The 2500 and 3500 come with a 6.0L V8 engine standard, though a 6.6L turbo-diesel V8 is available. All Silverados come with a heavy-duty 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2500 and 3500 can be had as either a regular, extended or crew cab, with a standard or long bed and with either a 2- or 4-wheel-drive configuration. Dual rear wheels are available on some models. There are three trim levels: WT, LT and LTZ as well as a special edition "High Country" model.
The standard engine is a 6.0L V8 engine that is capable of 360 horsepower and 380 lb-feet of torque. It can also be ordered to run on compressed natural gas. A 6.6L turbo-diesel engine capable of 445 horsepower and 910 lb-feet of torque is also available. When equipped with the correctly, a 3500HD is capable of towing up to 23,000 lbs.
In addition to the stiff frame, heavy-duty front and rear suspension systems provide incredible strength on 4-wheel-drive models. Now rated at 6,000 pounds, all 4-wheel drive front suspension systems can easily support a snow plow when properly equipped. The 2500 utilizes 2-stage leaf springs in the rear, while the 3500 makes use of three-stage springs.
Some standard features cross all Silverado lines, such as driver and passenger air bags, 4-wheel disc anti-lock brakes and tire pressure monitoring. GM's OnStar system is standard on the LT trim and better. Like most GM vehicles on which it's equipped, OnStar offers crash response, roadside assistance and remote door unlock services. There are two suspension packages available for the 2500: the standard Z85 handling and trailering suspension and the Z71 off-road package, which adds high-performance shocks and a bigger stabilizer bar.
Equipment availability is dependent on trim. Pretty much anything available in a pickup is available on a Silverado -- power everything, remote keyless entry, heated mirrors, privacy glass, bed liner, front tow hooks and chrome or aluminum wheels. Navigation is available, as is rear-seat entertainment for the crew cab models. Heated power seats are available, along with cruise control, sunroof and a rear window defogger.
High-tech touches such as a rearview camera and rear parking assist are available as well. An MP3-compatible stereo with XM satellite radio is standard on many models. A high-performance Bose system with USB interface is available.
Superior Heavy-duty Towing And Hauling Capability
Class-leading Design
Powerful Engine Lineup
Wide Variety Of Configurations
Available 4-wheel Drive
The 2017 Chevrolet Silverado heavy-duty didn't get a lot of major changes, but one particularly impressive update was that the 6.6L turbodiesel now makes 445 horsepower and 910 lb-feet of torque, up from 397 hp and 765 lb-feet in 2016.
The Silverado range is always one of GM's biggest sellers. This means GM is always endeavoring to innovate and continue to improve the truck's design. The result, however, is that whether hauling equipment to a job site, working a farm or towing a boat, the Silverado 2500 and 3500 are designed for toughest jobs, and they are some of the best-designed trucks available from any manufacturer. Made in either short- or long-bed form, with 2- or 4-wheel drive, optional dual rear wheels and with a choice of several impressively powerful engines, the Silverado can be set up do just about anything asked of it.
To understand the impressive value potential of the HD Silverado, take the 2-wheel drive 2500. Configured as a regular cab work-truck and equipped with the entry-level 6.0L V8, it is still rated to tow loads up to 14,500 lbs. Prices for this model start at just under $35,000.
