In a recent announcement, General Motors (GM) rocked the pickup truck market by becoming the first U.S. automaker to offer buyers the ability to order trucks without a bed. This option applies to all mid-size, half-ton, and heavy-duty pickup trucks.

For truck owners used to pickup trucks coming equipped with beds, this news might come as a surprise, but GM officials see the box-delete option as an opportunity for customers to put even more creativity toward building a truck that best suits their needs.

Where Can You Order Your Truck Without a Box?

Buyers in the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, area can order their GM truck without the box from local dealerships. Fleet customers can also exercise this option through their local GM dealer or other ordering channels. Whether direct from the dealer or through fleets themselves, buyers have several ways to ensure a customized vehicle.

Which Trucks Can Be Ordered With the Box-Delete Option?

At the beginning, a fair amount of discussion concerned which GM trucks would be part of the program. The box-delete option had been available for GM’s 2500 and 3500 models through its commercial and fleet network. However, given the demand for this option and its availability for fleet and commercial customers buying 2500 and 3500 models, GM stated the option will be available in a wider range of trucks.

Starting with vehicles scheduled for delivery in April 2016, the program will be available to retail customers and commercial buyers. The box-delete options will also cover a larger range of vehicles including the 1500 series Chevrolet Silverados and GMS Sierras, and extended cab versions of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

Why Is This Option Being Offered?

In today’s market, truck buyers seek versatility and convenience in their vehicles. People may decide, after delivery of their new truck, to remove the box. Once they remove the box, the buyer can then custom install any one of dozens of aftermarket utility boxes or flatbed options to create a truck that meets their exact needs. Of course, this truck owner would then have one problem… Where the heck to put the box that was just removed! It’s tough to find a place where it isn’t likely to be damaged.

According to Dan Tigges, commercial product manager for the GM Fleet, “The Silverado and Sierra light-duty box-delete models have been designed to take on the work our customers do every day. For customers with lower payload requirements, this new option will reduce upfront costs and provide fuel-economy advantages compared to heavy-duty box-delete alternatives.”

At the same time, Ed Peper, U.S. vice president for the GM Fleet, notes, “We are in the business of meeting our customers’ needs by providing a range of products and solutions that fit their businesses. Light-duty box-delete is a direct response to our customers who have been clamoring for it.”

What Is Being Deleted?

The big question for many new truck buyers who are not familiar with this program concerns what the GM box-delete program includes and removes. Several important items deleted or modified under the GM box-delete program include the following:

Buyers also can have the spare tire removed to save more money, weight and space. In most models, the changes will also include upgrading the rating of both the rear leaf springs and front stabilizer bar, enabling drivers to carry or tow heavier loads.

Will Removing the Box Lower the Price?

Buyers in the Murfreesboro area may wonder whether removing the box and the spare tire will lower the price of these trucks. The answer from GM at this time suggests that yes, a discount will be offered. Currently, analysts estimate the retail price of any truck ordered without the box and spare tire to be reduced by $575.

If you want to keep the spare tire and spare tire-mounting brackets, these parts can be added back to the vehicle for $335. However, you don’t have to order the spare tire; you can add your own tire once you have selected your choice of utility box or flatbed setup.

In reality, offering a box-delete option can be a good way to help new GM truck buyers order the type of truck they need to meet their specific requirements. Not only does this option save them money upon purchasing, but this selection can also help truck buyers save money and time when modifying the truck after market.

Need more information about the GM box-delete program and the available options? Come into Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac of Murfreesboro and talk to one of our friendly, experienced sales team members. We are easy to find at 960 John R. Rice Blvd. in Murfreesboro. Call 615-893-6600 to schedule an appointment and take a test drive of one our vehicles today.

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