Convince me I need an AT4 Duramax...

[BossTaco2020]

Buy a beater 4wd truck for yourself, pocket the change and save for the minivan your wife will inevitably want

[ullose272]

Some things will change with a kid, i went out and upgraded my wifes car from a 2007 tahoe lt to a 2017 yukon denali. I bought my previous truck a 14 1500 ltz a few months before my kid was born, the previous truck was loud and uncomfortable with a kid seat. I wasnt happy with the 5.3/6spd in the 14. So a year later i got my 3.0 and would do it again. But you need to look at your situation and decide.

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[Loganw1020]

Thanks all for the input! For us, this comes down to needs & wants. We need something with a bigger back seat and also need a pickup. We also want a nicer vehicle that has a warranty and is unlikely to need significant out of pocket repairs. We're financially prepared for both a baby and new truck - only debt we will still have is a mortgage. 

 

Appreciate the varied perspectives! Sounds like most who have the 3.0 are extremely satisfied. I'd say we'll be driving 4-5 hours bi-weekly and occasionally drive up to visit family in NE, IA, and IN, so 4 wheel drive is also a must for me. 

[KARNUT]

When my first kid was born I was driving a 70 MD Javelin SST. We also had a 68 Chevy Impala fastback. Biggest change we made to those 2doors was putting a blanket under the car seat. Times sure have changed. 3 kids total one four door. It wasn’t a pickup. The smallest Olds Star Fire 80 something. Biggest 73 Eldorado. My father bought new gave to my grandfather. About ten years later I bought it. Too big for the wife. She worked on shorting it. Didn’t have it long.


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[aseibel]

I tell you one thing, after lifting that damn infant carrier seat into the back for the 100th time, you (or at least your wife) is going to wish you had a lower truck. Don't get something lifted with big tires until you see how fun it is to travel with an infant. Its difficult to justify an off-road vehicle as a family hauler. 

 

And it will only get worse if your wife is a safety freak who insists on putting the child seat in the center. Have fun with that. My wife is not short or petite, but she didn't have fun lifting the infant carrier into the outer seats in my stock height truck.

[loopbacksean]

3.0L owner (leaser, really) here. 2020 Silverado LT Z71 Crew Cab Standard Bed

 

Absolutely love the motor and the transmission. It's so much nicer to drive than my '17 5.3 6spd.

 

The non AT4 Sierra's and non Trail Boss Silverado's already sit 1" higher than the previous generation. I agree with sentiments above that a lifted truck would be a pain in the ass hauling around the wife and kids.

 

 

[ullose272]

A click in car seat is easy, even with the 2.5/2 lift i have on my truck which would be clost to your at4, running boards make it all easier. Now thats shes in a mounted seat its a little harder but its not hard. They tires arent any taller on the AT4

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[Franko3219]

My AT4 is only a few weeks old, but I love the 3.0 thus far. It has plenty of power if I want to get on it, but can get excellent gas mileage when I drive it normal. I’m not sure what type of off-roading you are in to, but the AT4 is made as GMC’s off-road package. No I’m not saying that the AT4 can beat out a Raptor’s capability, but if you watch different video’s and reviews, it is capable of doing what most people are looking to do, especially with the the torque package that the 3.0 offers. As for the look/stand out factor. I have been asked numerous times what my truck is, what year it is, and other questions as it catches the eye. Again, all just my opinion, but for the all around package, I think the AT4 would be hard to beat.

[Z71RAD88]

On 10/25/2020 at 4:33 PM, redwngr said:

You don't 'need' a 4wd truck for primarily around town and highway trips. 

 

'Here' diesel is about the same price as regular. 

Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. (lately about 5-10% less). 

91 is always significantly more the either regular or diesel. (like 25% higher than regular)

I have no idea what the relative prices will be at your new location....

 

If you're going to primarily driving the company car, what does the one that will be doing the primarily around own stuff want to drive.

I hate suggesting the practical route, but perhaps a midsize suv would be that persons preference.  Maybe Acadia AT4? 

All the manufacturers seem to have several versions of that class of vehicle. 

 

It/when you decide to trailer, then add or trade to a tow vehicle .

