2006 GMC TopKick Pickup Road Test - Big Red!

So, your buddy's got a Ram Mega Cab, your other buddy has a Ford F-350 dualie, and that other guy that freeloads and drinks all your beer at your football parties and brags about everything he has and does has a lifted H2. They all think they have the prize when it comes to bigness. But, if you're just hell-bent on being the biggest, there's an ace in the hole that'll trump all of them, soundly. Enter the GMC TopKick pickup from Monroe Truck Equipment. This bad mamma-jamma literally and figuratively trounces all of the above in the bigness department. With a stout curb weight of 11,300 pounds, it weighs roughly as much as two Suburbans, easily 3,000 pounds heftier than any of the big dualies from Ford, Dodge, or the regular Chevys or GMCs. The bed payload is 5,000 pounds, more than the towing capacity of most midsize SUVs. At 14,300 pounds, the towing capacity is capable but not earth-shattering.

We know it's a big, beefy, capable truck. But, what's it like to live with? Assuming you have the parking space and the credit line to handle its drinking habit of a single-digit average, about 8 or 9 miles per gallon-if the Duramax isn't thirsty enough for you, you can always get the 8.1L big-block gas engine for even more horrific fuel economy-it's surprisingly easy to drive. Particularly surprising was its turning ability. Not once did we have any trouble making U-turns on city streets. This thing literally turns on a dime. Taking turns that would have a longbed F-350 Crew Cab making a three-point turn, this big hoss just swung around like it was nothing. However, you do need to keep an eye out for the trailing axle. We did nip a few island curbs on the backside when we didn't swing out wide enough.

Naturally, with the commercial-grade Duramax-de-tuned for durability-hauling around more than 10,000 pounds, acceleration isn't exactly heart-stopping. But, neither is it a total embarrassment. It will scoot around town with acceptable verve and even cruise on the freeway without being a total roadblock. However, keep in mind the top speed is governed to 75 mph, presumably to preserve the heavy-duty tires. Not only that, but a few panic stops in this big boy is all that's needed to convince you that keeping the speed down is probably a prudent idea, even with the industrial-strength air brakes. It was a good thing for the high seating position and the seemingly infinite visibility it affords.

Climbing into the cab, you're seated high, with a commanding view of the road. The engine is actually very quiet, shattering any preconceptions you might have about noise, vibration, and harshness of medium-duty diesel commercial vehicles. The dashboard is a mish-mash of the fullsize pickup and van dash components. Since it's well above the weight threshold, there are no airbags, except for the ones you're riding on. In addition to the air-spring suspension, the front seats float on a pneumatic suspension. Depending on your comfort level, you can adjust it from cushy to rock-solid. On the softer setting, you will bounce around considerably, which is either entertaining or annoying, depending on your perspective. Sport Truck staffers showed various preferences, ranging from both extremes.

Our particular tester was equipped with a Pioneer AVIC N-1 Navigation/Head Unit that included an XM receiver. Like many aftermarket head units, the operation was somewhat less than intuitive, and there were numerous small and hard-to-read buttons surrounding it. However, a brief read over the owner's manual for the unit would likely clear up any confusion.

The 300-horse, 520-lb-ft Duramax...        read full caption The 300-horse, 520-lb-ft Duramax V-8 provides enough power to get you where you're going, but don't go picking fights with Corvettes or Porsches.	The dash looks like it was...        read full caption The dash looks like it was robbed straight out of a GMC Sierra and touched up with faux carbon-fiber.	Our tester came with a Pioneer...        read full caption Our tester came with a Pioneer combo head unit/XM/nav system. While complete, it was a little tricky to master. Maybe we should have read the manual on it first.
The ample-size back seat offers...        read full caption The ample-size back seat offers plenty of space to seat three NFL linebackers, shoulder-to-shoulder, and if you're on a long road trip and start dozing at the wheel, the back seat converts into a bed in a snap-just bring the sheets or sleeping bag.		The extra-long bed is independently...        read full caption The extra-long bed is independently suspended on air springs and can be lowered for easier loading and unloading.