2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Is A 35,500 Pound Tow Monster
Chevrolet has revealed its latest heavy-duty truck, the 2020 Silverado HD, promising a huge uptick in towing capacity and a technology boost to match. Set to arrive in Chevy dealerships from this summer, the new 2020 Silverado HD will be offered with two engines, up to 910 lb-ft of torque, and a whopping 35,500 pound towing capacity.
They're big figures from what's shaping up to be a big truck. Indeed, Chevrolet says the 2020 Silverado HD has grown in all dimensions over the old truck, with 5.2-inches more in the wheelbase of Crew Cab models alone.
There'll be plenty of scope for customization, too. Five trim levels will be offered – Work Truck, Custom, LT, LTZ, and finally High Country – and a total of 22 cab, bed, chassis, and powertrain configurations. The standard engine will be a new 6.6-liter V8 gas power plant with direct injection, mustering 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque.
It'll be paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and Chevy says that towing capability is as much as 17,400 pounds with a 5th wheel or gooseneck trailer, or up to 16,800 pounds for a conventional trailer.
Optional will be a Duramax 6.6-liter Turbo-Diesel V8, for those who want serious torque. It's good for 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft, and is paired with a new Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. It's enough that Regular Cab, two-wheel drive, DRW, diesel Silverado HD models can tow up to 35,500 pounds, a 52-percent increase over the outgoing pickup.
As with the other big trucks we've seen in recent months, Chevy has a whole gamut of tech to offer to make towing easier. The Advanced Trailering System offers up to 15 different camera views – some of which require an accessory camera mounted on whatever it is you're towing – including a "transparent trailer" that digitally removes it from the scene. There's also HD Surround Vision, for a bird's eye view.
The myChevrolet mobile app has been upgraded as well. Available for iOS and Android devices, it offers remote control of various trailer functionality on compatible trailers, like extending awnings and power slide-outs.
Inside, there's a new infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. Menus in that system also integrate with compatible trailers. There's also auto park brake assist and park grade hold assist, for keeping the Silverado HD in place for extended periods. Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control are available, along with power steering that can adjust according to what you're pulling and other road factors.
Compared to the Silverado light duty, the 2020 Silverado HD only shares the roof. Otherwise, every other external component is new. The design has been tweaked to make it more rugged and imposing, with the detailing depending on which of the five models you select. At the one extreme, the Work Truck gets 17-inch wheels on the 2500HD and 3500HD with dual rear wheels, while the 3500HD with single rear wheels gets 18-inchers.
The LT and LTZ add more brightwork, along with features like LED headlamps and taillamps on the LTZ. The 2020 Silverado HD High Country, meanwhile, gets a two-tone metallic grille, LED lighting, and up to 20-inch wheels.
The bed, meanwhile, has multi-piece inner panels, with the standard box now 3-inches longer. Long box length stays at 8 feet long, with 83.5 cubic feet of volume. Twelve fixed tie-down rings are standard, as are BedSteps; a 120 volt outlet and power up/down tailgate are options.
Pricing for the new 2020 Silverado will be confirmed closer to the truck's on-sale date. That should be around Summer 2019 in the US.