Sky’s the Limit With SEMA-Bound AEV Sierra Grande Concept

Montana-based American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), which specializes in off-road accessories and vehicle conversions, has an awesome truck it plans to debut at the SEMA Show next week. The Sierra Grande Concept is based on a 2024 GMC Sierra HD in a regular cab, long bed configuration and aims to push the envelope when it comes to overlanding.

The stamped steel front bumper adds a prototype brush guard for even more front-end protection. Additionally, AEV added four 7000 series off-road lights, plus an AEV snorkel on the A-pillar to ensure that the 6.6-litre Duramax diesel engine is breathing the cleanest air possible, even under the most extreme off-road conditions.

"We added a GM Performance ComeUp 12.5k winch in the front and then another ComeUp 9.5k winch in the back,” AEV Marketing Manager Matt Feldermann also noted.

Photo: Dominic Boucher

Under the Sierra Grande Concept are the stamped steel front skid plate, IFS skid plate and transfer case skid plate from the Sierra HD AT4X AEV Edition. For the suspension, AEV worked directly with the GMC engineering team to incorporate a variety of Sierra HD AT4X components, such as control arms, steering knuckles, rear suspension and Multimatic DSSV dampers.

This factory-tuned combination provides a 1.5-inch lift over standard HD models and delivers improved off-road performance. Oh, and sitting under the prototype AEV HighMark front fender flares are AEV Salta XD wheels mounted on gigantic 40-inch BFGoodrich tires.

Photo: AEV/GMC

"Aside from the suspension, the bed is obviously a big feature on this,” Feldermann continued. “We added a lightweight aluminum bed from Australia. We also have an ARB on-board air system on each side for airing down or reinflating off the trail."

An 8-foot aluminum tray bed is installed along with an AEV vertical tire mount.

Photo: Dominic Boucher

"If the sky was the limit, this is pretty much how we would build it,” Feldermann added.

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