I know I am not a huge GM fan but.....
The other day I went to Home Depot and when I got out of my truck I had noticed that I parked next to a Chevy 3500 4x4 pickup truck. The reason why I noticed it was because it was very clean and looked like it just came from dealership - every other car was very dirty from road salt/sand etc.
Anyway as I looked at this truck I really noticed that as it sat next to mine -which I believe was very similar in model (F350 4x4) that the Chevy was much smaller looking. Almost like it was one size down. I just wanted to get some feedback on this as why or not why this is. Or am I seeing things again.

 

It'd depend on the exact model (CC, Ext Cab, LB, etc). The fords sit a little higher and I think that gives the visual feel that they're bigger. And sometimes that true, too. My 03 Excursion, for example, was some 10" longer than my Yukon XL.

 

I was comparing the chevy to my Ford because I believe that they would almost be the exact model. Each one was a regular cab, 8' foot 4x4 pickup truck. Ford is f350 - chevy is 3500. Both in "xl" trim. Just looked really small.
I think its the sloped hood on the chevy and those "cadillac" lights - YUK!

 

I think it's exactly what you said.

 

I know Interior wise the GM trucks are very much smaller than the Super-Duty counter-parts. Especialy in the crew cab configureations they just do not compare. I say this from my own seating experiances.

 

And it could just be me but a lot of Chevy Heavy Duties seem to be "equipped" with samller tires then the Fords. I made a comment about them being small to my friend when I saw this. The owner of the truck overheard me and said he ordered it that way so he could carry more? Just what he said...

-Matt

 

If you live under the Chevy Bowtie, that lower stance is heralded as an easier step-in and loading feature. Why GM doesn't offer bigger tires is a mystery- half of them get wheeled/tired/lifted by the time they leave the lot out here (ditto the Fords).

If we walk next door and stand under the Blue Oval, we can talk about superior ground clearance and a more aggressive "truck-like" stance. The Ford is wider (and a bit roomier inside), but it really gets down to what flavor you prefer.

 

Chevy has put 215 tires on some of their dually trucks, which makes the tires look lost in the wheel wells. Fords and Dodges both sit alot higher than GM trucks, especially the 4x4's. Chevy has 'risen' to the occasion a bit since the '90's, but still not quite as tall as the others. I think the Dodge dually 4x4 is the tallest factory stock 4wd truck out there so far. Ford has the biggest crew cab of all of them.

 

I think that most Fords I have seen looked a little taller than Dodges. The reason they are both higher than the Cevies is because of the Chevy's IFS.

 

That lower to the ground stance also gives better gas milage. Also easier to back under a 5th wheel.

 

Also in 04 Chevy started putting larger tires and wheels on their HD's. It's an option of course but you can get 17" wheels now.

 

Oddly, the 17"ers are available on the 1500's only as of now. The 2500/3500's still ride on 16" although the 17" option is supposed to surface sometime this model year.

Good points on the trailering and mileage. I think it still gets down to the different engineering priorities at the two companies. GMC/Chevy holds on-the-road handling and comfort as the top priority, while Ford emphasizes the "truck" aspect of the product. It's not a question of right or wrong, just different design priorities.

 

You can as of now get 17's on a GMC HD not a Chevy. Also heard rumors that Chevy is finially coming out with a 1 ton non-duelly. Bout time they got off the dead as.

 

Also F-superdutys are a entirely different body style then the 150, where Chevy and Dodge is the same truck, different underpinnings. My '01 F-150 is a smaller truck then a Chevy or Dodge 1500. Alot skinnier.

 

I think that's 1 of the better comments I've ever read on this board. Both in information and the way it was staighted. Hat's off polarbear.