The Chevy Silverado Trail Boss is one of the more popular trim levels on offer, giving off-roading fans a shot at mixing it up in the rough stuff with a host of upgrades and goodies. However, what if General Motors applied a similar formula to the all-new 2021 Chevy Suburban? What would that look like? Well, wonder no longer, as GM Authority has rendered exactly that.
For now, Chevy Suburban customers can outfit their SUV for an adventure on the trail by opting for the Z71 trim level. Our Chevy Suburban Trail Boss, however, takes things a step further with additional off-road equipment.
Before we continue, it bears mentioning that, at the moment, there’s no indication that General Motors will ever build a Chevy Suburban Trail Boss. Rather, GM Authority decided to created these renderings purely for fun.
With that covered, let’s take a closer look at what this SUV offers. For starters, we altered the running gear, throwing on a set of smaller wheels and chunkier tires to help grip loose surfaces. What’s more, the suspension has been modified to provide extra ground clearance, as expected of a model bearing the Trail Boss name.
Further updates include a new set of off-road-oriented steps, which not only provide easier access to the cabin, but also help to protect the underbody just incase the taller ride height isn’t quite enough.
We also modified the tail of the SUV to include a unique rear fascia for enhanced departure and approach angles. Meanwhile, the front end is equipped with the standard Chevy Suburban Z71 fascia treatment, while the tow hooks and sideview mirror caps were color-coordinated in red.
Under the skin, we would expect this hypothetical Chevy Suburban Trail Boss to feature air suspension that would lift and lower the body by as much as four inches.
Although the prospect of General Motors producing a new Chevy Suburban Trail Boss model is currently nil, we can’t help but imagine what such a model would drive like.
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Comments
Wait what? This already exists in the form of a Z71 trim level Suburban with the the Z71 off-road package. Everything mentioned in this rendering is available currently except for the smaller wheels with “beefier” tires. But this easily accomplished with an aftermarket upgrade.
Chevrolet will need to build a Suburban / Tahoe TrailBoss sooner or later, FORD has a Expedition and Explorer Timberland on the way
I would buy This, just be sure to offer the 6.2 v8 and Duramax 6 like they do in the Silverado trail boss.
Jim
Does the Z71 with off road option come with an air suspension?
Yes
I wonder what wheel/tire combo would give that wide look and still provide clearance?
The low-hanging rear suspension alone makes this off-road concept a non-starter. From the rear, it more resembles a Greyhound bus.
I agree with @Ken on the rear low hanging suspension…what’s up with that. I also seen other 2021 manufacturers big SUVs and similar suspension on them as well…
Can’t wait hear comments this upcoming winter with the low hanging suspension.
It’s called independent rear suspension (IRS) – no more solid-axle differential (Ford has had this for almost 20 years on their full size SUVs). It offers much better handling and ride, and more interior volume and rear seat legroom (the interior platform is about 6″ lower). Yes, not as much ground clearance as a solid axle, and not as durable for serious off-roading. But solid rear axle vehicles have the pumpkin hanging low. And, like someone else said, 99% of these stay on pavement. As far as getting through snow, the majority of these are 4WD. These low hanging projections are not going to get caught up in snow enough to where 4WD is ineffective to the point of getting stuck.
Z71 trim level is different from the Z71 off-road package for 2021 Tahoe/Suburban. The trim level is basically an appearance package. The Z71 off-road package is much different than previous generations where it was Just Rancho shocks and off road tires. Magnetic/Air adjustable suspension provides three ride heights plus a 1” lower egress/ingress setting. Hill descent control, 3 speed transfer case, locking rear differential, amongst other options are part of the package. No other Chevy product offers Z71 as a trim level. The Trail Boss trim is the closest you can get on the pickups.
However, good luck finding a Z71 trim + Z71 package (what I would call a “true” Z71) in a 2021 model unless it’s used. They quit taking orders for vehicles containing the Z71 off-road packages sometime in late spring due to the chip shortage. A current look at nationwide inventory showed one Tahoe (in transit) and zero Suburbans in current inventory.
