Family Vehicle Alternative with Crew Cab Option

Author's Rating:

Pros: Highest rated tow hitch capacity paired with available Allison transmission and Duramax diesel options.

Cons: Thirsty, large, difficult to park, might not fit in garage.

Ease of Loading:

The Bottom Line: 
This is a real "cross-over" vehicle. The crew cab with topper offer the space of a wagon. The tow capacity and tow-readiness make it the ultimate truck to own.

Author's Review
In May 2002, my family purchased a new 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Crew Cab LS Dually with both the Allison 5-speed automatic transmission and the Duramax turbo-diesel engine options. We bought the vehicle to serve two primary purposes: family transportation for evening and weekend use, and tow vehicle for recreational use.

We chose the Silverado over comparable Ford and Dodge alternatives for the following two reasons: The dually Ford 350 could not match the Silverado’s tow hitch capacity at 12,000 pounds; and the Dodge dually could not match the crew cab roominess of the Silverado.

We had to pass one more test before bringing the truck home. Even if the chosen vehicle could meet the tow and back seat space requirements, I (at 5’-2”) had to be able to get in and out, and drive the thing (reach the pedals). We test drove the vehicle, passing all checks, and made plans to bring it home! We did add chrome step bars, commonly called nerf bars, to making getting in and out easier.

Driving this truck at first was scary. It is big, it feels big, but thank goodness, it stops on a dime. The brakes are incredible, with huge disc brakes on all four corners. My biggest fear initially when driving it was that someone would pull out in front of me and I would not be able to stop. The following may sound amazing, but its true: Both the acceleration and stopping distances for the turbo-diesel Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Crew Cab Dually outperform our little Miata sports cars (normally aspirated Miatas, not the turbo Miata!) Starting and stopping are not problematic. You can “put the hammer down” and go like a banshee when you need to and panic-stop on a dime with confidence.

One of my apprehensions about owning a diesel is that it would be stinky and loud. The exhaust system is more than adequate and can squelch the noise and the fumes. I am seldom even aware that I am driving a diesel. There is a distinct “big truck” sound coming from the engine bay, but it’s a nice sound and not intrusive.

The LS interior is very luxurious for a truck. I am impressed that Chevrolet had the foresight to equip this workhorse of a truck so well. Since some of our weekend trips are quite long and hectic, having the upgraded surroundings makes for some very comfortable transportation. With 6-way power leather seats standard, it is extremely comfortable. The seats are also heated. The air conditioning system, while not dual-zone, is more than adequate. I also enjoy the auto-dimming rear view mirror with digital temperature display for outside cabin conditions. While I like all the creature comforts, my husband is impressed with the 510 foot-pounds of torque that the Duramax diesel can churn out, and even more impressed with the 17 mpg.

Since owning the truck most of our towing trips have been in and around the flatlands of South Carolina and Georgia. We have yet to really try mountain towing with the trailer fully loaded. I’ll plan up update to this review as soon as we make a mountain trip. On the trips we have taken, the truck pulls like a dream and never shows signs of being overtaxed. Even with a 6,000 lb trailer and 5,000 lbs of gear loaded in it, the truck is able to get to normal cruising speeds in short order and stay with traffic without any problems, and more importantly, without over heating.

We have logged about 28,000 miles in the two years we have owned the truck. I can only recall three times having to take the truck in for warranty repair. One time was to investigate a noisy fan. The culprit was found to be leaves in the fan intake area. The second time was for a leaky rear axle seal. A repair was made by the dealer under warranty and no more leaks have been detected. The third warranty repair was for a rattle in the steering column. Research on the web indicated one of two solutions would more than likely be offered by the dealer. The dealer chose to implement the less expensive fix. The rattle in the steering column is resolved for now, and while not our preferred fix, is satisfactory. The warranty period is 3 years or 36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper with a 100,000 mile warranty on the diesel engine. After 36,000 miles, we must pay a $100 deductible on engine warranty repairs.

Some of the features of this truck worth highlighting:

Physical dimensions:

Over 21 feet long stock, ours is over 23 feet long with the heavy-duty hitch in the rear. The weight of the truck is listed at about 6,100 pounds. Ours has a full-size topper in addition to the heavy-duty hitch. With these added items and three passengers, we are probably exceeding 7,000 pounds.

Engine Specifications:

6.6 Liter V8 Turbo Diesel
300 Horsepower
510 Foot-pounds of Torque

Hauling Capacity:

12,000 pounds on hitch tow capacity
16,500 pounds with fifth-wheel or goose neck

Some really neat features:

On-Star is standard (first year is free, must subscribe after that)
CD Player and AM/FM stereo is standard
Two batteries are standard
Pre-wired for trailer lights and brakes, with a plug-in for an under dash electric brake controller
Tow/Haul mode for automatic transmission – senses and remembers your driving style. Anticipates and adjusts to your preferences.

Some warnings/cautions:

Obviously, you cannot park this truck anywhere. Maneuvering in regular parking lots is very challenging. Plan on parking in the north 40 and walking.

A fast-food drive-through usually requires backing up at least once to keep the truck lined up with the drive.

Most bank drive-throughs will not accommodate the rear fenders.

Check your garage space. This truck may not fit in your garage.

The dually requires 6 tires instead of 4. Remember this when forecasting your maintenance budget.