It's safe to say that the former Silverado will be the last one to ever allow its engineers to take an 11-year vacation. A substantial chunk of GM's fortunes rests on this workhorse, in no small part because it serves as the basis for numerous Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac SUVs. This Silverado, dating back to 1999, is already the oldest. 1999 was so long ago that at the time, two of its four competitors didn't exist. Does its age show?
One aspect of full-size pickups that will remain timeless is the grueling process of choosing the perfect one. There are six model levels on the Silverado that indicate utility, of which the mainstream ones are the 1500 ("half-ton"), 1500 HD, 2500 HD, and 3500 models. Then there's the special Hybrid model (the first hybrid truck and the only so far) and the SS sport truck. Within the mainstream models, there are the trim lines of Work Truck, base, LS, LT, and Z71. Harder still is finding one's way through the maze of configurations when it comes to the many measurements of the bed, cab, wheelbase, and length. And if you must know, there are eight different engines to choose from (three on the 1500).
Starting from the top, know right now that the basic Silverado 1500 is the one aimed at mainstream consumers. Depending on the exact model, the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (or GVWR, the upper limit of total vehicle and carried weight) on 1500 models ranges from 6,100 to 7,000 pounds. Payload capacity ranges from 1,215 to 2,040 while towing capacity goes from 4,800 to 9,000 pounds for automatic 1500s; the manual transmission reduces that by 1,000 on V6 models and by 2,000 on 4.8 V8 models. Is this not enough?
The only reason to step up to the 1500 HD, 2500 HD, or 3500 models is to inflate these numbers. For payload, 1500 HD Silverados range from 2,766-3,073; 2500s from 3,151-3,763; and 3500s from 3,661-5,497. For towing, 1500 HDs can take between 7,900-10,200; 2500 HDs from 9,800-12,000; and 3500s from 9,100-12,000. All these ranges encompass a number of factors too numerous to list (i.e. axle ratios, transmission choices, body style availability, and even the number of wheels) so they don't step up in perfect increments; the big jumps between models are partly caused by the availability of the stronger engines. That lofty towing number of 12,000 pounds, for example, owes all credit to the tractor-like torque of the diesel engine exclusive to 2500 HD and 3500 models. Realize, of course, that the truck's own curb weight numbers go up in unison with these capacities, and unless you own a Home Depot, all of this is probably overkill to begin with. Also, none of these has the rack-and-pinion steering of the 1500 or its more agreeable suspension settings. "HD" does stand for Heavy Duty, you know.
The several bodies ride on five different wheelbases and six different overall lengths, and that's just on the 1500 model. "Regular cab" means no cab (one-row seating), extended cab adds a kid-friendly back seat, and crew cab makes the back seat a place for everyone. Any of these comes with a 5.7-foot bed, 6.5-foot "Sportside" bed, or long 8-foot bed length. The longest combination is the whopping 256-inch Crew Cab Long Box, available as a 2500 HD only.
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