2wd got big! Also Custom no keyless entry but push button start seems dumb?

nick112288 · May 1, 2023

So went cruising the local Chevy dealership after hours on Friday (I hate going during business hours when I'm still not sure what I want) to see if I could compare Double Cab to Crew.

Lucky enough they had a 24 Custom double cab and 3500 Crew Cab sitting right next to each other, unlocked.

Got in the Custom, which had no step so it seemed rather high to get in, daughter climbed in behind me using the bed to see how seating would be (she's the tallest kid). Seating wasn't too bad.

Popped the hood because I wanted to see just how hard it is to reach anything under the hood. Can't reach crap without some kind of step ladder! It was raining so I had to actually jump to get enough hand on the hood to pull it closed without my fingers slipping off.

Looked at the sticker and saw it was $50,******. I thought damn that seems cheap for a Custom. Especially because it had $1,500 in options. That'd when I noticed it said 2wd.

When did 2wd trucks become so tall?!?! They used to be considerably shorter than 4wd models. Is it just because it's the Custom with factory 20" wheels?

Also did not realize the Custom came with push button start until I sat in this one. But it doesn't have the touch to unlock/lock door handles. That just seems stupid. I already have to have the key fob out to unlock the door. That defeats the luxury of just touching the handle, then pushing the button.

IDBrett · May 1, 2023

I read somewhere the Custom/WT 24 models have the 23 dash/instrumentation and it is the LT and up trims that have the new dash.

Since you sat in a Custom, is that factual? Also I haven't been able to compare a double cab vs crew cab. Big difference?

newdude · May 1, 2023

10 hours ago, nick112288 said:

So went cruising the local Chevy dealership after hours on Friday (I hate going during business hours when I'm still not sure what I want) to see if I could compare Double Cab to Crew.

Lucky enough they had a 24 Custom double cab and 3500 Crew Cab sitting right next to each other, unlocked.

Got in the Custom, which had no step so it seemed rather high to get in, daughter climbed in behind me using the bed to see how seating would be (she's the tallest kid). Seating wasn't too bad.

Popped the hood because I wanted to see just how hard it is to reach anything under the hood. Can't reach crap without some kind of step ladder! It was raining so I had to actually jump to get enough hand on the hood to pull it closed without my fingers slipping off.

Looked at the sticker and saw it was $50,******. I thought damn that seems cheap for a Custom. Especially because it had $1,500 in options. That'd when I noticed it said 2wd.

When did 2wd trucks become so tall?!?! They used to be considerably shorter than 4wd models. Is it just because it's the Custom with factory 20" wheels?

Also did not realize the Custom came with push button start until I sat in this one. But it doesn't have the touch to unlock/lock door handles. That just seems stupid. I already have to have the key fob out to unlock the door. That defeats the luxury of just touching the handle, then pushing the button.

The 20 inch wheels use a 34 inch diameter tire (275/65R20). Adds some height for sure.

The big height changes came back in 2011 when the all new GMT-900 frame was introduced. Prior to that the 07-10 GMT-900s still rode on the old GMT-800 frame that came out in 2001. The addition of the taller 18 and 20 inch tires came for 2020.

All the 2024 HD have push button start, no matter the trim. This was a result of changing to the new GM VIP electrical platform they now use. The passive keyless entry is delegated to LT and higher, WT and Custom don't get it. 2020-2023 were keyed ignition on WT and Custom.

nick112288 · May 1, 2023

39 minutes ago, IDBrett said:

I read somewhere the Custom/WT 24 models have the 23 dash/instrumentation and it is the LT and up trims that have the new dash.

Since you sat in a Custom, is that factual? Also I haven't been able to compare a double cab vs crew cab. Big difference?

Correct, same dash as the previous model years. I'm not sure I'm sold on the digital everything (dash and giant infotainment screen) so I'm not sure that the WT and Custom having analog gauges with just a smaller screen between them is a bad thing.

As far as cab size there is a noticable difference, but I think it's a case of people fit vs people fit with tons of extra room.

I'm 5'11 and my daughter is a couple inches shorter than me. In the double cab the seat started out all the way back, and her knees just barely touched the back. I moved it up slightly, not even to what I'd call my driving position, and she said it was fine. The crew cab when the seat was all the way back there was still probably 5 to 6 inches from her knees touching it.

