When it comes to hauling and towing prowess, one of the first trucks anyone’s mind goes to is the Ford F-Series. But Chevrolet’s newly redesigned 2019 Silverado can give it a run for its money when it comes to power. A larger, stronger truck, the Chevy Silverado is very capable when you have things you need to move from one place to another.

Towing prowess

According to Car and Driver, a double-cab Silverado 1500 with the 2.7T four-cylinder engine with all-wheel-drive hooked up to a trailer, ballast, and car with a combined weight of 6,080 pounds can hit 60 mph in just under 13 seconds. It’s just a smidge slower than the 2019 RAM 1500 4×4 powered by a 5.7-liter V8 using a 48-volt motor.

The turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four engine in Silverado, even with the 102.0-millimeter stroke, is one of the more well-ordered engines GM offers. Without hauling and towing, it can achieve 60 mph in seven seconds. It also keeps the noise level at 65 decibels at 70 mph which is on par with a luxurious $69,000 RAM 1500 with all the bells and whistles.

The undersquare engine registers 340 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque that persists between 1500 and 4000 rpm. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that grants access to the torque you need when you need it.

When it comes to towing limits, at a glance what the 2019 Silverado can do is considerable.

2.7L turbo: 7,200 lbs.

4.3L V-6: 8,000 lbs.

5.3L V-8: 11,600 lbs.

6.2L V-8: 12,200 lbs.

Towing features 

Chevrolet has also granted Silverado some great features to help in hauling and towing according to Trailer Life. 

It offers an advanced trailering system. A suite of problem solvers, the advanced trailer system makes your tasks easier. There’s an auto parking brake assist features that helps by keeping the hitch ball aligned and preventing the truck from rolling after it’s parked.

There’s a monitoring system for the trailer tires so you can access the tire pressure and temperature from the infotainment system. There’s optional gear needed and it has to be installed by the dealer, but for many it’s worthwhile.

There’s a hitch guidance feature that includes a hitch view. It uses a rearview camera that makes the process so simple, one person can hitch the truck. There’s also a brake gain memory that saves settings many trailers so you have them for next time.

There’s also the ATS infotainment app that allows you to track fuel economy and the temperature of your transmission while towing. You can also use it to save the brake-gain settings for each of your profile’s trailers.

The 2019 Silverado has a Trailer Camera Package that features a standard rearview camera plus two side-view cameras. There’s an option to add a fourth camera mounted towards the back of the trailer. There’s also a Trailer Label, the first the industry has seen, at the driver’s side door jamb. It offers the information you need to select the best tow vehicle for you. It includes details like gross combined weight ratings and gross vehicle weight ratings, maximum payload, maximum tongue weight, rear gross axle weight ratings, and more.

Powerful but thirsty

Car and Driver estimated that the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado they examined achieves about 16 mpg combined in regular daily use even though the EPA rates the given model at 20 mpg. The fuel economy was on par with a Silverado powered by a 5.3-liter V8. They learned the four-cylinder engine used its turbocharger well to get 18 mpg on its 200-mile highway loop.

The example Silverado starts at $43,595 which is about $1400 less than the model with the 5.3-liter V8. The latter, however, can tow a lot more. 11,600 pounds with the V8 versus the 7,200 pounds the four-cylinder version. The four-cylinder engine can get the job done. The V8 can do it with gusto.