Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reviews

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Driving Impressions

Revised for 2003, the Chevrolet Silverado is among the best of the full-size pickups.

Silverado feels tight and quiet. There's little road noise and wind noise. Those are benefits of the stiff frame, which minimizes noise and vibration from the running gear. The cab is stiffened by a magnesium beam behind the instrument panel and a lateral steel beam between the magnesium beam and the right side of the dash. This additional stiffening is designed to eliminate squeaks and rattles, and we haven't heard any. The chassis rigidity allows the suspension to soak up and manage bumps and ruts and tar strips. A long, 143-inch wheelbase improves the ride further and enhances high-speed stability.

Like most pickups, the Silverado rides more smoothly with weight in the back. At low speeds, our empty 2003 Silverado 1500 LT with Quadrasteer tended to bounce annoyingly when going over a succession of dips. Could it be that the stouter rear end that comes with Quadrasteer rides rougher? If so, we would still opt for Quadrasteer for the maneuverability it offers. The 4-Wheel Steering Package includes a manually selectable ride control system designed to enhance control when pulling a trailer. Press the Ride Control button when the truck is empty and the system seems to firm up the shock damping, which reduces the bouncing somewhat, but the ride becomes harsher. Ride control is probably best used for towing to reduce the tendency of the truck to pogo as the trailer goes over bumps, but it can also be used off road for better suspension control.

Quadrasteer is no gimmick. Four-wheel steering is a great feature on any Silverado for low-speed maneuverability and a must-have for owners who tow. Let's face it. Silverado is a full-size truck in a world of compact parking spaces. Four-wheel steering really helps when maneuvering in crowded parking lots and public garages. With Quadrasteer, an extended cab short box Silverado can turn around in a 37.4-foot circle (curb to curb). Without Quadrasteer, the same model takes 47.3 feet. That's 10 feet, a huge difference. You can make a U-turn in places that previously required backing up. Where turning around on a narrow street is a five-step process in a standard pickup, it's just a three-step process with Quadrasteer. Quadrasteer helps enormously around town, but we think it is truly a must-have feature for towing trailers. When towing a trailer, Quadrasteer will make you look like a star. First, it greatly improves control, eliminating much of that trial and error that occurs when you're not messing with trailers on a regular basis. Second, Quadrasteer allows you to back a trailer into spots where you could not physically do so without it. Chevrolet's ad showing the cowboy backing a horse trailer through a chute demonstrates the benefits well. Quadrasteer increases the 8400-pound towing capacity of Silverado 1500 models with the Vortec 5300 to 8600 lbs.

1500HD crew cab models do not seem to ride as smoothly as the other models. This is most likely due to the 1500HD heavy-duty suspension. When the bed is empty there is some road vibration, but drivers used to driving pickups should find it within acceptable bounds. Throwing some weight in the bed or adding a canopy should smooth it out some. The benefit is towing capacity: 10,200 pounds with a weight-distributing hitch and sway control. The 2500 models also ride rougher than standard 1500 models, but offer a 10,700-pound towing capacity.

Silverado's steering is responsive and offers the right amount of feedback. Silverado tracks straight and handles well on dry pavement, loose dirt, deep dirt, and off road. It's stable on wet pavement and stays true when the rear wheels spin when accelerating hard in a low-speed turn. Rack-and-pinion steering is used on Silverado 1500 4x2s. Four-wheel-drive and heavy-duty models use recirculating-ball steering. Even the rack-and-pinion system has a fairly wide dead spot in the center when cruising, which Ch