While most of the rest of the world has enjoyed availability of compact crew cab pickups for several years, the long-held myth that all North American buyers required a plywood hauling pickup bed has prevented these trucks from being available here. Fortunately, the truth creeps up on all of us sooner or later. When actual bed usage studies were conducted, it was found that pickup beds are empty most of the time, and when cargo was carried, it rarely exceeded half of the bed's capacity, even on work trucks. On the other hand, many pickups are frequently expected to carry more than two adult occupants.

Maybe the "passengers plus cargo minus excess length" equation explains some of the popularity of SUVs, which have even developed a significant commercial-use market. Where the SUVs are great for passengers and limited amounts of cargo, sharing the vehicle's interior with some types of cargo is undesirable or out of the question, and tall items are impossible to carry upright in the enclosed cargo area.

Although nearly every manufacturer has worked on prototype models of compact crew cab pickups for several years, and several have sold small crew cabs outside North America, the floodgates began to open in late '98 with Nissan's announcement of its Frontier crew cab. Just a few months later at the '99 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), a handful of production, concept and soon-to-be-production crew cab pickups pretty much stole the show. Some are being marketed as SUV crossovers, while others make no pretense, identified as actual crew cab pickups.

Regardless of the marketing angles being applied, these trucks share a common layout with four conventional doors, two full rows of seating and a shorter-than-average pickup bed. Nissan's Sport Utility Truck (SUT ) concept vehicle made its public debut a few years ago as a working prototype with a fifth "door" in the form of a rear-window liftgate, which when combined with fold-down rear seats, allows long cargo to be carried when necessary.

SUV? Or Pickup?

Chevy has gone one step further, announcing a production model hybrid in the form of its new Avalanche. To be certain, many manufacturers have experimented with pickup/SUV hybrids for the past several years, and some personal-use crew cab pickups are even being passed off as crossover trucks. However, apart from Nissan's SUT, which is strictly a one-off concept truck, the Avalanche represents the first "production-ready" example of a true hybrid. Although the Avalanche will be badged as a 2002 model, sales are expected to begin in early 2001.

What separates the Avalanche from the everyday crew cab and SUV crowd is Chevy's Convert-a-Cab System. The Convert-a-Cab features a "Midgate" and a storable rear window between the rear seat and the cargo area. Combined with folding rear seat, these features allow the Convert-a-Cab to be reconfigured into any of several permutations in seconds, by one person, without tools.

In its standard configuration, the Avalanche provides the Silverado/ Tahoe's comfortable seating for up to five passengers, and a 5'3" long cargo bed. A lockable tailgate and storable three-piece cargo cover allow for SUV-secure storage in a pickup-durable cargo area.

On occasions when it's necessary to haul the ever-popular sheets of plywood or drywall, the rear seats and midgate are folded out of the way to extend the capacity to a full 8'1", with the tailgate closed. Using the cargo cover in this model provides weathertight protection for your building materials when Mother Nature isn't cooperating with your project schedule.

Crews in the News

During the past several months, a record number of new crew cab models have been introduced, greatly increasing the available choices among these popular jobsite trucks. The biggest growth in the crew cab segment is within the compact pickup offerings.

Nissan, currently the "elder-statesman" among the compact crew cab pickups, took the opportunity to unveil a body update to its Frontier crew cab during this year's Chicago Auto Show. Although the crew cab model was only rolled out a year ago, the basic Frontier design already has a few years on it.

GM also used the Chicago Auto Show to unveil its 2001 Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma compact crew cab models. Sharing a nearly identical powertrain and chassis, the preliminary specifications for the S-10/Sonoma crew cabs include: available four-wheel drive, 190-HP Vortec 4300 V6 engine, a 4' 6" long cargo bed, and a payload capacity of 1,125 lbs. Forward opening rear-doors and an adult-sized rear seat make the S-10 or Sonoma crew cab a great choice when both passenger capacity and nimble maneuverability are required.

