Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A sliver 2018 Chevy Silverado 3500 is shown from the front at an angle hooked up to a trailer at a job site.

8 Reasons to Buy a Used Chevy Diesel Truck

What’s the inspiration behind your search for used Chevy diesel trucks? Do you need the beefy torque that comes with Chevy’s Duramax powertrains, or are you looking for the best balance between capability and efficiency? Whatever inspired your search, you’re not alone, as millions of drivers rely on Duramax-powered Chevy trucks to get the job done. These powerful vehicles have the capability and features to take on any task, even when you shop used.

Shopping for a used Chevy diesel truck is an excellent investment because diesel engines like the Duramax are renowned for their longevity and reliability. They’re capable of logging hundreds of thousands of miles without breaking a sweat. But, beyond the powertrain itself, what other features can you expect to find in your search? We’re talking about features that will help you work smarter, not harder––a promise that Chevy delivers whether you’re behind the wheel of a midsize Colorado or a heavy-duty Silverado 3500 HD.

#1 – Views from Every Angle

As you shop for a Duramax-powered Chevy, you’ll discover that newer models offer an array of innovative technology that extends your visibility and gives you greater confidence in the driver’s seat. This technology might look like the standard rearview camera on some models, while others offer a class-leading 15-view camera system. This advanced system gives you a bird’s eye view around the truck and unique options like Transparent Trailer, which allows you to see directly behind the trailer, making it easier to tow a heavy load in any condition.

A close up of the dash of a 2021 Chevy Silverado 3500 is shown displaying the backup camera.

#2 – Innovative Trailering Technology

Designed to work hard, Chevy ensures its diesel-powered trucks take the brunt of the load. In 2019, the automaker introduced the industry’s first Advanced Trailering System on the Silverado. Accessible via the center touchscreen display or the myChevrolet mobile app on your smartphone, the system lets you create custom trailer profiles. Once you create and select a profile, you can navigate pre-departure checklists, monitor the trailer’s tire pressure, test the lights, and more with the touch of a button.

#3 – Functional Tailgate Design

After introducing the Advanced Trailering System, the 2021 Silverado also introduced drivers to the brand’s first multifunctional tailgate. Officially known as the Multi-Flex Tailgate, the design completely changes how you access the bed. The primary gate unfolds like a traditional tailgate but adds convenience since it opens from a switch inside the truck, a button on the key fob, or a button on the gate. In addition, the primary gate load stop keeps longer items from sliding out of the bed, while the inner gate folds down to give you easier access to items in the bed or unfolds into a full-width step that can support up to 375 pounds. The inner gate also features an inner gate load stop that keeps items in place, or when folded flat, is a work surface that’s perfect for reading blueprints, using a laptop, or resting other items.

#4 – Rugged Bed Design for All Your Cargo-Hauling Needs

Regardless of whether you’re looking for a 2010 or 2020 Silverado, you’ll find that the trucks offer one of the most versatile and rugged beds in the segment. This is even truer with the redesigned 2019 Silverado, which debuted the all-new Durabed––the most functional bed in the industry. Designed to make hauling cargo easier, the Durabed offers the most cargo volume of any diesel truck in the segment. With 12 standard tie-downs, LED area lighting, and a 120-volt outlet, the bed gives you ample options to secure your cargo as well as power any small tools or equipment.

#5 – Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Knowing that visibility is everything when towing a heavy load, you’ll find many Duramax-powered Chevys equipped with a suite of mirrors that make it easy to keep an eye on your rig and your surroundings. Most heavy-duty Chevys like the Silverado 3500 HD are equipped with trailering mirrors. Mounted to the doors and easily folded, these mirrors give you a better view of your rig without hindering your maneuverability. Newer models also feature a rear camera mirror that replaces the traditional mirror to provide you with a wider, less obstructed view behind the truck.

#6 – Expansive Digital Displays

Unless you’re shopping for a vintage Chevy, you’ll find an array of digital displays in any used diesel truck in the Chevy lineup. One of the many perks of shopping for a Chevy truck like the Silverado is that Chevy ensures its trucks offer the latest technology. This technology, depending on the year and model, can include everything from an expansive center touchscreen display that’s home to smartphone integration and navigation to a digital driver instrument display that’s fully customizable. If you’re looking for the most advanced technology, shop for a newer Silverado. These trucks offer a class-leading 15-inch head-up display that projects data like your speed and navigational cues onto the windshield.

A black 2020 Chevy Silverado 3500 is shown from the front at an angle while it tows a trailer loaded with a loader.

#7 – High Torque at Low RPMs

While it’s not a physical feature like a digital display or a multifunction tailgate, Chevy’s diesel powertrain is worthy of our list because, by its design, it ensures the Silverado works smarter to get any job done. Chevy’s Duramax power plant is one of the best in the industry because of its ability to balance efficiency without sacrificing capability. This is thanks to its design and ability to deliver a significant amount of torque at low RPMs. So what does this mean when you’re behind the wheel?

Torque gives your truck the power it needs to pull itself up a hill or tow a heavy load. For example, think about two trucks and their accompanying trailers at the bottom of a hill. A gas-powered truck that delivers high horsepower may cruise comfortably at highway speeds, but it will struggle to get up to speed as it climbs the hill. Alternatively, the diesel-powered truck relies on its high torque ratings to pull the entire load at a steady speed up the hill, leading it to surpass its gas-powered rival quickly. The diesel is also incredibly efficient, thanks to its low-speed torque at lower RPMs.

#8 – Plenty of Accessories to Make Customization Easy

One of the many things that attracts drivers to best-selling trucks like the Silverado is Chevy’s extensive selection of accessories that make it easy to modify the truck to your needs. This is certainly true for any used diesel-powered Chevy and gives you even more opportunities to customize the truck to your liking. Chevy’s available accessories include everything from floor mats, bed protection, and assist steps that make ingress and egress easier to performance-inspired updates and design details like custom exhaust tips, mirror caps, badging, and more.

Your Future on the Road Looks Bright in a Chevy

Are you excited to start your search for a used Chevy diesel truck? Chevy’s diesel engines are renowned for their reliability and capability, which means you can easily expand your search to include older used models that offer even more bang for your buck. Of course, if you’re looking for the latest in technology like advanced trailering features and Chevy’s exclusive Multi-Flex Tailgate, you’ll want to start your search with models built since 2019. Either way, you can’t go wrong by adding a used diesel Chevy to your garage.