2005 GMC Sierra 3500 Crew Cab | Review | Buying Guide
Crew cabs that are 1-ton in weight, with dual rear wheels for added traction, four full doors and a full rear bench seat to accommodate three full-size adults are quite simply the most extreme heavy-duty trucks on the planet. Not only are they beasts of force, they are also refined on the inside.
Last year, GMC introduced the single-rear-wheel one-ton Sierra 3500. They endure for 2005. Also new this year is an increase in the output of the optional turbo diesel engine.
Under the Hood
That engine is a 6.6-liter Duramax Turbodiesel V8. Both its hardware and software were upgraded in ’04, resulting in a 10 horsepower increase. However, the engineers went back to work and the result is a 70 lb-ft of torque increase for 2005. The powerplant now delivers 310 horsepower at 3000 rpm and 605 lb-ft of torque at 1600 rpm when equipped with the Allison automatic transmission.
The standard engine won’t ever let you down though. It is a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 model that can generate 300 horsepower at 4400 rpm and 360 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. 5-speed manual transmission is standard; 4-speed automatic is optional.
The other optional engine for 2005 Sierra 3500 crew cabs is an 8.1-liter Vortec V8 with 330 horsepower at 4200 rpm and 450 lb-ft of torque at 3200 rpm. It can be mated to either 6-speed manual transmission or 5-speed automatic with Engine Grade Braking, an electronic feature that makes an automatic downshift when descending steep slopes.
Models in the Sierra heavy-duty series are available with rear-wheel drive or 4WD that must be disengaged on dry pavement but includes low-range gearing. An optional Z82 trailering package is also offered. It includes a heavy-duty hitch platform, integrated electric brake connection, a wiring harness and a high-capacity air cleaner.
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
One of the nice things about the crew cab is that it can be decked out with the most comfort features of the line. Things like a rear-seat DVD entertainment system (optional) and a new power sunroof speak to that exclusiveness.
With the top-line SLT trim, owners are treated to such standard features as heated power mirrors, an AM/FM/CD player with in-dash 6-disc changer coupled to a premium Bose six-speaker sound system with sub-woofer and the OnStar system.
Available RDS (Radio Data System) audio receivers allow vehicles to receive information such as station call letters, music genre, emergency broadcasts, song titles and other information.
|