In yet another unveiling at the Chicago Auto Show, Toyota answered Nissan's earlier launch by introducing its entry into the compact crew cab market in the Tacoma "Double Cab." Preliminary specifications for the Double Cab include: available four-wheel drive, the choice of a 2.7L 150-HP 4-Cylinder or a 3.4L 190-HP V6 engine, and a 5' 1" long cargo bed. Like the other compact crews, the Tacoma Double Cab is mostly based on its regular cab counterpart.

Dodge's Dakota is again finding a spot as a segment-buster with the new Dakota Quad Cab, landing right between the traditional compact and full-size offerings. Late last year, we put the Dakota Quad Cab through a brief test that included some light towing and it performed well.

Ford is temporarily staying out of compact crew cabs, choosing instead to focus efforts on its hybrid SUV, the Explorer Sport Trac. Although the F-150 SuperCrew will mainly be marketed as a consumer vehicle, with the Super Duty models being the main offering for the business user, the SuperCrew's 5'6" cargo bed and full-size rear seat may be a useful alternative for users who don't require heavier suspension ratings of the Super Duty trucks. The shortened bed allows the SuperCrew to maintain the same overall length as the company's 139' wheelbase SuperCab model.

In the lighter (half-ton) end of the full-size crew cab arena, GM's T800 models (Silverado/Sierra) are in the pipeline, slated for release within the next 24 months, while Dodge still remains conspicuously absent from the entire full-size crew cab market. Speculative rumors have Freightliner, another of the DaimlerChrysler subsidiaries, designing the next generation of Dodge trucks.

GM's HD Models Raise the Bar

After several years of testing work trucks, it becomes so easy to find flaws in a new design that a model review is frequently a case of saying "This is a nice truck, . . . but . . . ," and then fill in the blanks where the designers and engineers stopped just a little short in their efforts. A few years ago, when GM introduced its new T800 (Sierra/Silverado) pickup line, there was nothing to fault, ". . . but . . ." the new line lacked a contingent of seriously heavy-duty offerings.

The Whole Package

As of late this fall, ". . . but . . ." will no longer be necessary when describing GM's pickup offerings for the work truck market. The addition of the 2001 Heavy Duty (HD) Series means Chevrolet and GMC will have "The Whole Package," from half-ton to one-ton, from luxury to brawn. As for the HD Series, "The Whole Package" is an equally accurate description.

Many truck lines talk about ride quality, payload capacity, towing strength, horsepower and style, but frequently these terms are mutually exclusive, each describing different trucks within that line. Our initial testing has us convinced that choosing the HD Series will not require sacrificing one or more of a pickup's attributes to obtain best-in-class performance in another area.

Power, Payload and Pullin'

Although there are many important attributes for a work truck, the most important is the truck's ability to work. Work skills can be easily summed up in three "P"s, Power from the engine, Payload carried in the truck, and Pullin' strength to tow a heavy load.

Power
Ranging from the most powerful standard engine, to a purpose-built diesel, to the strongest available gas engine in the pickup truck market, GM's new HD Series has the "Power" side of the equation more than covered. With 300 HP, the standard Vortec 6000 V8 enjoys a wide lead over the 5.4L Ford or 5.9L Dodge offerings. At the opposite extreme, the Vortec 8100 V8 delivers 340 HP, a significant increase over both competitor's V10 engines. It's also important to note the Vortec 8100's V8 configuration uses approximately 20% fewer moving parts than a typical V10 engine, a big difference when looking at maintenance and overhaul costs.

If maximum torque is a key consideration, the Duramax Diesel 6600 V8 is the answer. Rated at 520 lb./ft. of torque, the Duramax 6600 has the advantage over the competitive diesel engine options. GM called upon Isuzu's automotive diesel experience to co-develop the Duramax engine specifically for the HD Series pickups. Both of the competitive diesels were adapted from applications outside the pickup truck market. While this distinction may be subtle in several aspects, an important difference becomes obvious the minute the engine is started.

