I bought the truck two years ago and it had 192K miles on it.

 

I used a ratchet and kept the tension off with a tie down strap. Didn't take long at all, hardest part is making sure your in the right grooves and IIRC slip it over the alternator pulley last. Probably more difficult for someone with huge arms.

 

Took 45 minutes or so. 1/2 inch rachet from underneath, slide the belt off, go to the top and remove from pulleys, go back under, loosen tensioner, work belt behind. Start with new belt, work behind tensioner, tighten back up, work belt up on the passenger side of the fan, work around pulleys from the top, then back under with the ratchet for the final pulley. I did remove the 4 nuts on the fan shroud so my arms would fit.
Used NAPA HD belt $50.

 

[QUOTE=05 CTD2500;2970428]I used a ratchet and kept the tension off with a tie down strap.

X2 with the strap. I have a breaker bar with a hole in the end so that makes it easy to hold the bar and keep the tension off.

Jim

 

I used a tiedown strap to hold the end of a 1/2" breaker bar from under the truck. Slide the old belt off and carefully route the new one following the diagram. I found it was easiest to leave the water pump for last before letting the tensioner take up the slack. I replaced the original belt at 105000 with a goodyear gatorback.

 

Mine had 150K on it.

So just a clarification question.

Did you have the rachet tied back thru the entire process?
Were you able to get the belt under the tensioner with it tied back?

Stored energy can be at the least a finger biter.

I worked the ratched by hand from under so it was under tension for 10 seconds to remove off 1 pulley, and maybe 20 to get the slack to install same pulley.

 

Yes I had my breaker bar tied back through the whole process. Makes life easier while replacing the belt. I feed the new belt down from the top and position it on the correct pullies then get underneath and slip it around the tensioner and lastly around the ac pulley and release the tension. HTH

Jim

 

Tensioner pulley bearing was noise so replaced it and belt. Gatorback belt.
102K Miles. Tensioner is Dayco from factory on 2006.