The heavy-duty segment is the most profitable class in the automotive industry. It brings the most income to the truckmakers. Although the half-tone pickups achieve more sales, the heavy-duty models are mostly commercial machines that haul a lot of cargo. The 2021 Chevy Silverado HD is a GM representative in the segment.
Like its main rivals, Ram HD and Ford Super Duty, the 2021 Chevy Silverado HD will offer both petrol and diesel engines. The lineup is split to Series 2 and Series 3 trucks. The second one is also available with the dual-rear-wheel configuration. This feature is required if you plan to squeeze maximum towing capacity from the heavy-duty truck. The vehicle will offer both petrol and diesel units to its buyers.
2021 Chevy Silverado HD Specs, Towing Capacity
The 2021 Chevy Silverado HD will offer you a maximum of 35,500 pounds of hauling capability. This power requires a 5th wheel and a diesel engine. The previous generation was rated only at 23,100 lbs, so this is a huge bump. Mighty Duramax unit is capable to provide enough power and torque. A 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8 is making 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft. A 10-speed Allison gearbox is transferring power to wheels.
If you select a petrol unit, you will end up with a six-speed automatic transmission. A 6.6-liter gasoline engine is delivering 400 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Petrol powerplant cannot tow as much as the Duramax engine. Its rating is only at 14,500 pounds.
All-New Heavy-Duty Trucks
Chevrolet offers two series of HD trucks. The smaller one is a 2500HD, and the bigger model is 3500HD. The company launched the new generation this season, so the styling is going to be unchanged. However, heavily loaded, this vehicle could be turned into a home on wheels with an overall length of 250 inches. The top of the lineup trim level will be High Country. It is the premium package with all the latest systems.
Chevrolet worked a lot on trailering assistance features. When the new Silverado 1500 arrived, we saw a six-way MultiPro tailgate. This one made a different work a lot easier. Now, the company introduced a transparent trailer camera. It makes the cargo “invisible”, so the driver can monitor the situation around its ride.
2021 Chevy Silverado HD Competition
All three big US truckmakers are taking part in the heavy-duty segment. Well, with so much profit there, we are not surprised. Series 2 trucks are Silverado 2500HD, Ram 2500, and Ford F-250, while Series 3 models are Silverado 3500HD, Ram 3500, and Ford F-350. All of them are offering similar options, including petrol and diesel engine with more than 35,000 pounds of towing capacity. In Series 2 we can also count Nissan Titan XD. Ford made an interesting change in its lineup by replacing a gasoline engine with a new 7.3-liter V8. We will see how GM and FCA are responding to this.
The price of the 2021 Chevy Silverado HD starts from $37,000 for the base Series 2 truck. The Silverado 3500 adds around $1,200. The same price is for the dual-rear wheel upgrade. Heavily loaded, the truck can reach a $80,000 price tag.
Read also: 2020 Ram 2500 Power Wagon with Mojave Sand package