Unlike its competition, the Duramax allows a normal conversation to be carried on, in or out of the truck, with the engine running. Current and past diesel owners are all too familiar with the need to shut-off their engine to be heard while ordering their morning cup of coffee at the local drive-thru. During our testing, every time somebody wanted to look under the hood, we were able to chat across the engine compartment with the engine running and without raising our voices.

Payload
All the horsepower and torque in the world won't do you any good if you can't use it to carry a load. Again, GM's HD Series has a strong lead over its competitors in terms of Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW = Weight of Truck, Passengers & Cargo) rating, and actual Payload (= Weight of Passengers & Cargo).

In the heavy three-quarter-ton range, the 2500 HD has a 9,200 lb. GVW rating, 400 lbs. over Ford's Super Duty F-250 or the Dodge Ram 2500. The payload capacity in this range is 4,029 lbs., again a significant improvement over the competition. In the one-ton 3500 models, GVW jumps to 11,400 lbs. and payload increases to 5,753 lbs., exceeding the competition in all areas except the payload when compared to Ford's dual-rear-wheel F-350, where the difference is less than 100 lbs.

Here, it's important to note ride quality hasn't been sacrificed to achieve these GVW and Payload ratings on GM's HD Series. Many work trucks carry their load with little consideration to how much the driver is being "worked" at the wheel, especially when the truck isn't fully loaded. Our testing included driving while fully loaded, partially loaded and empty except for passengers, and in every case, the ride was comfortable and sure-footed.

Pullin'
Sooner or later, you need to move more than any pickup can carry, so it becomes necessary to hook onto a trailer. Not just a little utility trailer or a tow-behind cement mixer, rather a multi-axle heavy duty trailer for moving cargo and equipment. While any pickup can handle the smaller projects, it requires a serious Gross Combination Weight (GCW = Weight of Truck, Trailer, Passengers & Cargo) rating for many of the towing tasks typically found on a construction jobsite.

The new HD pickups weigh in with a GCW rating of 22,000 lbs., an increase of 2,000 lbs. over the competition. As for maximum weight of the trailer being towed, the 2500 HD is rated for 15,900 lbs. and the 3500 has a 15,700 lb. rating. In addition to towing capacity, the new HD pickups also bring a few towing-friendly features to the market.

Geared For Work

Getting this extreme power to the ground will be accomplished by three transmissions ranging from the 4L80E automatic that debuted on the over 7,200 lb. GVW 2500-series pickups (non-HD) in '99, to a six-speed ZF-built manual gearbox, to an all-new Allison 1000-series five-speed automatic.

Tow/Haul Mode

When the light duty Sierra and Silverado pickups were originally unveiled, GM's Powertrain division introduced its new generation of four-speed electronic automatic transmissions, including the 4L80E. Many previous automatic overdrive transmissions, across the industry, have been equipped with overdrive lockout switches to prevent shift-hunting in and out of overdrive gear. Although this provided a roundabout cure to the shift "busy-ness," it still didn't adjust shift patterns for heavily-loaded conditions.

The new transmissions dropped the overdrive lockout switch in favor of a "Tow/Haul" mode switch that alters the shift programming during heavily loaded conditions. In addition to modifying the overdrive operation, the Tow/Haul mode raises the shift point for all gears, insuring sufficient horsepower and torque will be available in the next gear. To protect the transmission from heavy load conditions, the shifts between gears are made quicker, minimizing wear on the friction linings used in the transmission's clutches and bands.

Grade Braking

Long-known as the major producer of automatic transmissions for heavy trucks and transit buses, GM's Allison division has made its first major step into the light duty market in the form of the 1000-series five-speed automatic used in the new HD pickups. The new Allison 1000 has been validated for GVW ratings up to 19,850 lbs. and GCW ratings up to 26,000 lbs., both significantly above the HD truck's needs. The Allison 1000 incorporates the Tow/Haul mode used on the lighter automatics and adds a grade-braking feature that will provide engine braking and automatic downshifts during downhill travel to minimize brake wear while towing or hauling heavy loads.

