Is GM not the best platform for a overland build?

[Zackclarke]

Im new to off-roading and overlanding. I’m planning on building out a composite 8’ flatbed camper. My trips will mostly be souther California mountain fire roads and Baja “roads”. I never really see the 3/4 or 1 ton GM trucks built out, it always seems to be ford or dodge and from some of the info I have found is the concern with IFS vs a solid front axle. So my question is can the GM IFS handle those types of roads with a camper on the back with little issue? Or should i try and get a truck with a solid front axle instead?

Thank you.

 

[SDDiver5]

Ford and RAM are definitely more popular but for your specific question, it will likely be able to handle it with no problem at all as long as it's not overweight.

The solid axle vs IFS has been debated so many times, it really comes down to preference. IFS definitely has more moving parts therefore more things can fail, solid axle is more durable and easier to fix/work on. IFS will be more comfortable on pavement and washboard roads. Solid axle will have more aftermarket support since they're so simple.

I personally think solid axles look way better than IFS.

 

[deserteagle56]

Mostly because of the way GM trucks are designed. I haven't looked at new GM trucks in a few years (both GM dealers in the nearest towns have shut down) but pre 2020 not only not only did stock GM 2500 and 3500 trucks not have anywhere near the ground clearance under the middle of the truck (frame hangs much lower) that a Ford or Ram has, but there were all kinds of cables hanging down below the frame also. I remember reading a test in one of the truck magazines and they made a point of talking about the low-hanging stuff. If it were a diesel model the DEF tank was located right behind the passenger side front tire and it hung down so low it would frequently get crushed or punctured. And stock the IFS is not as strong - I attend truck pulls and in several of them I watched the front ends break on a GM pickup when all that power (nothing wrong with the Duramax!) was applied. A few years ago I came across an accident on a dirt road where a Chevy 2500 front end came apart and the truck, towing a stock trailer, crashed and a horse was killed. Similar to what happened below but in this case the top A frame failed and that corner of the truck dug into the dirt, sending it out of control.



On the other hand, the GM trucks normally drive much nicer going down the highway. I've never driven a solid front axle truck that didn't wander a bit even on a smooth highway, and they don't respond to steering inputs as accurately. IFS always drives smoother over rough roads also since what affects one front wheel doesn't affect the other front wheel.

If your driving is on good roads a GM with IFS should work just fine.

 

[Tex68w]

There are multiple reasons for this, 1) IFS is more complex and limiting when it comes to lifts, it's also weaker than a straight axle especially when under a loaded down HD truck 2) GM quality (or lack thereof) is a joke 3) Design characteristics already touched upon in this thread but also to include their squared off wheel wells that aren't inviting to larger tires and 4) A general lack of interest and support in the aftermarket world for off-road specific accessories however, AEV has addressed that to some degree in recent years.

Beyond all of that I can't understand why anyone would want to outright choose a GM HD truck over a Ford or RAM unless they already owned it or if it was given to them. You'll be so much further ahead simply by going with Ford or RAM if you are setting out to build a competent off-road adventure rig on a HD platform.

 

[Kingsize24]

100% agree with everything said here. GM quality is absolute garbage. They simply do not hold up, especially if offroad.

 

[sn_85]

Here's why I wouldn't buy one. Look at the LCA and where the bumpstops are. It looks like the truck has like 1" of uptravel before it hits the bump. I'd really be curious how an AEV Sierra HD does on an RTI test.

Overland News :: GMC Unleashes the Sierra HD AT4x AEV - Expedition Portal

GMC just launched their AT4x AEV Sierra HD 2500 with a 1.5" lift, rear locker, 35" tires, multimatic suspension for overland

expeditionportal.com

 

[portell]

I agree with a lot of info above, On the Chevy 4500, 5500 they went back to solid axles. I am starting to see overland builds with them. I debated one over the F550, but larger aftermarket support for the Ford platform moved my selection back to the Ford.

 

[MOAK]

My brotherinlaw's Chevy Colorado has 92,000 miles on it. He is on his third set of front suspension bushings, his second set of shocks, and his second set of upper control arms. Along with multiple front end wheel alignments. He has replaced the rear leafs with OME heavies in a futile attepmt to raise his GVWR. Since we, (my wife and I0 began taking this hobby seriously I've owned an F250, a Jeep Wrangler, an '04 Rubicon, a '96 80 series Landcruiser, in that order, over the past 30 years and now an F350 '24 crew cab, 8ft bed, srw. Atop the 350 will be a custom built aluminum flatbed and atop that a Grandby flatbed camper. The 4WC all our gear and liquids we will weigh a couple hundred pounds over 1/2 the trucks payload capacity. Suspension modifications will not be necessary. With the 8ft bed we also have a 48 gallon fuel tank giving us a 600 mile range. The truck currently averages 17 MPG with the 6.8 gasser. I've towed 5,000 lbs long distance and got 14mpg. With the pop up it will get somewhere around 14 mpg. The choice to choose a Ford workhorse over a GM product was an easy choice. The Dodge Rams are cool, but they lack payload, mpgs and reliability. Can you say Stellantis? If Toyota would have offered a 4,000 lb payload, a double cab and an 8ft bed I would have strongly considered the Tundra, but I think in the end I would have stuck with a solid front axle. I just cannot bring myself into the world of IFS. In every way a solid axle outperforms except maybe sand. Just my 3 cents garnered from well over 30 years in the hobby.

