Which 2017 Silverado 3500HD Is Right for You?
Some jobs can only be completed by the strongest there is – enter the 2017 Silverado 3500HD. This truck is one of the most powerful vehicles on the market. But it’s also been praised as a gentle giant with a smooth ride, quick steering, and a quiet cabin.
Cab and Engine Options
For the 2017 Silverado 3500HD, there are a variety of cab styles including regular cab with a long box, double cab with a long box, crew cab with a standard or long box. Some trims may not be available on all cabs.
Chevrolet offers a wide variety of other choices, as well. You can choose one of two engines – a 6.0-liter Variable Valve Timing V8 SFI engine and a Duramax 6.6-liter Turbo Diesel V8 engine. The first produces 360 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft of torque, while the second gets 397 hp and 765 lb.-ft of torque. You can also choose between two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Finally, you can spring for a dually, if you want to double down on how much rubber’s hitting the road.
For our purposes – talking about trims and features – we’re going to go with the cheapest truck each trim comes with, and we’ll specify what that is in each case.
WT
The 2017 Silverado 3500HD WT is the least expensive option and starts at $36,005. The basic vehicle is a regular cab, long box truck with single wheels in the back. It comes standard with the 6.0-liter gas engine, two-wheel drive, and a 4.10 axle ratio. With these specs, the WT has a maximum GCWR of 10,400 pounds and a conventional trailer weight of 14,500 lbs.
The Silverado is designed to work in the toughest conditions, so Chevrolet gave it quality warranties to stand behind their work. All Silverado 3500HD models come with a bumper-to-bumper limited warranty of three years or 36,000 miles, a corrosion warranty for the same time frame and a rust-through warranty for six years or 100,000 miles, a limited powertrain/drivetrain warranty for five years or 60,000 miles, RemoteLink Key Fob service, and roadside assistance with courtesy transportation for five years or 60,000 miles.
The WT is designed to provide power on a budget, so it doesn’t come with many extra features. The exterior includes solar-absorbing glass to keep the cabin comfortable and a tire carrier lock to keep your spare secure. The interior has a six-gauge cluster and a four-speaker audio system. The audio system includes a 4.2-inch diagonal color screen with AM/FM radio, USB ports, and an auxiliary jack. The WT doesn’t have Bluetooth capabilities, or touch screens. For safety, the WT includes the StabiliTrak stability control system with Proactive Roll Avoidance and traction control.
You can upgrade to a 4×4 for a price of $39,355. You also have the option to upgrade to dual rear wheels for $36,840. Chevrolet lists the conventional trailer weight rating for the 3500HD long box two-wheel-drive dually as 14,300 pounds. That’s a slight downgrade, but gives you more control if there is a blowout or flat. Combining the two gives you an MSRP of $39,795.
LT
The LT starts at $40,160 for a regular cab with a long box. Mechanically, the LT is very similar to the WT, featuring the same engine, axle ratio, and size. Several of the changes in the LT are cosmetic, although there a few additions make this trim more convenient, including the addition of the EZ-Lift and Lower Tailgate, heated power-adjustable vertical tailoring mirrors, and a remote locking tailgate.
Among the biggest additions are the inclusion of Bluetooth capabilities and a rear vision camera. Like the WT, the LT has a conventional trailer weight of 14,300 pounds.
LTZ
The LTZ has an MSRP of $49,120. The increase in price makes sense, though, because you’re not comparing apples to apples. The smallest Silverado 3500 you can get on an LTZ trim is a double cab with a long box. You’re getting a bigger truck, and the conventional trailer weight rating decreases to 14,200 pounds while the GVWR is rated at 10,000 lbs. But sometimes losing a little bit of towing capacity is worth it. The LTZ is a particularly good choice for those who anticipate passengers on a regular basis. The double cab with a long bed provides the same amount of bed space as the others, but has four total doors and more seating.
There aren’t many changes to the LTZ’s exterior. You get a few cosmetic upgrades, like some chrome accents. The interior adds a 110-volt AC power outlet, dual-zone automatic climate control, and heated driver and front passenger seating. One of the biggest upgrades is the addition of a theft-deterrent system, which isn’t standard in the WT or LT.
Like the others, you have the option to spring for a bigger cabin or bed, 4WD, or a dually. Just know that the more weight you pack onto your truck, the less it can haul.
High Country
The High Country is the most luxurious Silverado 3500HD you can get. The smallest one you can get is a crew cab with a standard box. Since it’s bigger, the conventional trailer weight drops to 13,000 pounds. But this trim has more to offer than hauling capacity.
It has everything the LTZ does, but includes some strong features that are missing from the other trims. The Digital Steering Assist is one of the most coveted upgrades because it eases handling. It increases stability at highway speeds and maneuverability at low speeds. Overall, it makes hauling much easier no matter your speed.
Another great inclusion is the Driver Assistance package, which provides safety features that may be necessary for those who are new to driving such a powerhouse. This package includes additional airbags for the driver and passenger, forward collision alerts, lane departure warnings, and front and rear park assist. If all this sounds great, you can get the High Country for $56,310.
And as always, if you’re willing to pay more for a longer box, or for a 4×4 or a dually, those options are always available.
(Facts and figures from Chevrolet and Car and Driver. Image via YouTube.)
