some general thoughts
now I hear one say the GM is better riding, but does that hold true for the 3500 vs the 2500? I need the 3500 version to pull 9 tons, and I sure want it rated for at least ten or eleven. Which the diesel duallies do well with, around 24K towing maxed out.
Point is, I want to be comfortable in my 98% other time use of this truck, and I know that's a tough, if not impossible thing to achieve in a 3500 model.
I would think airbags in the suspension might help a little, but otherwise it's the normal NVH thing. Who builds a quieter truck? Turning radius? Neat options like Rambox?
Some of these trucks have factory fifth wheel mounts or underbed supports built in. My inclination is that's a good thing, and I would sure want to be able to remove the apparatus fully from the truck when finished trailering. And I bet those suckers are pretty heavy up in the 22-24K class. Good thing I have a floor winch. And will have an overhead lift in my new shop.
After my late wife's new XTS Cadillac drove us crazy with the CUE system. I pretty much swore off GM. But they seem to have a better simpler system in the trucks with a real volume knob. That's another issue, do I need two button pushes and a mouse rotation to get a radio station? I used to own a retail electronics business, so you can imagine how much practice I had in explaining how things work to people. Some who barely knew not to stick their finger in the electrical socket.
You have to start at basics. The on switch. Very important...etc.etc. So I have a strong enduring desire for machinery to run with intuitive controls that are easy to see without a magnifier or a flashlight. No drill down programs, KISS. Look at stereo receivers. Very few don't require you to squint at the controls to figure them out.
So the infotainment system, aka radio, can either be fun, with a good speaker system, or can drive one crazy. From what I've seen with trucks, they try to make the controls larger, but the touchscreen operations that require me to take my eyes off the road are just stupid engineering and will get me or someone killed if I don't pay attention to my driving. GM has always used Bose in their nicer trucks and I've been satisfied with that, although the clear high notes are usually missing.
Of course one can always go to Crutchfield...
And lastly the one thing no one can research. The seat. Have to sit in it. Wiggle around. Make sure it's heated. Cooling ok, not a biggie for me. Adjust the power pedals.
And then drive the thing and look for potholes, weavy pavement ,etc, and then go do 60 on route 95, which is nearby, and see how it cruises. Or go up 611 from Doylestown PA, the only other route we can get over 55 locally. Suburbia. 35 and 45 everywhere, except for a few stretches where folks are so used to going slow they don't go much faster... With the state of our roads around here, still terrible and falling apart from the beating this past winter, I should have at least some good test roads to drive on. The biggest dealer nearby, Reedman Toll in Langhorne PA has this silly little track they let you drive on, but not off the property. Stupid, won't buy from them. The little test drive has a bump section and a sharp turn, like their own little proving ground. Worthless since you can't get over 25 on it. I want to hear if the wind whistles, if there are any. Want to hear how loud the tires whine. Can't do that on a forum or reading an article.
As I mentioned before I'm sure GM played a game with the others and let the others play their cards so they could trump them with a reboosted Duramax.
Last one in could win the game. We have an 850 and an 860, wonder if GM can hit 900?
Which is all fun to think about, but I want comfort. And I really bet current power levels are adequate for my needs. Sixty grand for a truck is a serious investment and not one I'm going to rush. This should be a keeper farm truck too, though I will always use my car for things it can do using a third of the fuel the truck does.
