When the fourth-generation Chevy Silverado 1500 made its debut for the 2019 model year, it was the first example of Chevrolet‘s full-size pickup truck to offer a Trail Boss variant that features a factory two-inch lift, along with a host of other off-road-oriented hardware and features.
In fact, there are two Chevy Silverado Trail Boss models. One is the Custom Trail Boss, which – as the name implies – is based on the entry level Custom trim. The other is the LT Trail Boss, based on the LT trim level. This is where availability stops. There are officially no Trail Boss versions in the higher-end LTZ and High Country trim levels, which can be disappointing for those who wish to have a luxurious Silverado with the off-road-oriented wares featured by the Trail Boss. The good news is that it’s possible to create one by following two steps.
Silverado Trail Boss Custom
The first step is for the dealer to order a 2021 Chevy Silverado in the LTZ or High Country trim levels with the Z71 Off-Road Package. The equipment is different for each of the two trims, but in both cases it includes Z71 off-road suspension with Rancho monotube shocks, Hill Descent Control, skid plates and a heavy-duty air filter.
Silverado High Country
The second step is to order Chevrolet’s own two-inch suspension lift. Though not compatible with all Chevy Silverado 1500 models, the kit was developed by engineers who worked on the rest of the truck, and it will not void the New Vehicle Limited Warranty when installed by an authorized Chevrolet dealer.
| Feature | RPO Code | Custom Trail Boss | LT Trail Boss | LTZ | High Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-Road suspension | Z71 | S | S | A1 | A1 |
| Hill Descent Control | JHD | S | S | A1 | A1 |
| Skid plates | NZZ | S | S | A1 | A1 |
| Heavy-duty air filter | K47 | S | S | A1 | A1 |
| Dual exhaust | N10 | - | S | A1 | S |
| 275/60R20SL all-terrain blackwall tires | QAE | - | - | A1 | S |
| 2-speed transfer case | NQH | S | S | A1 | S |
| 2-inch lift with monotube shocks | Z7X | S | S | - | - |
| 2-inch lift kit (Chevrolet Accessory) | - | S1 | S1 | A | A |
- Included and only available with (Z71) Z71 Off-Road Package.
- Included with vehicle from factory.
The MSRP for the accessory two-inch lift for 4WD models is $1,295 ($995 for 2WD models), which includes reconfiguring the front camera and calibrating the electronic power steering system. The lift kit can be installed on its own, but it is not enough to recreate the complete Trail Boss package. However when combined with the Z71 Off-Road Package, it means that customers can end up creating a truck that’s essentially a Chevy Silverado LTZ Trail Boss or Silverado High Country Trail Boss in all but name.
“A few truck team members are driving Silverados [with the accessory lift kit] and they’re great,” director of Chevrolet truck marketing, Bob Krapes, told GM Authority executive editor, Alex Luft, in a recent interview.
Silverado LTZ
It’s also worth noting that the LTZ and High Country models come standard with 20-inch wheels and all-season tires, while the Silverado Trail Boss models get 18-inch wheels wrapped in LT275/65R18 Mud Terrain Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrec rubber. For those who want the complete Trail Boss experience, it would be possible to swap in the smaller wheels with the more aggressive rubber, also via official Chevrolet accessory channels.
In Q1 of 2021, the Chevy Silverado (including all Light Duty, Heavy Duty and Medium Duty variants) retained its position as GM’s most popular vehicle in the United States, accounting for 30 percent of Chevy sales and 20 percent of all General Motors sales.
Chevrolet Silverado Sales Detail - Q1 2021 - USA
| Model | Q1 2021 / Q1 2020 | Q1 2021 | Q1 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | -12.5% | 126,591 | 144,734 |
| Silverado LD | -19.7% | 90,705 | 112,925 |
| Silverado HD | +10.5% | 33,999 | 30,773 |
| Silverado MD | +82.1% | 1,887 | 1,036 |
Meanwhile, the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 will deliver several important updates via a mid-cycle refresh consisting of new front and rear ends and an overhauled interior, complete with an all-new center stack housing a larger infotainment screen. Higher quality materials throughout the cabin are also expected. What’s more, a new Silverado ZR2 (or Trail Boss ZR2) model is expected to join the lineup as a more capable version of the Trail Boss.
Last week, GM Authority exclusively showed you the revised front end of the updated Silverado. However, the launch date for the refreshed model has been cast into doubt by the global semiconductor shortage.
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Comments
This is the reason I have an AT4 it has the upgrades and the lift already. Chevy dropped the ball by not offering an an upscale trail boss.
Actually James, the whole reason GMC still exist is because they’re the upscale brand compared to Chevy. If GM allowed Chevy to make a LTZ Trailboss then AT4 sales would take a hit.
