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Why doesn't Chevy make a modern K5?

Jessie James

Jessie James

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I must admit, I am a little annoyed that Chevy no longer makes a modern K5. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Can we start an internet petition or something? :D

Let's say you COULD get a 2012 K5 Blazer, what features would you want on it that are not offered on their current trucks?

I was thinking a killer feature would be to have 4 little motors in the bed walls. After you unbolt the top, the motors would lift the cap up about 1" to 2" or so, and then you could insert/attach a flange of some sort under the edge of the cap which had an anchor that stuck out to the side. Then you could either put some straps on it and lift the cap off, or you could have some "feet" like what are used on pickup RV caps that would stand on the ground, maybe that were all attached to each other for strength, and then you just drive away.
 
Probably because the majority of the people want 4 doors. So basically there is a somewhat K5 rollin around, it's called the Tahoe :D

And i am one of those people, i wouldn't spend the kind of money they are wanting for new trucks, and not have the full access of 4 doors. kinda why i like my Burb, although the rear is a bit long.

Also thinking that GM let the "K5" badge or name or whatever expire to their rights, saw something on here awhile back where some new KIA or something is now flashing the K5 badging.
 
I get the 4 door thing, but I am talking about 2 doors with the removable top. I want, I want, I want! :haha:
 
I was thinking about this the other day too. Since I don't tow/haul much anymore I would trade in my 2500HD for a new 2dr K5 type truck in a heartbeat.

What features would I want? If they were gonna build one, GM should take some notes from Jeep...

1st and foremost, bring back the solid front axle. AAM must have an option they could use for the front. Attach it with some links and coil springs and it would be good.

2nd the top could come off in sections. One big section for the rear, like the half cab design, and a smaller section over the front. They would have to build it with a roll bar type protection for todays standards and mounts for shoulder belts.

Other than that, a rear mounted swing away spare tire carrier, rear axle could be located via links and coils, a 5.3 could provide power with an optional 6.0 for a Z71/ZR2 type of off road package. And hopefully they would do a real off road package consisting of a bit higher suspension, larger aggressive tires, selectable lockers, deeper t-case gears, skid plates. And again, like Mopar, they could sell accessories like winch bumpers, rock rails, lights and such, soft tops, etc...

That's just off the top of my head. Jeep is the only one out there with a vehicle like this and they have the market cornered and they have been selling like hotcakes. If GM doesn't see this then they are blind and merely listening to bean counters and not real world customers.
 
496truck said:
I was thinking about this the other day too. Since I don't tow/haul much anymore I would trade in my 2500HD for a new 2dr K5 type truck in a heartbeat.

What features would I want? If they were gonna build one, GM should take some notes from Jeep...

1st and foremost, bring back the solid front axle. AAM must have an option they could use for the front. Attach it with some links and coil springs and it would be good.

2nd the top could come off in sections. One big section for the rear, like the half cab design, and a smaller section over the front. They would have to build it with a roll bar type protection for todays standards and mounts for shoulder belts.

Other than that, a rear mounted swing away spare tire carrier, rear axle could be located via links and coils, a 5.3 could provide power with an optional 6.0 for a Z71/ZR2 type of off road package. And hopefully they would do a real off road package consisting of a bit higher suspension, larger aggressive tires, selectable lockers, deeper t-case gears, skid plates. And again, like Mopar, they could sell accessories like winch bumpers, rock rails, lights and such, soft tops, etc...

That's just off the top of my head. Jeep is the only one out there with a vehicle like this and they have the market cornered and they have been selling like hotcakes. If GM doesn't see this then they are blind and merely listening to bean counters and not real world customers.
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dig it



My dad's tacoma came with a selectable locker, and iirc, so do the fj80's...don't know why it's so damn difficult for the big three to figure out...dumba$$es......:dunno:


they better figure something out soon, I don't think they're gonna survive if something doesn't change.
 
Just use this body, all FG or CF.
The new ls9 for power, standard 14 bolt rear, 10 bolt front With an eaton like the new trucks. Interior has to be water resistant like the Jeeps or Honda Elements (ewww), Thats about it. New best selling truck right there.

0809or_08_z+1979_chevrolet_blazer_blazito+blazer_jump_hop.jpg
 
Ok, so educate me. That truck looks like a modern K5. What model is that, and what top is that? It seems like it would be easy enough to cut out the rear cab wall, put in a seat, and call it a day.

Right?
 
