What’s New About The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD was vastly different than the exiting 2019 model. It was basically an overhaul year, resulting in a new exterior, interior, and new technology never before seen in a heavy duty Chevrolet truck. It’s been a year since then however, and 2021 models will be hitting dealerships any day now. How does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD compare to 2020 models?

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
Photo Courtesy of Chevrolet Media.

2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Performance Changes

Duramax Diesel Engine Changes?

2021 marks a year of refinement and improvement over the 2020 Silverado HD. The L5P Duramax diesel engine remains largely unchanged, but it still provides plenty of power at 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque. The 10-speed automatic Allison comes standard with the Diesel engine and it remains similar to the previous model year as well.

Changes to the 6.6L Standard Gas Engine

In 2020, the popular 6.0L V-8 engine was replaced with a new direct-injected 6.6L gas engine for huge performance gains and greater capability. The only major change for this 6.6L Gas engine in 2021 is that it now offers FlexFuel capabilities. Other than that, the powertrain is very similar. The same 6L90 6-speed Automatic transmission is used with a standard tow/haul mode.

Towing Improvements

2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Towing
2021 Chevrolet Silverado HD with the Custom package. Photo courtesy of Chevrolet.

The 2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD retains its 18,500 lb conventional tow capacity and 18,500 Lb 5th Wheel or Gooseneck tow capacity.  2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD trucks received a slight tow capacity raise.


Technology improvements on 2021 will definitely aid in towing now though. The Bed View Camera is now available on Work Truck, Custom, and LT models. The Safety Confidence Package is also available on Work Truck and Custom models.

New Special Editions & Packages

2021 model year Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD trucks will be offered in several unique trim packages compared to 2021 models. The most noteworthy new edition is a collaboration between Chevrolet and Carhartt. The new 2021 Chevrolet Silverado Carhartt edition features an exclusive exterior, a CarHartt-themed interior, and a bunch of additional styling characteristics.

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Carhartt Edition
2021 Chevrolet Silverado HD Trucks are available in a new trim, the Carharrt edition. Photo courtesy of Chevrolet Media Site.


Other special editions include the LTZ Premium Texas Edition, Midnight Edition, Z71 Sport Edition, and Z71 Chrome Sport Edition. A Duramax and Appearance Package is available on LT Trims too.

Other New 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Features

Other changes to the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD trucks include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone projection capabilities. The EZ Lift tailgate is also now standard on LT Models.

What About The 2021 Silverado 3500HD?

Click on the link below to see what changes Chevrolet made to their 3500HD for the 2021 model year.

  • 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD New Features

2021 Ford F-150 Owner’s Manual Makes A Positive Environmental Impact

How Ford is Making the F-150 More Eco-Friendly

The 2021 Ford F-150 is more environmentally friendly than ever before. Not only did Ford invest and produce a hybrid power train, the 3.5L PowerBoost, but they’re also making a difference by making the 2021 F-150 owner’s manual digital. Ford claims the change to making the owner’s manual digital results in a reduction of paper use by up to 290 tons of paper every year. Here are some interesting stats on how significant a reduction of 290 tons of paper per year truly is.

290 Tons Of Paper Equates To:

  • The weight of 122 average Ford F-150 trucks
  • A stack of paper 18,000 feet tall.
2021 Ford F-150 Digital Owner's Manual
Graphic courtesy of the Ford Media Website

How to Access It

The 2021 Ford F-150’s owner manual will be accessible via the center touchscreen display found on all models. It will have a search function capability and you’ll have access to streamed videos and other content. For those of us that are technology inclined, finding information on your F-150 has never been easier. All the information on the new 2021 F-150 is at your fingertips.

2021 Ford F-150 Interior. Photo Courtesy of Ford Media.

Why We Like The 2021 Ford F-150 Digital Owner’s Manual

Good For The Environment

It goes without saying that most people consider any effort to be more environmentally conscious is a good thing. I love that Ford is making an effort to make a positive environmental impact on the planet. A lot of consumers also trend that way, as many climate activists consider climate change to be public enemy number one. Even myself as someone who is traditionally very conservative can see the value in protecting our great planet. As someone who enjoys the outdoors, I firmly believe we should do everything we can to make sure future generations can enjoy our planet as much as we have.

Good For Secondary Owners

If you’ve ever purchased a used truck, your vehicle probably doesn’t have an owner’s manual inside. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had purchased a truck that lacked an owner’s manual and all the crucial information that is found inside. I’ve even lost Owner’s Manuals on trucks I purchased new. This new digital format will make sure you always have access, even if you’re the second or third owner, and that you will never lose it.

