Chevrolet Silverado HD gets 8000kg factory towing upgrade

The Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD will be available with a braked towing rating of up to 8000kg, thanks to a new option due in Australia in the third quarter of this year (July-September).

The ‘Genuine 5th Wheel Hitch’ option is fully Australian Design Rule (ADR) compliant and improves on the Silverado 2500 HD’s standard 4500kg braked towing rating, which is matched by the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, and Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500.

While the rival Ram 2500 and 3500 are also capable of 8000kg braked towing with upgrades, the package makes the Silverado 2500 HD the only model to offer a factory-backed option enabling the full capability.

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Priced from $18,000, the fifth-wheel hitch will be available on Silverado 2500 HD NB2 models. The NB2 category applies to vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) above 3857kg, which the 5148kg-rated Silverado 2500 HD falls into.

Two versions will be made available by importer General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV), with the standard 3.0-inch gooseneck ball offered alongside a 50mm pin coupling available for $2000 more.

Fitment will form part of the right-hand drive remanufacturing process carried out in Melbourne by Walkinshaw Group, which also converts the Toyota Tundra and Ram range, while the Ford F-150 is converted by RMA Automotive, also based in Melbourne.

The fifth-wheel hitch package includes an ADR-compliant factory air-brake system, designed and tested as part of the fully integrated package, along with a chassis structure and bed attachment plate.

A quick-release, tool-free mechanism enables a flat tray when the setup is not in use.

Wiring for trailer lights and cabin controls are also part of the upgrade, along with driver warnings in the head-up display. The Silverado 2500 HD is already fitted with an in-vehicle trailering app as standard.

The fifth-wheel arrangement is covered by the same five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty offered on all Silverado and Silverado HD models since late 2025.

The Silverado 2500 HD is offered in a single LTZ model grade, powered by a 6.6-litre V8 turbo-diesel engine producing 350kW and 1322Nm, and priced from $168,900 before on-road costs.

In the US, Chevrolet has announced the new 2027 Silverado 1500 will use new-generation ‘Gen VI’ V8 engines, including 5.7-litre and 6.6-litre units set to replace the previous ‘L84’ 5.3-litre (not sold here) and ‘L87’ 6.2-litre engines, though Australian launch timing for the updated pickup has yet to be announced.

No official announcements have been made globally regarding which engine will power future Silverado HD models.

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