Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab 4WD

A brute of a heavy-duty pickup truck, the new Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD ¾-ton pickup can do much more than its ½-ton brethren. It’s loaded with power, the latest trailering technology and (nearly) a couple of tons of creature comforts inside. Napleton.news had a recent chance to put on our dusty trucker’s cap and go frequent the local diesel stops with one of Chevrolet’s biggest Heavy-Duty pickups. Here’s our report.

How big is big? Yes.

Big enough to tow up to 36,000 pounds! (3500HD) But we are getting ahead of ourselves here. This Heavy-duty truck, nearly identical to its corporate cousin, the GMC Sierra HD, is a six-passenger, four-door heavy-duty pickup truck with an 8-foot bed. It is powered by a choice of two engines. First is a 6.6-liter gasoline V8 engine making 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. In our case, it was the Duramax 6.6-liter Diesel V8, making 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque. It matches up to an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission with an autolocking rear differential and AutoTrac transfer case. As equipped, our Silverado 2500HD has a payload capacity of 3,563 pounds in the standard bed and a trailer towing capacity of 18,500 pounds.

One of the newest features of the Silverado is the addition of trailering packages that help ensure trailer safety and security. Don’t forget ease of function. These come from features like Chevrolet’s Trailering Package with hitch guidance, Trailer Brake Control and Stabilitrak with Trailer Sway Control & Hill Start Assist.

A trailering app helps you line up for one-person hitching, using rear-vision cameras to align your hitch with the trailer tongue. Once you are lined up, place the 2500HD in Park and gently lower the trailer over the ball hitch. We haven’t seen a simpler application yet, but the year is still young! But wait, there’s more: With the Trailering Package comes its transparent trailer feature. The system links an image from the tailgate camera and a remote trailer-mounted camera, enabling drivers to see through the transparent-trailer feature.

What is the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD like Outside?

The Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD is available in various configurations, but ours was the Crew Cab with the Standard Bed. Our tester included the 2021 Silverado Z71 Off-Road Monochrome package. Bold in the sense that the grille blends in with the body, this package beefs up the 2500HD with features like an off-road suspension comprised of twin-tube shocks, hill descent controls, under-chassis skid plates and Z71 badging. It has tow hooks upfront and in the rear, trailering mirrors, and heavy-duty running boards on each side of the cab. Now considered old school, we appreciate the side steps and those located at the corners at the rear bumper.

We also love the power-operated rear tailgate. It gently lowers itself to the open position and reverses with the push of a button.

What about inside the Silverado HD?

We think the interior of the new Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is loaded with refined creature comforts. There is a slight look of a Japanese Transformer toy, at least on the centerstack. There’s seating for five passengers, tons of storage space and room for a laptop computer inside the center storage bin.

The layout is clean, and the controls are easy to reach and use. The front seats are heated and ventilated, while the outer rear seats get the heat on a cold morning. The person in the middle must rely on the body heat of others.

The Silverado 2500HD includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but skips over such details found in the RAM 2500, like a 12-inch infotainment screen.

Driving the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD AWD

It’s a monster on four wheels. The new Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD comes with plenty of oomph standard, thanks to its big 6.6-liter turbodiesel. The engine is so stout it pulls up to 18,500 pounds like a freight locomotive. The ten-speed Allison transmission had no problems finding the appropriate gearing for the task at hand. It’s probably more suited to the job of heavy-duty towing than its less-powerful gasoline-fed sibling. The steering was very light, requiring little effort. We prefer a less-boosted feel.

If towing isn’t your thing, the gasoline-engined 2500HD will be more than capable for around-ranch tasks. Feel free to load up the truck’s bed. It also saves you approximately $9,800 in cash over the diesel version choice. Otherwise, stick with the TurboDiesel, which offers so much refinement, you’d think it had a gas engine upfront.

Don’t forget your trucker’s cap next time you head out.