Realtree Silverado is more than just a half-ton pickup truck wrapped in camouflage. Most hunters will find this is a light truck that can do the job on the road and off-road

By Brian Smith | Updated 6:07 PM, August 31, 2021

In 2016, Chevrolet and Realtree launched the Realtree Edition Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71 cab. Dodge teamed up with Mossy Oak to develop the Ram 1500 interior, and Chevrolet responded with its own camouflage truck. Realtree and Chevrolet will once again launch a new generation of Silverado in 2021, but this time it provides this truck to blue-collar audiences who are more in line with Chevrolet's customer base.

Compared with the 2016 version, the new Realtree Edition Silverado does a better job in meeting the needs of American hunters. It is also more affordable. The original Realtree Silverado is based on Chevrolet's high-end LTZ trim and Z71 off-road kit, which has a lot of features, a lot of luxury, and a high price tag.

This time, the Camouflage-themed Realtree Special Edition is based on the more affordable Custom Trail Boss decoration series and is priced at approximately US$42,000. Chevrolet installed a two-inch lift and General Motors' complete Z71 off-road kit at the factory to customize the Custom Trail Boss for outdoor adventures. Coupled with weather-resistant interiors and towing upgrades, the new Realtree Silverado is the ideal choice for hunters who are looking for a new truck.

When I drove the Realtree Silverado for the first time, I immediately noticed its size. Trail Boss trucks dwarfed the Silverados and SUVs of the early 2000s. I have been driving a 1999 Suburban 2500 since I was a kid. In contrast, this pickup truck feels like a monster truck. If you are not a truck driver or a girl, driving the Trail Boss interior may seem a bit overwhelming at first. It is located high on 20-inch wheels and a 2-inch factory lift, so if you go from an SUV to a Realtree 1500, it will be a bit difficult to get the bearings. The short bed (5.75 feet) makes it the same overall length as an old suburban, but the truck is wider and taller than the old SUV. This provides the driver with a very good view of the road, minimizing visual obstructions on and off the road, unless you are trying to see objects near the truck that are below its wheelbase height.

The extra size also provides a very spacious interior for the Realtree Edition Silverado. The truck I drove was wide and long enough to comfortably accommodate six adult men.

Here is a quick tour of the standard features included with Realtree Edition Silverado:

The truck I tested fits most new rig molds: the cab is paired with a short bed. It also has a 79.4-inch bed option, but the corresponding cab only has a dual-row cab configuration. The Realtree Edition has the same full box frame as all Silverados and offers two powertrain options: a 5.3-liter V8 engine with a six-speed gearbox or a 6.2-liter V8 engine with a 10-speed gearbox. My test truck is filled with a standard 5.3-liter engine under the hood, with 355 horsepower and 383 foot-pounds of torque measured at the factory. In contrast, the 6.2-liter engine can output 420 horsepower and 460 foot-pounds of torque.

Realtree Silverado is just a camouflage customized Trail Boss with one or two convenient non-performance additional features. All Custom Trail Boss trucks are equipped with a 2-inch factory lift, a standard 3.42 ratio rear axle, which provides better torque (ie grunt) at lower speeds, and GM’s iconic Z71 off-road kit, which includes a range of off-road , Towing and cargo upgrades. Off-road features include a two-speed transfer case with four modes and dynamic shifting function, anti-skid plate, transfer case guard, Eaton automatic locking rear differential (a big advantage on a smooth surface), Rancho dual-tube shock , Electronic grade descent control and all-terrain Goodyear Duratrac or Wrangler territory tires. My test truck is equipped with optional 20-inch wheels and upgraded Wrangler tires. The towing side of the Z71 option has hooks, four- and seven-pin connectors, a hook alignment system integrated into the infotainment system, and a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 7,000 pounds.

In terms of cargo and trailer functions, Realtree Silverado's 7,000-pound GVWR can be converted into a maximum payload of 1,682 pounds, while Chevrolet's steel-bottom Durabed and accompanying spray-in liner provide a durable cargo space. The maximum conventional trailer weight of this truck is 9,400 pounds, and the gooseneck trailer is 8,800 pounds. All in all, the maximum trailer weight of Realtree Chevy is 15,000 pounds (truck, trailer and cargo, including driver and passengers). In fact, this truck is rated for a lighter two-horse or even three-horse trailer, a large camper trailer, or an ATV trailer with four drilling rigs and a lot of extra fuel and equipment. Anyone planning to tow trailers on a regular basis may benefit from General Motors' integrated trailer brake control system, which costs $275 to upgrade.

In terms of serving hunters, the Chevrolet team has done a lot on the 2021 Silverado Realtree Edition.

Every car has its advantages and disadvantages, and the new Realtree Silverado is no exception. Before buying, you should consider some of the shortcomings of this truck.

Now we are at the core of the question: is Silverado Realtree Edition right for you? From a hunting point of view, this truck is well-designed and has enough capacity to handle most on-road and off-road hunting tasks. Whether you need to load some ATVs, or just want an easy way to transport your gear to the deer camp-and then ship your money out-this Silverado will meet all your needs and then Yes some. If you plan to tow anything, make sure you know how much you plan to tow in and behind the truck (payload) to avoid overloading this Silverado. It may have a lot of upgrades, but it is still a light 1500.

If this truck can do your job, then the problem ultimately boils down to the price. The Realtree package of Silverado Custom Trail Boss will cost you US$2,585, and to get Custom Trail Boss with all the same options, the same truck without Realtree add-ons and black badges, you can expect to save about US$1,200. In contrast, you can use the Z71 off-road kit and the same cab and bed layout to buy a similarly configured Silverado 1500 WT, which is about $5,500 cheaper than the Realtree Edition, although you will miss the Trail Boss series of 2-inch factory lifts and some others Good things, including Realtree decals and stylish black badges.

If you decide to take the Realtree route but want to reduce costs, then you may need to skip some additional features. First, forget about the optional 3.23 rear axle. Of course, it can save you pump costs, but you will lose low-end torque, which is essential for off-road and traction. I also recommend thinking twice before adding the $445 Multi-Flex tailgate to your truck. Unless you plan to get in and out of bed frequently, plan to transport heavy or bulky goods relatively frequently, or you are short, the extra cost may not be worth it. The corner steps built into the rear bumper should be sufficient for most people. On the other hand, if you plan to tow regularly, consider adding an integrated trailer brake controller for $275.

To be honest, Realtree Silverado was designed with large game hunters in remote areas in mind. Therefore, equipping it for the Rocky Mountains or the Big Bend may be the way to go. First, I might add some external lighting, such as some Baja Designs LED A-pillar lights (US$269) or Baja Designs 40-inch LED strips (US$1,079) and the necessary US$129 wiring harness. In the truck, I will install a Tuffy Under Rear Sea Lockbox, a lockable box for storing extra ammunition, jackets, first aid kits, car tools and other smaller equipment. It sells for $489, and the three-digit combination lock means you never have to worry about losing your key.

For shorter hunts, I might pick up a lockable trunk lid to match my truck. Chevrolet offers some options for trunk lids, but I would choose an aluminum retractable hardtop, the price is between $1,800 and $2,400. For longer hunting, skip the trunk lid and switch to Putco Venture TEC Rack ($1,989), which is perfect for land. This rack should provide enough space for the roof top of the truck and other equipment. Putco also provides a large number of accessories for custom rack configurations.

If you purchased the Silverado Realtree Edition, you can visit Chevrolet's Build and Price page to get started. Make sure to select the Custom Trail Boss option in step 2 and the Realtree Special Edition package in step 4 to ensure you get the correct truck.

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