A few days ago, GM Authority reported that the Silverado Trail Boss makes up 20 percent of all Silverado 1500 sales in the U.S. We can now add that the Trail Boss Custom and Trail Boss LT are the “top two conquest trims” in the line-up, and that their customers are “among the youngest buyers” of the Silverado, according to Mike Ofiara, Assistant Manager, Product and Brand Communications, Chevy Trucks & Full-Size SUVs.
The two Trail Boss trim levels were introduced for the 2019 model year Chevy Silverado 1500 as off-road-oriented models. Both feature four-wheel-drive plus equipment offered in the Z71 package as standard, which includes the following:
- Z71 off-road suspension with Rancho twin tube shock absorbers
- Hill Descent Control
- Skid plates
- Heavy-duty air filter
- All-weather floor liners
In addition, Silverado Trail Boss models have 18-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires, a two-inch suspension lift and an Autotrac two-speed transfer case. All of this delivers menacing looks along with the necessary off-road performance. The Trail Boss models are not extreme desert stormers, but they do provide a very healthy middle ground that makes them unique in their positioning. It’s that uniqueness that spurred Ford to offer the Tremor package on the new-for-2021 F-150.
GM does not at present offer Trail Boss models in the Chevrolet Silverado HD range, and nor does it appear to have any intention of doing so in future, although GM Authority readers responded positively when we conducted a poll on that subject in July of 2019.
No matter, the fact that the Silverado Trail Boss is selling well and conquesting at a high rate is quite impressive, showing just how much the model is resonating with customers.
Sales of the Silverado range as a whole are also going well. They dropped by 5.1 percent in Q3 of 2020, but this was in the context of GM factories being closed for two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a dramatic drop in availability.
Chevrolet Silverado Sales Breakdown - Q3 2020
| Model | Q3 2020 / Q3 2019 | Q3 2020 | Q3 2019 | YTD 2020 / YTD 2019 | YTD 2020 | YTD 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | -5.1% | 147,484 | 155,482 | +0.6% | 414,650 | 412,259 |
| Silverado LD | -9.6% | 108,203 | 119,641 | -1.1% | 310,593 | 314,067 |
| Silverado HD | +9.1% | 37,322 | 34,212 | +4.3% | 99,374 | 95,249 |
| Silverado MD | +20.3% | 1,959 | 1,629 | +59.1% | 4,683 | 2,943 |
However, as previously reported, Silverado sales in the U.S. for the first nine months of 2020 were slightly higher than they had been in the same period during 2019. Combined with a considerable sales drop for rival products, this meant that the Chevy truck overtook the RAM pickup for second place among full-size pickup trucks, and narrowed the gap to the sector-leading Ford F-Series.
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Comments
It’s been proven many times that off-road sells. It’s clearly time for an HD Trail Boss and the ZRX. As a side note both the HD AT4 and future Trail Boss HD should incorporate a 2” lift like the 1500’s and come stock with 35’s.
Agreed.
They need a Raptor/TRX fighter which we have been saying for ten years.
Also mild off roaders that are are affordable also sell well as you can see by the Trail Boss.
But they would be in a better spot if they would have spent more time on the interior. Technology is great, materials not so much. You may say its “Just a Truck” but guess what, the market is demanding more than just a basic interior. GM did a great job on the SUV’s and now are having to have an emergency refresh on the 1500’s in 2022 model. Again spend the time and money up front and GM would have been in a better location…
Having a Raptor would be cool but the money is in the volume of the Trail Boss. Ford is now following GM with a cheaper high volume off road package.
I know people like to quote a $50 K Raptor price but they really are not around. Most are pushing $80,000. Volumes are low.
The Trail Boss makes a good starting point for truck guys who normally build their own set up.
The ZRX is coming and will be a great trail truck like the ZR2 but I expect it will be a little less of a hot rod truck like the Raptor but it will have some great abilities for a much lower price.
Magazine covers are great but making money is key. TheZR2 has been a good volume model at a higher price but not a totally stupid price.
GM did drop the ball on the Colorado Trail Runner. It was a great starting point for a build like the Trail Boss but they dropped it.
I’d love to see an LTZ TrailBoss, or, at least the option to get cooled memory seats and the Technology Package.
Let me guess you want big wheels too? So many people coming to these trucks for the macho image and they just are a box checker with all the luxury features of their luxury vehicles they came from and the off road package they never use for that tough image. Just stick with a nice CUV, no need to get all the options and the off road package as it comes with features that negate it being an actual off road capable truck so whats the point? It just continually drives up the price for those that actually need and use it to not be able to afford it, all because the suburban dads come in here and want all the fancy features of something they never need or use to look cool at the local starbucks. They are also the first ones to complain about the ride, handling or any other truck quirks.
Where is the 2dr. Regular cab. Short bed. V8. 6.2 preferably
Exactly. I’m an old guy. But back in the late ’70’s, early ’80’s, one could order a Chevy Square Body, in almost any configuration. Then, one could build it the way THEY wanted, with a ton of after market goodies. Not the way some still wet behind the ears, grad student, says you need. Come on GM, build nice, well built trucks, with an option sheet a mile long. Let Joe Schmo, build it the way they want and need. Keep it simple, stupid!!!
that is what they are doing keeping it as simple to build for them and push you to get a package even though a lot of people only want 1 or 2 things in the package and it may be cheaper that way if they went back to the laundry list of options it they would be way overpricing them and you would have to be special ordering and accepting any rebates when it gets to the dealer. dealers hate special ordering.
I just picked up a ’21 AT4 HD duramax. The “off-road” package and lack of chrome, while keeping all the amenities is what pushed me towards the AT4 over the Denali. My father-in-law picked up a 1500 AT4 for the factory 2″ lift and it feel like my HD is still taller. To be honest, I’m not sure id want it any taller.
No way I would pay that kind of price . If they let me drive one for 3 months I will give feed back.
I used to lease a new Cadillac; now its a Denali at 67k. Every two years.