2010 Truck Line-Up

The year 2010 is a quiet one for big pickup trucks. No major redesigns are on tap among the light-duty “half-ton” trucks discussed here. With gas seemingly stabilizing around $3.00 a gallon and the economy apparently waking from its slumber, it’s likely we’ll see sales of these iconically American vehicles finally climb after two years of brutal declines.

Changes For 2010

The big news for 2010 may be what didn’t happen. As a result of the economic downturn, each of the Detroit pickup makers of Ford, Chevy, Dodge and GMC abandoned plans to add light-duty diesel engines to their respective powertrain lineups. Hopefully these projects are just on hold, and we’ll see them sometime after the economy returns to good health.

It should be noted that Dodge pickups will now be badged as Rams. The Dodge name will be reserved strictly for cars and crossovers, while the new Ram brand will be applied to pickups and yet-to-be-introduced commercial vans.

Other changes have been minimal, with powertrain tweaks on some models being among the biggest news.

Payload and Towing

While all three domestics offer heavy-duty three-quarter and one-ton pickups, we’re covering only the popular half-ton large pickups in this report. Payload capacity generally starts at about 1,300 pounds, but in most cases can be increased significantly with optional heavy-duty suspensions. Standard towing capacity ranges from about 4,500 pounds to 8,700 pounds, but likewise can be increased in some models with an optional trailer-towing package. Be warned that raising the payload rating generally requires stiffer rear springs that tend to result in a rougher ride and more lateral skipping in bumpy corners, traits that are already a problem in lightly loaded pickups.

Drive Wheels

All pickups are available in rear- or 4-wheel drive, but not all these systems are created equal. Rear-drive versions can benefit from traction control, which limits tire slip when accelerating on slippery surfaces. It’s offered on all large pickups, though perhaps not on every model. Most standard 4-wheel-drive systems should be switched off on dry pavement to avoid driveline binding and excessive wear. But GM’s Autotrac 4WD–available on the Chevy Avalanche and Silverado and the GMC Sierra can be left engaged on dry pavement, as can Dodge Ram’s available all-wheel-drive system. Oddly, Ford dropped its previously available AWD system last year.