GM Ends Medium Duty Production

[Builder]

Speaking of thickness, after I saw page 4 of this document comparing transmissions, I knew I would never buy a Ford truck with the transmission they currently offer:

http://www.ci.soldotna.ak.us/archive/archive_pdf/2006/2006 Resolutions/06RES019.pdf

 

[Dargo]

Stick to the topic.

It's just one more chapter of Government Motors becoming Gone Motors. Where's the news in that? They can't pay their bills. They can't sell their products. They can't live on taxpayer money (life support) forever. That's about the name of that tune.

 

[Builder]

It's just one more chapter of Government Motors becoming Gone Motors. Where's the news in that? They can't pay their bills. They can't sell their products. They can't live on taxpayer money (life support) forever. That's about the name of that tune.

I know a lot of excellent tradesmen, doctors, farmers, etc that can't run a business worth spit but make a great product or produce an excellent service.

I'd rather buy a superior product or service from a company with a poorly run financial department than buy a lesser product from a company that has the best bean counters.

 

[Diamondpilot]

It wasn't a "guy". It was voted on by 5 members of their council 5-0. I don't know what any of this has to do with GM medium duty trucks and their components.

Stick to the topic.

What I am saying is he swayed the vote. Council members know nothing but what they are told. Heck, no one in goverment knows anything. You can not argue that. Maybe the GM truck was the best option but I can guarantee you they did not get the whole story. If the guys knew anything at all about snow plowing they would know the GM trucks front suspension and chassis was last in line behind Ford and Dodge. Also that ear of Dmax trucks overheated like crazy, had injector problems, and dropped glow plugs.. Remember I had one in 2005 that was nothing but trouble while Dodge and Ford had solid engines at that time That why I traded it short of a year owning it for my F-350 that has been trouble free other than a bad dash cluster.

We needed a truck for the airport a few years back. I was asked to be on a 3 person advising team along with a mechanic and a VP. I never drive the truck but maybe 2 times a year so it really did not matter to me what they got. I would have loved to seen them get a spanking new F-450 diesel but the Dodge Dakota was what we really needed. Maybe it was not the best choice because we had to put a tranny in it already but the reality was when myself and our mechanic set down and made a list of needed items it was the cheapest so called American Made truck that fit the bill.

Chris

 

[chh]

i own and work 2 GM medium duty trucks. an old C65 dump that still makes money. also, a 4500 4wd dump truck with the duramax/allison combo. i drove the ford 450 and 550 prior to buying the gm and am very happy with my decision. both trucks work very hard and have been overloaded a time or two. the 4wd system on the 4500 has been flawless. the turning radius on the gm is also tighter than the ford or dodge offering. i also like the 4500 body style, the visibilty is great from it. the turning radius and visibilty make a big diffrence in the areas i often work. the 5:13 gear ratio also is great when towing heavy up mountains. the arguement against the newer medium duty trucks doesn't hold water in my mind. i think GM lost the medium duty market prior to the new trucks. they went a long time living off the older style trucks and didn't try to compete in the 4500-5500 market till it was too late. the late 90's ford super duty and 450 550 were great trucks and during that time it seems ford started really taking over the medium duty market. the sad thing we are all poorer having lost GM's medium duty division. attached is a picture taken on top of Rich Mountain outside Boone N.C.. i was towing a backhoe in 4-6 inches of snow up and around the mountain. there was 3 tons of topsoil in the bed as well. i think they hold their own well.

Thanks for posting the pic of a 4500 actually working. I know a couple of housing contractors that have them and they treat them as glorified p/u's. The first one bought a single cab with 4wd rigged out with a flatbed to tow a gooseneck backhoe trailer. He drives/drove it to the jobsite every day and tows the trailer about once a month. Of course his main competitor had to have one, so he got a double cab model, flatbed and more toolboxes. I haven't seen either one much since the housing market slowed, but I'd bet they are still trying to top each other.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I think the demise of the GM 4500 was the size, Ford made a huge hit with their 450 looking like pick up truck while GM had teh look of a huge medium duty truck, just too big.

Though I never looked at or sat in one, outwardly, the size of the GM 4500-5500 was much more appealing to me over the Ford and relatively recent offering from Dodge. Tilt hood for easy access though I understand that the engine bay is still tight. Higher seating position for better foreward and rearward visability. Big mirrors. Kind of pricey though.

 

[wkpoor]

All this crap over frames......all 3 have tried everything over the yrs. There is Ford right outside my door with a C channel frame. My van has a full box frame. So none of it makes a hoot for anything. My old man was a GM engineer for over 40yrs and I learned that so much we hear and read about from the marketing side is BC because everything is done for a reason and that reason is the almighty dollar. If full box is the rage now its because someone figured out how to make something cheaper not necessarily better.Now one thing I can get rapped around is the old twin I beam front suspension I hope is dead with Ford. What a piece of crap unless you like to steer like your on a movie set. I read where Dodge is going back in time with rear coil springs on some trucks. How heavy duty is that? Like I've said before they all make some good stuff and some not so good stuff.

 

[Builder]

the farm down from mine uses a spreader truck that is the same as your dump truck(i think it is anyways, looks identical to it). that thing is a hoss and a half! the cab looks VERY similar(except theirs is red) and it's also 4WD. i'll see if i can get a pic oneday and post it up.

Thanks!

It is a pretty tough truck. Rides like one too.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Thanks!

It is a pretty tough truck. Rides like one too.

i've ridden in that spreader truck before and i agree, ride quality isn't one of its strong suits! heck of a truck though!

 

[RobS]

Thread closed, too many personal attacks.