2019 Chevy Silverado 3500

Silverado's exterior design borrows heavily from the Chevy truck legacy displaying a natural progression in aesthetic design choices from past to present, except wider; the front bumper and grill are far from ornamental, but they step forward first boldly introducing the 2019 Chevy Silverado 3500HD upon initial viewing. The design choices appear both utilitarian and muscular as Chevy wisely chooses an aerodynamic, close-fitting casing allowing the vehicle’s body and presence to speak for itself. This year's models are only being offered in a crew cab, but the large rear doors combined with revised seating will provide increased legroom as well as enabling easier exit and entry for the backseat passengers. The body and chassis have also been designed to improve ride and handling for better comfort but also increased vehicle capability.

Trucks, in particular, full-sized trucks, were once designed and made in a very one-size-fits-all automotive world. A work truck capable of lifting and towing heavy loads handled and operated with about as rough and tumble of a ride as the jobs it carried out. This was primarily out of necessity due to the constraints of technology, but the Silverado 3500HD is proof positive that the full-sized truck is no longer constrained by the duties it’s built to carry out. Adaptability is the measure of the modern day truck and the 3500HD has the available options necessary to adapt to any occasion. Crew cab customers can choose between 6-foot, 5-inch or 8-foot boxes depending on the typical size of their needs; at its’ largest configuration, the 3500HD measures 21.5 feet long and 8 feet wide showing visually that it is still primarily a work truck if not only in size. The adaptability really comes to light with the different available trim levels that range from work truck to luxury high roller. Four distinct trims are offered and these include the Work Truck, the LT, the LTZ, and the High Country. From the more basic and featureless power on a budget WT to the amenity laden LTZ and High Country, the 3500HD offers drivers options that typically were only relegated to smaller, less utilitarian driven vehicles. All that power with a relatively smooth ride, quiet cabin, and quick steering has most car reviewers referring to the 3500HD as a gentle giant. Now your heavy-duty truck can get the job done on the work site without sacrificing modern creature comforts.

Although the 3500HD has the adaptability to be both a work and home driven truck, chances are you still bought it for the work. The standard engine on all Silverado HD is a 360 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque 6.0L Vortec gasoline V8, matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. A flex-fuel version of the 6.0-liter which functions on either gasoline or E85 is available on all SRW crew cab models. The re-engineered optional Duramax 6.6-liter diesel, with 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque, is mated to the Allison 1000 6-speed automatic transmission. Standard Trailer Sway Control automatically keeps both the truck and trailer heading in the same direction. All models receive a standard automatic locking rear differential. There are gas and gas/CNG 6.0-liter V-8s, as well as a highly recommended 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel with 910 lb-ft and the Allison six-speed automatic transmission. It almost goes without saying that the 6.6-liter turbo-diesel makes a substantial amount of torque, but even more impressive is its ability to produce more than enough power to give the 3500HD a welcome surge of acceleration off the line. Surprisingly for a truck this size, it goes from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.7 seconds.

Each engine is outfitted with the Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) system which makes up the essential component for the upgrade; Chevy’s new DFM system allows the Silverado’s engine to run on as few as two cylinders dependant on the driver’s load and demand for torque. The DFM system simply builds on Chevy’s previous implemented and still available Active Fuel Management, which allows V-8 engines to use just four cylinders in order to save fuel when carrying light loads. The system operates with little to no hiccups with hardly any noticeable changes in feel or ride to the driver. Car and Driver stated in their recent review that, “During a drive of a 5.3-liter Silverado equipped with DFM, we failed to feel any vibrations or change in driving character as the engine shuffled among its 17 available firing orders, even with a calibration tool calling out the changes in real time.”

Chevrolet Infotainment System, standard on all models, provides easy-to-use connectivity for the job site or the family vacation, with natural voice recognition and enough ports and power outlets to support multiple devices. For owners whose work or recreation takes them off-road, the Z71 Package includes Rancho shocks, a skid plate, and Hill Descent Control. Chevrolet Infotainment System, standard on all models uses an available high-definition 7 or 8-inch color touch screen. Heated seats are available with cloth seats and standard with leather. Available LED cargo lights integrated beneath the bed rails will illuminate the bed when a tonneau cover is in place. The available EZ Lift and Lower tailgate uses an integrated torsion bar and damper to ease lifting and lowering. Paired with Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning is Driver Alert Seat, which generates vibrating pulse patterns on the left and/or right side of the lower seat cushion bolster to alert the driver of potential dangers, such as an un-signaled lane change or approaching another vehicle too quickly.

DFM is the fuel-saving technology that will definitely help you save at the pump no matter if you are at work or home, but what about advancements to increase work performance. The obvious solution to driving your work truck on the weekend is better fuel economy, but some truck drivers actually tow things with their full-size trucks. That is why Chevy is introducing the Advanced Trailering System (ATS) made available as a package for their 2019 Silverado 3500HD models. The ATS, standard on High-Country and LTZ and an available option for LT, RST, and Trail Boss trims, attempts to satiate many of the annoying hassles involved in towing with an emphasis also on increased safety.

“...GMC spoke with thousands of pickup truck owners who trailer, either on a daily basis or a couple times a month,” said Tony Johnson, Director of Truck Strategy. “We listened to their thoughts on how the trailering process, from connecting the hitch to traveling down the road, could be improved upon and integrated professional-grade solutions...”

General Motors found solutions to questions like what is the point of owning a truck with all that horsepower and torque if you still need a friend to help to help you hitch up your trailer? The ATS package has a fix for this. A built-in back-up camera is included that allows the driver to view proximity and distance of the truck and hitch to the intended tow all from inside the cab of the truck. The on-screen viewpoint comes with helpful guidance lines for the truck and trailer hitch to assist in backward navigation, and the camera also has a Hitch View mode which allows the driver to zoom in on the hitch for closer maneuvering capability. A frustratingly difficult two-person job that was once reliant on mirrors and hand singles is now the relatively stress-free experience of a single person.

Perhaps the packages most impressive and safety minded feature, though, is the trailer tire pressure monitoring system. Trailer tire pressure and temperature are made available with the touch of a button on your infotainment screen. No more finding a space long enough to park, and then having to walk back and check the tire pressure manually. A true time saver all truck drivers can appreciate and combined with tire temperature monitoring should help prevent any unexpected highway blowouts.