Heavy-duty truck wars are well underway. Although the Ram HD and Ford Super Duty are rather well geared for it, it seems that the new 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD just beat them to the punch in some segments. This is an all-new truck and is a huge improvement over the outgoing model. As such, I've compiled a list of facts that will shed some light on the new 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD. They will teach you why the new HD is a behemoth that sits at the very top of the truck segment.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Can Tow an Amazing 35,500 Pounds

This is 400 pounds more compared to the Ram HD with a Cummins. The only way to achieve such a monumental tow rating is with a regular cab Silverado HD, with a rear wheel drive, and dual rear wheels. It has to be powered by a 6.6-liter, Duramax, V-8 that has 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque.

This is what Chevy officials had to say about this dramatic increase:

“We set out to make the best HD trucks on the market, bar none,” said Jaclyn McQuaid, Chief Engineer, Silverado HD. “We increased towing capabilities across the line, not just for dually buyers. We added class-leading towing technologies, such as 15 available camera views1, to make trailering more convenient, whether pulling a large cargo trailer or fifth-wheel camper. And we made a host of changes to make tasks easier.”

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Has a Larger Maximum Payload Rating

The maximum payload rating for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD is 7,466 pounds. Slightly up compared to the last year’s model.

The New Chevrolet Silverado HD Is Tougher, Stiffer, And Stronger By Orders Of Magnitude

Obviously, power and size aren’t the only important factors for such profound trailering capabilities. Heck, even the cooling fan for the Duramax has been increased by 2.5 inches. This was really important, as one of the tests before the release of the car to the public actually includes a test of the cooling abilities. In essence, the Silverado HD has to be able to tow its maximum up a steep hill in the first gear without overheating. A larger fan definitely helps.

As far as frame toughness and rigidity goes, Chevy actually installed thicker and taller frame rails. Plus, it does have more heavy-duty cross members. This played a major role in improving the trailering capabilities, but also ensuring long-haul durability.

The 2020 Chevy Silverado HD Has A New V-8 That's Good for Ages Of Trouble-Free Operation

A new 6.6-liter, V-8, gasoline engine comes with direct injection (an industry first for the segment) and develops 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Maybe even more important than that is the fact that it is formed of a cast-iron block, a pushrod setup and has a 10.8:1 compression ratio. This is a no-nonsense engine that further proves my optimistic title of this fact. This one is linked with a six-speed automatic transmission.

2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD drivetrain specifications

Chevrolet Improved Trailering Capabilities On All 2020 Silverado HD Trucks

That’s an 18-percent improvement over the current model. Not only that, Chevy really stepped it up with the trailering capabilities of the new Silverado HD. Every single version has been upgraded. This is the complete list:

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Is The Biggest Silverado HD Ever

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD is longer, taller, and wider than ever. Compared to its predecessor, it is nearly a foot longer, with a 5.2-inch longer wheelbase, and it's two-inches taller. It is also a tad wider.

The 2020 Chevy Silverado HD Has the Most Convenient DEF Fluid Filler Of All Silverados

Chevy made some clear improvements to the DEF fluid tank. Not only did it include the opening next to the fuel filler for better convenience, but it also moved the tank out of sight. Interestingly enough, the new Silverado HD is the first one with an easy-fill DEF fluid tank with the filler next to the fuel filler. Aside from that, the 2020 Silverado HD has a readout display for the DEF fluid level in the instrument cluster.

A State Of The Art Camera System And “Transparent Trailer” Tech Makes The 2020 Silverado HD Incredibly Advanced

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD has as many as 15 camera views to support its in-vehicle trailering system. One of those cameras actually enables the awesome “transparent trailer” feature. Chevy uses a coaxial connection to achieve the best possible video quality and remove any problems with latency. The camera views can be even accessed when moving. Move the car at more than 7 mph and you can access any camera view for up to 8 seconds.

