2020 GM HD Trucks Will Offer Power Take-Off Transmission
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The 2020 GM HD pickup trucks – the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD and 2020 GMC Sierra HD – deliver bold new designs, improved capabilities, new features and technologies. One feature that has gone underreported is that the 10-speed Allison transmission (which isn’t a pure Allison unit) mated to the 6.6L L5P turbo-diesel Duramax engine will offer an integrated Power Take-Off (PTO) as an option.
Power Take-Off (PTO)
Power Take-Off (PTO) is a device that transfers an engine’s mechanical power to the vehicle’s auxiliary components, most commonly a hydraulic pump. The feature is designed for customers who need to power other equipment with their trucks, mostly on the job site.
How It Works
2020 GM HD trucks will utilize a PTO that’s drive gear operated via a chain to direct engine power. Since PTO on the trucks is engine-driven rather than turbine-driven, owners can use the PTO while the vehicle is idling. A button inside the cab enables the PTO, and a mode selector allows adjustment of load and torque output.
The General says that the 2020 GM HD trucks will be the first in the HD truck segment to feature a fully integrated PTO system.
Availability
Both of the upcoming 2020 GM HD trucks will offer the all-new Power Take-Off feature. Availability will be as follows:
- 2020 Silverado HD: only available on Work Truck (WT) or LT models equipped with the 6.6-liter L5P Duramax diesel engine and 10-speed Allison transmission
- 2020 Sierra HD: only available on base Sierra (1SA) and SLE models equipped with the 6.6-liter L5P Duramax diesel engine and 10-speed automatic get the PTO feature.
It’s worth noting that the PTO feature is optional on models equipped with the 6.6L L5P Duramax and Allison 10-speed transmission. The 10-speed Allison without PTO is assigned RPO code MGM, while the 10-speed Allison with PTO is assigned RPO Code MGU.
We should also note that this feature will not be available at the start of the 2020 model year, as it is marked as “late availability.” In addition, it is not available with the new 6.6L V8 L8T gasoline engine, which is mated to GM’s 6-speed 6L90 transmission.
| Model | Trim | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Silverado 2500HD | Work Truck (1WT) | A – Requires (L5P) Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 engine and (K34) Cruise Control. Includes (MGU) 10-speed transmission |
| Silverado 2500HD/3500HD | Custom (1CX) | N/A |
| Silverado 2500HD/3500HD | LT (1LT) | A – Requires (L5P) Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 engine. Includes (MGU) 10-speed transmission |
| Silverado 2500HD/3500HD | LTZ (1LZ) | N/A |
| Silverado 2500HD/3500HD | Premier (3LZ) | N/A |
| Sierra 2500HD/3500HD | Base Sierra (1SA) | A – Requires (L5P) Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 engine and (K34) Cruise Control. Includes (MGU) 10-speed transmission. |
| Sierra 2500HD/3500HD | SLE (3SA) | A – Requires (L5P) Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 engine and (K34) Cruise Control. Includes (MGU) 10-speed transmission. |
| Sierra 2500HD/3500HD | SLT (4SA) | N/A |
| Sierra 2500HD/3500HD | AT4 (4SB) | N/A |
| Sierra 2500HD/3500HD | Denali (5SA) | N/A |
- N/A – Not Available
- A – Available
As such, the Power Take-Off (PTO) is exclusive to the lower trim levels of the 2020 Silverado HD and 2020 Sierra HD, namely the Silverado Work Truck and Custom models, along with the base Sierra and Sierra SLE models.
In addition to PTO, the new 10-speed transmission also features improved driveline components to better transfer the 6.6L Duramax’s 910 pound-feet of torque to the pavement. This allows more torque to be put to the ground in lower gears, enhancing overall driving dynamics and trailering performance, with smoother gear changes and shorter steps between them.
The new transmission, which is developed by GM and branded as Allison, also supports smart engine braking, which can help reduce brake wear. The Duramax/Allison combination’s standard axle ratio is lowered to 3.42:1, which reduces engine speed, giving the heavy duty powertrain a more refined feel at highway/expressway speeds.
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The design of the 2020 Chevy HD looks like a late 60’s through 70’s Ford . The park light over the headlights are similar.
Interesting take. I think it looks like a Decepticon that’s trying to assimilate but it’s not sure if wants to be a truck or a refrigerator. *shrugs*
It’s similar to the early-mid 60’s Chevy’s. I think that’s what they were going for.
