12 Gmc Sierra 1500 Crew Cab Silver Navigation Leveling Kit on 2040-cars

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GM also sheds parts from its pickups to boost payload ratings

The row between Ford and Ram over who boasts the best-in-class tow rating for heavy duty pickups has revealed a number of things. Chief among them is a report that Ford removes items like the spare tire, jack, radio and center console from its vehicles in a bid to lower its base curb weight and therefore keep the truck's gross vehicle weight rating down.
For those that need a refresher, GVWR is the vehicle's curb weight plus its maximum payload. A lower GVWR allows Ford to station its F-450 among the so-called Class III pickups, despite the fact that internally, it has the makings of a more brutish Class IV truck.
Ford explains away these deletions, saying a customer could order their vehicle in such a manner. It has also come to light that Ford is not the only automaker to engage in such practices.

How Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra will take on the Ford F-150 profit machine

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — When General Motors engineers were developing the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, some of them joined public tours of Ford's Dearborn, Mich., factory to watch aluminum-bodied F-Series trucks go down the assembly line. The redesign of the Ford F-Series trucks, launched in 2014, set a new standard for fuel economy and lightweight vehicle construction. But armed with stopwatches and trained eyes, the GM engineers believed they saw problems. "They had a real hard time getting those doors to fit," Tim Herrick, the executive chief engineer for GM truck programs, told Reuters. His team did more intelligence gathering. They bought and tore apart Ford F-Series doors sold as repair parts. Their conclusion: GM could cut weight in its trucks for a lower cost using doors made of a combination of aluminum and high-strength steel that could be thinner than standard steel, shaving off kilograms in the process. These pounds-and-pennies decisions will have major implications in the highest-stakes game going in Detroit: dominance in the world's most profitable vehicle market, the gasoline-fueled large pickup segment. What's more, GM is banking on strong sales of overhauled 2019 Silverados and GMC Sierras to fund its push into automated and electric vehicles — a business many investors see as the auto industry's long-term future. The risks are high given the hits automakers have taken from U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies. Rising aluminum prices spurred by Trump's tariffs are driving up costs on the Ford's F-Series, while rising steel and aluminum prices likewise drag on GM results. GM also has a significant risk should the United States, Mexico and Canada fail to agree on a new NAFTA trade deal, given GM trucks built at its Silao, Mexico, factory could face a 25 percent tariff if NAFTA collapses. Major profit per truck Interviews with GM executives and a tour at its factory here in northwest Indiana provide a detailed look inside GM's plan for the most important vehicles in its global lineup. These big pickups are everything Tesla's Model 3 or Chevy's Bolt electric car is not. The mostly steel body is bolted to the truck's steel frame, rather than the one-piece body and frame electric vehicles. The majority of trucks will have a V-8 gasoline engine powering the rear wheels — like the classic GM cars of the 1950s. Some Silverados will have new four-cylinder engines, but there is no electric or hybrid offering as of now.

2019 GMC Sierra 1500 All Terrain spied with raised suspension, off-road tires

The 2019 GMC Sierra is here, though we've only seen the two top-tier trims, SLT and Denali. As past spy shots show, the Chevy Silverado's corporate sibling has more on the way. We now have a new batch of images showing what looks like the new All Terrain package, sort of a GMC equivalent to the Silverado's Trail Boss guise. The current All Terrain package is available in three different tiers on the Sierra SLT: All Terrain, All Terrain SLT Premium and All Terrain X. In addition to equipment from the Z71 package (skid plates, suspension upgrades), the All Terrain package adds Rancho shocks, an Eaton locking rear differential and more aggressive tires. There are some additional features and appearance changes, too. The more aggressive All Terrain X adds things like a cat-back exhaust and Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires. The truck in these spy shots is definitely wearing different wheels and tires than the Sierras we've previously seen. It also looks like it's sitting a little higher, just like the Silverado Trail Boss. This also looks to be an SLT model as it doesn't have the MultiPro tailgate. Expect the 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8s to return, but don't rule out a diesel-powered Sierra All Terrain sometime down the line. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2019 GMC Sierra All Terrain spy shots View 9 Photos Image Credit: Brian Williams Design/Style Spy Photos GMC Truck Off-Road Vehicles gmc sierra 1500