 

[vintageracer]

The last 5 Overland Events I have attended the overwhelming platform of choice for Overlanding Vehicles are Toyota and Jeep. Nothing else comes close!

Yes, you will see very few GM, a few more Fords and more and more RAMS than the other OEM's. Can't forget the sprinkling of new Bronco's starting to show up.

GM is NOT at all the "Best Platform" for Overlanding!

Not even close!

 

[rruff]

If Toyota would have offered a 4,000 lb payload, a double cab and an 8ft bed I would have strongly considered the Tundra

Mine is a double cab and 8' bed... but payload is 1400 lbs! That doesn't keep people from running around with ginormous 5,000 lb loads, though...

 

[86scotty]

Fleets mostly buy Fords, for a reason. I'm not a Ford fanboy. I've had 30+ years in fleet world and Chevy just doesn't hold up like Fords do. The interiors, trannys and suspension is just not as tough as Ford. Look around at all the construction/fleet/industrial settings anywhere and count the number of GM vs. Ford trucks. It's like 9 to 1 historically.

I've always been of the opinion that generally speaking GMs are better personal vehicles and Fords are better fleet/industrial/tough vehicles. Which do you want for your overlander? I'm not taking sides, it's personal choice.

Dodge seems to be making decent trucks now (absolutely not vans, ever) but up to a few years ago they weren't even in the conversation.

As for Toyota, Jeep, etc. they don't really fit into the conversation of a 3/4 or 1 ton full size for a flat bed truck camper IMO.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Fleets mostly buy Fords, for a reason. I'm not a Ford fanboy. I've had 30+ years in fleet world and Chevy just doesn't hold up like Fords do. The interiors, trannys and suspension is just not as tough as Ford. Look around at all the construction/fleet/industrial settings anywhere and count the number of GM vs. Ford trucks. It's like 9 to 1 historically.

I've always been of the opinion that generally speaking GMs are better personal vehicles and Fords are better fleet/industrial/tough vehicles. Which do you want for your overlander? I'm not taking sides, it's personal choice.

Dodge seems to be making decent trucks now (absolutely not vans, ever) but up to a few years ago they weren't even in the conversation.

As for Toyota, Jeep, etc. they don't really fit into the conversation of a 3/4 or 1 ton full size for a flat bed truck camper IMO.

Admitted GM fan here. I dont mind IFS at all, but then again, I'm not in the HD world and dont rock my trucks hard overlanding. Lots of highway, some hauling and a little bit of towing.

Having said that, Ford likes to claim the F series truck is the best selling for 40 +years. However, GM as a whole - Chevy and GMC since they are the same truck - hands down outsells Ford.
And the reason there are so many fleet Fords out there? Fleet sales pricing. All day every day. I work for a City and DPW is looking for lowest bidder unless there is only one "single source." Ford routinely comes in lower than everyone else. That's the math of it.

My Jeep was solid front axle. I was fine with it. My GMT400 shortened pickup and both my GMT 400 full size Blazer K1500's. Both IFS. 2014 GNC Sierra 1500, IFS. They were very comfortable on the highway, dirt & gravel, and things like fire service roads, for what it's worth.

Baja roads, if that means more sand, that means more attention to detailed cleaning for the IFS for sure. More places for sand to collect

 

[MOAK]

My brotherinlaw's Chevy Colorado has 92,000 miles on it. He is on his third set of front suspension bushings, his second set of shocks, and his second set of upper control arms. Along with multiple front end wheel alignments. He has replaced the rear leafs with OME heavies in a futile attepmt to raise his GVWR. Since we, (my wife and I0 began taking this hobby seriously I've owned an F250, a Jeep Wrangler, an '04 Rubicon, a '96 80 series Landcruiser, in that order, over the past 30 years and now an F350 '24 crew cab, 8ft bed, srw. Atop the 350 will be a custom built aluminum flatbed and atop that a Grandby flatbed camper. The 4WC all our gear and liquids we will weigh a couple hundred pounds over 1/2 the trucks payload capacity. Suspension modifications will not be necessary. With the 8ft bed we also have a 48 gallon fuel tank giving us a 600 mile range. The truck currently averages 17 MPG with the 6.8 gasser. I've towed 5,000 lbs long distance and got 14mpg. With the pop up it will get somewhere around 14 mpg. The choice to choose a Ford workhorse over a GM product was an easy choice. The Dodge Rams are cool, but they lack payload, mpgs and reliability. Can you say Stellantis? If Toyota would have offered a 4,000 lb payload, a double cab and an 8ft bed I would have strongly considered the Tundra, but I think in the end I would have stuck with a solid front axle. I just cannot bring myself into the world of IFS. In every way a solid axle outperforms except maybe sand. Just my 3 cents garnered from well over 30 years in the hobby.

I had to correct the payload sentence; we will be a couple hundred pounds over 1/2 the payload of 4k lbs

 

[MOAK]

Mine is a double cab and 8' bed... but payload is 1400 lbs! That doesn't keep people from running around with ginormous 5,000 lb loads, though...

Ah, the vernacular thing. Crew cab, double cab, etc, each manufacture has a different name- yes, the double cab with an 8 ft bed was considered but we needed a full crew cab. Then yup, the payload thing. Pickup trucks, by design, perform at their very best about half loaded.

 

[vintageracer]

For ALL the talk above about the GM being the "Best Platform For An Overland Build" and all the pickup truck discussion the FACT of the matter is that Toyota and Jeep STILL rule the Overlanding World!

When you start talking pickups and what they can haul you are going CAMPING!