Diesel engine ups towing capacity to 35,500 pounds
BEND, ORE. Chevrolet has scaled up its heavy-duty trucks to meet the increasing demands of HD truck customers. Owners want to get more out of their trucks in terms of capability because, according to Chevy, they are working those trucks harder.
The 2020 Silverado HD is 40 millimetres taller, 35 mm wider, and up to 264 mm longer than before, and the wheelbase has been lengthened by up to 132 mm. Volume has increased in both the six-foot-nine and eightfoot beds, to 1,728 and 2,162 litres (up 242 and 202) respectively.
Two engines are available. One is the all-new and much more powerful 6.6-L direct-injected V8 that develops 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, up 41 hp and 81 lb-ft compared to the outgoing 6.0-L V8. Like before, it powers a six-speed automatic transmission. The other engine is the optional 6.6-L Duramax turbodiesel V8 that claims 445 hp, and almost double the gas engine’s torque, at 910 lb-ft.
While it’s the same diesel as previously available, it now couples with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, making a big difference in the diesel’s performance. An active transfer case is standard on 4x4 models, automatically shifting between two- and four-wheel drive, depending on the situation.
The diesel driveline has been upgraded with larger front and rear axles, larger ring gears in the differentials, and 30 per cent larger-diameter driveshafts. These changes have increased towing capacity by up to 52 per cent, now maxing out at 35,500 pounds (16,100 kilograms). Payload varies from 3,600 to 7,500 pounds (1,630 to 3,400 kg), depending on the model.
Five trim levels include Work Truck, Custom, LT, LTZ and High Country, each one getting progressively more equipped.
To test the new Silverado HD’S capability, our hosts hooked up a trailer carrying the maximum load to a 3500 diesel dually.
“You don’t even feel the weight,” boasted several of Chevy’s marketing gurus about the Silverado’s ability to pull the rig. Truth is, you do feel the weight — it’s more than 16 tonnes, after all — but the Silverado pulled the trailer with little effort.
The diesel is equipped with an automatic after-run feature that keeps the engine running for up to 15 minutes after it is shut off to allow it to cool down after towing a particularly heavy load.
An integrated power takeoff unit (PTO) is now a factory-installed option, so owners don’t have to equip their trucks with an add-on aftermarket unit, or alter their trucks if they want to use them to power work equipment. There is also a removable lower panel on the front bumper to allow installation of a snowplow, again without having to permanently modify the truck.
Another handy feature is an integrated block-heater plug, located at the lower left side of the front bumper, so you don’t have to pop the hood or pull a wire through the front grill if you need to plug in. If you do need to pop the hood, note that the reach is a long way up to pull it back down — this is one tall truck.
Chevy has done an excellent job of insulating the cab — the interior is quiet and the ride smooth. The serene cabin doesn’t make the Silverado HD feel like a truck ready for heavy worksite duty, at least not on smooth roads. But there’s no masking the firmness of the suspension; the ride is harsh when driving over big bumps.
A back-to-back trailer pull with a gasoline and a diesel Silverado HD revealed why you should opt for the diesel if you haul heavy loads regularly. A gasoline-powered 2500 crew cab hauled 12,000 lbs. (5,445 kg) with relative ease, but the engine produced more noise and didn’t accelerate as hard as the 2500 Duramax pulling a 14,000-pound (6,350-kg) load.
The trailering route included some long hills, which really emphasized the difference between the two power plants. Both climbed easily, but the diesel sounded much more relaxed doing it. The gasoline engine often revved up to 4,500 rpm to maintain about 80 km/h. The diesel got better mileage, too, even if it was just half a litre better, though remember it was also hauling a heavier load. Both were in the range of 26.0 L/100 km in these conditions.
Part of the trailer-pulling package is Chevy’s 15 camera views. Six cameras are mounted on the vehicle, and you can add two more onto the trailer for all of the 15 views, including the “invisible trailer” view that digitally blends two images together so you can see what’s behind the trailer as if it weren’t there.
The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD will arrive at dealers in the fall, with pricing announced closer to market launch.