Find What You Need Faster

Another huge plus is that the digital owner’s manual has a search capability that can drastically reduce your time searching for something specific. Instead of skimming pages, or trying to use the glossary or index, you can simply search the topic you’re looking for.

2021 Ford F-150

What We Don’t Like

Functionality

An owner’s manual on any vehicle provides crucial information. It includes proper procedures on a variety of service tasks, maintenance information, and even how to use different vehicle features. I haven’t seen the display in person yet, but I do have some usability concerns. Now, let’s say you’re using the owner’s manual Function on the display to learn how to change settings on the display. You can’t do it simultaneously, so you will have to either have a good memory and remember the steps to take, or look up the owner’s manual on your phone from Ford’s website to change settings as you read the directions.

Difficult For Less Tech-Savvy Owners

Anything digital can also be a problem for some of the old timers out there who didn’t grow up with technology like we have. Again, I haven’t seen the new 2021 Ford F-150 in person yet,  but if it isn’t easily accessible or easy to find on the interphase, it could be problematic for older people. I also hope the manual itself is easy to navigate and topics can be found quickly. Let’s hope Ford is making it as easy as flipping through a book. There will be a condensed supplemental version of the owner’s manual that will be present on all models however. It’ll contain about 25% of the original manual’s content, but it will contain vital information like how to properly jumpstart the vehicle in the event that the vehicle is dead or unusable.

Find out more about the 2021 Ford F-150

Learn more about the newest F-150 by checking out some of our other resources below!

You Can Also Learn More About the 2021 F-150 Here

2021 Ford F-150 3.0L Powerstroke Specs Revealed

Details about the new 2021 Ford F-150 are here. An all-new engine, the 3.5L V-6 Hybrid PowerBoost, joins Ford’s existing 2.7L EcoBoost, 3.5L EcoBoost, 5.0L V8, and the 3.0L Powerstroke diesel. A new body style accompanies these engines along with new technology that makes the F-150 one of the most impressive job-site ready trucks we’ve ever seen. It can also tow up to 14,000 pounds, an 800 pound improvement over the highest rated 2020 model. Max payload is also increased to a whopping 3,325 pounds. While Ford made big improvements to the lineup as a whole, the 2021 F-150 3.0L Powerstroke engine remains largely unchanged. Despite no changes being made, the 3.0L Powerstroke is still a very viable option and should be considered over other trucks for people who tow frequently.

New 2021 F-150
New 2021 F-150 in the Quartz Grey color. Photo Courtesy of Ford Media

2021 Ford F-150 3.0L Powerstroke Performance

3.0L Powerstroke Diesel Engine

The new 2021 F-150 with the 3.0L Powerstroke engine offers owners 250 horsepower at 3,250 rpm and 440 ft-lb of torque at 1,750 rpm. A max payload of 1,840 is available on Supercab models, while the Supercrew has a max payload of 1,805 lbs. Max tow capacity is 12,100 pounds when equipped with the max tow package. While the 2021 3.0L Powerstroke doesn’t make the highest numbers in the F-150 lineup, we still prefer its durability and ability to tow compared to other models.

How does the 3.0l Powerstroke Compare to Other Gas-Powered Models?

The 3.0L Powerstroke was the fuel economy champion ford Ford’s 2020 F-150 lineup. With the new 3.5L Powerboost engine however, the 3.0L Powerstroke may have to remove its crown and hand it over. The 3.5L PowerBoost engine’s fuel economy isn’t available yet, but Ford has mentioned that it will be able to get at least 700 miles out of a single tank. Now, fuel economy estimates never take towing into consideration. The major draw of the 3.0L Powerstroke engine is that it’s a diesel, and diesel trucks get significantly better fuel economy while towing.

While the 3.0L Powerstroke may have lower torque than both the 3.5l PowerBoost and the 3.5L EcoBoost engines, it reaches max torque significantly faster. The 3.0L Powerstroke reaches peak torque at only 1,750 rpm while both the 3.5L V6 Ecoboost and Powerboost reach peak torque at 3,000 rpm. Hybrid engines are relatively new to trucks. We are very interested in seeing how the hybrid motor impacts towing. For now, we still like the F-150 with the 3.0L Powerstroke if you’re going to be frequently towing.

2021 Ford F-150 Technology

The 2021 Ford F-150’s new technology is helpful on both the luxury and functionality fronts. Pro Power Onboard makes the F-150 a portable generator capable of powering a job site for an entire day. It has 120V and 240V power sources, easily accessible in the bed to plug in power tools. It’s a perfect partner to the tailgate work surface that offers a mobile workbench. The truck’s interior also has an available work surface option. It converts the center console to a flat surface, perfect for working on a laptop.

