The Chevy Silverado has earned a solid reputation for being one of the toughest trucks on the market, wearing its bowtie proudly. Built to last, the Silverado has proven time and time again that it is a force to be reckoned with, especially in the never-ending pickup truck war. With virtually limitless trim options and configurations, the Chevy Silverado has something for everyone. But how does the Chevy Silverado 1500 compare to the 2500 vs 3500 models?
Well, for starters, the size of each truck is reflected in their respective title: 1500, 2500, and 3500. These can be translated as a half-ton, three-quarter-ton, and one-ton pickup truck. When compared to the others, the Chevy Silverado 1500 half-ton truck is built to perform lighter duty work (i.e. light trailer loads and bed capacity). These trucks are intended more for daily drivers and are manufactured with comfort in mind. A half-ton truck is ideal for those who use their trucks on a daily basis with minimal hauling needs; it’s an all-around great truck for general utility needs. In conclusion, the Silverado 1500 is built for more drivability, comfort, and (fuel) efficiency.
Moving up to three-quarter tons, the Chevy Silverado 2500 is specified as a heavy-duty truck. If the 1500 isn’t enough for you in terms of power or capacity, then the 2500HD is the next best bet. It has more than double the towing and payload capacities. It is important to note, however, that one of the other noticeable differences is fuel economy; though the size of the tank is increased. The Silverado 2500HD models are built to accommodate larger workloads and tougher conditions.
The Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD one-ton truck is all about payload and towing capability. If you are looking to do heavy hauling and towing, then this is the class of truck you’ll want. The truck is heavier and features a more robust suspension while being second to none in terms of producing the necessary torque to tow even the heaviest of loads. While they are virtually identical, when deciding between the three-quarter-ton 2500HD and one-ton 3500HD truck, it all comes down to your average daily towing and hauling needs.
If you are interested in making your Silverado even tougher, then you’re going to have a ball. The automotive aftermarket houses a plethora of available mods and upgrades options to help you take your Silverado to the next level. So whether you are looking for essential add-ons to your truck, go-fast goodies, or work-related protection, then you’ve come to the right place. We have compiled a list below featuring the top five best modifications to consider when browsing the aftermarket. While we certainly could not touch upon every possible upgrade you can do, it’s a good starting point with which to take your paintbrush to the canvas.
#1 Tonneau Cover / Bed Liners
Being able to haul a refrigerator or ATV in the bed of your truck at any given moment is definitely one of the pros of truck ownership. Even so, sometimes it’s helpful to seal up the bed to keep smaller gear out of sight from Mother Nature and potential thieves. That is where a Chevy Silverado tonneau cover comes into play to give you the security you deserve and the convenience you crave. What’s more, tonneau covers give you the ability to fold, roll, or stow it away for when you need the additional space. They can be made from both flexible and rigid materials to keep your belongings dry and out of sight. It’s the perfect balance of utility and defense at a price point that makes sense. The icing on the cake? Many experts say that tonneau covers also reduce aerodynamic drag and, therefore, improve fuel economy by as much as 10 percent!
Now that we’ve covered keeping your gear and equipment safe, what about the actual truck bed itself? For that, the aftermarket offers a slew of bed liner options to give you an extra layer of protection. After all, no matter how careful you may try to be, your Silverado bed will still get scratched, dented, and dinged up from the daily grind and off-road ventures alike. Corrosion and rust can still take place even if your truck bed is galvanized. The best way to avoid this from happening is by investing in a bed liner that will deliver an ultra-tough surface for all your gear, machinery, and equipment. The best quality bed liners will, of course, resist water and stains and will hold up well to oil, dirt, sand, and the works. For additional coverage, you can also opt for a tailgate liner too.
#2 Lift Kit / Leveling Kit
Whether you are looking for a subtle lift or much more noticeable height, lift kits and leveling kits can get you there. These are one of the most popular first mods among truck owners, especially since the front end sits slightly lower than the rear. The reason for this is that the back end is raised to offset loads in the bed or account for a small trailer attached. When trying to figure out if you should go with a lift kit or leveling kit, it all comes down to the type of driving you will be doing and where you take your truck most often. Not only can lift and leveling kits give your truck additional ground/wheel clearance, but they will also give it a more demanding appearance and improve its approach, departure, and breakover angles.
Lift kits work by raising the entirety of your truck to give it a higher ride height; leveling kits only raise the front to match up with the higher back end. Lifting your Silverado will achieve both, in a sense, because it will level out the truck while giving it the extra height it needs to allow for a larger wheel and tire package. In addition, there is also a significant increase in ground clearance which will certainly interest owners who enjoy off-roading. Riding higher means your truck can maneuver over tall rocks without issue and other obstacles that may be on the trails, so you reduce the chances of getting stuck. Lift kits also prove to be especially useful in protecting the underbody of your Silverado against damage while off-roading.
