2025 Chevy Silverado HD: 2500 ZR2 VS 3500 Trail Boss - Is There Really A Difference???

[@flyfishingtim]

Thanks for the side by side comparison! This type of video helps a lot

[@daneickhoffakayourcarguy8045]

Excellent walk around comparison!!

[@bruceknirs9987]

I will take the 3500 trail boss because the features that are on the Zr2 don't really matter as much to me, and the one that does is tires but I don't like what comes on both so I would change them out right away anyway

[@mattjones2705]

Great overlook and review. Keep up the good content and enjoy the time in the grwat outdoors

[@macguba798]

Great comparison video, JB. Definitely 3500 Trail Boss for me but I wonder if it tows heavy 5th wheel softly?

[@KERSHINATOR]

Great job again. Really hard to not go for the ZR2 when looking at 2500 LTZ trail bosses. Especially when I'm looking for the 18 inch wheel and tire combo for a more comfortable daily unloaded driver and still want to hit the paths out west AND the $$$$ are very close. I like the 2024 package with the 18's thats basically a trail boss without the stickers and costs a few $$$$ less for essentially the same truck. Maybe different shocks but shocks are cheap when there are 3 zeros in front of the first number.

[@jayb7675]

The ZR2 suspension geometry is poor. The 45 degree upper control arm angle on the ZR2 vs the flat control arm on the Trail Boss demonstrates this difference. The ZR2 has a level, not a true lift. Much rather get the Trail Boss and put a 4 inch Cognito lift which would give you perfectly flat suspension geometry and superior ride quality. Add 37s and it would ride and look better than the ZR2 plus you get the 1 ton payload capacity. You can easily add rear fender liners.

[@historicworldchallenge]

I agree with this! I just did the cognito super stock kit to improve the angles and ride quality on my at4x.

[@jayk.2276]

Yeah those angles are terrible on that ZR2!

[@freedomisntfree_44]

Just gonna make them weak gm upper ball joints break even faster.

[@historicworldchallenge]

@@freedomisntfree_44 the cognito kit comes with a replacement ball joint for that exact reason

[@freedomisntfree_44]

@@historicworldchallenge it needs it. Was a real pants 💩ing moment the other day one gave way on me 😂

[@Jassman3536]

JB. Hopefully for 2026 GM will update and add more ponies to their gas motor. You convinced me to switch from a a 7.3 Tremor vs the 6.6 ZR2. I tow 14-16k a few times a week short distance to job sites. I prefer the look of the ZR2 vs the Tremor, the wider tires but towing is where they fall short by about 3k vs the Tremor. Lastly, hopefully GM will do something on making their seats comfier. If not, I'm working on making a thin memory foam piece with a sewn beach towel around it that I can put down because I get in and out at least 20 times a day and don't want to wear out the bottom of the seat cushion leather and padding. Great review

[@fivesfilms]

To me the ZR2 seats felt more comfortable.

[@SMiller5488]

Love the side bolstering

[@daneickhoffakayourcarguy8045]

Absolutely!

[@molonlabe7750]

I have a 2024 ZR2 2500. I had Discount tire put a tpms in the spare so i can do a 5 tire rotation.

[@supporterofsanity]

The Trail Boss would be my choice. It’s my style of appearance package. I don’t plan to off road my tow vehicle on anything more than some BLM land or something similar.

[@fivesfilms]

In MN, the tabs on the 2500 would be well over $1000/year for the first few years, where with the 3500, you'd get commercial plates and the tabs would be a flat $150/year.

[@robsandberg9212]

Not me looking at this, debating upgrading from my 1500 ZR2 when I go off roading 4 times a year and never tow 😂 That 2500 ZR2 just looks so badass

[@Nitromudder]

What does the trail boss add? Rims and stickers or am I missing something?

[@paulbane5655]

The video I've been waiting for.

[@matthewanderson9912]

I’d pick the Trail Boss. I like the ZR2 but I’m not in to off-roading so it’s cool stuff would just be wasted to me. Plus I like the 20” wheels better lol.

[@thomasbordi8726]

Did you know that you can get the crew cab custom fold down center armrest and the rear seat back storage as an option for 200 bucks. Only one dealership in my area orders that on all.😊

[@ChristianG1teg]

I’d like to see that

[@gotime1236]

Hopefully they will make a 3500 ZR2....

[@josebrito5202]

Trail Boss for me.

[@9663mu]

So the TB is essentially a sticker package ?

