Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty

[Marcela]

Stopped at the stealers to peak at their medium duty trucks. That thing is a monster.

There was a 4 x 4 on the lot, the transfer case is gigantic, disappointed in the skid plat for it is only about 8" off the ground. Clearance of the front end parts wasn't anything to brag about either. Definitely not an off roader. Door steps and tanks weren't far off the ground either.

What was really nice, popped the hood and everything was right there. Should be easy to work on.

From top of frame to top of cab was 4'6". What I was really interested in measuring.

Guess you can't have everything.

[Bedlam]

KD4UPL wrote:
I was really hoping these trucks would be suitable for TC use but it sounds like they made the cab too high again. That's unfortunate.
I was thinking I might upgrade to a new 4500 when my current work truck wears out. But, I rarely run over 13,000 on the truck and about 26,000 combination so really I'm within the limits of a new 3500 dually. So, since the cab is so high I'll probably skip the 4500.
I do appreciate that they left these trucks fairly spartan, I hope that helps keep the cost down for those of use that still use trucks for work. The last thing I need on a work truck is a mandatory touch screen, cameras, and heated cup holders. All these driving aids and creature comforts have got to be driving up the cost of even base model trucks.

Cab height is not just important for us hauling TC's. Ford brought out the F600 to have a smaller package than the F650 yet have more GVWR than the F550. I've read about few contractors converting their MDT's to full air ride not because ride comfort, but so they can dump their bags and clear height restrictions while riding on the axle bump stops. It seems like keeping the cab lights and antennas under 7' is a good compromise, but some need under 6.5'.

[Grit_dog]

It is good to see GM back in the med duty market. But the new ones are just as fugly as the Kodiaks. Which again doesn’t matter if they’re bombproof.

[Grit_dog]

Absolutely. All the expensive electronics and creature comforts making their way into work trucks is just plain stupid and very costly for those that work fleets of trucks. Especially in construction.
No one needs all that stuff on a work truck that get bombed around by 100 different “drivers” and beat up, covered in mud and tar regularly
They need 4 wheels (or 6) and a big engine and overbuilt brakes and suspension.
My laborers towing an air compressor or backhoe from one end of the jobsite to the other don’t need 360 cameras or even 1 camera. It’ll get broke off the tailgate in the first 2 years. They need an interior where the drivers seat lasts longer than 60k miles, the window cranks are made of steel and don’t break and the ability to clean out with a garden hose like the cab of a skid steer.

[bwlyon]

SoonDockin wrote:
I am still hoping stuff like adaptive cruise comes to these medium duty trucks.

Actually Ram is already there with their new 4500-5500 trucks. You can spec all the goodies on the comersial trucks that you can on the other trucks and that includes adaptive cruise!

[KD4UPL]

I was really hoping these trucks would be suitable for TC use but it sounds like they made the cab too high again. That's unfortunate.
I was thinking I might upgrade to a new 4500 when my current work truck wears out. But, I rarely run over 13,000 on the truck and about 26,000 combination so really I'm within the limits of a new 3500 dually. So, since the cab is so high I'll probably skip the 4500.
I do appreciate that they left these trucks fairly spartan, I hope that helps keep the cost down for those of use that still use trucks for work. The last thing I need on a work truck is a mandatory touch screen, cameras, and heated cup holders. All these driving aids and creature comforts have got to be driving up the cost of even base model trucks.

[KD4UPL]

I was really hoping these trucks would be suitable for TC use but it sounds like they made the cab too high again. That's unfortunate.
I was thinking I might upgrade to a new 4500 when my current work truck wears out. But, I rarely run over 13,000 on the truck and about 26,000 combination so really I'm within the limits of a new 3500 dually. So, since the cab is so high I'll probably skip the 4500.
I do appreciate that they left these trucks fairly spartan, I hope that helps keep the cost down for those of use that still use trucks for work. The last thing I need on a work truck is a mandatory touch screen, cameras, and heated cup holders. All these driving aids and creature comforts have got to be driving up the cost of even base model trucks.

[Marcela]

There was a bug screen inside the grill of the Silverado. So I had to go out and put mine on the F350:).

There was also what looked to be a fuel cooling radiator in the return line to the tank.

I would sure like to have a flatbed for my 10.4 but don't think the F350 will stand the extra weight. A flatbed would open up a whole new world of stowing options.

[jimh406]

the bear II wrote:
It's the best truck choice for towing my 15,000lb 5th wheel..

Actually, the best choice is a newer Ford F450. :). Seriously though, there are options in between the extremely tall Chevy and a 350/3500 that are “normal” size. Joking about the F450 as the best, but for sure, Ram/Chevrolet/Ford all have several models that can tow in the range of 30,000 now.

[SoonDockin]

I am still hoping stuff like adaptive cruise comes to these medium duty trucks.

[Marcela]

Bedlam wrote:
Any cab height over 7.25' will be an issue with overall camper height once mounted.

I measured 5’ from bottom of cabover to top of a/c on my 10.4 so that is about right.

[Bedlam]

Any cab height over 7.25' will be an issue with overall camper height once mounted.

[Marcela]

And the other measurement I wanted to get was ground to top of cab, next time. It's an outside chance anyway.

[the_bear_II]

I purchased a 2007 C4500 Chevrolet Monroe Pickup to pull my 37ft 5th wheel with. It's the best truck choice for towing my 15,000lb 5th wheel. I've pulled it with a Chevy and Ford 3/4 tons and a Chevy 1 ton. The C4500 handles the 5th wheel like a dream.

The one drawback is the cab height. It is too high for a camper. It looks like the new C4500s have a lower cab height.

[Bedlam]

You need 3.75' from the deck to the top of the cab to have sufficient TC cab over clearance since most current model TC's are designed with 4' of clearance under the cab over. You should have measured cab and frame rail heights too. If it sits lower than a Ford or Ram, you may be able to lift the camper to clear the cab yet still be under legal height.