In Wheel Time

By Don Armstrong

All of us are familiar with half-ton pick-ups. The Ford F-150 is king around these parts, but the half-ton is only the beginning of what is commonly referred to as, “the truck that built America.” The ¾-ton, or 2500, bumps up capability, and we don’t mean just a little. Here are a couple.

GMC SIERRA 2500

It really is about the numbers because the body shell, interior and bed are mostly the same as its ½-ton baby brother, the GMC Sierra 1500. Make no mistake, the 2500 is one big truck, especially the crew cab with full length bed. And, no, it won’t fit in the garage. Our tester was loaded up with options that included retractable side steps, part of the Denali Black Diamond edition package. The passive phone charger on the center console should be standard on every vehicle built today, and with Blue Tooth connectivity, your phone becomes one with this massive machine. Oh, and that multi-pro tailgate is everything it’s touted to be. Why didn’t I think of that? The optional 6.6-liter turbo diesel chugs out a whopping 910 lb.-ft. of torque, towing up to 18,500 pounds, enough to pull most 5th-wheel travel trailers. And fuel mileage, without the load, isn’t bad – 16.3 MPG. Pricing starts at $65,500, our loaded-up body builder was $82,545

Of course, beauty is subjective, so you’ll be the judge of that, but upper-end trim packages are better than most upscale European rides. Another oversized grill says, “here I come,” with a highly stylized chrome RAM emblem smack dab in the middle of it. Sheet metal is straight forward on our 2500, but stylized wheels and chrome accents add just the right amount of bling without going overboard. It’s these items that make a top tier package worth the money. This is a vehicle that can easily run a half-million miles, or more, without an overhaul. If you’re looking for a true load- bearer, you’ll want the optional 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel, a monster motor that can crank-out a massive 1075-lb.-ft of torque. If you need more than that, perhaps an 18-wheeler should be on the shopping list. Pricing starts at 70K. Listen to In Wheel Time Car Talk on the iHeart radio app.