This makes sense. Only $300 less than not having a bed? I guess those extras make up the difference.

I wonder if this could be a success for them once the diesel engine is offered? As it is now, not sure.

Wonder if this can be had with 4wd, could see some RV upfitting with this especially if you could get 4wd.

I think they should also use the frame work to make a new midsize van. Look at how many Astro vans are still on the road. We have two 2003's at my very small business and still running strong.

I agree that there needs to be a 4x4 option. 2k cargo is decent for a little truck.

@Lou

Agree about the 4x4.

This represents a very attractive alternative to a full sized van or pickup to tradesmen, and outfitters who use something like this for a specialty vehicle (small RV?).

The solid 3.6 engine and the six sp auto are proven platforms for GM and this drivetrain should be very competitive rated up against the vans and pickups now on the market.

While that payload number is impressive, don't forget to subtract the weight of whatever box or bed that gets bolted onto that frame from the payload number. That net number could be much less, but then again the driver would have a customized set-up to meet their needs.

I'm not knocking this truck, it will definitely be a nice mid-size work horse for those who don't need a full size truck. Well done Chevy.... well done.

This won't work. According to a bunch of the chevy loyalists only Ford does fleet sales.

What a great idea.

Irrespective of how many Colorado's sell, this will add more versatility to the customer.

The bed on the back could be 6' 4" wide and around 6' long. this gives a very good and flat work area.

Hopefully some of our Australian trayback manufacturers can sell some trays to the US. They come in a huge variety of configurations to suit most any trade/task.

Aluminium beds to fit on the back of this weigh little.

@Big Al from Oz - the larger Fab shops in my area all have engineers on staff. Aluminum decks and utility bodies are pretty common.
The biggest limiting factor for this truck in my region is 4x2 and the fact that anything under 3k cargo is too small for heavy industry. That is why most don't bother with 1/2 ton pickups.

This will be great for urban centres.

@Lou_BC,
We have production lines manufacturing these things. Just bolt them on. I would think the differences in the chassis dimensions between the global and US Colorado is small if any.

If a company was smart here in Australia they would load some containters send them to the US and sell them.

Our biggest problem would be wages and shipping.

It will be interesting to see the take up of cab chassis in pickups in the US.

I thank it is a smart move,now if Chevy would give the option of a full size front bench seat , with the delete of the rear seat, that would be even better .

@Big Al - imported gear would not be profitable unless we saw huge sales volumes of these trucks.
Locally made decks and bodies would be easier to build specifically to end user needs as opposed to adapting an imported body.
I'd rather support my local businesses and many others in industry would feel the same.

@Lou_BC
This is Big Als from Oz, Mazda BT 50 model with an enclosed Electricians body
http://www.csmtransportequipment.com.au/images/Electrician-%20Large%20Image/FleetPro%20Ute%20Canopy%20with%20Ladder%20Racks%20-%20Mazda%20BT50_New.jpg

You get 14ft Aluminium Trays for European Cab Chassis Vans

@Lou_BC
"The biggest limiting factor for this truck in my region is 4x2 and the fact that anything under 3k cargo is too small for heavy industry. That is why most don't bother with 1/2 ton pickups."

Pretty well the same reason here. Electricians, some plumbing, Tradies on a building site are the main use of "Utes"
HD Pickups as I have said many times before ,is the Caravanners friend. Seem to very linked as far as usage

@Big Al, Lou

Don't think there's a pay-back for shipping fabbed bodies to US or Canada from the Western Pacific region.

If the US economy was going gangbusters the offset for labor costs might be helpful. Also there's a big labor beef at the ports in the Pacific Northwest. The unions might decide to take a nap rather than let foreign goods like fabricated aluminum products through.

This is a smart move because this increases the market for a midsize truck. This truck would make a nice stake bed and could be used as a service truck. I myself if I were buying a new midsize truck I would choose the base extended cab Colorado with a seat delete. I have rear seats in my extended cab S-10 that I have used only a handful of times in 16 years. I would rather have the room in back of the cab to carry things than extra seats which I will not use.