I notice the Z-71 is only available with the 5.3. Be nice to get the 6.2.
Agreed. Needs the 6.2 to be relevant.
I agree the 6.2 option would have been nice. But I hardly think the vehicle is irrelevant without it. Irrelevant to me is an Expedition only available with a turbo V6, no V8 available. I know this Ford engine is supposed to be great power wise; my worry would be longevity of the high spinning turbos. I didn’t even consider a Ford for this reason alone. Had it been offered with the 5.0 coyote (Mustang) engine, I would have been all over it.
Like you I’m very skeptical about long term reliability of Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator twin turbo V6 engine…They should have allowed potential buyers to choose between a gas V8 and (why not) a Powestroke diesel V8 instead of imposing them this sole powertrain.
I would like to read a survey about the real reliability of this engine from Expedition/Navigator owners reaching or exceeding 150K miles.
the 5.3 is fine if they gear this correctly and remove a lot of the crap that helps this generation stay on the road because they simply cannot drive very well, make the entire roof removable like the Bronco and give a proper solid front axle with e-lockers all around. Their is very good reason why the Jeep and now the bronco are having so much sales success. imagine if you could get the Bronco with an optional solid front axles and that seven speed Low first gear manual in the turbo v6 variant with an actual 4 to 1 t-case. Hell imagine a basic NA 5.0 version. low end torque with not a lot of strain on the motor means long and comfortable trail worthiness.
A Z71 Tahoe with the 6 in-line Duramax diesel and the Duramax V8 on the Suburban Z71 would have been better but unfortunately it will never happen due to technical constraints.
The Trail Boss Package for that particular model won’t be needed, the Z71 Package is sufficient enough. To escalate the Suburban/ Tahoe Off Road capabilities, a page could be taken from the upcoming Hummer EV by adding in the Extract Mode option.
Z-71 trim and Z-71 package. With air ride. 👍 I’ll put my name in the hat. Got to have one of these. Replace my 2500HD.
99% of the people who buy 100k SUVs never go offroad. It’s all just psychological marketing mind games…”if we really want to we could, buuut, we better not”
I know, what if they made a Blazer true to the Blazer name, for off road…
I’ve had a GMC Carryall, Suburban ,Xl since 1963,and go off-road in sand and mud often. The 2021 model suspension is trouble it’ll hang up in all sorts of situations. You’ll need tall tires , a better transmission and the 3.73 rear end again. Its just a limo now. Subaru has more clearance. A hybrid Suburban with the electric rear end and 4in lift might convince me to stay with Suburbans. Ford and Toyota are going to give the expensive Hummer a run for the money ,here we go again…
All ok but what GM really needs is a bronco busting Jimmy based on the Colorado Bison. But it really needs to be able to tow a decent amount say 5000 lbs and 4 wd that can handle a back road trail.
Since the baby Jimmy and blazer was canceled back in 2004/5 Toyota has been eating everybody else’s lunch with 4runner FJ cruiser highlander etc. Jeep has wrangler rubicon etc and Just about every car maker out there had a mid size suv with a frame 4×4 V6 with decent tow rating.
Except GM with its useless Equinox and crappy Envoy with the driveshaft thru the oil pan. One can only blame the bean counting idiots at the top of GM who stupidly thought that building cheap pieces of crap was the way to win. NOT! They merely repeated the mistakes that turned station wagons into crap that no one wanted to touch.
Suburban is no longer a truck. Just another urban soccer mom vehicle. I have a 99 with IFS and it’s trash for off road and so high geared to meet CAFE standards it won’t pull sick lot lizard off the commode
Interesting that this article mentions a Trail Boss concept for Tahoe/Suburban, but makes no mention to a locking rear diff, which the current Z-71 does not have. I would think that the first thing on your wish list would have been lockers. At least you have pretty red tow hooks for your buddies to winch you out of the muddy area of the mall parking lot.