If you're shopping for a full-size truck that can handle time on the jobsite, highway miles, and weekend towing with equal vigor, the Silverado 1500 is always worth a closer look.Ready to find out which 2026 Silverado trim is better for off-roading? Here's a full breakdown of the 2026 Silverado ZR2 and LT Trail Boss.
Key Takeaways
- The Realtree Special Edition is now a dealer-installed Realtree Appearance Package with wider availability across trim levels.
- Pricing starts at $38,145 and tops out around $65,495, as of December 1, 2026.
- Max towing capacity for the Silverado 1500 is 13,300 pounds when properly equipped.
Changes and Pricing in the 2026 Silverado 1500
Chevy keeps the updates light for 2026. The big shift is in the Realtree package, which is now a dealer-installed appearance package, giving buyers more ways to add it without changing configurations. There's also a small shakeup in the paint catalog. Iridescent Pearl Tricoat and Slate Gray Metallic step aside to make way for two new colors, White Sands and Polar White Tricoat.
Here's how pricing lines up for each trim:
- Work Truck: $38,145
- Custom: $43,645
- LT: $49,145
- RST: $52,545
- Custom Trail Boss: $54,045
- LTZ: $60,595
- LT Trail Boss: $60,845
- High Country: $65,495
Available engines include:
- A 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder generating 310 horsepower;
- A 5.3-liter V8 giving 355 horsepower;
- A 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower,
- And a 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six with 277 horsepower.
The Silverado's towing numbers are strong across the board, topping 13,300 pounds when properly equipped. You'll get that max rating with the 6.2-liter V8, but the 5.3-liter isn't far behind, handling up to 11,500 pounds. Even the turbo four-cylinder is no slouch, pulling up to 9,500 pounds.
The turbodiesel continues to deliver the best highway mileage numbers at 26 mpg with rear-wheel drive, while the 6.2-liter with off-road tires lands lower, closer to the mid-teens.
The LT Trail Boss slots above the Custom Trail Boss and offers a long list of upgrades. With all four available engine options, it builds on the LT and Custom Trail Boss with items like 20-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, LED exterior lighting, a trailer brake controller, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. You also get dual-zone climate control, a power driver's seat, heated front seats, a heated leather-wrapped wheel, and a 13.4-inch touchscreen running Google-based built-in navigation and voice controls.
The ZR2 sits at the top of the Silverado's off-road lineup. It's only offered as a crew-cab, short-bed model and pairs the 6.2-liter V8 or the Duramax diesel exclusively with four-wheel drive. It builds from the LT Trail Boss and LTZ equipment list but adds more serious hardware, such as 18-inch wheels with 33-inch mud-terrain tires, a full-size spare, an off-road suspension setup, and locking differentials at both axles. Chevy also includes a spray-in bedliner, the Multi-Flex tailgate, heated rear seats, a digital rearview mirror, a head-up display, a bed-view camera, and adaptive cruise control.
For buyers who want even more capability, the ZR2 Bison Edition steps things up further with unique wheels, thicker skid plates protecting key underbody components, steel bumpers, rocker protection, and AEV-branded exterior and interior accents.
Which 2026 Silverado 1500 Will You Hit the Trail With?
If you want the Silverado's off-road look and capability without maxing out the hardware, the LT Trail Boss gives you plenty of room to configure the truck the way you like it. If you prefer a truck that's built for tougher trails and comes loaded with serious off-road gear right from the get-go, the ZR2 is your best bet. Ready to test drive both? Contact Banner Chevrolet today!