I am looking into a new truck and was thinking about jumping from my 1 ton up to a medium duty. I like the GMC but after reading out here I see a lot of guys talking about selling their trucks? Are the 4500 not all they are cracked up to be? Not as easy to live with as the 3500's? My dad has a 04 3500 CC with the dmax and it is serving him well. We both tow 36' 5th wheels that are on the heavy side but not too bad. They go around 14K. I currently hade a 96 Ford 350 that has served me well but I am not too sure about all the noise with the new 6.0 problems Ford ahs had so I have been looking into GM and would like to have a bit of a comfort zone on my towing weights instead of being right at the max. Sorry for the long ramble for my first pose but this is a big investment and if the 4500's are not performing well then I would be best served by a new 3500.

They are certainly not economy vehicles in the fuel department and stock they lack the power you really need to pull max weight. Ride is not exactly comfort either. Having said that, I chipped mine and got a little over 1 mpg better fuel milage and the power I wanted to pull and a couple weeks ago added air ride seats and GREATLY improved the ride. They are still a lot of money for the truck you get. If I had to do it over I would just buy a used HDT class 8, for the weekend rv'er the MDT is quite sufficient. I think it would make you happy.

Yep...take one for a spin. That will give you an idea how they ride. Agree on the underpowered part too. Needs a little more power so it can keep up with traffic. My next truck will be a Volvo or Freightliner.

Thanks guys. This is a big investment and I need to get it right. I am planning on keeping this next truck at least 10years (I have had my f-350 for 10 years) so it had better be the right truck and I had better like it. Were air seats an option from the factory?

A 3500 would be a better choice, less cost, more hp and torque. Your Ford has done the job and its got a bit over half of what the new LBZ in the 3500 has as far as power. I have 72,000 miles on my 06 and power or suspension has never been an issue and I haul for a living and have been at 26k gross many times.

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I was a Ford man until the 6L screw-ups. I love my 4500 for pulling with the power upgrades, however not so great without a load. I plan on adding front air suspension and air-cab to help the air seats and air rear deal with America's under-built roads! At least outside of Texas.

I would also recommend the LBZ, however wait for the new body style so you don't look completely out of date in 10.

I have a 04 4500 and pull a four car trailer loaded at 26k. with the edge set on 2, cruise at 60 up hills no problem. ride is fine, with out the trailer ride is ok, set edge on 3 hold on. Great truck put 1k miles on it a week loaded sometimes at 30k, temp reaches 210, I have 88,000 miles on it, where did you guys get your truck at?

Keep hearing about the Ride of the 4500's???????????? Our Kodiak rides great, the difference in the 3500 and the 4500 is like night and day. The Air Ride suspension ( LINK System) and the Air Ride Seats the 4500 rides great. As for the power, its doesn't run like a race car but a race car can't do what the 4500 does. I'm please with the Kodiak. I didn't want a Truck with a half million miles, Class 8 trucks are great, but We wanted a new Truck. Couldn't afford a new Class 8. And the M2's are over priced. To get the same set up as we have would have cost $30,000 more. I have driven over the Road in Peterbilt, Kenworth and Frieghtliner they are great Trucks. And before I would buy the M2 I would have went for a Class 8 and it wouldn't have cost much more than the M2 and it would have had all the Bells and Whistles as the M2. Did lots of research on the M2. Just not for us....... We run 60 mph for the fuel mileage but on the hill the 4500 does have short legs.....Good Luck and GBY....

Were air seats an option from the factory?


yes