Most people walk onto a dealership lot and buy whatever is close enough to what they had in mind. It's understandable — the truck is right there, you can drive it home today, and maybe it checks seven out of ten boxes. Good enough, right?
Not always. A grain farmer who needs a Silverado 3500HD diesel with a gooseneck prep package, a 4.10 axle ratio, and a spray-in bedliner ends up driving home in a truck that's missing two of those things. A contractor who needs a crew cab work truck with upfitter switches ends up waiting anyway because the lot simply doesn't have it. A municipality looking to replace three half-tons with a specific spec has to cobble together whatever's available across multiple dealers.
Custom ordering from the factory solves all of this — and it's simpler than most people think. At Murray GM Moose Jaw, we walk people through factory orders every week. Here's how the whole process works, what you can configure, and how to plan the timing so your truck arrives when you actually need it.
Why Custom Order Instead of Buying from the Lot?
There's nothing wrong with buying off the lot if you find the right truck. But here's the reality: lot trucks are configured for the average buyer. They're ordered by the dealership in batches based on what tends to sell — popular colors, common trim levels, the most broadly appealing option packages. That works fine if your needs are average. If they're not, you're making compromises.
- You get exactly what you spec'd. Every option, every package, the exact color, the exact drivetrain. No compromises on the features that actually matter for your specific use case.
- Some configurations are only available via factory order. Certain axle ratios, specific upfitting prep packages, and some color-and-option combinations are never stocked on lots.
- Price transparency works in your favor. The price you negotiate at order time is the price you pay. No dealer markup on an in-demand truck that just happened to land on the lot.
- No pressure to decide on the spot. It's your truck, being built for you, at the spec you chose. Nobody's going to drive it away while you think it over.
- The wait can actually work in your favor. Eight to sixteen weeks gives you time to arrange financing at the best rate, sell your trade-in privately for more money, or plan around your schedule.
“A farmer who needs an 8-foot box with a gooseneck prep package gets exactly that — not a short box they have to make work.”
What Can You Actually Customize?
The short answer: almost everything. GM's truck lineup offers a huge range of configurations. Here's a walk-through of the main choices you'll make when building your order.
Trim Level
Work Truck → Custom → LT → RST → LTZ → High Country
Pro → Elevation → SLE → SLT → AT4 / AT4X → Denali / Denali Ultimate
Each step up adds interior refinement, technology, and available packages. Work Truck and Pro trims are purpose-built for commercial use — vinyl floors, durable cloth seats, and a focus on function. High Country and Denali are fully loaded. Most custom orders we see at Murray GM land somewhere in the middle: an LT or SLE with targeted option packages.
Engine
2.7L Turbo-Four — Surprising power for its size. 5.3L V8 — The proven workhorse. 6.2L V8 — Maximum half-ton power.
6.6L Gas V8 — Strong and straightforward. 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel — The choice for serious towing, paired with the Allison 10-speed automatic.
The Duramax is frequently in short supply on lots. If diesel is non-negotiable for your operation, a custom order is the surest way to get one.
Cab and Box
Regular Cab · Double Cab · Crew Cab
Short Box (5'8") · Standard Box (6'6") · Long Box (8')
The 8-foot box is common for farm and commercial work — loading from grain augers, hauling longer materials, or simply needing the cargo space. It's not always stocked on lots, especially paired with crew cabs.
Drivetrain
2WD or 4WD. For Saskatchewan, we'll say it plainly: don't order 2WD unless you have a very specific reason. Between grid roads, field approaches, and six months of winter, 4WD is not optional here.
Key Packages for Saskatchewan Buyers
- Max Trailering Package (1500) — Required for maximum tow ratings. Must be factory ordered — you cannot add it later.
- Gooseneck / 5th Wheel Prep Package (HD) — Factory-installed, frame-mounted hitch prep. Saves significant cost over aftermarket installation.
- Duramax Diesel (HD) — Often in short supply on dealer lots. Custom ordering guarantees you get it.
- Z71 Off-Road Package — Upgraded suspension, skid plates, and Rancho shocks. Great for grid road use and field approaches.
- Upfitter Switches (HD) — Pre-wired auxiliary switches for add-on equipment: lights, plows, PTOs.
- Snow Plow Prep Package — Enhanced cooling, heavy-duty front springs, and skid plates.
Interior Options
Cloth vs. leather, heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, rear seat storage, infotainment package upgrades. These are personal preference — the Murray GM team can walk you through what's available on each trim and what adds genuine value versus what you'll never use.
One important note: not every option is available on every trim. Some packages require other packages. Some engines are only available with certain cabs. The configurator catches all of this, and the Murray GM team has done this enough times to steer you around the dead ends quickly.
The Custom Order Process — Step by Step
This is where people expect complexity, and it's actually straightforward. Six steps, start to finish.