Chevy Did Everything It Could to Make The Trailering Convenient And Easy For Drivers of the 2020 Silverado HD

The main technologies that Chevy included in the Silverado HD to make the trailering more convenient:

-* Auto Park Brake Assist with an automatic electronic parking brake that holds the truck’s position when hitching a trailer

-* All-new Park Grade Hold Assist for better hill hold capabilities by braking all four wheels to keep the truck in place

-* An enhanced integrated trailer brake controller

-* An enhanced Tow/Haul mode that stays on for up to four hours

-* Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control

-* Trailer Sway Control and Proactive Rollover Avoidance

-* Auto Grade Braking and Diesel Exhaust Braking.

-* Enhanced Digital Variable Steering Assist can enable features like road pull compensation

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD's Trademark Bedside Steps are Bigger And Sturdier Than Ever

The bedside steps on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD are much bigger. So much so that they can accommodate bigger boots (up to size 12 apparently). Furthermore, the steps can support up to 500 pounds. So, if you are really big, it won’t even matter. Chevy's got you!

Thanks To The 2020 Chevy Silverado HD's New Allison Transmission, All Of 910 Pound-feet of Torque Can Reach The Ground In The First Gear

Thanks to the new Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, all the torque (all 910 pound-feet of it) of the 6.6-liter, V-8, diesel can be transferred to the ground in first gear. This wasn’t even possible previously, and it is probably one of the most important advancements made to the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD.

The 2020 Chevy Silverado HD Is Smart and Connected To The Trailer App

The new Silverado HD is compatible with a Trailer App. This is actually a neat feature as you can check the lights, tire pressure, and some other critical features on the go with a smartphone. Smart thing.

Thanks To a Trailering Information Label You Won’t Have To Google The Specs Of Your Particular 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD

The trailering Information Label is the best thing since the invention of Google. This label, that is uniquely customized for every truck, provides you with all the important details for the truck:

-* Curb weight

-* Gross vehicle weight rating

-* Gross combined weight rating

-* Maximum payload

-* Maximum tongue weight

-* Gross axle weight

For The First Time Ever, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Has A Different Bed Compared To Silverado 1500

For the first time ever the Silverado HD does not share the bed with the Silverado 1500. The bed in the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD has 6.7-inches more “usable width”. Plus, it is 3 inches longer. On the other hand, the long box is 0.5-inches longer.

This table will tell you all:

Furthermore, the bed can be equipped with twelve tie-down rings, a 102-volt outlet, and a powered tailgate.

Chevy Reimagined The Mirrors On The 2020 Silverado HD

Not only can the rearview mirrors extend more smoothly and almost completely silently at the touch of a button, but they are bigger and provide a wider field of view. Now, apart from the standard mirror functionality, mirrors on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD can be additionally equipped with:

-* Forward facing sport lamp

-* Rearward facing spotlight

-* Side-view cameras

-* Puddle lamps

Obviously, the mirrors on the new Silverado HD aren’t just mirrors.

The 2020 Chevy Silverado HD Has a Completely New Body

Chevrolet completely redesigned the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado compared to Silverado 1500. Actually, of all body panels, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD only shares its roof with the light-duty Silverado.

The Five Trim Levels of the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD

Chevrolet offers five different trim levels for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD:

-* Work Truck (recognizable thanks to a black “Chevy” grille)

-* Custom (20-inch wheels and a body-colored trim)

-* LT and LTZ (you can’t miss it thanks to a whole lot of chrome, it’s almost ghastly)

-* High Country (It’s the best looking one for sure with a two-tone grille and LED lighting)

Let me tell you that you can recognize the Diesel thanks to a massive hood scoop. Nothing of the sort is on the gasoline-powered model.

2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD Looks Like “It Can Get The Job Done”

If you wondered why it looks like it does (and I know you did), the answer is a simple one - the design has to convey the capabilities of the truck. It has to look like it can get the job done. Well whether you like it or not - this thing looks just like it can get the job done.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD.

2020 Chevy Silverado HD Debuts with New Engine, Massive Towing Rating

14 Things You Have to Know about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD

Read our full review on the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado.