2008 GMC Sierra 1500

The GMC Sierra 1500 has fulfilled many of my needs in a vehicle. When we first went looking for a truck, we needed something that would be able to pull our boat easily. It also needed to have a large enough bed to carry all the toys needed for the boat. The last requirement was an extended cab for the additional seating. For around $19000 we were able to meet many of these needs. The GMC Sierra came with a many options for the engine package. The choices included a V6 with 195 horsepower, a light duty V8, up to a heavy duty V8 with 403 HP. The 6.0L engine we chose had a towing capacity of 10,500 pounds, plenty of capacity for our needs. The automatic transmission performs great and has no trouble hauling our heaviest loads. The brakes also do very well when stopping with that heavy load. This was one of our biggest fears, but it has not been a problem at all. The extended cab has been large enough for our family of four, nut as the kid’s approach the teenage years it is going to get cramped. The basic trim package we got was fine for us in how we planned to use this as a second vehicle. It is nice to be able to fold the back seat down flat when the back seats aren’t needed for ease of storage of large items. We also enjoy the fact that the rear windows roll down to provide a good airflow to the kids in the back. Because we chose a bench seat we have been able to fit up to six people at one time in the cab of the truck. It was a tight fit and if 3 of the people weren’t kids, I don’t think everyone would have fit. The back bed of the truck has plenty of storage room. We did get a Rhino liner to protect the bed, and are very glad to have done that. Things get banged around pretty easily. The tie down hooks are very convenient and allow us to use bungee cords and a tarp when we are traveling with a lot of stuff. There have been some downsides. Due to the economy, the GMC Sierra has now become our primary car. The gas mileage is not great, about 14-17 mpg and even less when it is hauling a trailer. The ride is comfortable but it is not great. The truck is big, and that requires a different type of driving when maneuvering around small spaces. Finding a parking space that is big enough to get into is not always the easiest thing to do, and we often times find ourselves parking further away from our destination because of that. As I said before the extended cab provides enough room for younger kids but as they reach the teen years it will be tight. In the two years we’ve had the truck; we have had only one mechanical issue. The rear taillight keeps burning out. The first time I tried to replace it myself and ended up breaking the taillight cover. I still don’t know how to take it off, so my mechanic switches them for me. The last time he replaced the plate the bulbs plug into and this seems to have remedied the problem. Overall this truck has met and exceeded our needs and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a large truck.