My colleague Alvin Reyes wrote an excellent, in-depth article on the 2020 Silverado HD in the summer of 2019. At that time, the max towing capacity was 35,500 lbs. for the Silverado HD when properly equipped. This represented – believe it or not – a whopping 52 percent increase in max towing capacity versus a 2019 Silverado. Talk about a significant jump! 

Now, Chevy has tipped the scales again, even if ever so slightly this time around. As of this writing, the 2021 Chevy Silverado HD has a max towing capacity of 36,000 lbs. when properly equipped. For the sake of conversion, that’s 18 tons. So you can tow a bus with the 2021 Chevy Silverado HD. You know, just in case.

2021 Chevy Silverado HD: How It Tows So Much
It’s a three-tier system with the Silverado HD, the first tier being the truck’s architecture and structural components. The hydroformed high-tensile-strength steel, which serves as the fabric for the ladder-style frame, lends itself to a greater degree of torsional rigidity. This is done intentionally by the Silverado’s engineering team, and their marketing colleagues are keen to point out the advantages. In other words, unless it’s an ice cream cone, Chevy would prefer not to twist.

Having a more rigid platform that is twist-resistant, according to Chevy, is ideal for hauling heavy payloads, especially on uneven terrain. When properly configured, a 2021 Chevy Silverado HD will provide a GC...