Theres just not a big enough market for a true off road truck anymore. Everybody wants heated/power seats, gps, mp3, cruise control, voice activated, computer controlled, dual climate zone, smooth ridin, highway drivin, sissy fide, country cadillacs nowa days... I mean really....who would buy a truck with a solid front axle, manual lockers, geared transfer, manual trans, rough ridin, rock crawlin, mud boggin, skid plate havin, 6 in lifted, truck with a removable top???.......wait a minute....I would! Sad truth is you can have one of these, you just gotta build the dam thing yourself...
 
New K5

I ask myself all the time why the big three don't try to re-release the K5, Ramcharger, and Bronco. The sad answer is that they don't think anyone would buy it for what they would charge...and they are right. REAL SUVs like 1980s and below came with solid axles and V8s. These guys now build half ton trucks with IFS for the handling and ride quality. Most guys who could pay $30,000 for a SUV would cry about the handling of a solid axle truck. I love all the specs you guys are adding to this immaginary K5 but you know GM would build it with a 10 bolt rear and IFS front. Lift kits would cost $2000 and would break frequently off road.

Best plan.....save some money, buy your favorite body style old REAL SUV and get 1 ton running gear and a new LS V8 with what ever tranny you like. Have it painted and drive the **** out of it. I bet it cost less than half of a new truck. If realy want to turn some heads, have a custom builder mate a new Chevy/GMC front end on it.
 
There actually was a prototype made once. I saw one on ebay a few months ago. I think it was like a 2002, 2-dr tahoe, but it looked retarded. It was a concept and it was for sale in a dealership, and they put it on ebay hoping to get too much for it. The top was not removable.

Strange thing. About 2 weeks ago I thought I saw one. New body style, like an 08 tahoe. It had 2 doors, but since it was driving past I could not tell if it was a tahoe or a standard cab short bed truck with a cap, but it looked all integrated, no gap between the top and cab. I dunno. Also it was painted up like a show truck and was lifted. Could be??
 
Jessie James said:
Ok, so educate me. That truck looks like a modern K5. What model is that, and what top is that? It seems like it would be easy enough to cut out the rear cab wall, put in a seat, and call it a day.

Right?
Click to expand...

That is an old 76-91 K5 dressed up with fiberglass fenders and quarters to mate up with 03-04 grill and hood.

Big Sky Blazer said:
I ask myself all the time why the big three don't try to re-release the K5, Ramcharger, and Bronco. The sad answer is that they don't think anyone would buy it for what they would charge...and they are right. REAL SUVs like 1980s and below were made from trucks and not just dressed up station wagons. These guys now build half ton trucks with IFS for the handling and ride quality. Most guys who could pay $30,000 for a SUV would cry about the handling of a solid axle truck. I love all the specs you guys are adding to this immaginary K5 but you know GM would build it with a 10 bolt rear and IFS front. Lift kits would cost $2000 and would break frequently off road.

Best plan.....save some money, buy your favorite body style old REAL SUV and get 1 ton running gear and a new LS V8 with what ever tranny you like. Have it painted and drive the **** out of it. I bet it cost less than half of a new truck. If realy want to turn some heads, have a custom builder mate a new Chevy/GMC front end on it.
Click to expand...

Fixed it for ya.

And you're right, if they did build it they would screw it up. Not that they should be expected to build it with one ton running gear or anything cause that would narrow down their target market to just CK5 members. But a durable, street friendly, comfortable, user friendly, fullsize 4x4 is not asking too much from a car company. And they have the technology to build it with solid axles and still make it ride and drive like a dream. Or at least like a truck.
 
Because most people interested in such a vehicle would not pay $35k for it. The Detroit 3 are not interested in building the coolest vehicle. They are interested in building vehicles with good sales. Look at the prices on the Power Wagon, F150 raptor, etc. and you can see where we're headed with these design ideas.

These days if you want "sporty" you have to take a smaller vehicle. There is no more "full-size" and "sport".
 
Jessie James said:
Ok, so educate me. That truck looks like a modern K5. What model is that, and what top is that? It seems like it would be easy enough to cut out the rear cab wall, put in a seat, and call it a day.

Right?
Click to expand...


It's the '04 pre runner conversion kit. It's like a 1300 dollar kit.
 
Blue85 said:
Because most people interested in such a vehicle would not pay $35k for it. The Detroit 3 are not interested in building the coolest vehicle. They are interested in building vehicles with good sales. Look at the prices on the Power Wagon, F150 raptor, etc. and you can see where we're headed with these design ideas.

These days if you want "sporty" you have to take a smaller vehicle. There is no more "full-size" and "sport".
Click to expand...

Detroit 3 (Big 3) and good sales...LOL
 
dfl701 said:
I would say Detroit 3 but still big 2. GM is still a huge worldwide company. They are huge in china right now. They love the buick
Click to expand...

when i was in Korea this summer, the only American cars i saw were GM...no Fords or Chrylser
 
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