2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD True Compass
Clayton Borah snapped up this ready-made '09 GMC 2500HD for Haulin' Cars 'n' Kids
Jim SmartWriter
Clayton Borah understands the rough and tumble nature of the Mid-American heartland. Born and raised on the Northern Minnesota prairie and having spent time in the U.S. Marine Corps in service to country, Clayton has always been up to the task. One of Clayton's favorite pastimes has been rockcrawling, perhaps a metaphor for the life he has always known. He has never taken on anything because it was easy. Clayton likes to get out into the desert wilderness to see what he can handle, with help from his '09 GMC Sierra 2500HD 6.6L Duramax pickup.
Clayton was in the Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, in the low desert more than 100 miles east of Los Angeles. It was here that he realized he liked Southern California better than the windy, frostbitten Northern Plains. Clayton was injured during his tour of duty in the Marine Corps, honorably discharged, and returned home to Minnesota. It wasn't long before he devised a plan to return to the California desert he loved so much. His profession as an automobile shipper took him to the Victorville area of Southern California's high desert, where life began to change in a positive way for Clayton, his wife, Jennifer, and their four kids—Justin, Danielle, Emma, and Blake.
"I purchased this truck in 2010," Clayton tells us. "The original owner had most of the work already performed, which made it easy. After I purchased it, I added a few nice touches of my own to personalize it to my own tastes." Clayton tells us the 2500HD was a daily driver used for car hauling for five years. Then, it became a weekend pleasure cruiser and something of a play toy for family outings.
"When I'm not on the road hauling cars, we enjoy going out to the desert to enjoy rockcrawling as a family, riding our side-by-side and quads in Johnson Valley, home to KOH—also known as 'King Of The Hammers,'" Clayton comments. "We also go out to Dumont to the sand dunes. I've used this truck to pull everything from an enclosed car trailer to a 28-foot toy hauler."
This GMC 2500HD delivers a confident stance with a tasteful CST lift. This is what Clayton had in mind when he bought it seven years ago.
"My GMC 2500HD looks like a show truck—yet with a work truck attitude," Clayton adds. "This truck has done everything. It has been in the snow-covered mountains of Idaho and the blistering California desert. I've used it for work and for play. It can haul snowmobiles and tow heavy trailers."
Clayton goes on to say, "This truck has everything I could ever want in a vehicle. We put it on the dyno at H&S Performance and discovered it makes 505 hP. What's more, I have entered it in shows and won awards everywhere it has been shown. There's not much left to do on this truck. I have kept it functional, yet beautiful."
An RBP grille adds a touch of custom flare to the front end of the prominent GMC, complemented by aftermarket headlights.
And beautiful it is, with an H&S Performance Black Maxx performance tuner, 5-inch exhaust from the turbo back, 7-inch exhaust tip, S&B cold-air intake, RBP grille treatments, HID headlamps, air compressor and airbags, Amp Research retractable steps, a CST lift kit and Dualshock Pro Joint upper control arm kit, Fox reservoir shocks and brackets, dual shock hoops, 10-inch Deaver springs, 22-inch MKW chrome wheels and Toyo skins, Stealth turn signal lamps, and a 10-inch billet dropdown trailer hitch. Inside, Clayton enjoys the panoramic view at cruise altitude with an Alpine 7-inch touchscreen DVD/CD player with an iPod connection, Kicker amp, and subwoofers.
Think of Clayton's 2500HD as a truck for the enthusiast who needs and wants everything from a truck. Something for work, yet plenty of truck for family fun when it's time to relax and enjoy the weekend.
There's nothing better than a clean and classy interior, which this truck delivers.
A Fabtech spare tire mount secures an extra 37x13.50R22 Toyo Open Country M/T tire, should the need arise.
Clayton loves a challenge. Whenever he takes to the desert, he challenges himself with greater, tougher terrain to see what he's capable of and what his truck can do. We're sure he also enjoys the challenge of keeping a black truck looking pristine!
What a clean engine bay! GM's 6.6L Duramax diesel V-8 is undoubtedly one of the best diesels ever assigned to light truck duty, with durability, economy, and plenty of raw torque on hand.
Clayton likes this HD's ability to haul his family when it's time to go on an adventure. From the looks of this interior, we're sure spilling Coke is a big no-no.
Dual Fox reservoir shocks keep the front end smooth and steady.