Or an early 00’s-10’s Colorado!
https://images.autotrader.com/scaler/620/420/cms/images/cars/chevrolet/colorado/2008/08-colorado/231386.jpg
I was saying the same thing, as if they were trying to recapture the look of the Apache Pick Up, to some degree the details are there, the vertical bottom head lights just throws it off balance in the front.
That is almost the same as the 1960 Chevrolet Apache pickups .
Thats true it is somewhat reminiscent of the 60s. And all the haters of the new style don’t know a damned thing about history. GM has never in over 100 years had a truck series that didn’t sell well. With GM and Chevrolet together they almost always have outsold Ford. (A dirty little secret) And for most of history Dodge is a very, very far third. Which is where it should be especially now, seeing that it isn’t even an American company. Too bad the government didn’t bail out International instead of Dodge. That was a good company.
Those front ends look so gaudy and busy. GM Design has been in freefall lately and it affects sales of otherwise great vehicles. Someone at GM needs to wake up and purge the Design Studio.
“The General says that the 2020 GM HD trucks will be the first in the HD truck segment to feature a fully integrated PTO system.”
Wasn’t the 2008 Ford Super Duty the first HD truck to offer a PTO provision? Or was that not fully integrated?
The words fully integrated are the key words here. But yes Ford has had an optional PTO on their Super Duty for years. Just like GM to spin it and make it sound like they are the first…
The PTO is chain driven and comes with the transmission built by OEM. The Ford and others are 3rd party installed and bolted on with gear drives.
PTO provisions have been around for a long time, my 61 scout has PTO provisions even. Can run a mechanical winch or a rear agricultural style PTO shaft. It’s the integration part with the GM that’s new. Sounds very slick, the old school PTOs you had to put the transmission in drive, transfer case in neutral, and PTO selector engaged to use it while parked. Not so user friendly
Thanks, that is what first came to mind as I am most familiar with PTO systems as such in farm implements run behind a tractor.
I had a PTO on my 2005 GMC 5500 4X4.
Local dealer told me he had a 2500 HD ordered and the build date was 6-10-19.
I’LL shop for a new 3500 HD dually when they become available primarily because of some design changes from my 2017.
The DEF filler under t h e hood on the passenger side has to be one of the poorest designs I’ve ever seen from GM.
Then couple that with no DEF guage and one begins to wonder what was happening in design with these.
Add in the new 10 speed, and it’s time to swap. My 17 only has 13,000 mi. On it, but i’LL never own a vehicle that’s out of factory warranty….
Cosmetics and beauty of a truck doesn’t factor in for me. I hear alot of folks complaining about how the new design looks. I just roll my eyes and say, damn, I never noticed.
Haters will always be…. I prefer function and more importantly THE DEAL……
I wonder if iam on the same drugs as the designers of the Silverado because now it doesn’t look so bad but iam crossing my fingers an praying that GMC out shines ram when they redo there interior let’s all pray
I feel the same way, the more I see them the more I like them….there was a new 1500 Silverado on the TV show “manifest”. After seeing that Truck watching the show I wanted one.
“The new transmission, which is developed by GM and branded as Allison…”
More misinformation about the new 10 speed. According to GM engineer David Ames, whom TFL Truck interviewed, this transmission was developed by GM and Allison together. They both did validation testing. Yes, it will be built by GM, but so was the Allison 6 speed after GM sold Allison about 10 years ago.
Ford had a few cases already as to where there have been some major issues as to how that 10 Speed is not properly shifting between gears upon acceleration and is badly cutting the lifespan of that Transmission…It’s hard to say at this point if Chevy will endure this same issue, so far; nothing yet.
The Allison 10 speed has nothing to do with Ford
Notice how I said nothing about the word Allison when I mentioned Ford’s 10 Speed Transmission issues, I was just stating that I hope Chevy does not have those same type of problems in theirs.
The side steps in the beds should be optional. Square fenders and extra thick plastic wheel liners are a joke. I need a 19 denali instead of a 2020
Looks great , but that’s not only why I buy trucks. Functionality and capability are important , as are the dealership and all that encompasses including quality of service. Any and every truck has durability and capability anymore so I feel that purchase is based on subjective comparison and, for many , previous purchase history or generational history. Still , if you love the way it looks , or hate it , it will most likely sway your decision.
Can I bush hog with this thing?