Come into Murray GM at 15 Chester Road, or call us at 306-693-4605. Tell us what you use the truck for. We'll ask the right questions:
- What are you towing, and how heavy?
- How many kilometers per year?
- Mostly highway, gravel, or mixed?
- Diesel or gas — and why?
- Who else rides in the truck regularly?
This is where local knowledge matters. A Murray GM salesperson who knows southern Saskatchewan will catch things you might not think of — like reminding a grain farmer that the 8-foot box matters if you're loading from a grain auger, or that the snow plow prep package is worth considering if you clear your own yard.
Together, we'll use GM's order configurator to spec out the exact truck. You can see the price update in real time as you add or remove options. This usually takes 30 to 60 minutes for a first-time orderer — less if you already know exactly what you want. There's no commitment at this stage. You can build three different configurations and compare them side by side before deciding.
Once you've landed on the right build, Murray GM submits the order to GM Canada. A deposit is required to hold your build slot — typically in the range of $500 to $1,000, though the exact amount can vary. This deposit is applied to your purchase price. At this point, your truck enters GM's production queue.
- Silverado / Sierra 1500: Typical lead time of 8 to 16 weeks, depending on model year timing and factory allocation.
- HD Trucks (2500/3500): Similar range, but Duramax diesel orders can run longer during high-demand periods.
- Time of year matters: Orders placed early in the model year (late summer through fall) tend to have more allocation than orders placed in spring.
Lead times are estimates, not guarantees. Murray GM stays in contact with updates throughout — you're not waiting in the dark.
GM provides an order tracking system, and Murray GM can pull status updates for you at any time. Your truck moves through these stages:
Each stage change is a good sign. Once it's marked "Built," the truck is complete and heading to the rail yard for shipping. Transit from the factory to Moose Jaw typically takes one to three weeks depending on the origin plant and rail logistics.
Murray GM performs a final inspection to confirm everything matches your order — every option, every package, every detail. Financing is finalized (rates can be locked in at order time if you prefer), and you pick up your truck. For fleet and commercial orders, this is also when any upfitter coordination happens — service body installation, toolbox mounting, decal application, or other aftermarket work.
“For most Saskatchewan farmers and contractors, your truck isn't a lifestyle accessory — it's a tool tied to a seasonal calendar. Timing your order around that calendar is critical.”
Planning Around Saskatchewan Seasons
This is the part nobody else writes about, but it matters more here than almost anywhere else in the country. In Saskatchewan, your work year is defined by seasons, and your truck order needs to fit that timeline.
If you need a new truck ready for seeding, order by January at the latest. An April delivery is cutting it close for a May start. Factor in a buffer — if your truck arrives two weeks late, you don't want to be scrambling.
If you need your truck for harvest, order it in the spring. Don't be the person waiting on a 3500HD delivery in September while your grain is ready to come off. March or April orders give you a comfortable runway for a late-summer arrival.
Major project starting in June? Place your order in February or March. Factor in potential delays, and have a contingency plan if the truck arrives a few weeks late. Starting a project without the right equipment costs more than a few weeks of patience upfront.
Spring tends to be a stronger market for selling and trading used trucks in Saskatchewan — demand picks up as construction and farm seasons approach. Holding your trade until spring could mean a better value.
New model years arrive in August and September. Spring or early summer orders for the current model year may compete with end-of-year allocation crunches. Sometimes it makes sense to order the outgoing year at a discount; sometimes it's worth waiting for the new one. The Murray GM team can advise.
Fleet and Commercial Orders
Everything above applies to fleet buyers, with a few additional tools and programs that make the process even smoother.
- GM Fleet Account Businesses can set up a fleet account for simplified ordering, fleet-specific pricing, and streamlined administration. If you're ordering more than one or two trucks per year, this is worth setting up.
- Volume Orders Ordering multiple units at once? Murray GM coordinates directly with GM Canada on allocation to ensure your trucks are built together and arrive on a predictable schedule. Common for construction companies, oilfield service providers, and municipalities.
- Upfitting Coordination For commercial vehicles needing service bodies, utility beds, ladder racks, or other specialized equipment, Murray GM coordinates with local and regional upfitters. Upfitting typically happens after delivery at a separate facility. We help manage the timeline so there's minimal downtime.
- Government & Municipality Orders Government pricing programs are available through GM Fleet, and Murray GM is set up to handle the procurement process — specific documentation, competitive quotes, and fleet management reporting included.
“Getting exactly the right truck is worth the wait. It's a working tool that directly affects your productivity, your safety, and your bottom line.”
Ready to Get Started?
A truck is a major purchase, and for most Saskatchewan farmers and contractors it's a working tool that directly affects your livelihood. Getting exactly the right one is worth a few weeks of waiting. The process is straightforward, and you won't feel like you're navigating it alone.