[@bobbythomas6520]

Most offroad packages are. You get the tires and a few other things. Trail boss is excellent off road still

[@davidporter7051]

​@@bobbythomas6520 not even close to an accurate statement. Even with 1500 the Trail Boss comes with a 2 in lift. In the 2500;3500 it's an appearance package

[@bobbythomas6520]

@@davidporter7051 oh wow a lift, that’s basically appearance bro.

[@davidporter7051]

@@bobbythomas6520 don't comment you clearly don't have a clue what you are typing. How does that feel?

[@bobbythomas6520]

@@davidporter7051 you literally proved my point, are you retarded? A lift is an appearance package bro, you just tried citing something that proved my point you bozo 😭

[@andrewlee5538]

Does the ZR2 comes with front/rear lockers?

[@slidewide1999]

Rear selectable.

[@travisbarr5367]

The only HD truck with front an rear lockers is the Ram Power Wagon

[@travisbarr5367]

All the Trail Boss did was replace the Z71 sport package and raise the price. If they put a suspension that was in between the Z71 and ZR2 then it would be worth the price. With that in mind I'd rather have a 2024 Z71 Sport package.

[@dantimber]

ZR2 because of the suspension and 18" wheel and tire combination. 20" wheels on a HD are going to ride stiffer on or off-road pavement. If it's going be actual off-roading the gas engine is much lighter; weight is a penalty off-road.

[@adamtaylor5590]

I don’t understand especially for the money your paying why GM is still stuck on this wax coating the frames practice you can see on the upper A-arm mount on the trail boss there is a bare spot that wax comes off so easily it’s useless even their midsize trucks get a better e-coated frame.

[@Slythey]

GM spends their money to add lipstick and fluff up the interior rather than the platform- the same as Hyundai and some other brands. Honestly, I think the interior sells for your average consumer. A lot of them don't know any better and some don't care about long term reliability (in practice/repetitive buying habits).

[@adamtaylor5590]

@@Slythey I couldn’t agree more!

[@SliderFury1]

​​@@SlytheyI did tons of research while HD truck shopping and I knew nothing about e-coating vs wax coating until I saw some mention of it in the comments on a couple of JB's videos. One of the things that pushed me to Ford. The average consumer is pretty clueless, though I think it's fair to assume that truck buyers are more informed on average.

[@mini2nut67]

Chevy wants you coming back in 4 years to purchase the new and improved version.

[@soccervideogame8082]

😢😢 my 2025 Silverado 3500 HD Trail boss duramax engine light came on 8xx miles

[@VernonMcGhee]

Your wheel liner information is inaccurate, my 2025 hd trail boss is a LT trim and it came with the liners

It's an available $140 option. Included with LTZ, option with LT

[@techs1smh13]

Some people have money and dont care how much a vehicle cost. Dont bitch at someone cause they can afford a new one every year if wanted to.

[@randalllawkin]

i noticed no side markers those are nice or is that GMC only?

[@kevo11171987]

so the ZR2 is a more comfortable ride, the trail boss package is just an appearance package really. too bad the ZR2 does come in a 3500.

[@molonlabe7750]

Throw an extra leaf in the zr2 rear and its now a 1 ton. Thats a confirmation from GM themselves. Done

I think the rear end is also different and the 3500 frame has an extra cross member..unless the 2500 is ordered with max trailer package

[@Weout77]

If you own a GM product you’ll always be helping pay back there government bail out. Same with Daimler Crystler. Ford took $0 from the government bailout.

[@Reshard834]

Too much money for subpar truck

[@davidcochran595]

If you need to haul equipment the dodge 3500 is the smallest truck I would by The 2500 is good for hauling lawn mowers nothing heavier Chevys are junk Stick with Ram or Ford for hauling

[@chrisreibold1634]

I don't think hard-core offroaders would choose either of these trucks. Unless they're using it to tow their wheeling rig....

[@rsbreeze]

Check out the King of Hammers ZR2 test video. The ZR2 is a highly capable offroad rig.

[@rsbreeze]

Check out the ZR2 King of Hammers test video. The ZR2 is a very capable off road rig.

[@SupaNami]

The greatest ripoff of all time!! These trucks are not worth these prices! Stupid people pay Stupid prices!!

[@CoyoteWoods-fm3gj]

These pickups aint worth more than fifty thousand dollars. There greed is killing there business.

[@H2ODiver_Down]

Does anyone have a reliable roof height for the 3500 trailboss? From the ground measured to the top of the clearance lights or antenna? Which ever sticks up the highest. I might go look at a new one. Need to make sure it will fit in garage.

[@JamalJohnson-se4mz]

Hi make a comparison between sierra AT4 and these two thank you!