4×4 Chevy C/K 3500

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The 3500 4WD is the bad boy of 4x4's. It is the most useful truck available. Whether for towing or working you can't find a stronger truck. This truck comes in so many different configurations that I can't remember them all.

Most 1 ton pickups can carry more than a ton and are happy to do it. The 3500 could be had with a regular cab, an extra cab, or a crew cab. These trucks were designed to work; all have an 8 foot bed. You could also have a dual-wheel option if you wanted, which was useful for towing goosenecks and fifth-wheels. Although the 3500 sits much higher in the air than a 1500 it doesn't have a "big-truck" look. Chevrolet worked hard to make sure that even their work trucks looked good.

Under the hood there were three options. The first was the 5.7 small-block V8. These engines made a good amount of torque and were satisfactory if heavy loads were only an occasional thing. If heavy towing or heavy loads were a problem then you could step up to the 7.4 big block V8. Making close to 400 ft. lbs. of torque it was capable of moving anything up to a mountain. And, if a mountain was what you had to move, Chevy had that covered, too. The available Detroit Diesel engine was both powerful and economical to operate. It had a much longer life than the gas engines, which justified its higher initial purchase price. Most used 3500s you will find today are fitted with the diesel engine, especially the dual-wheel models.

The 3500 used either the 4L60 or 4L80 transmission, depending on the size of the engine. Both are 4 speed with overdrive and the 4L80 is indestructible. Many of the diesel-equipped trucks used a manual transmission and stick shifts were available in all models The clutch and flywheel used with the diesel were of a special type and can be costly to replace. Sometimes there is no substitute for stirring your own gears, though.

The 3500 4X4 is a specialized vehicle. There aren't a lot of them around. But if you need to move a lot of weight in a place where traction will be compromised, such as a boat ramp, then you really can't go wrong. If you look on eBay you will see some of the better ones for sale.

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