The GMC Sierra 1500 is one of the best-selling cars in America right now, and one of the reasons it’s so popular is because it’s a practical truck.

Unfortunately, GMC is taking away one of the many reasons the truck is found to be so practical. Here’s a look at the GMC Sierra 1500’s bed-side storage boxes and how they’re being discontinued. 

A look at the GMC Sierra 1500’s bed-side storage boxes

According to GM Authority, bed storage boxes are a good way for folks to get more storage in their truck. GMC’s bed-side storage boxes varied in size, but most measured at about 60 inches in length, 19 inches in height, and 10 inches in depth. This gave them about seven cubic feet of cargo capacity, each able to carry about 50 pounds.

In addition to being able to hold bigger items, these boxes came with a removable center tray that folks could use for smaller items.

These bed-side storage boxes also had fun uses, especially for tailgate parties. Each box had two cupholders and some drain plugs. This meant that the truck’s bed-side storage boxes could become a cooler when drivers needed one. 

The primary purpose of these storage boxes was to provide a protected and locked space in the truck bed. The boxes were sturdy and made with a weather-resistant and corrosion-resistant material. This made them an excellent option for carrying stuff that needed protection from the weather, such as camping gear or tools. 

GMC is discontinuing this feature

Unfortunately, while those features make the bed-side storage boxes seem like a great option, GMC is discontinuing them for the newest version of the Sierra. It’s not clear why this decision was made, but it isn’t that surprising. GM owns GMC and Chevy. The Chevy Silverado is a very similar truck to the Sierra, and according to GM Authority, Chevy also recently dropped this feature from the Silverado.

As with most things in the automotive world, it’s likely that these bed-side storage boxes were discontinued because not enough people were choosing them as an option. As some commenters on GM Authority wrote, this may have been a price issue, as these bed-side storage boxes were an option that added about $1,000 to the truck’s price tag. For some folks, that may simply be too expensive for what they got. 

An overview of the newest GMC Sierra 1500

While the loss of this feature may be a blow for some GMC fans, the 2022 Sierra 1500 is still a competent truck. The basic work truck version starts at a relatively affordable price of about $34,500. It comes with a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and it gets 310 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. This basic engine allows the Sierra to tow up to 9,600 pounds.

However, just like the Silverado, a significant upgrade happened to the Sierra’s interior, but primarily for its trim options. The standard Sierra will still have an average-sized touch screen, but the higher trims will get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster display and a 13.4-inch horizontal touch screen. That’s a bigger touch screen than what other full-size pickup trucks will offer. Another upgrade is in tech, as GMC has given the new Sierra access to GM’s Super Cruise feature.