For those looking to maintain the Silverado’s factory ride quality while matching the front ride height to the rear, a leveling kit is the way to go. While leveling kits are typically used for more aesthetic reasons, they can provide ground clearance too – however, less than that of lift kits. Leveling kits are also a top choice for those who aren’t hauling heavy loads and want their truck to appear more “level” on a daily basis. They also tend to be more affordable than lift kits, making them a great value for the price point when it comes to tweaking your Silverado’s suspension.
Shop Lift and Leveling Kits Here.
#3 Running Boards / Side Steps
Now that we’ve covered lifting your truck, let’s include a mod that makes ingress and egress less of a chore. Both running boards and side step bars serve a number of different purposes, but primarily function to make getting in and out of your Silverado that much easier. No matter what you do on a daily basis, chances are you will be hopping in and out of the truck frequently for supplies, equipment, shopping bags, and to head to your next destination. Apart from the convenience factor, this multifunctional mod doubles as side armor for your Silverado to provide additional protection from road debris while you’re driving. It also doesn’t hurt that running boards and side step bars give your truck a more aggressive look.
Running boards and side step bars are both very simple to install and typically come in a plug-and-play format that can be quickly bolted to your truck’s underside in no time. Aftermarket running boards and side step bars are available in aluminum, stainless steel, or ABS plastic materials. Metal boards, such as aluminum and stainless steel, are preferred as they offer higher levels of strength, support more weight, and are more resistant against scuffs/scratches. Step padding comes in plastic and rubber materials. In this case, rubber is preferred because it is the more high-end and long-lasting option and gives a better grip and sturdier footing no matter the weather.
Shop Running Boards and Side Steps Here.
#4 Exhaust System
A total of five powerplants are available in the Chevy Silverado 1500: a 2.7-liter turbo, a 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6, a 5.3-liter V8, a 6.2-liter V8, and a 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel. Two heavy-duty engines are available in the Silverado 2500 and 3500: a new base 6.6L V8 and a Duramax 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V8. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to add some horses, gain a better sound, and improve airflow, an aftermarket exhaust upgrade is a great mod to consider. It’s especially beneficial for V6 owners who crave the sound of a V8, but it just wasn’t in the books for them. That being said, vehicles tend to be quieter these days (due to EPA regulations), so what is the point of a V8 if you can’t hear it? That’s where the automotive aftermarket comes in, boasting a virtually endless array of individual exhaust parts like catalytic converters, mufflers, downpipes, and tailpipes, as well as complete systems like cat-backs and axle-backs.
If you want your truck to sound as beefy as it appears, then you may want to invest in a performance exhaust system to really get noticed out on the roads. Upgrading your stock exhaust can deliver benefits like increased power, improved efficiency, and a more attractive exhaust note too. A performance exhaust frees up some of the power in your Silverado’s engine, which allows for a faster and more efficient path with which exhaust gases can escape. The result? Your engine can breathe better and, therefore, delivers more power. In addition to the obvious performance gains and better mpg, exhaust systems can transform your presence by giving it a throaty grown that demands attention everywhere it goes. Paired with a quality cold air intake and headers, a good cat-back exhaust will not only have your truck sounding amazing, but also give it some added ponies in the process.
Shop Complete Exhaust Systems Here.
#5 ECU Flash Tune
ECU flashing, also called tuning, updates the software that runs your vehicle by modifying its memory chip in the ECU. These changes can really make a difference in engine performance by improving power and fuel efficiency, while also producing cleaner emissions. When a vehicle is being manufactured, its ECU will be programmed with standard settings and some safeguards in place. This can mean that the car’s performance is restricted in certain ways to fit criteria and protect the engine from damaging effects.
Tuning your Chevy Silverado is super simple with the VR Tuned ECU flash tuner. You can either send in your ECU or purchase one of our optional OBD II tuning modules. By optimizing your Silverado’s ECU setting, not only do you gain additional horsepower and torque figures, but your truck’s driving characteristics will be vastly improved giving you better throttle response and enhanced driveability that you can feel.
Now you can flash your truck’s ECU from anywhere and at any time. All ECU tunes can be reverted back to stock if necessary. What’s more, basic bolt-on performance parts will not require a retune of your ECU. Adding parts like an exhaust, intake, plenum, or pulley will all adjust with the tune. For gasoline-powered vehicles, if you add higher octane fuel, the ECU will adjust accordingly as well. Vivid Racing tests and dyno tunes on our own vehicles to make sure what you get is safe, reliable, and delivers the results you expect.