GM is moving everyone’s cheese, announcing product after product that becomes a best-in-class for overland travelers. This started with the Bison Colorado, and followed with the GMC AT4x Sierra AEV (now available with the exceptional 3.0L diesel). And now, GM is going after HD trucks for overlanders with their Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 Bison AEV edition.
There is no segment more hotly contested than the heavy duty truck market, with Ford, GM, and Ram all vying for the title of ultimate hauler. As consumers we all benefit from this with better trucks than ever before by these brands, but as overlanders, this is quite literally the best time ever to buy a heavy-duty full-size, as each manufacturer doubles down on overland features and performance. Even just last year, we completed a major test of all of the full-size offering, but GM has since significantly upgraded their trucks since then, and this HD ZR2 Bison AEV is a Fait Accompli that few in the industry expected.
Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 Bison AEV Specifications:
- Multimatic DSSV Dampers
- 35 inch Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Tires
- 18 inch AEV wheels (to clear the large HD brakes)
- 1.5 inch lift over standard HD
- AEV steel front bumper (winch capable)
- AEV steel rear bumper
- Rear electronic locking differential (driver activated)
- Advanced multi-mode traction and vehicle stability control
- Heavy-duty upper and lower control arms
- Boron steel skid plates
- Alison 10-speed Transmission
- Available 6.6 Liter Duramax Turbo-diesel with 975 ft. lb. of torque
- 3,300 pound payload (varies by configuration)
- 18,500 pound towing capacity
- 30 degree approach angle
- 11.7 inches of ground clearance
Boron skid plates and Multimatics are the things of overlandy dreams, and are features unique to the GM HD model. Boron skidplates achieve a near impossible balance of lighter weight and superior dent, scratch, and deformation resistance. And we all know about the DSSV dampers, which perform better across the entire range of surfaces and events than any other suspension offered by an OEM.
The front and rear stamped steel AEV bumpers are also world-class, and better than any other HD bumper offering from any other manufacturer. They incorporate high-clearance, maximum impact protection, and full GVWR recovery capabilities into factory offering. Note the massive cast recovery points front and rear, along with the provision for a 12 volt winch. American Expedition Vehicle (AEV) is considered one of the best engineered and high-quality overland accessory companies in North America.
Drivers of HD trucks do a lot of. . . driving, so the interior of an HD should reflect this, and offer comfort and conveniences needed for towing and overlanding. The new dash is not only handsome, but also practical with a large touchscreen display and easy to access piano buttons. As shown in the picture above, the most important new button in the HD ZR2 is the driver-selectable rear locking differential. Don’t be too critical about the lack of a front locker, as the traction control is up to the task for front tire traction management, and it allows for vehicle controls to protect the differential and CV axles with the nearly 1,000 pound feet of torque from the diesel. A front locker would require massive uprating of the front drive components, which would offset the benefits of a front locker in an application like this.
Look for our full review and testing in the field soon, as we get access to test this all-new Chevy overland HD in the field.
chevrolet.com | Pricing TBD
