GMC has revamped its C4500 and C5500 Series Class 4 and Class 5 medium-duty truck lines. Additional models up to Class 8 will be introduced in the near future. Every component on the trucks is completely new, says Mike Finch, GMC assistant brand manager for fleet and commercial operations.
GMC designed the C4500 and C5500 to have more of the feel of a pickup than a medium-duty work truck. The steering wheel, for example, is small. Visibility over the sloped nose is superior; drivers can easily see close-to-the-ground objects as close as 13.8 feet in front of the truck’s bumper.
The standard 80 to 82-inch front tracks on the new C-Series trucks allow for 54-degree wheel cuts and better stability than the previous generation, GMC says. Also helping ease the driver’s load is a new ZF S-2 steering gear, which provides high output torque-to-weight ratios and improved durability.
A new four-point cab mounting system, combined with a choice of either a taper-leaf or multi-leaf suspension system, contributes to a smooth, quiet ride. GMC engineers have reduced in-cab noise levels by 50 percent, compared to the previous C-Series lineup, Finch says.
All C4500 through C7500 models feature a new standard hydraulic four-wheel anti-lock disk brake system with standard four-channel ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution and available traction control. The system allows for a major improvement in stopping distance and gives the driver more linear control during braking, Finch says. In addition, the brake system is quieter, has a longer service life and is easier to maintain than GMC’s previous systems, the company says.
The GMC C-Series features a stamped, straight-section, C-channel frame design for maximum strength. “This design lets us optimize weight- and load-carrying capabilities for the Class 4 and 5 models, while allowing easy, low-cost body and equipment installations,” Finch says.
These new models, which will replace GM’s C-Series conventional cab lineup, will begin appearing at dealerships this fall.
GMC (www.gmc.com/commercial)
