2003 4x4 Trucks And SUVs - The Four Wheeler Guide To 2003 Trucks And SUVS

LIGHT-DUTY TRUCKS

Trucks In This Category Include:
Chevy Avalanche 1500
Chevy Silverado 1500
Dodge Ram 1500
Ford F-150
GMC Sierra 1500
Toyota Tundra

Chevrolet
The Silverado 1500 leads the way for Chevy in the light-duty truck market. GM's best-selling vehicle, the 1500 regular-cab comes standard with a 200hp 4.3L V-6. Optional engines include the 4.8L V-8 and 5.3L V-8.

Not much has changed since last year, except that for '03 the 1500 extended cab now comes with optional Quadrasteer, a four-wheel steering system that improves maneuverability in slow driving conditions and improves handling at higher speeds.

The Chevy Avalanche 1500 is available with only one drivetrain: a 5.3L V-8 engine that kicks out 285 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. It's mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The 1500 is available with many of the same new features as the larger 2500. These include the addition of the StabiliTrak system and improved fuel economy when driven in two-wheel drive.

Dodge
For '03, Dodge introduces two new option packages to its Ram 1500 pickup: "Off Road" and "Work Special." The former gives drivers several key four-wheeling features, including a 3.92:1 axle ratio, all-terrain tires, a limited-slip differential, heavy-duty engine cooling, skidplates and tow hooks. The "Work Special" model isn't nearly as dirt-worthy, offering bumpers that feature a rear step pad, a dark-gray grille and sportier wheels. Regardless, the 1500 remains Dodge's bread-and-butter pickup, with its 4x4 model delivered with a standard 4.7L V-8 and five-speed NV3500 manual transmission. These Rams are available in both regular and quad-cab models with either short- or longbeds. Other available powertrains for the 1500 include the 4.7L V-8 with 5-45RFE multispeed automatic or the more robust 5.9L V-8 with the 46RE four-speed automatic. Regular and quad-cab Rams with the shortbox have an estimated payload of 1,450 pounds; the longbox version can carry a payload of up to 1,510 pounds. The 4x4 Ram shortbed with a 3.92:1 axle ratio and 4.7L V-8 is rated for a towed load of up to 5,500 pounds.

Ford
The F-150 is available in two-door Regular Cab, four-door SuperCab or four-fullsize-doors-version SuperCrew. The Regular Cab comes with a standard 4.2L V-6, producing 202 hp at 4,800 rpm and 252 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 rpm. A 4.6L Triton V-8 and 5.4L Triton V-8 are also available. Dual A-arms, torsion bars, shock absorbers and an antiroll bar up front combine with a leaf-sprung solid axle rear. The Regular Cab can tow up to 5,400 pounds, while the stock SuperCab and SuperCrew tow 6,600 and 6,200 pounds, respectively. Those numbers increase to 8,400 pounds with the 5.4L V-8 Regular Cab with 3.73:1 axle ratio.

Toyota
This year Toyota adds a new model to its line of fullsize Tundra pickups-the Access Cab StepSide model with its new grille and bumper design, and a deeper bed-increased to 19 inches from the original 17.2. The Tundra is available with either a 190hp 3.4L V-6 or a 240hp 4.7L V-8. The V-6 can be ordered with a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual, while the V-8 comes only with a four-speed automatic. Tundra features IFS and leaf springs with staggered low-pressure shocks that cushion the truck's rear. The Tundra possesses decent payload capacities. The standard manual Access Cab 4x4 can haul 1,680 pounds compared to the automatic's 1,624. By comparison, the most powerful 4x4 V-8 model, the Access Cab SR5, can carry only 1,512 pounds.

Abbreviations:
4A = four-speed automatic
5A = five-speed automatic
5M = five-speed manual
6M = six-speed manual