The off-road special is now a very hot trend in the pickup world, and since the introduction of the competition in the form of the Raptor, many pickups have undergone the transformation to add off-road-read gear. The 2020 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss is the selection we are excited about offering here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis, available in lightly equipped Custom or the pricier LT Trail Boss versions. Each looks tougher in their own way, but both will get the same extra off-road prowess from tire and suspension upgrades.
This feature in Autoblog showcases this ready-to-rumble rock crawler with off-road-tuned suspension complete with Rancho shocks and a 2-inch lift over the regular Z71. Additionally, there are skid plates, hill descent control, an automatic rear locking differential, and 32-inch mud-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels. On any trim level, you can upgrade to 33-inch all-terrain tires, or 20-inch wheels, and to change things up a bit visually the trucks receive a black grille, bumpers, and vivid red tow hooks.
This particular testing crew took an LT Trail Boss out to Bundy Hill off-road park in Jerome, Michigan, where every single extra Trail-Boss specific trait was well put to use. There are numerous hills here and it's heavily wooded, and every path from the grittiest trails to simple access roads are dirt, and they currently happened to be wet. Looking in detail over the trail guide, the group saw that the Black, Red, and Border trails recommended a larger amount of off-road equipment, the ability to traverse the absolute steepest of hills, and very large boulders. The danger and potential for body damage and rollover were lurking at every turn!
They opted for a “Green” trail, which still offers up plenty of hefty challenges. The suspension provided excellent body control over the big dips and ruts, keeping the group from smacking the ceiling or bottoming out. They never had to use four-wheel-drive low, and the automatic locking differential only was activated one time. It is well pointed-out here that the Trail Boss makes a great case for itself for off-roading in an area with few trees, or crawling along service roads, while the Colorado ZR2 is a bit more efficient in a tight spot.
A very stiff suspension means that the Trail Boss does not roll nearly as much in corners, and the grip qualities border on sport mode in a sedan. The steering is burly, responsive, and still nimble, which is surprising when you consider the squishy quality of tires needed to conquer dirt and mud. Don’t skip over looking at the extra features of the Custom Trail Boss: you’ll snag up the goods of a sunroof, power heated bucket seats, telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, parking sensors, and LED lights!