It used to be that 3/4 ton trucks were work tools. Long on anvil-like, workday toughness. Short on creature comforts. Well the Sierra 2500HD is nothing like that and it sets a new standard for all heavy duty trucks. With the GMC's do-it-all portfolio of power, passenger room, cargo capacity, feature levels, and towing prowess, it is one heck of a truck. yet this bruiser drives beautifully, can be trimmed out as nicely as many luxury cars, and functions amazingly well as everyday personal (and family) transportation. The HD platform means even stronger (2500) models. Its structure plays an important role in GMC's strength. It has a modular, sectional frame with hydroforming technology up front; the mid-and rear-frame rails are roll formed and drawn-bent, adding further strength. Once put together, the center chassis has an impressive 261,000 pounds per square inch bending resistance (which is higher than anyone else's trucks). This type of construction allows front crumple zones to remain intact, yet provide superior load carrying capability. The 2500HD are available in a dizzying array of of body configurations: regular cab, four door extended cab, or full four door crew cab; long bed, short bed, or no bed in the form of a chassis cab configuration; two or four wheel drive, 3 powertrains, 3 transmissions, and 3 trim levels.

All Sierra HDs are equipped with a heavy duty short/long-arm independent front suspension system (no more rough riding solid axles) to ensure better handling and a smoother ride than is often associated with trucks having this much capacity. Extra engineering effort was spent in the braking department, as all heavy dutys offer beefy four-wheel disc brakes adn four wheel ABS as standard equipment. Front end styling is more aggressive to further complement the Heavy Duty's brawny nature. The hoodline is more elevated, and the front bumper pads are thicker to accommodate the HD's higher body height. To paraphrase Robert DeNiro's character in the movie "Taxi Driver". "You wanna talk power?. Are you talking power ta me?" One of the Sierra HD's most impressive hallmarks is tons of trailer-towing, hill climbing, load hauling power. It comes in three forms, two of which are all new-and all of which are class leaders in terms of horsepower and torque output. GMC's now-familiar Vortec 6000 V-8 serves well as the base engine, and delivers 300 horsepower and 360 lb/ft. of torque, with a towing capacity of 10,500 pounds. But that is just the start. Big-inch gasoline-engine and hardcore-diesel fanatics have new engines to fawn over. The Vortec 8100 (8.1 liters, nearly 496 cubic inches) has 340 horsepower and 455 lb/ft. of torque, with a towing capacity of 15,900 pounds, and fully 90% of peak torque is available from 1700 to 4300 rpm-that's power worth bragging about. the 8100 only requires oil and filter changes for the first 100,000 miles, and the power control module even monitors oil condition and signals the owner when a change is required.

You say you pull a giant trailer and want even more torque? The answer is called Duramax. Developed in concert with medium duty truck expert Isuzu, the new 6.6 liter V-8 employs an unusual-for-an-OHV-design four valves per cylinder engine. This diesel produces 300 horsepower and 520 lb/ft. of torque, which ripple out at just 1800 rpm. What numbers can’t tell you is how refined this powerplant is. First of all, it is amazingly quite for a diesel. And what mechanical noise exists is refined in a pleasantly undiesel-like fashion. It’s smooth, too, with no tailpipe smoke or noticeable fumes to speak of. The Duramax 6600 is clearly a substantial step forward in diesel engine design and execution. There are three heavy duty transmissions. 4 speed automatic, 5 speed electronically controlled Allison automatic transmission, and a ZF 6 speed manual transmission. First gear is, of course, a super low ratio, with normal street ratios from 2 to 6. But the real tranny news is an all new close-ratio five-speed automatic provided by GM’s Allison Division. Allison is the leader in making heavy duty transmissions for commercial and heavy duty use. Spreading the transmission’s job out over five forward gears means a 30% increase I ratio coverage-in other words, a gear for every occasion, load, and rpm band. This trans also retains the Sierra's innovative tow/haul mode: Actuate a button on the end of the trans shifter lever, and the transmission will stay in lower gears longer for dealing with heavy loads. Furthermore, actuating tow/haul invokes the transmission programming into Engine Grade Braking mode, which automatically down shifts when the vehicle heads downhill to provide an extra measure of compression braking.

All the HD’s job-rated hardware might have you thinking it’s just too much truck for everyday and recreational needs. Absolutely not. You can spec out your Sierra Heavy Duty just about any way you wish, from the vinyl-bench-seat equipped, rubber floor matted model, ideal for the the toughest construction-site duty, to nearly full luxo-car standard. The extended cab remains the industry’s best in interior volume and comfort. The upper cushion of its foldable rear seat offers some much appreciated rake, instead of the bolt-upright position in many other trucks’ rear cab areas. Dual rear hinged doors make for easy access, and most models give rear passengers their own HVAC vents and cupholders. Have a bigger crew? You need GMC's Crew Cab, with plenty of room-and seatbelts-for six. Even if your truck is used for serious duty, you’ll probably want it trimmed-out with a bit of luxury, as well, of course. Your perspective of “luxury” means in a truck may have to be raised a few levels when you learn what these beg rigs deliver. You can get AM/FM/CD and cassatte power steering/window/mirrors/locks; full instrumentation, including an engine our meter. You also get heated outside mirrors, self dimming interior electrochromic mirror, rear window defogger, heated leather seats, side window defoggers, dual front airbags with passenger side deactivation switch, intermittent wipers, cruise control, leather wrapped steering wheel, GM’s passlock 2 theft anti-theft system with remote keyless entry, drivers side memory, programmable door locks, tow/haul gear switch, automatic on/off headlights, daytime running lamps, driver message center, climate control, rear seat head restraints, intergrated front seat safety belts, transmission temperature guage, GM’s Onstar, four wheel antilock disc brakes with dynamic rear brake proportioning, and a lot of other stuff. Again, I must emphasize, for their impressive power and weight ratings, these trucks are amazingly well mannered in everyday use, ON OR OFF ROAD. And they really accelerate, 0-60 in 8.4 seconds (Firmly putting to rest that diesel engines are slugs) for the diesel, and 0-60 in 8.3 seconds for the Vortec 8100.

*The Diesel will average about 18 miles per gallon on the highway.

*The 8100 will average about 10 on the highway.

*And the Vortec 6000 will average about 15-16 on the highway

*Prices will range from $27,341-$42,623

*Maximum payload capacity is 4,190 pounds, and maximum towing capacity is 15,900 pounds.

With class leading power, hauling and towing prowess, value, do it all capability, smooth ride, and strength. The GMC Sierra 2500 HD is definitely the logical choice among work trucks, and all trucks in general.

Amount Paid (US$): 42,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2001
Model and Options: SLT, 4WD, Crew Cab