[dan deutekom]

Just got a new 2006 Chev 2500 Hd to replace the old 97 in the fleet. Why is there not a real bench seat so that 3 can sit semi comfortably on the way to a job. ( the cup holder is on the floor in the centre guys crotch ) Why does the bed sit a full 8" higher that the 97 with the same load rating and a full 6" higher that the 2001 3500 that is in the fleet (makes things harder to lift on). Why dosn't the radio turn off until you open the door. (annoying when you shut off the truck to talk on the phone). Why are the headlights automatic so that I can't turn them off if I want to. Why is it when I turn the key to start there is an annoying lag before anything happens. It is just long enough to make you think you need booster cables or something and then it wakes up and says let's go. I think I am going to trade it with one of the older trucks in the fleet.

[start2finish]

did we not test drive the truck?
My wife has a 05 trailblazer and I like the power delay, you can also roll up windows until you open a door. as for the automatic lights there is a switch to disable the auto feature on a case by case basis.

[dan deutekom]

I don't buy the trucks. The municipality I work for just gives them to us from the main fleet. On Canadian models the headlights are always on in automatic mode with a spring loaded switch and cannot be turned off.

[start2finish]

the switch I am refering to is spring loaded. You turn it to the left while the lights are auto on and it will kill them until you turn the ignition off.

[dan deutekom]

I will check that tomorrow. I kinda of just figured if you turn the switch to off the switch would stay in the off position.

[start2finish]

i have never turned the lights on in her truck(trailblazer), they come on when needed auto. But if I pull in someone's driveway or park and leave the engine running with passengers it is nice to kill the lights. If you lay a hat on the little black button center of dash at windshield, over this it will fool the truck in to a dark setting. Then try the switch out. It will turn the lights back on just like they turned off. If I am not mistaken it will also kill the daytime running lights during the day.

[Ron Soukup]

You can change a few of those annoying things. Just check out your users manual.

In my '02, to turn off the lights auto lights, I press the button that toggles the cab light four times and it turns it off.

I beleive you can change the radio thing as well, but that is a more complicated sequence.


Good Luck!

[cutntrim]

I've got an '04 GMC with the same ideosyncracies, but more annoying is my "04 Dodge and it's seatbelt bell. It keeps pinging incessantly if you don't belt-up. Very annoying when all you want to do is jockey the trailers around in the storage compound. There's a way to cancel it out, but if the computer is re-flashed at the dealer it'll reset and start pinging again.

[PSUscaper]

just got a 2006 gmc.......I'm with you on a lot of the quirks.

I hate the time delay with the interior light. More or less, I turn the light on inside to truck to gather my stuff up and head in at night.....the problem is, with the stupid delay, you don't know if you left it on or not because it delays it for about 30 secs.....I bet I've waisted a few a hours of life at this point waiting for the light to 'fade' out before I head into the house. I hate that with a passion.

As the for the seat belt beep.......I installed a after market xm radio head unit in, and upon doing so, I guess I disconnected the beeper.......what a blessing!!!!! On the 2005 and up, I believe the beeper is intergrated through the stereo, so if you do some research, I'm sure you can find what wire controls it and snip it. I hate the seat belt alarm.

And the worst part are the daytime running lights....I swear it is just a conspiracy GM has with the bulb manufacturer to sell more light bulbs......I swear, every other gm truck that drives by has one of the day time lights.

[Pelican]

I feel your pain!! My '01 and '02 Super Dutys are junk compared to the '81 and '97 they replaced. I wish I hadn't sold the '97, that was a great truck! I've had nothing but trouble with the newer ones and they aren't as comfortable. I've started looking in to older southern trucks and bringing them up here to put new drive trains in. The newer ones are just too unreliable with all the computerization and cheap chassis parts!!

[GLAN]

I ordered an 05 F350 XLT P/U last year with all the bells and whistles....Don't have the problems some are describing with other manufacturers.......The time delay with the auto lights is great......also having the head lights stay on that 20 or 30 seconds allows for me to see better putting the key in the front or garage door locks.


My 00 and 03 GMC W4500 dumps have nothing in the way of cool gadgets of any kind.......other than day time running lights.


One thing to remember........All trucks come in different configurations.......need a 3 passenger bench seat.......and other must haves and don't wants............Then spec the truck from scratch and order it..........take delivery in about 12 weeks.

As I said.......I ordered an XLT........the XLT package comes with floor carpet standard.....by custom ordering my truck I got mine without carpet.

As for myself......since 1986 every work vehicle we have had was custom ordered and purchased new.

[dan deutekom]

That is the thing. This truck is a custom order. But in the quest to make pickups more car like they are losing the good things that make them work trucks. I am sure that the load height is higher just so that it looks "cooler" because it is the same load rating as the old truck but sits so much higher with the exact same tire size and axle and spring ratings. The seating is lowest form of 3 place seating available but a straight bench can't be had anymore. It is what they call 40-20-40 seating which sucks for the guy in the middle. All the electronic do-dads on this thing are standard and most of them are annoying for a truck that is used in a work setting where it is stopped and started many times a day in a municipal work setting. I don't think it is just Chev that is like this but all light trucks in general. They are being tailored for the weekend warrior and not as a bang around work truck. You don't see any truly compact work trucks anymore from the Japanese and you don't see plain jane trucks from the Big 3. It is only when a truck has gross weights over about 14000 lbs that they start looking like work trucks again. I might be wrong but I think there is still a market for a plain 3/4 ton pickup with a small 8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, cheap radio, rubber mats, bench seat and painted bumpers that you are not afraid to get scratched.

[GLAN]

I hear ya Dan.


Problem is......it's those Texans.....thinkin the Lariat is a Cadillac.



OK, just kidding around.



But that is not all that far from the truth.......Pickup Trucks have evolved from work vehicle to family vehicle.

Funny thing is they created the crew cab.........most I see with crew cabs are average people driving them around with the 6' bed. The 4 door gives the same capabilities as any 4 door sedan. But with the idea that bigger is safer......I don't know any LCO in my area that has crew cab pickups.......where do you park the damn things.