2014 GMC Sierra, growing new slowly: Motoramic Drives

Even with the assistance of all manner of modern media and mechanicals — a tailgate camera with integrated backup path indicator, side-view mirrors with integrated fisheye perception, proximity sensors with integration into the vehicle’s far-flung front and rear — we could not get the $52,000 2014 GMC Sierra pickup truck’s trailer-hitch ball to align with a $75,000 23-foot Airstream’s coupler socket on our initial try.

Or our second. Or third.

In fact, despite the presence of all these advanced mating assistants, we eventually had to resort to the resolutely old-fashioned "Monback" method: “To the left!” “C'mon back.” The presence of a power-operated sliding rear window helped us to hear our brave volunteer, who crouched, invisible, behind the towering tailgate. The presence of an industry-leading defroster integrated into said window, not so much.

And this was our experience again and again in our two days towing, and not towing, nearly three tons of retro-styled aluminum camper through Southern California with nearly three tons of brand new domestic pickup. The GMC Sierra does, and includes, everything one would expect of a contemporary luxury truck. (Yes, that is now a thing.) It just happens to accomplish it in a familiar fashion.

This is not a bad thing. Or a criticism. It is simply a statement of subjective experiential truth. Where category sales-leader Ford has attempted to differentiate itself within the (massive) two-million unit pickup truck market with the sophisticated whistle of its twin-turbocharged EcoBoost, and category bronze medalist Ram has attempted to differentiate itself from the same cavalcade with its coil springs and Jaguar-emulating leather and chrome interiors, GMC has seemingly decided to double down on continuing to do precisely what they’ve been doing for the past 111 years: building slightly more swanky and well-equipped versions of Chevrolet’s truck.