Which Pre-Owned Chevy Silverado 3500 HD Should You Buy?
Pre-owned vehicles are all the rage right now. Buyers are becoming wise to the fact that if you know a thing or two about which vehicles really maintain their value over time, you can get your money’s worth far more out of a pre-owned car compared to a new one. Sure, new cars are shiny and flawless. But perhaps the fact that they haven’t faced any challenges yet isn’t necessarily a good thing. Only a used car has been through a thing or two, so you can tell a lot about the durability and longevity of used cars. And when it comes to a used vehicle that stands the test of time and passes plenty of trials while maintaining its value, a pre-owned Chevy 3500 is the star of the show.
Used pickup trucks, in general, are seeing a lot of love from the car buyer world right now. They’re just known for going for hundreds of miles. This is especially true for the Chevy 3500 – users consistently report putting between 200,000 to 300,000 miles on these trucks before seeing issues. And because they’re often work cars, these vehicles are typically used to make money. So between saving money by getting used and making money when putting the car to work, buying one of these heavy-duty trucks used makes for a great deal. Now the question is: which used Chevy Silverado 3500 HD should you get? We’ve got a rundown of important features from two of our top picks.
The 2020 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD
We aren’t going back too far in the years in selecting our favorite used Chevy Silverado 3500s. That’s because Chevy has made such great advancements recently to this vehicle. As the truck world has slowly merged with the luxury car world, Chevy has kept pace. Going too far back in their models would mean missing out on some features that drivers have just grown accustomed to by now. So that’s why we’re starting with the 2020.
Here’s the great news about the 2022 model: it lives up to its heavy-duty name and can tow a genuine 35,000 pounds. If you love to take the camper out on the road for long trips or need to have a trailer in tow, this truck will handle many of the most popular campers and trailers.
While towing usually means awkward handling, that’s not the case with this truck. It has two available engines – the 6.6L V8 with 401 horsepower or the 6.6L V8 Turbo-Diesel with a whopping 445 horsepower. Thanks to these powerful engines, you don’t feel the car struggling when pushed to its towing limits.
It’s also loaded with features that enhance towing safety and stability, like its advanced trailering system technologies. This system lets you create profiles for every trailer you tow, helping you note mileage and know when maintenance is required. The truck also has Autotrac active two-speed transfer on four-wheel drive options. This system lets the truck automatically transition from two-wheel to four-wheel drive when appropriate, allowing for better control – especially when towing. It also has transparent trailer view, letting you see through whatever you’re towing for a clear rear view of the vehicle. All in all, this is a vehicle that was designed to make towing safer and easier while not impacting the power of the vehicle.
Customization is another bonus of this truck. Between the many ways you can mix and match the chassis, cab, bed, and driveline, there are 22 configurations to this car. That means whether you need something that’s a straight utility vehicle, something better for passengers, or both, it’s easy to find the truck you need in the 2020 Silverado 3500 HD.
Safety is always important in vehicles but becomes of particular interest in heavy cars made for towing. When accidents happen in these cars, they can be more complicated than in small sedans. Luckily, this truck is loaded with great driver-assist technology. Packages vary depending on your trim, but some features to anticipate include front and rear park assist, which notify you if you’re too close to vehicles when getting into tight spots. Lange change and side blind zone alert let you know when you’re drifting from your lane or someone is in your blind spot before you change lanes.
Some higher trims benefit from the forward collision alert and automatic emergency braking, which tell you when you’re too close to vehicles in front of you and brake the car when your reactions are too slow. It’s features like these that made us stick to newer models of the Silverado – safety is a top priority when we recommend vehicles to customers. These driver assist features don’t show up when you go too far back in the years on this truck.
The 2019 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD
The 2019 version of this vehicle is going to see a big dip in towing capacities – down to 23,100 pounds. But keep in mind there are plenty of popular lightweight trailers and campers that this truck could handle easily. Though it can’t tow as much as the 2020 model, it’s still a powerful truck. It has a 6.0-liter V8 and 6.6-liter turbo-diesel engine, both of which come with a six-speed automatic transmission. These engines also mean you don’t feel weighed down when towing.
This truck also comes with safety features specifically made to enhance the trailering experience. It has Auto Grade Braking, which automatically downshifts to enhance braking when going downhill on a steep incline. This comes in handy when pushing the Silverado’s towing capacity to its limit. It also has a rear vision camera so you can see what’s happening behind your vehicle. In addition to towing-specific safety features, it has some impressive driver-assist features like forward-collision alert that notifies you when you’re too close to the car in front of you, front and rear park assist to prevent little accidents while parking, and lane-departure warning.
What makes this car stand out are some of its more luxury features, like its 20-inch wheels that certainly turn heads and make for some nice ground clearance. Then there are the optional vented and heated front seats in some models, as well as a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat with available lumbar support making this a car built for driver and passenger comfort.
It’s also equipped with a premium Bose audio system, so if your commute to the work site is long, you can enjoy crisp tunes or podcasts. You’ll conveniently find the audio controls on the steering wheel, too, so you can seamlessly change the channel or adjust the volume without taking your hands off the wheel. And if staying connected on the road is important to you, you’ll enjoy the available Wi-Fi hotspot on all trims of this truck. If you do need some interior cargo room in addition to the extended cab of this truck, you’ll find it on the LT trim. That vehicle offers a front 40/20/40 split-bench seat to create a little extra space when needed.
This vehicle certainly combines the workhorse capabilities that the Silverado is made for with some special creature comforts. Plus, it comes in eight trims, so drivers can find some nicely customized features.
An Excellent Choice, No Matter the Model Year
The Chevy Silverado 3500 HD is one of the more impressive trucks out there. Older models really hold up, even compared to newer ones, so we confidently recommend used varieties of these trucks to our customers. You’ll certainly find durable materials and impressive towing capacities if you go older than a 2019. But, since we put safety first and know drivers have come to expect a certain standard of amenities, we recommend the 2019 and 2020 models. They’re both packed with driver assist features and interior features that make for a safer, more pleasant drive.