One of the biggest reasons why someone goes looking for a Chevy Silverado 1500 for sale is to take advantage of its high trailering capability. No matter which trim you choose, you’ll be able to tow some seriously heavy loads—and Chevy has given this model more options and choices than any other full-size truck.
Aspirant truckers seek the Silverado nameplate because they know they can tailor their pickup’s performance around a particular drivetrain, features, bed, and cab to fit their lifestyle. With the 2024 Silverado 1500, Chevy has taken things a step further with generous standard trailering technology that will make towing safer and easier than ever.
This is not surprising since Chevrolet has always used technology to help set its extensive lineup of pickup trucks apart from its competitors. So, if you want to see what Chevy has in store for 2024, you need to take a look at how Chevy endeavors to make trailering better than ever.
Exceptional Trailering Capability
Every engine available for the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 will get you great trailering figures, but some are better than others. The fuel-efficient 2.7-liter High-Output TurboMax I-4 (which comes standard on most trims) will allow you to tow up to 9,500 lbs; this is a solid number, but it can be surpassed by the other three engine options. If you expect you’ll need more, you’ll be keen to upgrade.
If you opt for the 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8, you can tow up to 11,300 lbs, while the available 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 can boost this figure to an impressive 13,300 lbs. This figure is matched by the available 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-6, which also gives your truck its best fuel economy ratings. (It’s no wonder Cars.com named the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 the best pickup for light-duty towing.)
The Oft-Standard Trailering Package
Choosing the Custom trim or higher will get your Chevy’s Trailering Package included as standard; so, if you decide to go with the WT (Work Truck) trim, you may have to pay extra for this package. The Trailering Package adds a trailer hitch to your truck, as well as a trailering hitch platform; this includes a two-inch receiver hitch, along with four-pin and seven-pin connectors. These will accommodate most standard trailers, so you can get started towing for work, fun, or a little bit of both.
The package also includes a seven-wire electrical harness and seven-pin sealed connector. You will need these to connect your trailer’s taillights and brakes to your Silverado 1500. Once it’s connected, you can control your trailer from your driver’s seat, and you can use the included Hitch Guidance system via the infotainment touchscreen.
Chevy’s Hitch Guidance System
Lining up your truck and hitching it to a trailer can be a real hassle, and this is especially true if you are working alone. When you have someone with you, they can direct you into position to secure the hitch, but when working alone, you are pretty much flying blind—or hopping in and out of your cab, circling your truck like a dog. This is why Chevy developed its Hitch Guidance system.
Using the standard Rear Vision Camera (which is activated when you put your Silverado 1500 into reverse), Hitch Guidance will display on the touchscreen to show you how to center your truck toward the hitch connector for your trailer; this will help you align the two.
Depending on which trim you choose, your infotainment touchscreen will be either 7.0 or 13.4 inches wide. Once you select the Hitch Guidance button on the bottom of the infotainment system, the backing guidelines will appear; you will then be able to back up your truck’s hitch ball toward the trailer’s coupler. Once you are lined up, switch to the Hitch View so you can see the actual coupling to make sure you’ve successfully hitched the trailer to your Silverado 1500. If you’re a worrywart, you can even check the security of your hitch while driving.
When you come to a stop, you can engage the electric parking brake on your trailer if it has one. Simply bring your Silverado 1500 to a complete stop and shift into Park; this should engage the trailer’s parking brake, preventing rolling or unwanted movement.
Available Auxiliary Trailer Camera
For drivers who are serious about trailering, Chevy offers an auxiliary trailer camera on the 2024 Silverado 1500 (available on all trims from the LT and above). This surpasses the capability of the Hitch Guidance system by giving you additional camera views that can come in handy when you are towing.
The HD Surround View camera expands the field of vision between your truck and the trailer, giving you a better idea of obstacles that may cause problems. Similarly, the Rear Top-Down View adds a comparable extra angle. Each can be of help when hitching your trailer or backing up.
There are also six available driving views as part of the auxiliary trailer camera system. The Transparent Trailer View allows you to see what is behind your trailer; in other words, it acts as if the trailer isn’t there, which allows you to better gauge your opportunities to merge in traffic. The Pic-in-Pic Side View can also come in handy in this regard, as it adds the rear side views of the trailer; whether you are passing through a narrow area or changing lanes, these views will make doing so safer and easier.
Backing up with a trailer can also be challenging, which is why the auxiliary trailer camera provides a Rear Trailer View; this includes a guidance system comprised of the Trailer Angle Indicator and the Trailer Guidelines. These will show you the path you are taking when you are driving your Silverado 1500 in reverse with a trailer hitched. The auxiliary trailer camera even has an Inside Trailer View feature; this allows you to check on your cargo, which is helpful when transporting livestock or fragile belongings.
Special Trailer Safety Features
If you choose an LT or higher trim on your 2024 Silverado 1500, you can add a pair of special safety features that can improve your trailering experience. The Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert is a variant of the Side Blind Zone Alert featured on the Chevy Safety Assist suite.
When you signal to change lanes, Side Blind Zone Alert will let you know if another vehicle is traveling in your truck’s blind spot in the adjacent lane. This feature uses cameras and radar to detect other vehicles that you may not be able to see in your Silverado’s side-view mirrors, so it’s like having an extra set of eyes. The Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert extends this field of vision to include the length of your trailer, which will allow you to safely change lanes while avoiding a collision.
Another issue that may come up—especially when trailering in the winter months—is changes to the air pressure inside of your trailer’s tires. Improperly inflated tires can reduce fuel efficiency, make handling more difficult, or leading to an accident if there is a tire blowout. The available Trailer Tire Pressure and Temperature Sensors reduce this risk; these will let you know if the tires are properly inflated, if they are running hot, or if there is a leak.
Chevy’s Trailering Tech Is at Its Finest in the 2024 Silverado 1500
Trailering is one of the best things about owning a pickup truck, but it can also be one of the biggest challenges. Hitching up a trailer and making sure it is working right is never easy, but with the available packages and technology features on the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500, you can make hitching a trailer easier than ever while improving the safety of driving your truck while towing.