GM is seemly forgetting that GMC is that upscale brand, and continuously makes every class exclusive option on the Sierra available to the Silverado months later. Why even make a Sierra at that point if The only difference is front sheet metal and rim choices? Just me, it’s like Toyota and Lexus making the GX460 and the 4 Runner the same including the features that makes the GX460 the king it really is. Release the trucks with the same power train but GM cmon make them totally different inside this time at least
GMC is the upscale brand in theory but I agree it’s not much of a reality. It’s honestly more of a styling preference than anything else. They are however doing a much better job of giving them there own identity from a styling perspective. At one point the grill was literally the only difference, now the rear bumper, certain tailgates, rear doors and top of the cab are the only shared sheet metal/aluminum. Personally I’m ok allowing Chevy to play on a more level playing field. If Chevy is never allowed to fully compete with Ford and Ram then that’s a losing formula IMO. You could argue that’s what GMC is for but that’s not how the reviewers look at it when comparing Ford and Ram to Chevy. Both truck lines can be well equipt and peacefully coexist as long as they have there own identity. Let’s be honest, if GMC is truly the luxury brand then they better step it up big time! I personally think it’s time for GMC to come out with a line above the Denali, or simply make the Denali worthy of it’s name!
Unless Cadillac comes out with a pickup, the Denali should offer an interior worthy of a Cadillac.
Now make the 373 gears an option and front locker and you have a truck!
It has no use for a front locker, there are maybe a handful of people that actually have a use for that and they can install one themselves. Don’t need to drive up the cost for everyone including those buying base model for work because some suburban dads want to have that as a discussion point at their kids soccer games or the local starbucks. You re going to have dads using the front locker on a snowy street like some idiot did with a ZR2 in Texas. Give it a good traction control system that is brake based like a Jeep and that will do more than anyone ever needs in a much safer setting with a much less chance to break anything, that and it won’t drive up the costs since that tech is already present.
Get it installed at the dealer, you will probably pay through the nose since they have few cars to sell they need to make a buck anyway they can.
The real question is why doesn’t Chevy offer the Trail Boss in higher trims from the factory? If they want the Trail Boss to be a stand alone package then offer it in Custom, LT, LTZ and High Country. Another option would be to make Trail Boss a trim package that could be added to each trim level. How cool would it be to have the option of Standard, RST or Trail Boss on every trim level!
Exactly how hard could it be to do it on any trim?
CAFE probably. They want to limit the number of trucks they sell with both heavy features and the lift kit, since both aren’t good for fuel economy. If it gets put on as an accessory after sale, then that doesn’t count.
Ford did this right. You can add any style or package to any trim. You want a Lariat FX4 with painted body bumpers, get the sport trim. You want an XL with chrome and the tremor, go ahead. I personally don’t understand the box checker guys who buy the off road package trucks with massaging seats and then add big neutering wheels with low profile tires and never take it off road. The off road package should be only available with the smallest rim and not the highest packages, no one is taking a Denali or High country off road. But I should be able to order an LT in cloth with chrome bumpers and the raised TB suspension. Someone that is old should be able to add the safety package with adaptive cruise and lane keep and other sensors to aid them in driving. It would be nice to pick and choose each option, but they should allow more options to be spread out with out having to default to say a TB with that ugly black bumpers and wheels and only limited options.
You took the words right out of my mouth. 👍
I’m old, I’ll admit that up front. But, the worst thing that auto builders did, IMHO, is when they took away our right to choose options on our cars and trucks. Back in the day, when you factory ordered a vehicle, you got what you wanted, not what was convenient for the dealer to add at the assembly line. In today’s age of computers and robots it seem strange that instead of adding choice, they’ve removed it!
And for the price you pay, for say a Denali, it should come with the nice cushy seats like the old models. Instead, they give you these hard ass seats that are worthless on long trips. Like sitting on buckets.
I wonder if this method would work to get a Trail Boss Diesel?
JAWS4
AMEN! I don’ think I’m real old but I remember going to the lot with my Dad looking at brand new ’78 models!
Even into the ’80’s and ’90’s you could pick options ala carte and the rural “Mom and Pop” GMC dealer I worked at as kid seemingly never had 2 trucks just alike. Paint and interior combos, options, even motors and rear ends could be picked out, not packaged. It made for some truly “one of” vehicles that made owning something, even something as utilitarian as truck unique.
It was fun to go to lots then because you could see something different from one dealer to the next. Now, I don’t go “lot looking” because you know what they are going to have; LT’s with danged ole black interior!!
I have a 2020 High Country 6.2L and want the Trail Boss lift kit put on. When I log in to Chevy.com and click on the kit, it enables me to add the dealer install for $540 additional dollars, which is great. Do I also need to add the steel springs since my HC came with the composite springs, or do they have to be replaced?
Thanks for your help!
Darren