Image #5I hate to have to do it this way, but I can't find a better picture of it on the internet.Image #5, there is a box under the cab behind the passenger front tire. I'm not a Chevy guy so my question is:What is it?What's it's purpose in life?Is it something that is strictly on diesels because I don't remember seeing it on all 3/4+ trucks?

Sorry, looks like a cab step to me. DEF tank is not that low down.

Thanks. Could they have not found a better place for it? It seems like it is in a very vulnerable position to get damaged/destroyed on doing any driving except a paved road. Looks like driving down a dirt road and hitting a rut could rip it straight off.It's not a cab step. Too far inward on the cab. I have seen them occasionally on Chevy trucks, but not on all of them on a 100% basis.

That is definitely the DEF tank.Why they put it there is anyone's guess. Not only is it vulnerable there, it ruins the lines of the truck.I've heard lots of people complain about the location, but ZERO reports of anyone damaging the tank. Apparently most people are not the "rugged off roaders" that they fancy themselves to be.Apparently the 2020 grille is meant to divert your attention away from the location of the DEF tank...

DEF skid plateI guess they make a skid plate for it as well as a relocation kit.

Box behind passenger tire Chevy truck | Good Sam Community

12th_Man_Fan
Explorer
Jan 24, 2019
DEF tank
donn0128
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2019
Sorry, looks like a cab step to me. DEF tank is not that low down.
patperry2766
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2019
Thanks. Could they have not found a better place for it? It seems like it is in a very vulnerable position to get damaged/destroyed on doing any driving except a paved road.

Looks like driving down a dirt road and hitting a rut could rip it straight off.

It's not a cab step. Too far inward on the cab. I have seen them occasionally on Chevy trucks, but not on all of them on a 100% basis.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jan 24, 2019
That is definitely the DEF tank.

Why they put it there is anyone's guess. Not only is it vulnerable there, it ruins the lines of the truck.

I've heard lots of people complain about the location, but ZERO reports of anyone damaging the tank. Apparently most people are not the "rugged off roaders" that they fancy themselves to be.

Apparently the 2020 grille is meant to divert your attention away from the location of the DEF tank...
patperry2766
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2019
DEF skid plate

I guess they make a skid plate for it as well as a relocation kit.
RCMAN46
Explorer
Jan 24, 2019
The picture in question is on a 2018 truck not the 2020.
ACZL
Explorer
Jan 24, 2019
DEF tank which many have said (incl myself) looks gawdy.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jan 24, 2019
Welcome to 2011 everyone!
ScottG
Nomad
Jan 24, 2019
I would imagine (hope) GM has come up with a better place on the redesigned trucks.
IdaD
Explorer
Jan 24, 2019
ScottG wrote:
I would imagine (hope) GM has come up with a better place on the redesigned trucks.

Somebody said in one of the new model threads that the tank has finally been put in an out of the way location and the fill spout has been relocated so it's next to the fuel spout now. This is a long overdue fix.