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Before he had children, my father traveled the country. Wanderlust was denied with responsibilities of a wife and children, but I could always tell that he was itching to get back out on the open road. My father's generation was the first that could travel coast to coast in relative comfort and economy, for prior to World War II roads were a disconnected array of dirt paths joining small towns and railroad stations. We really are not that far removed from a time when the horse and buggy limited our sphere of personal experiences to a few short miles. I share my father's dream of traveling America, untethered by responsibilities that shackle. Unfortunately, he never followed his dream for as he grew older he traveled less until it was impossible to drag him off his small acreage. He died never realizing his dreams. I was reminded of his dream this week as I drove the ultimate traveling machine, the 2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab equipped with the 6.6. Liter Duramax Diesel. Few vehicles have reached into my soul and touched the call of the road like this truck. It begs and pleads to be hooked up a fifth wheel or travel trailer and drive. Heavy Duty Pickups were originally designed as work trucks, capable of pulling equipment or construction supplies in an industrial or farming environment. This GMC Sierra and its sibling rival, the Chevrolet Silverado, have evolved to serve a very different application. While the guts of a workhorse still exist, this truck is meant to travel in style and the Duramax diesel is created to pull. This SLT Crew Cab version of the GMC Sierra 2500HD was not destined to be abused by manual labor but is fit for a gentleman farmer or a full time traveler. Extravagantly equipped with unprecedented luxury the 2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT is the ultimate travel companion. Huge leather seats for both passenger and driver feature 10-way power cushion adjustments with dual zone heat. Adjustable head restraints, armrests and lumbar support offer long-term comfort for those miles between stops. Even the rear seat passengers were treated to their own DVD player with pull down screen and wireless headphones for endless entertainment. Hands free On Star service tracked by Satellite Global Positioning and controlled by voice recognition and steering wheel mounted controls offers a concierge level of assistance and unparallel safety for the traveler. XM radio provides over 120 clear digital channels available coast to coast without interruption. Every genre of music, talk, comedy and sports is available with 68% of the stations commercial free music. For the cross country traveler On Star and XM has been elevated from a luxury to a necessity. If there is a down side to the GMC Sierra it would be that the styling is traditional and has not undergone a radical design change for some time. While that may be a negative to those looking for cutting edge status, others are comforted by a design that communicates reliability rather than change. I was most excited not by the level of interior luxury or the classic good looks but what was under the skin. You can't go wrong with the Cummins Diesel powering the Heavy Duty Dodge or the Ford Power Stroke Turbo Diesel, but General Motors 6.6 Liter V8 Duramax Diesel may be the best of the bunch. Boosted this year to 310 horsepower, this monster pulling machine generates 605 lbs-ft of torque at only 1,600 RPM and it does so with remarkable civility. I was stunned at how quiet this Duramax Diesel was both idling and under hard acceleration. Mated to the 5-speed Allison transmission this may be the best towing pickup on the market today. What is my dream car? This week I am dreaming of hooking a 2004 GMC Sierra with the Duramax Diesel up to a 40' toybox fifth wheel and traveling to car shows coast to coast. Along the way I would be able to see America up close and personal just like my father dreamed about.
2004 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD
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©2003 - Stan Risener