The F-150’s Trailer Reverse Guidance and Pro Backup Assist features make backing up a trailer a breeze. Trailer Reverse Guidance uses the F-150’s high-resolution cameras to provide multiple views as well as guidance on how to turn the wheel when backing up a trailer. When set up, the Pro backup assist makes backing up a trailer as easy as turning a dial.

A bigger center digital display is standard on all trims. XL and low XLT trims receive an 8″ touch screen, while upper XLT trims and above receive a new 12″ screen. The gauge cluster is brand new, with more luxurious models receiving a “smart” 15″ digital gauge cluster. Rear view cameras are also standard on all trims. For extra comfort, a max-recline feature is available on King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited Trims allowing the front seats to recline nearly 180 degrees.

2021 F-150 Availability

Ford anticipates the new 2021 F-150 will be available at dealerships this fall. Hopefully we don’t have any additional CoronaVirus complications so we can see these new trucks sooner than later.

2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Debuts Next Month

Chevrolet has made some significant investments into diesel technology when it comes to their line of pickups. A couple of years ago, they added the 2.8L Duramax engine to their Colorado truck line. Last year, they released their new Medium-Duty pickup trucks in their 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD. Now, Chevrolet just announced their new body style 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Duramax trucks will debut in February. Chevrolet says the 2020 Silverado HD will be the most capable and advanced Silverado Heavy Duty to date.

A Truck Built Specifically For HD Silverado Owners

Chevrolet’s Chief Engineer of the Silverado HD, Jaclyn McQuaid, said, “We know the needs and priorities of heavy-duty owners are different than those of light-duty or medium-duty customers”. McQuaid continued, “As such, we built a heavy-duty truck tailor-made for them that has more differentiation than ever before from light-duty models, offers advanced towing technologies to improve towing confidence and includes new features such as the integrated Bedstep, which makes it easier to access the bed while pulling a fifth-wheel trailer.”

So, what does this all mean? Chevrolet is creating an almost entirely new product from their regular Silverado 1500 pickup trucks. In fact, the only exterior component shared in common between the two is the roof panel. This new 2020 Silverado HD is built on the wants and needs of their Heavy-Duty consumers, and will feature new trailer technology features and both a higher payload and towing capacity. The interior will also stand to benefit from the body-style change. There will be an added 3 inches in leg room and a new seating position in crew cab models.

2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Performance

The new 2020 Silverado HD has several changes performance too. An all new direct injection Gas Engine will be introduced. This new motor will work in conjunction with a Six-Speed transmission. The L5P Duramax engine will also be paired with a new Ten-Speed Allison Transmission, producing a whopping 910 lbs/ft of torque.

2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Exterior

If you’re familiar with the 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado HD Duramax Trucks, you can point out the differences fairly easily. Chevrolet has changed these new 2020 Silverado HDs from top-to-bottom. In the pictures above, you can clearly see the new body styling, grille, lighting, bumpers, and the mirrors that have been Instagram’s latest truck controversy. Steps have been added to the side panels of the truck’s bed. This allows easier access to the bed of the truck. Now, we have only seen Chevrolet’s High Country edition HD so far. We’ll be updating our posts as soon as we have more information.

Keep In Touch With Us

While the new Silverado HD is making its debut In February, it won’t be for sale until mid-2019. We should have a lot more information about these trucks in the next two weeks. GMC and RAM are also releasing their new Heavy-Duty trucks. Make sure you stay posted!

All Photos Courtesy of Chevrolet.

New 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD

I know, we’re a little bit late to the party. GM released their new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD last year. But we’re writing this article as these new trucks are finally being shipped to dealers nationwide. I actually just saw my first one in person the other day driving down I-75, so I decided now is as good a time as ever to bring some attention to these new workhorses Chevrolet designed to meet the needs of their Commercial customers.

Features of Chevrolet’s New 2019 Medium-Duty Trucks

As an avid diesel truck enthusiast, I love when auto manufacturers release a diesel truck that just seems to be a little bit badder than the rest of them. Chevrolet just released their brand new 2019 Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD, and no, they don’t look anything like their new 2020 Silverado 2500HD and Silverado 3500HD relatives. The only exterior feature these two different segments share is the iconic Chevrolet bowtie.

Chevrolet claims that this truck is the most customer-centric Medium Duty truck of any major competitor. Powered by a 6.6L Duramax Motor, and an Allison transmission, these new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HDs, 5500HDs, and 6500HDs are up to whatever task you throw at them. Not only do they feature GM’s legendary Allison-Duramax Powertrain combination, but they also have many of Chevrolet’s latest connectivity innovations. These include OnStar, 4G Wi-Fi, Wireless cell phone charging, Bluetooth, and Apple Carplay and Android Auto Support. Optional factory-installed rear air suspension gives the truck a more comfortable ride both on and off-road. Triple-sealed, inset doors dampen noise while driving, and at the job site. These features make Chevrolet’s new 2019 Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD not only a very capable work truck, but a very capable mobile office as well.