Large Four-Wheel Disc Brakes

Given the loads the HD pickups will carry and tow, stopping power is as important as engine horsepower. Although the Grade Braking feature of the Allison transmission helps minimize brake wear, the HD's brakes are definitely up to the task. A standard four-wheel disc, four-wheel ABS braking system provides shorter stopping distances, better pedal feel with reduced effort, quieter operation and significantly extended brake pad life. Audible wear sensors are used on all pads to warn the driver maintenance will soon be required.

PTO Control

Because many work applications for the HD pickups require use of a Power Take Off (PTO) to operate dump boxes, snow plows and other body equipment, GM has made installation of the PTO and related controls much simpler on the HD models. Both the Allison 1000 and the ZF 6-speed are compatible with standard PTO mounts. Chassis cabs can be spec'ed with the M1F packaging option which provides a floor cutout, floor cover and heat shields, and the necessary wiring. By using GM's PTO installation kit, operation of the PTO can be managed by the Truck Body Controller, which will control engine speed and PTO operation from a dash mounted switch, with no need for a manual throttle control.

Model Lineup

Both the Sierra and Silverado HD are available with a regular cab, 4-door extended cab and crew cab configuration as chassis cabs or pickups with short or long beds. Dual rear wheels are available on 3500 (one-ton) models and the chassis cab option is available on the 2500 and 3500 models. Four-wheel drive is available on all configurations, including those with dual rear wheels.

Other SUV News

Compared to the crew cab announcements and the new heavy pickups, the SUV market for 2001 is almost peaceful. At the bottom end of the scale, more manufacturers are releasing new car-based sub-compact SUV models. Even though these smaller offerings have little use in the commercial end of the market, they may to take some heat off of demand for larger trucks, which should move prices into a more realistic range.

As the Daimler-Chrysler marriage goes beyond the honeymoon stage, rumors persist regarding the demise or replacement of the company's popular Jeep Cherokee. Other insider chatter has the company adding a full-size SUV to their portfolio when the Ram pickup gets remodeled in a few years.

Speculation has the future Ram pickup resembling more of an SUV/pickup hybrid, like the Chevy Avalanche, than a pure, traditional pickup.

At Ford, company officials are beginning to question whether they made the right move by releasing their top-of-the-line Excursion SUV. Not only does the Excursion's size and weight put the vehicle in contradiction with the company's stance on environmental issues, but consumer acceptance also appears to be soft. In spite of strong claims as to the Excursion's towing capacity, Ford has yet to make the truck available for any substantive towing tests.

The full-size SUV line from GM, released last year, appears to be catching on as fast as the trucks can be produced. Offshoots of the now popular T800 (Silverado/Sierra) pickups, the new Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon/Yukon XL SUV models combine best-in-class seating with ample horsepower and a strong chassis. Engine improvements for 2001 include an increasing in the oil-change interval to 10,000 miles, up-rating the Vortec 6000 to 315 HP and adding the new Vortec 8100 V8 as an option for the 2500 series Suburban and Yukon XL.

Perhaps the only "new" full-size SUV model for 2001 is the Toyota Sequoia. The Sequoia will feature the same 4.7-liter i-Force V8 engine that powers Toyota's full-size Tundra pickup. The Sequoia will ride on a slightly-modified version of the Tundra's platform. The independent double-wishbone-type front suspension will be nearly identical to Tundra. The rear suspension, revised for increased ride comfort and control, will feature a five link live axle with coil springs. A four-wheel disc anti-lock brake system will be standard on all models. The Sequoia transports eight passengers in three rows of seating, featuring three-way seat belts at all eight passenger positions. Both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models will be available, with Toyota's vehicle stability control (VSC) offered as an option.