Auto N Sider | 2021 Chevy Silverado 2500 4WD LTZ

Got stuff to do?

You might want a truck.

Got a real JOB to do?

You might want a heavy-duty work truck.

And hey…if it looks good too, well….so much the better!

Chevy’s heavy-duty trucks are all new this year…and depending upon how you equip ‘em, they’re ready for some serious work…or play…or both.

Let’s start with the “bones”.   You’ll get either Chevy’s 6.6 liter gas engine or their 6.6 liter turbo diesel.   Both come with a 10-speed automatic.   We tested the 445 HP diesel with 910 lb ft of torque.   It’s an almost $9,900 option, but it’ll allow you to haul a 3,657 payload and pull a 18,500 lb trailer.   Need more?   Go with a 3500 series and you can almost tow a small house…up to 36,000 lbs!

Get the 83.5 cu ft long bed and you’ve got a larger and stronger bed than last year…with 12 tiedowns, rear and side in-bed steps, available LED in-bed lighting, and available 12-volt charging for your power tools.

And if towing is a big reason that you’re looking for a big heavy-duty truck, Chevy’s got a few features that you’ll probably want to check out.

I’d put their 15-view camera on the top of the list.   You’ve got four hitch views…showing you the hitch itself, birds’ eye surround views and more.   And if that’s not enough, Chevy has what they call their “transparent trailer” view…an array of cameras that allow you to look in your rear-view mirror and literally appear to see right through your trailer.   Not only pretty cool…but safe, too.

And then Chevy has their “Advanced Trailering System” which helps you keep tabs on your trailer’s temperature and tire pressure, maintenance schedule and lighting.   Plus electronic stability features like sway control, tow and haul modes, and automatic grade braking add to the driver’s feeling of safety and security.

But what about “play”?   Our ZR1 Off road package brought us 18” black alloys, mud terrain tires and an off-road suspension with twin-tube shocks, a skid plate and hill descent control.   Pretty much everything that you’d need to explore some pretty uncivilized corners of our Mother Earth.

And should you venture there, it’ll be a rather comfortable trip, sitting on heated and ventilated leather with heated steering, heated second row seating, secret storage under the rear seats, and most all of today’s safety alerts.

The total tab for all this capability?   In work truck dress, Chevy’s new 2500 series starts in the mid $30’s.   With destination fees, our well-dressed 4WD LTZ had a mid-$50’s base and came in just a hair over 71K with all options included.

And since you’re probably going to work a truck like this kinda’ hard at least every once and a while, it’s good to know that among heavy-duty trucks, JD power named Chevy’s 2500 series highest in initial quality as well as long term quality.