When you are in the market for a new pickup truck, you do research on all of the features each manufacturer and model offers. Sure, you do your homework and learn all about the engines offered, horsepower, and towing and payload capacities; you might even have read up on infotainment system features and dual-zone climate control, but there are several features that trucks offer that you might not know even exist. For example, you are probably not aware that the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 has what is called air curtains on the front of the model; they are designed to improve aerodynamics by forcing air around the wheel arches. It was a concept introduced on the Chevy Camaro and now a sweet addition to the Silverado. If you have the time to dig a little deeper in your research, you will discover several hidden or relatively unknown features in pickup trucks.
The Death of Form Follows Function
If you know anything about the history of pickup trucks, you are aware that they used to be built purely for utilitarian purposes. That is, the only kind of truck produced back in the day was a work truck. It did not matter what new technology came out; if it did not improve function, it was not added to a truck. So for many years, trucks remained listless and boring workhorses void of anything convenient or luxurious. But the concept behind form follows function began to fade right around the end of the 20th century when manufacturers began including technology and luxury into trucks.
It was a slow start, to be sure, with manufacturers dumping AM radios for quality stereo systems. But then, things really blew up in the 21st century with the addition of luxury features and functional advancements. As a result, the modern trucks you see and drive today are very similar to sedans in terms of the features you can enjoy in them, except trucks are still workhorses.
Innovative Storage
Way back in the 1970s and 1980s, it wasn’t uncommon to see the bed of a pickup truck filled with tools, recreational gear, and a cooler for sodas and beer. The reason for that is the only source of storage was in the form of a single glove box. That’s right, everything and anything you needed to store would either get crammed into the glove box or stuffed under the bench seat or simply tossed in the bed of the truck. Things have surely changed over the years.
Trucks are no longer just a form of transportations that will get you from point A to point B; many of us spend a lot of time in our trucks. As such, we need places to store our stuff. From recreational gear to electronics to tools, there is a lot of stuff that needs a place to call home in our trucks. Manufacturers have done a very good job getting creative with storage space.
Storage space is an excellent selling point, so the engineers at Chevy transformed what was once useless space into storage. For example, if one glove box is not enough, then perhaps two will give you the storage space you need. The double glove compartments in the Silverado are lockable and hold a lot of the things you need to have on your daily drives. The center console of the Silverado has added storage space, and as a bonus, it is functional. In addition to having a built-in light, the center console enjoys storage space for your smartphone and other electronics.
Under Pressure
There are several circumstances in which you might feel a lot of pressure while you are driving. For example, driving in adverse conditions during rush hour is enough to cause you to grip your steering wheel so hard it cuts the blood circulation to your fingers. There is a term for that, and it is called white-knuckling. Auto manufacturers have done an excellent job in creating features that take the edge out of certain driving conditions and scenarios. For example, modern convenience and safety features on trucks include blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and many trucks include cameras that help guide you through potentially dangerous situations.
If you have ever used your truck to tow a trailer or boat, you know first-hand just how nerve-racking it can be. While Chevy and other manufacturers offer features that make towing safer and more manageable, it is still an experience that might leave you stressed out. But the Silverado offers a neat little feature that helps take the danger and anxiety out of towing. All GM and Chevy trucks come with a trailer tire pressure monitoring system that ensures the tire pressure in your trailer tires is acceptable. It might not seem like a big deal, but ask anybody who does a lot of towing, and they will appreciate this handy feature that gives drivers peace of mind and minimizes the dangers of towing.
Powergate
At one time or another, anyone who has ever owned an older pickup truck has encountered a problem with the tailgate. Older tailgates were the source of pinched fingers, bruises on your leg, and caused headaches for any number of reasons. But, if you don’t believe us, just find a 1970s era truck and try to open the tailgate without breaking a finger or having it slam down on your hip or another body part.
Old-school tailgate latches were nightmares that fueled urban legend. It would take all of your strength to lift up the latch to open the tailgate. And because you are so focused on lifting the latch, you would totally forget that when it does pop up, you have to worry about the 100 tailgate free-falling to the open position. Thankfully, tailgates have evolved just like the rest of the truck.
Chevy offers newer Silverado owners the option to get a unique Multi-Flex Tailgate with power folding. This is a feature that allows drivers to open or close the tailgate from the safety of the front seat. All you need to do is push a button on the key fob or the tailgate itself, and the tailgate will open or close. You can use these buttons to control both the full gate and the inner portion of the tailgate for ease of use.
More Power
It is quite common for trucks to offer one or more USB ports on the center console as a way to charge your smartphone. But what you might not know is the Silverado also offers power outlets in case you need to plug in your power tools or other electric-driven devices. Again, it might seem like a minor feature, but it is a big deal for those who utilize their trucks as their work vehicle. Need to cut down the 2X4? All you have to do is plug in your saw and get to work.
If you are in the market for a new truck, there are plenty of features you need to research. While you spend a lot of time comparing drivetrains, towing capacities, and discovering which engine offers the most horsepower, there are other features that should be considered. In addition, there are lesser-known features and even hidden features that you should ask about when test driving the Silverado. These might not be dealmakers or dealbreakers, but you should know everything you can before making such an important decision.
