From the Driver's Seat: Picking the Right Truck FINAL CHAPTER (based on personal history)

The 2020 GMC 3500HD was a great truck. I struggled with the decision of starting our new journey with this truck. There were three major considerations. First, it was a 2WD truck. We planned on going West as much as possible and that would include mountain passes in the winter. Second, the truck had 130,000 miles on the odometer. Like I stated, it had no issues and hauling lighter travel trailers helped, but the miles were still there. Third, it was a single cab truck. I was concerned about storage, which, as it turned out, would not have worked for us at all.

For our needs I would prefer a 1 ton truck. I am a huge fan of diesel engines. The reason why a diesel was not considered was due to emissions equipment problems (DEF and EGR) and high expense of maintenance. If Ram, for example, still produced the Cummins 5.9, I would be the first in line. Add a manual transmission and I would camp there overnight to ensure I was first in line for that truck. At this time, no manufacturer offers a manual transmission for a 1 ton truck. I looked at Ram, Ford, Chevy, and GMC. I found that they all make a great product. I tried to keep an open mind in making my final decision.

Ram makes a great looking truck. I tapped into both my (brief) history with Ram, but more importantly, I got advice from drivers in my transport company. They mentioned that maintenance could be costly and that water pumps and front-end issues were a recurring theme, along with dashboard electronics.

Next up was Ford. I liked the fact that they offer both a 6.8 and a 7.3 liter gas engine. What I didn't like was that the truck "squats" under even a modest load. Suspension upgrade would be a must for what we had planned. Other comments from my co-drivers included multiple recalls and some mentioned major transmission issues. From personal experience, my 1978 F150 had many reliability issues, and my 2007 F250 was the worst truck I ever owned.

Chevrolet and GMC both share the same platform, including the engine and transmission. They chose to upgrade their transmissions with a new 10-speed Allison. What I really liked about this is that it is built for the diesel along with the gas option. My thinking was....if it could handle the power and torque of a diesel, it would very well be overbuilt for gas. There were two considerations between the brands. First, headlights. This topic may seem insignificant, but headlights become a priority when driving at night for long periods. Halogen lights come stock on Chevy's lower trim level. In order to have LED (much preferred), you have to go up in trim level. Upgrading trim level would not only be an increase in price, but also would include options not necessarily needed or preferred by me. GMC offers LEDs on their basic trim. The location and flexibility of a dealership was another one of my priorities. I was fortunate to have a local commercial GMC dealer that I have done business with in the past.

Yes, we went with a GMC. Our decision to stay with a GM product came down to three main reasons. First, familiarity with the truck. I like to do my own maintenance as much as possible. This saves money and you know the maintenance is done well. Knowing your truck can turn out to be huge if you are in desolate places. Second, experience with the brand or brand loyalty. From the 1967 C10 to the 2020 GMC 3500, reliability has been top notch. With the exception of my 2018 Chevy Duramax Diesel, I have had reliable, tough, well-built trucks that do not require any upgrades. Third, I am nearing the 1 million mile mark while driving GM vehicles.

In the end, we decided the perfect truck to begin our journey was a 2024 GMC 3500HD 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 liter gas engine mated to a 10-speed Allison transmission. We chose the 6.75 foot bed to keep the truck as small as possible for parking and camping.

To date, the truck has performed flawlessly.

Note: This is based on my personal experience, opinions, and advise from drivers in my field. Like I stated earlier, all the manufacturers make a great product. This subject can be controversial. Brand loyalty is predominant, especially when it comes to pickup trucks.