileage some.

Check the driver's side door jambfor old stickers. Some departments will attach an asset tag there. Our 92 B4C 1LE Camaro has a Tx DPS asset tag epoxied to the driver's side door jam just above the latch stud. IIRC, our 95 9C1 had a bar code label from the department that used it. I have not found such a tag on either our PPV or 9C1, though. They probably just scan the VIN, and use that, but you never know.

 

[Ron C]

Are those Work Truck (W/T) wheels, or silver-painted PPV wheels? If they're W/T wheels, they'll be about 2/3 the weight of a PPV wheel. Not as heavy duty, but the lower mass will help mileage some.

Check the driver's side door jambfor old stickers. Some departments will attach an asset tag there. Our 92 B4C 1LE Camaro has a Tx DPS asset tag epoxied to the driver's side door jam just above the latch stud. IIRC, our 95 9C1 had a bar code label from the department that used it. I have not found such a tag on either our PPV or 9C1, though. They probably just scan the VIN, and use that, but you never know.

They are steel wheels, painted gray/silver-ish. I am not too worried about them being heavy duty for now. I bought this vehicle for it's "cargo space" and tow capacity, I am not that worried about the mileage. (besides that, I have an 06 with a 3.7L V6, and that engine has the same fuel consumption specs as the 5.3L V8 (plus a lot more horses and torque) I think that's just amazing. Maybe when it needs new rubber, I look for something nicer. (However I think these steel gray/silver-ish wheels look fairly good already)

I saw some sort of sticker there, the shape of the great state of TX, but didn't take a closer look, since the vehicle was from UT. (the production plant code is from TX though)

Ron

 

[jmm121783]

Do you have a part number for the WorkTruck Wheels? I assume they are forged which is why they would be lighter? I would always go with a lighter rim no matter WHAT my car/truck was meant for. Reducing rotational mass is 10x as affected as reducing dead weight. So if those rims truly are 2/3rds the weight of the steelies I really need to get some.

10lbs rotational = 100lbs dead weight

As mentioned above you will see much better MPG, but more importantly to me is the power and a LOT less stress on any suspension/drivetrain parts! When it comes to towing that would be more available torque and HP!!

Work Truck wheel GM part # please and/or some pics??