As you can imagine, trucks this large can oftentimes be difficult to drive because of their poor turning radius and the driver’s lack of visibility. With these trucks, Chevrolet introduced up to 50-degree wheel cuts, to make sure these trucks can maneuver easily. The lightweight, contoured hood was designed to make sure the driver has maximum vision of the road. Speaking of the hood, they were designed with a front hinge, resulting in a “Clamshell” design. When opened, instead of opening up and to the rear, the hood pulls forward. This makes working on these trucks vastly superior to trucks featuring a standard hood design. Technicians can easily access everything under the hood, and service these trucks without having to use a ladder or climb on top of the truck.

The New 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD, 5500 HD, and 6500HD are Highly Customizable.

The new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD allow for a wide variety of cargo boxes and flat beds. They did this by creating seven different Cab-To-Axle choices, from 60 inches all the way to 162 inches. Chevy’s new medium duty trucks also have five different axle-to-back-of-frame lengths. These trucks also come in a single cab, or crew cab configuration. No matter what your business needs, these new medium-duty trucks can be outfitted for you.

Make Sure You Stay Tuned

Stay tuned! We will be writing about and featuring the new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HDs on our site as soon as we possibly can. All photos used are courtesy of Chevrolet. Find out more about these new Medium-Duty trucks on Chevrolet’s Site here.

New 2019 6.7L Cummins Engine

Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen GM and Ford make some big strides towards achieving close to 1,000 torque, but they both felt just a tad short. Ram, with their 5th generation heavy duty trucks, partnered with a newly designed 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, have shattered the 1000 ft/lb threshold. Don’t forget, unlike Ford and GM trucks, Cummins horsepower and torque numbers can be different between trim levels. Only the 2019 Ram 3500 equipped with the Aisin transmission is capable of 1,000 torque. Even with that being said, the 6.7L platform as a whole, received some significant changes! Find out what changed with this new 2019 6.7L Cummins engine below!

New 2019 6.7L Cummins Engine Improvements

  • Higher Capacity High Pressure Pump
  • CGI Block: The block is created of Compacted Graphite Iron to not only vastly improve cylinder pressure capabilities, but they managed to reduce the weight of the new 6.7L Cummins motor by almost 60 pounds!
  • Cast Iron Cylinder head with high temperature exhaust valves.
  • High Strength Alloy CrankShaft that feature a 10-bolt crank flange.
  • New forged connecting rods and bearings 
  • New VGT: A new variable geometry turbocharger featuring HD bearings, and a brand new compressor-side housing that is capable of up to 33 PSI of Boost.
  • New Exhaust Manifold 
  • New Fuel Delivery System made up of a new 29,000 PSI fuel pump & a new fuel rail with Cummins filtration system featuring NanoNet technology
  • New Enlarged Intercooler

New 6.7L Cummins Motor Gallery

With the 5th Gen Ram heavy duty trucks, Ram changed a lot more than just their 6.7L Cummins Motor. They drastically changed the interior, redesigned the exterior, and added some really cool features. Make sure you stay tuned, we’ll be regularly posting about the new 5th Generation Cummins!

Want to Find out more About the New 6.7L Cummins?

Find out more about the new 2019 6.7L Cummins Engine by clicking here.

New 2019 6.7L Cummins Turbodiesel Engine

5th Gen Cummins Resources

New 2019 Cummins Equipped Ram Heavy Duty Trucks Unveiled

Ram just revealed their new heavy duty trucks at the Detroit International Auto Show. It’s been a long time coming. Unlike Ford or GM, Ram and Cummins have had the tendency to release a new “Generation” truck with a new motor about every every 6-8 years. This is much later than Ford or GM have traditionally done. Ford only had their 6.0L Powerstroke for 5 years, followed by their 6.4L Powerstroke for only 2 years! Between 2001 and 2008, GM had the LB7, LLY, LBZ, and LMM Duramax! This new 5th Generation Ram is coming 10 years after the release of the 4th generation cummins trucks! That really says something about the success Ram has had with the 4th gen. It’s proven itself to be an incredibly reliable, torque powerhouse that stayed true to Ram’s “Big Rig” look. It really set the bar high for whatever was to come next. So, do the 5th generation Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks meet our expectations?

$H1T, they certainly met my expectations.