11 minutes ago, newdude said:

The 20 inch wheels use a 34 inch diameter tire (275/65R20). Adds some height for sure.

The big height changes came back in 2011 when the all new GMT-900 frame was introduced. Prior to that the 07-10 GMT-900s still rode on the old GMT-800 frame that came out in 2001. The addition of the taller 18 and 20 inch tires came for 2020.

All the 2024 HD have push button start, no matter the trim. This was a result of changing to the new GM VIP electrical platform they now use. The passive keyless entry is delegated to LT and higher, WT and Custom don't get it. 2020-2023 were keyed ignition on WT and Custom.

I knew there was a frame change, I just figued 2wd woud sit at least a little lower than 4wd.

I also didn't know push button came on even the WT. I thought it had a regular old keyed ignition. Still weird to have a push button ignition but doors you have to take the key/fob out for to get open.

IDBrett · May 1, 2023

Thanks @nick112288 for the insight! I've only sized up the crew cab and the kids seemed happy with the space. Doubt we could do the double cab. I'm 6'2" and would likely have the seat all the way to the rear. Your comments confirm it . Good to know on the dash layout. I do like the 23 style.

Pryme · May 1, 2023

I love the space the crew cab provides. I have one forward facing car seat and two boosters in the back. Plenty of room and more than enough leg room. We also run six ppl in the truck on occasion so I wouldn’t have anything but a six passenger configuration.

came from a double cab tundra and it’s of course a night and day difference for room. That truck was six passenger too but was just smaller inside all over. I don’t personally care for the look of the double cab GM trucks just because the two door handles are oddly spaced apart it just looks odd to me. The crew has evenly spaced door handles so it’s more aesthetically pleasing imo

Edited May 1, 2023 by Pryme

nick112288 · May 1, 2023

1 hour ago, IDBrett said:

Thanks @nick112288 for the insight! I've only sized up the crew cab and the kids seemed happy with the space. Doubt we could do the double cab. I'm 6'2" and would likely have the seat all the way to the rear. Your comments confirm it . Good to know on the dash layout. I do like the 23 style.

I'm a cheap bastard. If I can save some money by going double cab vs crew I would. BUT it will ultimately come to what the kids say haha

32 minutes ago, Pryme said:

I love the space the crew cab provides. I have one forward facing car seat and two boosters in the back. Plenty of room and more than enough leg room. We also run six ppl in the truck on occasion so I wouldn’t have anything but a six passenger configuration.

came from a double cab tundra and it’s of course a night and day difference for room. That truck was six passenger too but was just smaller inside all over. I don’t personally care for the look of the double cab GM trucks just because the two door handles are oddly spaced apart it just looks odd to me. The crew has evenly spaced door handles so it’s more aesthetically pleasing imo

I do agree the shorter double cab doors look odd. I know a lot of people complain about it, but I would actually prefer the Ford style of rear doors that swing out backwards over the short doors Ram and GM use.

Pryme · May 1, 2023

3 hours ago, nick112288 said:

I'm a cheap bastard. If I can save some money by going double cab vs crew I would. BUT it will ultimately come to what the kids say haha

I do agree the shorter double cab doors look odd. I know a lot of people complain about it, but I would actually prefer the Ford style of rear doors that swing out backwards over the short doors Ram and GM use.

I don’t like the actual functionality of those as you need to open a front door to open the rear. As far as double cabs go, my old tundra had the versatility of an actual stand alone door but the handle was not that noticeable how it blended into the side of the rear door. But overall I prefer the crew over all else

nick112288 · May 1, 2023

3 hours ago, Pryme said:

I don’t like the actual functionality of those as you need to open a front door to open the rear. As far as double cabs go, my old tundra had the versatility of an actual stand alone door but the handle was not that noticeable how it blended into the side of the rear door. But overall I prefer the crew over all else

Yeah the functionality is what I see a lot of people complain about on the Ford Supercab. I'm ok with the functionality, more so I like the more classic look vs the 1/2 size doors

64BAwagon · May 3, 2023

At some point the 2wd used to be lower than the 4wd due to the front suspension being entirely different. I had a 2000 SIlverado 1500 double cab 2wd that had rack and pinion steering while the 4wd units had the std gearbox. The R&P really made that truck handle well. At some point in the late 2000's they changed to using the same front knuckles and springs on both 4wd and 2wd to keep the commonality of parts. From that point on the 2wd and 4wd both had essentially the same ride height.