Did we really just go rock crawling in a $95,680 pickup? We did.
HD Pickups Are Now Off-Road Rides
Fact: More than half of Silverado HD owners take their trucks off-road. That partly explains why Chevrolet has begun making a ZR2 version of its heavy-duty trucks for 2024. Equipped with aggressive 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler MT tires, new front suspension arms, a half-inch lift, a locking rear differential, and highly effective Multimatic spool-valve shock absorbers, the new 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 is a serious off-roader, one that maintains solid payload and tow ratings with either the standard 6.6-liter gasoline V8 or the optional 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8.
To please an even more hardcore off-roader, though, and to compete more effectively with the Ram 2500 Power Wagon and Ford F-250 Super Duty with Tremor Off-Road Package, Chevy has teamed up with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to build the 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 Bison.
A $9,135 option available on the 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2, the Bison package gets you rugged AEV steel bumpers (winch-compatible in front, with beefy integrated recovery points front and rear), 18-inch AEV alloy wheels (five of them, including the spare), and boron-steel skid plates for the engine, transfer case, and 36-gallon gas tank. You also get a few distinct interior bits and GM’s Multi-Flex tailgate. While we appreciated them, they provided no apparent advantage off-road.
Starting Out Easy
On the highway to Johnson Valley, California, the Silverado HD ZR2 Bison impressed us with its quiet comfort and relaxed demeanor. Its diesel V8 loafed long at barely above an idle at 65 mph. The Bison again impressed on the relatively smooth dirt roads that soon followed. Its spool-valve Mutimatic dampers kept the big 8,450-pound(!) truck from feeling skittish on the short stretches of washboard we encountered.
Our first challenge (if you can call it that) was a sandy and mildly rocky climb. In off-road mode, the big Bison lumbered up with nary a concern. But even tall drivers won’t be able to see over that long and broad hood. We relied on the forward-facing camera in that situation. It enabled us to position the Bison exactly where we wanted as we crept along slowly, enjoying that sumptuous 957 lb-ft of torque.
Tougher Challenges
Things got much tougher on the way down, a route selected precisely because it had large rocks and challenging steps down, some while turning. Careful application of the brakes and guidance from the onboard cameras helped us place the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 Bison exactly where we wanted it to be. That sometimes meant placing those meaty Goodyears directly on rocks instead of going around them. We made it down with only a few minor clanks from the truck’s undercarriage.
Many Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 Bison trucks will be equipped with power-retractable assist steps that make it easier to climb aboard. For this rock-crawling adventure, though, they were removed by the GM engineers for clearance reasons.
Our final challenge — a short but moderately rocky climb — proved challenging but not quite rugged enough to require spotters. We took it slowly, occasionally taking advantage of the Bison’s 11.8 inches of ground clearance to straddle some rocks. But we knew the locked rear differential had no protective skid plate. At other times, it was simply a matter of driving right up and over individual rocks, setting the Bison gently back down onto the terra firma with careful brake modulation. Driven that way, with plenty of patience and a well-chosen line that kept the Bison’s pretty red paint free from scrapes, we crested the hill.
Would You Go Off-Roading in a $95,680 Pickup Truck?
As we drove back to our camp — feeling pleased, a bit relieved, and impressed by the capabilities of this big truck (including how well the Multimatic shock absorbers soaked up big dips) — we couldn’t get this question out of our minds: Would anybody in their right mind actually tackle challenges like those in a brand-new pickup priced at nearly $96,000?
I suspect most of us agree on the answer. But understand this: The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 Bison isn’t a one-trick pony built strictly to fly across the desert at insane speeds or crawl through challenging rock gardens. Chevrolet has gone to great lengths to ensure the ZR2 Bison has all the capabilities of a standard Silverado HD. But it boasts dramatically improved off-road prowess.
Think of the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 Bison as the Swiss army knife of heavy-duty trucks. On the one hand, it’s a luxurious workhorse that can tow just about anything you want, given its 16,000-pound (gas) or 18,500-pound (diesel) max towing capacities. On the other, it’s a supremely capable dirt machine that would be worth every penny if, say, the dirt road to your remote campsite got washed out by a monsoon the night before you were heading home.
Even if you don’t plan to go off-roading in your Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 or ZR2 Bison, there’s something pleasantly reassuring knowing it can. The same principle applies to many SUVs (and their drivers) on the road today.
