| What do the Isuzu NPR, Chevrolet W4 and GMC W3500 all have in common? They are all built at the same factory in Janesville Wisconsin. All three brands are the same. The only difference is the brand badges. The Isuzu NPR was the biggest selling of the three brands.
The W series truck is the most successful medium duty truck ever made with over one million units on the road. The gasoline engines are made by general motors (350 Chevy), and the diesel engines were made by Isuzu. The newer trucks come with the powerful 6.6L Duramax diesel or 6.0L Vortec gas.
Even though these trucks are a big hit for commercial use, they are good for the private owner that wants an awesome truck. I purchased a 1998 GMC W4 with a 14' box. I removed the van box and use it as a lawn tractor shed. I installed a 9' diamond plate truck flatbed. I really believe I have the ultimate truck. I will list the reasons why below.
They are so easy to drive. If your wife can handle a minivan, she can drive one of these trucks. The 109" wheelbase model has about the same turning radius as a Chevrolet Impala. The large windows give awesome visibility. You also sit much higher than a SUV. The ride is not as harsh as you would think, and compares to a 3/4 top pickup. With the short wheelbase models, it is easy to park in a car spot at Wal-Mart.
One of the safest vehicles on the road. The brakes are just huge and can last twice as long as brakes in a car. In a head-on crash with a car or SUV, you win. Since you sit much higher, the head-on impact force is below you. As long as you are buckled-up, you should survive a head-on crash better than the other guy. With bad road conditions, these trucks have proven to be very sure footed and stable.
Easy to work on. The tilt cab makes maintenance so easy. The older models with the 5.7L (350 Chevy) are a tuners dream. There are more aftermarket parts available for the Chevy 350 that any engine ever made. The parts are cheaper too. You want 500 horsepower? You can get it!
Towing. From the factory, the W3500 & W4 trucks are rated to tow 6,000 pounds. There are two things you can do to get the tow rating up to 10,000 pounds. 1.- Put on a shorter flat bed (9') to get the trailer hitch closer to the rear wheels. 2.- Add an aftermarket transmission cooler for the automatic transmission. That's all there is to it! If you are going to do a lot of towing, synthetic oil will make your engine last.
| Lowest Prices!
W4 - W3500 Parts For Sale
I love my truck! I can park it anywhere I could park my old Chevy G20 van. It gets the same gas mileage as the G20 too. It is so fun to drive and does a nice job of pulling my vintage 34' Airstream trailer. With the 9' flatbed, I can haul twice as much as a pickup truck. It gets a lot of attention from my friends. How un-normal can you get!
|
