More Tell Fritz product news: GMT900 SUVs to get flat load floors

[rsbaker]

Originally Posted by Blair1118

I still think that Chevy should go entirely unibody, and leave body on frame to GMC. Cadillac, IDK. But that would give the mass market brand higher mpg, and since the bof 900's would not be sold in mass as previously, they would be in the higher price bracket of GMC to help offset the lost revenue. Keep a super stripped down version (SL) at the base Chevy price, but all other equipment levels are at standard GMC prices.

Absolutely not! Just because GMC is getting more of an identity apart from Chevrolet (as well it should) doesn't mean GM should emasculate Chevy Trucks! I do think GM should continue with the once mentioned idea of makeing a Lambda based pickup to target directly at Honda Ridgeline. I also thought Hummer should have been folded into GMC but since that is not going to happen, they have to be more innovative with respect to new truck models for GMC....and Chevrolet!

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by Gagarin

Rear seat... the 3rd row? You can take it out, right?

If it's the middle seats... don't they fold into the pocket? Not a lot of wasted space.

I would also like my rear wheels to also turn...wait...

It's horribly inconvenient, archaic, etc. and they're the only ones that STILL have such an arrangement. They have no floor space to drop into or give extra leg room as in competitors, and the only option has always been a 3rd seat with the cushion on the floor, little foot/leg space, and only the option to fold or remove the seat. Pretty amazing it's still the same to this day, but it is. Our ex Suburban had a ton of room...but it felt like 1982 every time we had to carry something big and the only option was to lug the seat out and leave it at home, with no other option--and a floor that was high to boot.

So whatever they're doing...great. Just as long as it doesn't mean a thinned out, etc. seating arrangement to "fit" the existing high floor & solid axle arrangement, in some form. Look at how an Expedition is set up in this regard, short and long wheelbase, and aim for that and more.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Gagarin

Rear seat... the 3rd row? You can take it out, right?

If it's the middle seats... don't they fold into the pocket? Not a lot of wasted space.

I would also like my rear wheels to also turn...wait...

Should've bought a Sierra when they still had Quadrasteer.

[oldsfiesta1958]

didn't they make a flat load floor a couple years ago in the minivans by raising the floor to the height of the folded seats?

[stevecmh]

I think the Tahoe is going to be a Lambda--- or just not exist -- can they at least give it 4wd

i just hope they keep the Suburban a 900.. or i will be depressed..

[T'Cal]

That's what GM did with their minivans. Instead of staying competitive with Chrysler, Ford, and all of the Asian minivans, which all had a well in the cargo area that the rear seat tumbled into, GM went the cheap route and placed a cargo organizer in the back that raised the "floor" making it flush with the folded down rear bench. That wasted precious storage space. Don't get me wrong; I'm not completely bashing GM's vans as I've had three of them. They offered a lot of features, got great fuel economy, and were reasonably priced when loaded, not to mention the fact that they carried 8 passengers when the Windstar/Freestar and Caravan/TC held only 7 at best. What pisses me off is that GM didn't stay competitive. Instead of building an all new minivan, they tried to make them pseudo-SUVs. The Uplander, SV6, and Relay simply didn't cut it. Sales plummeted and GM claimed that there wasn't a market for them. They were partly right: there was no market for their inferior products. Then, rather than try to compete, they surrendered the market to Chrysler as did Ford. How cowardly. Rather than build four crossovers on the lambda platform, GM should've made a minivan version for Chevy. Honda did something similar when they built the Pilot and MDX off of the successful Odyssey platform.

[chevyman1973]

How much more will this truck have in weight! compared to the other?

[PHAT-JAY]

Leave my Tahoe, Avalanche, Suburban, and Yukon as they are BOF, not that unibody crap, if a consumer really needs fold flat seats buy a crap crossover. I need to tow with power, control, in a real adult size cabin, and that unibody crap can't tow a 1960's-1980's chevelle, camaro, or corvette let alone anything else. So if you can make the fold flat seats with IRS BOF then fine, but unibody for Chevrolet/GMC fullsize Heck NO!!!!!!!!!!!! you already got enough of that unibody FWD/CarUV crap with the traverse, terrain, and equinox if thats what you need.

[mkwelbornjr]

Nope, new Land Cruiser has the worst 3rd row seat yet. It wont get out of the way period.

Originally Posted by caddycruiser

It's horribly inconvenient, archaic, etc. and they're the only ones that STILL have such an arrangement. They have no floor space to drop into or give extra leg room as in competitors,

And give us an option for something that can tow a large boat and go off-road. There is a need for crossovers and real SUVs.

Originally Posted by TuffG929

I hope this means IRS...not Lambda. BPG err.....BG already has a Lambda and leaving the Yukon BOF would give consumers the chance to make their own decision.

People with gold teeth and chains....not savvy import luxury buyers.

Originally Posted by chakis24

the appeal of the escalade.

[Gagarin]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Should've bought a Sierra when they still had Quadrasteer.

Ya.. =)

I wonder how much that boondoggle cost?
I'm surprised it didn't soldier on. It was seriously innovative, though, I guess no one cared?

I'd have loved to have been on GMI when that came out.

Anyway...

I'm a little confused, in real world situations, where you would absolutely NEED a flatter surface, or need the 3rd seat to be gone. Do shopping trips requiring a huge flat surface just spring up on the fly?

What are you lugging around that can't be stored behind the 3rd seat?

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Should've bought a Sierra when they still had Quadrasteer.

The SUVs also offered Quadrasteer.

[Joe in T.O.]

Originally Posted by oldsfiesta1958

didn't they make a flat load floor a couple years ago in the minivans by raising the floor to the height of the folded seats?

They did but then so did Toyota with the new Sequoia.

[peterj2706]

Originally Posted by Buick61

GMT900 SUVs to get flat load floors
www.gmreinvention.com
October 29, 2009

A day late.... Lack of a flat load floor was the primary reason I didn't trade my 2003 Yukon on a new one. The current rear seating arrangement is crap. The 03 was much better, just ask my dogs.

[Buick61]

What I don't understand is how Dodge was able to figure out how to have BOTH a fold flat, useable third row AND a solid rear axle. And they figured that out by the 1998 model year. My parents bought an '09 Durango Hybrid over GM's offerings largely because of this issue.

[TuffG929]

Originally Posted by peterj2706

A day late.... Lack of a flat load floor was the primary reason I didn't trade my 2003 Yukon on a new one. The current rear seating arrangement is crap. The 03 was much better, just ask my dogs.

How was the third row in the 800's any better?