Hard working truck

Author's Rating:

Pros: Rock-solid reliable, good mileage, excellent 4 wheel drive, comfortable ride, huge backseat.

Cons: A few squeaks and rattles, numb braking, noisy transmission.

Ease of Loading:

The Bottom Line: 
If you're looking for a truck that looks and works like a truck, it doesn't get any better than this. Definitely not a "lifestyle" vehicle.

Author's Review
Chevy's taken a lot of flack about their pickups. Critics gripe that they waited too long to redesign them, and that both the interior and exterior were cheap and bland. That's exactly what makes this an excellent work truck. It looks like a truck, it's not trying to be a luxury vehicle.

Many buyers are choosing full-sized pickups as daily transportation and as family vehicles. They see trucks as "lifestyle" vehicles, and like the way trucks make them look "rugged". I think those people are nuts. Trucks get lousy gas mileage, don't stop or corner well, don't ride well, and are a pain to drive in the city. Trucks are beasts of burden, and gussying them up with leather and such is like putting lipstick on a pig. Most people who think they need a full-sized truck would do well to rent one the 3 or 4 times a year they need to haul mulch or move a fridge.

So when I bought my truck (which is used exclusively for work), I bought a functional one with no bells or whistles. I have a short-bed extended cab Z-71 4x4. The Z-71 package adds skid plates, fog lamps, and a limited-slip rear differential. Even with the stock tires, it's nearly impossible to get this truck stuck.

In 2002, and still, Chevy trucks are lighter than their Ford and Dodge counterparts. The advantage to this is (relatively) good gas mileage with the 4800 (4.8 liter) V8. I see 16mpg in mixed driving, 20mpg on the highway. Compared to the 10-12mpg that people are getting with their Hemis, that's fantastic.

Chevy lists load capacity at 1600 pounds. I've exceeded this several times, and the truck just shrugs it off.

One of the best things about it is the cabin. It's huge. The front bench will easily seat three abreast, and the rear seat is the largest available in anyone's extended cab. I'm 6'2", and I've got at least 6" of headroom. You can carry six adults in this truck without anyone being uncomfortable, though I wouldn't suggest long trips like that.

The dashboard and hand controls are simple, large, and well spaced out. Everything that the driver needs can be operated while wearing work gloves. The seatbelt chime goes off after 10 seconds so it doesn't annoy you to death while you're hanging out the door trying to back up to a trailer.

The only problems, if you can call them that, are a loose interior, a squishy brake pedal, and a clunky transmission. The squeaks and rattles are from spending a lot of time off road. That does tend to loosen things up. The transmission and the brakes are Chevy hallmarks, and there's nothing that can be done about them. I've been assured by the local dealer that neither condition poses longevity issues.