Chevy's Biggest, Baddest Truck

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Kodiaks and TopKicks can be special-ordered through Chevy and GMC dealers. Delivery typically takes six to eight weeks, though Monroe has an inventory of already-built trucks for buyers who can't wait.

Behind the Wheel

If you've ever ridden in the cab of an 18-wheeler, you'll have an idea of what the Kodiak's ride is like. The truck bounces and thumps along, reacting to every little bump in the road. But the front seats have an air suspension system, so you sort of float above the fray as the truck jostles underneath you.

In a truck like this, you're sitting so high up that you can't see anything that's near the front, rear, and sides of the vehicle. To make sure you don't inadvertently crush a Volkswagen when you turn or change lanes, the Kodiak has cameras that go on when you activate the turn signals, giving you a view of what's happening alongside the truck. There's also a rear camera, but you still can't see what's directly behind the vehicle, making it hard to parallel park.

Otherwise, the Kodiak isn't difficult to drive. You can even get one with a six-speed Allison automatic transmission if you don't want to monkey with a clutch. The main difficulty is that the truck is so wide—and the big rearview mirrors stick out so far—that you have to be careful not to clip signs and mailboxes along the side of the road. You're too high up and too far away to use a drive-up window. When I stopped at an Arby's, I had to get out of the truck to pay for and pick up my sandwich.

In accelerating from 0 to 60, I timed my diesel-powered Kodiak in about 12.5 seconds—slow, but faster than I expected. The truck, however, doesn't have a whole lot of oomph for passing at highway speed.

One reason the truck handles heavy loads so well is its heavy-duty air suspension system. It also has an auxiliary engine-braking system that gives you extra control when decelerating or descending a hill while towing a heavy load.

Monroe has lowered the truck's suspension so the bed is only about as high off the ground as in a conventional heavy-duty pickup. But the Kodiak's bed still rides very high (so much so that for the first time I can recall my agile, 65-lb. Lab-mix dog had trouble jumping up into the back of a truck on his own). To make loading cargo easier, there's a Rear Air Suspension Dump Control that lowers the rear of the truck four inches at the push of a button.

There's a reason basketball star Shaquille O'Neal and other plus-size sports stars own Kodiaks or TopKicks. The truck's cabin has an enormous amount of head, leg, and shoulder space, and the front seats tilt way back. The power rear seats fold down into a double-bed-size sleeping space if you need to overnight on the road.

Buy It Or Bag It?

The Kodiak 4500 offers an appealing combination of showiness and functionality. Its looks and road presence are almost as striking as the International CXT's, yet the Kodiak can be had for a lot less.

Still, you only really need a truck this big if towing and hauling capacity is a top priority. Less expensive conventional full-size pickups such as a Ford F150, Toyota Tundra (BusinessWeek.com, 6/15/07), and Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra (BusinessWeek.com, 1/23/07) can tow 10,000 lb. or more. And they come in heavy-duty versions, such as the Sierra 2500 (BusinessWeek.com, 5/8/07) and 3500, with more towing capability, especially if you go with a bed-mounted trailer hitch.

So, study up before buying to make sure you're willing to pay a premium for one of the largest of the monster trucks on the road. If so, the Kodiak may be for you.

Click here to see more of the Chevrolet Kodiak.

Thane Peterson reviews cars for BusinessWeek.com.