I attend the big auto show at the Orlando Convention center every year, and this year they had the new Ram 1500 trucks available to test drive on an indoor course! I let my girlfriend drive the course because i’ve been warming her up to the idea of trading in her Mazda CX-5 for something more useful, AKA, a truck. The Ram 1500 was so impressive. It was quiet, which for her is a big deal, it had a 360 degree camera, the rear seats reclined (something only the megacab models featured), and it had a 12″ entertainment center. Ever since I had the chance to get up close with the new Ram 1500s, I have been eagerly anticipating the release of the 5th generation cummins. Add this experience to the fact that Cummins  equipped trucks are my personal favorite, it got to the point where I couldn’t wait any longer. I literally had the unveiling scheduled on my google calendar so I could watch it live.  Anyways, back to what you really want to know. What is up with the new 5th Ram Heavy duty trucks? Here is our breakdown of what makes the 5th Generation Cummins so special.

First to Break 1000 lb/ft Torque from the Factory 

With Ford’s latest 6.7L Powerstroke and GM’s new L5P, Ram was behind the pack a little bit. Not any longer. This new Cummins motor cranks out 400 horsepower and 1000 lb/ft of Torque when paired with the Aisin 6 Speed Transmission. This is the first time a vehicle in this segment has hit that torque number from the factory. When paired with the standard non-aisin transmission, the new Ram Heavy Duty trucks make 370 horsepower and 850 torque. The new Cummins motor underwent some major changes to reach these numbers. Find out more by clicking here.

2019 New 6.7L Cummins Motor
2019 Ram Heavy Duty – 6.7-liter I-6 Cummins with 400 hp and 1000 lb.-ft of torque

Ram Trailer Technology on New 5th Gen Cummins Trucks

I’m sure many of you have seen the ford commercials with their trailer technology and their ability to back-up a trailer by itself. While I will admit, it is pretty cool, I tow many different trailers so for me to go through the hassle of setting up every individual trailer is just unrealistic. When Ram revealed their new 5th Generation Ram 2500 and 3500, they said they’re focusing on features that Ram truck owners want and are easily accessible. Ram trucks have featured the high mounted LED camera for a while now, my latest Ram 2500 is equipped with it. Now, some Ram trucks will have a bed lowering feature. This will be a huge help to truck owners who tow frequently, especially with a 5th wheel or gooseneck trailer. In addition to this, they also added some unique features like trailer tire pressure monitoring and an auxiliary camera hook-up that can be connected to a camera on the back, or inside of your trailer. 

Newly Designed Interior of 2019+ Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 Trucks

Ram revamped the interior of the 5th Gen Cummins trucks to match their new 1500s. They’re designed with premium materials and feature some things like new storage areas, and a customizable gauge pack. With this generation, they also made big strides in terms of noise control. Cummins are loud trucks, personally that is one thing I like about them. Ram managed to reduce noise by 10 decibels on these new trucks. I actually got to witness this first hand at the auto show in Orlando. We drove up to a station where they had a big speaker blaring music towards the truck. They then showed you the difference when you have your window open versus when it is closed. What a difference! This is a feature we really think you guys who are at noisy job sites will enjoy. What is our favorite part about Ram’s new interior? The more luxurious models now come with a 12″ display screen that make this Ram’s interior more closely resemble a Tesla, than a full sized heavy duty truck. 

5th Generation Cummins New Safety Upgrades

As technology advances, we are getting some really impressive features added to our trucks. On these new Ram trucks, they have added fully adaptive cruise control with a full stop feature, as well as forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking as some available safety upgrades. They also added one really cool feature for your dually guys out there, back-up sensors that recognize dually fenders. This new feature could save you an expensive bill for some body work! The coolest part about all this? These features all work while pulling a trailer!

Form Meets Function with 5th Generation Ram’s newly designed Exterior

The 5th Generation Ram Heavy Duty trucks got some major exterior upgrades that play a role in helping performance too. A newly designed RAM Grille that is 30% larger feeds a new 39″ huge radiator. Ram improved this new generation to lead this segment with only .49 drag. New LED taillights provide better vision when backing up at night. The new Ram headlights also have an available directional control options, helping you to see better at night. Pretty neat feature for a pick-up!

Check Out The Reveal of the New Ram Heavy Duty Truck Here!

Interested in the new 2019 Ram Heavy Duty trucks? Find out more about the new Ram trucks by clicking one of the pictures below! They will take you straight to the Ram Site so you can explore these trucks on your own!

2019 Ram 2500 Badge
2019 Ram Heavy Duty 2500 badge
2019 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Badge
2019 Ram Heavy Duty 3500 badge

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