I could also see this truck used as a U-Haul as some of the compact Toyota trucks were used in the past.

Neat, but what GM really needs are 4500 and 5500 cab and chassis models.

@Jeff S,
The US doesn't use traybacks like we do here. Even many family 4x4 crew cabs people drop a tray on.

A single cab gives you a 8' by over 6' load area.

I do think Australia could play a role in the trays in the US market like our 4x4 accessory businesses that are well established in the US. Maybe these companies can import trays.

I'd even bet many of our trays are knocked up in China. They aren't rocket science.

@Richard,
The US has ARB and TJM shops. I'd bet they would sell less suspension kits and bullbars than they would trays.

It seems profitable. Bull bars and trays and complete suspension kits would be up there in pricing.

How it works is you buy the pickup, take it to the local ARB or TJM or whatever store and they fit the tray. It would only take a couple of hours. It's not many bolts and you plug in the lighting.

All of the trays would be approved. Almost like getting tyres for your pickup. Drive in then driveaway.

Maybe Australia might have a better system in place. It ain't hard.

"The US has ARB and TJM shops. I'd bet they would sell less suspension kits and bullbars than they would trays."

Agree with Big Al from Oz on this, it is very easy to change from a Pickup Tray to a Ute Tray. All of the Asian companies allow this, as a factory option

@Robert Ryan - it is easy to mount a flat deck but that is why Ford has remained C - channel with HD's and same with Ram 4500. C-channel is easier to mount than boxed frames.

If there are 10k or more of these sold then importation from Australian might make sense but other than huge volumes there isn't much rationale for it.

ARB lists 52 licensed shops in USA and Canada. That isn't going to put them in a competitive position since most companies aren't going to consider them as a source of commercial upfitter components.

Eric - they can order a utility body with round wheel wells if that floats their boat ;)

@Big Al--I wasn't really referring to tray backs as much as a flat wood bed with holes for railings which farmers use. you can haul anything from a cow with the railings to a piece of equipment without the railings. My granddad use to put railing up on his IH pickup if he had to haul a single animal like a cow--he also had a 1 ton IH with tandem axle with a tilt bed for hauling grain, cattle, and anything else which he could take the railings off and use as a flatbed.

By the way, its not a "G80 Limited Slip Differential" its a "G80 Automatic Rear Locking Differential"- this ain't a Yoda, Ford or Ram after all !

@Lou_BC
My rough estimate would be 40% here of all Utes including car truck, so the 10,000 you quote would not be worth it

@Lou_BC and Robert Ryan,
Many of our trays are mass produced in Thailand or China. Even much of the ARB and TJM bars and suspension gear isn't made in Australia.

My Mazda branded bull bar is made in New Zealand, because of cheaper wages.

My ARB Nitro Charger shock absorbers are made in Australia, which surprised me. I do think my front coils and rear leaves are made in Australia as well.

Most everything we buy is from somewhere else, not different to any other nation.

A tray that has been fabricated in a local metal shop can cost over $5 000. The factory trays are much cheaper.

Maybe GM should look at the cost of buying in a couple thousand Colorado trays. They already exist.

Lou, it's actually easier and cheaper to mount the trays on the pickup tub mounts. That's how most ute trays are done here.

When I was a teenager my first trayback was fastened with U bolts and a piece of timber scribed in to follow the curve of the chassis.

Traybacks are bought by many who either use the additional load space to carry gear for off roading, more quads/bikes, give additional height for fording and removes most damage from to great a departure angle when off roading.

It's quite easy to damage the bottom of your tub behind the rear wheel arch. I use my tow bar as a gauge. It's worked so far, one day I will screw up.

2k cargo is not that great for a chassis cabwork truck because you have to take off for whatever kind of utility bed you must add and for passengers.

Figure 1,200 for a utility bed, two 200 lb adults and that leaves 400 lbs payload.

Not good.

@Joe,
Just a tray with a loading board will come in around 100kg to 130kg.

Or 220 to 280lbs.