Ep. 257: Why the Heck Did We Decide to Buy a 2025 Chevy Silverado HD Trail Boss?

·1 hr 5 min·5 clips

Why did TFL Studios buy a 2025 Chevy Silverado HD Trail Boss diesel instead of a Ford or Ram?

In this holiday edition of TFL Talkin' Trucks, hosts Andre and Case discuss their recent purchase of a 2025 Chevy Silverado HD Trail Boss diesel. They frame the episode as a walkthrough of their decision-making process for buying a heavy-duty pickup, aimed at listeners who might be shopping for similar trucks. The hosts begin by noting they upsized their fleet, already owning a Ram Cummins, and wanted a second heavy-duty truck for more extensive testing and company utility. They explain that the heavy-duty market is narrow, with only Ford, GM (Chevy/GMC), and Ram as competitors, and that recent updates have come from Ford and GM while Ram awaits a refresh. Their requirements were specific: a diesel engine for towing and mountain grades, 4x4 for Colorado snow, an off-road trim for testing, and a crew cab for crew transport. They visited a Ford dealership to look at an F-250 Tremor, which was priced around $91,000 but discounted to $85,000, and a GM dealership where they found the Silverado Trail Boss. The Chevy was stickered at $78,000, had a bedliner and gooseneck hitch pre-installed, and was available immediately, which was crucial for year-end tax reasons. They compare the trucks' features: the Tremor offers a selectable rear locker and 35-inch tires, while the Trail Boss adds cosmetic upgrades like 20-inch wheels and red tow hooks but has functional compromises like an exposed fuel tank. The hosts also discuss the Ram heavy-duty lineup, noting its smaller bed, lower payload, older six-speed transmission, and higher configured price around $80,700. They delve into engine specs, with the Duramax producing 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque, sufficient for their towing needs of 10,000-14,000 pounds. The conversation touches on towing at elevation in Colorado, the importance of payload capacity, and why a heavy-duty truck reduces stress compared to a half-ton when towing frequently. Andre shares a personal anecdote about oil analysis consistently recommending less frequent oil changes, highlighting modern oil quality. The episode concludes with plans to test the new truck, including a night gauntlet with a near-maximum gooseneck trailer, and a mention of their partnership with High Road for selling vehicles and WaySafe for hitches.

As heard by us

A holiday heavy-duty truck discussion that puts buying logic and function first.

This Thanksgiving-week holiday episode of TFL Talking Trucks centers on why the hosts chose a 2025 GM heavy-duty Silverado diesel to keep a Ram Cummins company, and on the thinking that led to that call.

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Why you'd press play

You get the logic behind a 2025 Silverado HD diesel purchase.

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