 

 

Easy for me to say.  We've always been a two vehicle family, and after the 'just out of school' sports car I've always driven a truck (well there was that period when I had a much longer than usual commute and added a  commuter car to the fleet) 

 

My wife just bought a new Acadia AT4 in July and with two little ones, it’s been a real pleasant family vehicle for us. In town she gets about 19-20 and highway runs, I’ve hit as high as 29.5 locked in at 70 mph for a 2 hour trip. 

[Cpl_Punishment]

19 hours ago, Loganw1020 said:

Thanks all for the input! For us, this comes down to needs & wants. We need something with a bigger back seat and also need a pickup. We also want a nicer vehicle that has a warranty and is unlikely to need significant out of pocket repairs. We're financially prepared for both a baby and new truck - only debt we will still have is a mortgage. 

 

Appreciate the varied perspectives! Sounds like most who have the 3.0 are extremely satisfied. I'd say we'll be driving 4-5 hours bi-weekly and occasionally drive up to visit family in NE, IA, and IN, so 4 wheel drive is also a must for me. 

So your needs and wants are: 

Big back seat

Pickup

Warranty 

No out of pocket repairs

4x4

 

My answer: crewmax Tundra

[GMC207]

I just got a 21 AT4 with the 6.2...I'm in love haha. I might be super bias, but the AT4 in my opinion is the best looking truck on the road right now. The inside is amazing, spacious. I have a 5 year old and 1 year old, plenty of room for them and their seats, and so on. It blows my 2015 all terrain out of the water. I couldn't be happier with it.

Edited October 27, 2020 by GMC207

[Donstar]

20 hours ago, Loganw1020 said:

Thanks all for the input! For us, this comes down to needs & wants. We need something with a bigger back seat and also need a pickup.

I totally agree!  We know the "need" side of the equation is extremely subjective but the important thing is that the justification outweighs the other options.  The variable that took me decades to get through my head is appreciating that life is full of unknowns and surprises.  Just when you think you knew it all....      

[FredJ]

I'm really loving my AT4 if that helps you. 

[Transient]

I have a 2020 Trail Boss LT with the 6.2. It's about as close to a Raptor as you'll get from GM. I have 3 kids, ages 10, 6, and 2. All 3 fit in the back seat just fine. They have plenty of space. With the offroad running boards installed, my 2 year old can climb into the truck an up into her seat on her own.

I seriously considered getting an AT4 with the diesel, and if the 6.2 hadn't been made available I likely would've got it. I currently find myself taking 5 hour one way trips for my son's baseball tournaments at least once per month, and kind of wish I got babymax. However, I didn't know at the time of purchase how much COVID-19 would affect routine matters in my life. That doesn't mean I don't like the 6.2, but the mpg of the babymax goes a long way. My general lack of familiarity with diesel engines also had me second guessing, so I stuck with what I already knew -- GM gas V8s. Engines being irrelevant, I love my new GM truck. It's also the first truck I've ever owned.

You also said you're looking to buy a travel trailer. That's a no-brainer: AT4 over Raptor. The softer suspension of the Raptor hurts its ability to tow.

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[Blazzin_0ne]

Well coming from someone with a family of six which includes 4 children ranging from age 2 to 11, I can tell you that the Sierra Crew Cab was the best purchase for our family. We looked at a lot of 3 row SUV's, but we realized that the lack of cargo space did not fit our needs. We specifically ordered a truck with the front bench for the 6 seater capacity and the rear as more than enough room for a bulky car seat and 2 booster seat bases. Oh and best of all, the bed is perfect for all our luggage, bikes, coolers, golf clubs, basically anything we'd want to bring a trip. The wife also feels and probably is much safer driving it, especially in the winter. 

 

As far as your question goes, if you have the funds to pay for the AT4 and that's what you really want then go for it, but in my opinion the "regular" Sierra is probably all you'll ever need. I mean red tow hooks, a 2'' lift and more aggressive tires aren't worth it for me. I already have most of the Off-Road stuff from the X31 package and you can just buy off-road tires down the line once your wear down the decent all-terrains it came with.