Towing with Duramax Power in the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2

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The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 is a huge trail master. It is designed to run on desert floors, maneuver through logging roads, and take you to the cabin with authority. The grip put down by its four-wheel-drive system and the power from the Duramax turbocharged in-line six-cylinder diesel engine is absolutely unmatched. 

What else can it do? How about tow up to 8,700 pounds. MotorTrend took a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 on a 2,500-mile multi-week trip towing a 20-foot toy hauler trailer. The editors did the math and found that the trailer weighed about 8,200 pounds.  

The numbers to calculate when towing with your Silverado 1500 are the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), along with payload and/or maximum tow rating and the ball weight rating. These numbers are available to you in the owner’s manual and the sticker inside the driver’s door.   

Another number to look at is the torque. The 3.0-liter Duramax turbocharged inline six-cylinder diesel puts down 495 pound-feet of low-end grunt, peaking at just 1,500 rpm. This much torque, combined with the 10-speed automatic transmission, meant that even fully loaded, the ZR2 didn’t struggle to accelerate from a stop.  

The Duramax in the Silverado 1500 ZR2 is also equipped with an exhaust brake for road and tow management. It is activated through the Tow/Haul drive mode. Combined with the grand braking system, it utilizes sensors on the vehicle for pitch, yaw, acceleration, and deceleration to record when the Silverado 1500 ZR2 is on a grade, calculating how much weight is under tow.  

How did Motor Trend do? The editors arrived at a scale knowing they had to meet the 15,000-pound GCWR threshold. They went over by 380 pounds. Could they manage to take their trailer with extra items in the bed, including 100 gallons of fresh water in the trailer? With some adjustments, the answer was yes. Knowing your numbers before you tow or haul will help determine whether your Silverado 1500 ZR2 will be able to do the job safely.

The ZR2 is a great truck to conquer trails and makes for great off-road adventures. Keep in mind that Chevrolet offers a full line of 2025 Silverado 1500 pickup trucks that can tow more. With the Duramax diesel, there are other 2025 Silverado 1500 models available that can tow up to 13,300 pounds with four-wheel drive.  

Whether you are towing a lot or looking for a pickup truck that you can have maximum fun in, Chevrolet of Spring Valley has you covered. Contact us to see what your options are in a 2025 Silverado 1500 soon!