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.