If you have the need for towing, whether for fun or profit, then you know that no vehicle can handle that task quite like a pickup truck. This is the result of the truck’s configuration as well as its gross vehicle weight distribution that combine to give a pickup truck the ability to tow heavier loads than other comparably sized vehicles. However, when it comes to looking for trucks for sale, you should be looking at Chevrolet. Chevrolet has taken steps to enhance the trailering abilities of the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500, making it a leader in this category.
This is especially true if you choose one with a rear-wheel drivetrain and one of its five great engines, although four-wheel drive Silverado 1500 trucks will also give you above average towing capabilities. Chevy has also equipped the 2021 Silverado 1500 with a number of innovative new features that will improve the utility of its excellent payload bed. So if you are looking for trucks for sale and want one that can carry heavy loads and provide maximum trailering, then you should consider the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500.
Payload Bed Improvements for 2021
One of the biggest innovations on the 2021 Silverado 1500 is a six-function tailgate, called a Multi-Flex Tailgate. Functions include a tilt-down top that can be used as a desk on a job or a tray if you go tailgating at a sporting event. You can fold the tailgate completely down and use a flip-up hinge to expand the length of the payload. The tailgate can even be folded down to provide a step up to the payload to make it easier to load and unload your Silverado 1500.
When you combine this with the available Silverado Durabed, your Multi-Flex Tailgate will turn your truck into a mobile office. This is because the Durabed features such items as LED lighting, a 120-volt power outlet, and 12 fixed tie-downs to make it easier to secure your belongings. The 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 has a maximum payload of up to 2,280 pounds, so these optional features could be very useful if you would like to get the most out of your truck.
Five Different Powertrains to Give You Optimal Towing
The Chevy Silverado is all about giving you choices so you can configure the truck that best serves your needs and exceeds your desires. With that in mind, Chevy offers the 2021 Silverado 1500 with 8 different trim levels and several different special editions. You will get a choice of a two-door Regular Cab with one row of seats, a two-row Double Cab with two full-size and two pocket doors, or a Crew Cab with two rows of seats and four full-size doors. Each of these different models comes with a number of engine options with a total of 6 different powertrain combinations of engine and transmission.
The base engine is the 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V-6 with active fuel management. Chevy has paired this engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission to provide 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque. This is enough power to help your Silverado 1500 tow up to 7,900 pounds of trailer. The 4.3-liter V-6 comes standard on the Silverado 1500 WT, Custom, and Custom Trail Boss trims.
If you want an engine that will give you improved fuel economy as well as slightly better towing capability, you can opt for a 2.7-liter Turbocharged I-4 with active fuel management. While this is smaller than the 4.3-liter V-6, it uses its turbocharger to produce 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque. This turbo I-4 has been improved for the 2021 model year, is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and utilizes auto stop/start technology to reduce engine emissions while boosting its gas mileage. Best of all, this engine can allow you to tow up to 9,300 pounds of trailer if you opt for a Regular Cab model with a long payload box. This turbo I-4 engine comes standard on the LT and RST trims and is an available option on the Custom, Custom Trail Boss, and WT models.
The workhorse of the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 is a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V-8 that produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. There is one version with active fuel management and a 6-speed automatic transmission, which is available as an optional powertrain on the WT, Custom, and Custom Trail Boss trims. The other version features dynamic fuel management, auto stop/start technology, and either an 8-speed or 10-speed automatic transmission. It is the standard engine on the LTZ, LT Trail Boss, and High Country trims and is available as an option on the LT and RST models. The LT, RST, and LTZ have the 8-speed automatic transmission, while the LT Trail Boss and High Country feature the 10-speed automatic. This engine will allow you to tow up to 11,500 pounds of trailer depending on your Silverado 1500 truck’s cab design, drivetrain, and payload box.
The largest engine offered on the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 is a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8 with dynamic fuel management. This engine uses a 10-speed automatic transmission to produce 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. This is the best choice if you are looking to tow the heaviest trailers as it has a maximum towing capability of 13,300 pounds. You can achieve this figure if you opt for a 4X4 drivetrain, standard payload bed, Double Cab configuration, 20-inch wheels, and the Max Trailering Package. This engine is available as an option on the High Country, LTZ, LT Trail Boss, RST, and Custom Trail Boss models.
Chevy also offers a diesel option on the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500, a 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V-6. This engine will give you exceptional power and great fuel economy of 23 miles per gallon in city driving and 33 miles per gallon on the highway without cutting into your Silverado 1500’s towing capability. This engine is new and improved for 2021 and comes paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and auto stop/start technology as well. The Turbo-Diesel V-6 produces up to 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque and can help your Silverado 1500 pull up to 9,500 pounds of trailer. This engine is available on the LT, RST, LTZ, and High Country trims.
Improved Trailering Technology
Chevrolet is not content with giving you just great trailering capabilities; the company is committed to making towing easier than ever. Chevy already offers up to 15 unique camera angles on the Silverado 1500, the most of any truck on the market. Now, it has added three new innovations for improving the ease and safety of trailering. Trailer Length Indicator helps you change lanes on the road by showing the presence of vehicles to your right or left when your turn signal is activated. Jack-Knife Alert will help keep you and your passengers safe by alerting you if the trailer may skid and cause a hazardous jack-knife situation. Chevy has also added Cargo Bed Zoom Vie and Bed Hitch Guidance to help you better align a gooseneck hitch and/or fifth-wheel trailer.
Chevrolet has also enhanced a number of existing trailering features on the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500. The Rear Trailer View now features a Trailer-Angle Indicator to show you the relationship between your Silverado and the trailer it has been hitched to. The Rear Trailer View camera has also gotten new assisting guidelines to make it easier to back up your trailer. Finally, the Rear Side View camera angle now features a split view when putting your truck into reverse so you can look for other vehicles or obstructions when trailering.
Your Perfect Trailering Companion
The 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 is the ideal full-size half-ton truck for those with a need for towing trailers. It can tow between 9,300 pounds and 13,300 pounds depending on your choice of configuration, powertrain, and drivetrain. The Silverado 1500 now offers available equipment and features that will improve the overall trucking experience in general. Best of all, you can choose from 3 different cab types, 5 different engines, 8 different trims, and several unique special editions. In that way, the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 puts you in the driver’s seat, allowing you to decide which features and capabilities are most important to you.
