Grit,
The 8 lug 8600-8800 gvwr truck is a missing link between the typical 6600-7200 6 lug 15 series truck, and the current SW 25/35 series trucks that have 10.5-12.5 gvwr's. Along with base tare wts of 6500 to 9000 lbs wts. vs the 8600-8800 trucks tare wts from 5000-7200 lbs relm. While the lighter versions have 4000 lb payloads for the base reg cab to as little as 2000 for a CC full loaded diesel 4x. The current versions have at best, 500-1000 lbs more payload for a given model. Yet you have a truck that weighs some 1500-2000 lbs more tare wt.
There is a market for a maxed-out DOT class 2A 8400 lb gvwr 8 lug truck. Weighs maybe 200-400 lbs more than the basic 1500, uses those same motors with equal HP/torque as BB motors of yor! same payloads, but upwards of twice the mpg! Not everyone needs a 400/1000 diesel motor, THe motors in the 15 series trucks will pull 8-12K lbs fine. You do this frequently at work! I've pulled 8500 just fine with my 1500 and a 300/300 4.3 V6. Only thing I'm missing is another 1000 lbs of payload a family would need to tow a trailer this heavy like the 8600 and 9200 gvwr 8 lug trucks I had in the past.
My 88 ext 3500 with a long bed BB 8600 gvwr, weight 5600 lbs, my current SB ext 1500 is 5300. I'm shy 1400 lbs of door sticker payload at less than 200-300 lbs of tare. My 96 CC TD weighed 6000 lbs. Was next to a CC D/A short bed SW 3500 a few years back at the Fred Meyer on 99 on Kent Des Moines border. Thing weighed 1000 lbs MORE than my 05 DW LB equal, had 1000 lbs LESS door sticker payload. IT was 2000 lbs MORE tare than my 96 CC! Yeah, they have more factory GVWR, but payload is plus or minus 300 lbs from the old lighter ones. Main reason in my book I can see for the heavier chassis weight, is the need for the frame, drive line to handle the double tripling of power out of the TD's! Along with the need to handle trailers that weigh upwards of 20-25K lbs like cummins12v 5W. SO reality, the current 25/35 SW and DW rigs have taken the place of 45 series trucks. Hence why they are close to the size and base weights of these past design trucks.
I'd take an 8600 version of what I have over my 7200 version. V6 and ALL! or the baby 250-300hp 6cyl diesel that the 1500's have with a 10 sp. I believe you're driving one now! A slightly stronger chassis, drive train, a family of 6 like I have that comes in at 1200-1300 lbs of 4 adult sized teens can move an 8-12K lb TT in style! I don't need a current 400/1000 diesel to run down the road at 15-16K lbs GCW.
There is a market for this truck size. Probably smaller than the market can bear......there is a market.
Marty
