Test Drive: Towing 35,500 pounds with the 2020 Chevy Silverado 3500

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Updated Jul 28, 2019

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It was easy spotting the 2020 Chevy Silverado 3500 outside of the airport in Bend, Oregon—it was the one towing a giant anvil.

Chevy had local craftsmen build the faux anvil to celebrate its class-leading tow rating of 35,500 pounds.

Reporters got some brief time behind the wheel of Chevy’s top pickup recently at the Bend Municipal Airport. The anvil sat poised like a giant trophy on top of plate steel stacked on a Big Tex fifth wheel flatbed.

“It is the most capable truck we have,” Chevy truck marketing director Sandor Piszar explains in the video below.

Chevy lead development engineer Chris DePolo explains how the truck’s new Allison 10-speed transmission not only makes the record-breaking towing possible but also helps improve fuel consumption by enabling a 3.42 rear axle ratio (down from 3.72).

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During the short run at the airport, the 2020 Silverado 3500 regular cab (yes, an anomaly among an ocean of crew cabs) made towing nearly 18 tons fairly easy.

Under hard acceleration the 6.6-liter Duramax (445 hp; 910 lb.-ft. torque) delivered some impressive get-up and go. While getting the truck to slow down was no problem, the brakes were touchy and required some finesse to avoid jerky stops.

Look for more news in the days ahead on Chevy’s new 2020 HD lineup, including the 2500 equipped with their new 6.6-liter gasser.

Editor’s Note: This post and video originally appeared on our sister site, Hard Working Trucks.

2020 Silverado HD highlights:

  • New, more powerful 6.6L V-8 gas engine with direct injection for greater performance and stronger trailering capability with 22 percent more torque and up to 18 percent more towing compared to previous 6.0L gas engine.
  • All-new Allison®10-speed automatic transmission is matched with the available Duramax 6.6L V-8 Turbo-Diesel engine for a 52 percent increase in max towing to 35,500 pounds on properly equipped models.
  • Autotrac active two-speed transfer case on 4×4 models electronically controls “4 Auto” mode, allowing the truck to seamlessly shift between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive based on road conditions.
  • Advanced Trailering System technologies and new transparent trailer view: The in-vehicle trailering system features an available total of 15 available camera views (requires an installed accessory camera), such as HD Surround Vision1 and other unique views including a transparent trailer feature to help provide added confidence when towing. Also features increased integration with the myChevrolet mobile app2.
  • HD-exclusive sculpted exterior design features the most differentiation from the Silverado 1500 ever — the roof is the only shared sheetmetal.
  • Heavy-duty details designed to make work easier and more intuitive, including features such as an easy-access engine block heater outlet, easy-to-fill diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank with opening inside the fuel door, a more integrated snow plow prep package and new, advanced trailering mirrors with available spot lamps and more.
  • BedStep feature and larger CornerSteps makes it easier to load or reach items in the cargo box, which is designed to hold a pair of size-12 boots and up to 500 pounds.
  • Larger cab enables more spacious interiors with Crew Cab models adding about 3 inches in overall length.