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The big three truck makers are finally coming around to realize that big trucks like to go off-roading, too. While many of us have added lifts, bash bars, and other off-road goodies to heavy-duty trucks to get them ready for overlanding adventures, now manufacturers are stepping in. And why not? These are workhorses of the truck world and they come with stout frames, huge payload and towing capacities, and huge V8s or diesels.

The Silverado HD ZR2 will join in 2024

2024 ZR2 grille
The badge on the Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 | Chevy

All three are also releasing all new big trucks, or significantly updated, heavy-duty trucks for 2023. At Ford, the Super Duty is all new for 2023. Ram significantly updated its 2500 and 3500 trucks this year. Chevy launches its new Silverado HD next year for 2204. So what can we expect when the Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2, Tremor Super Duty, and Rebel 2500 hit dealers?  

The new 2023 Super Duty Tremor Package

2023 Ford F-250 Tremor towing a small trailer.
Ford F-250 Tremor | Ford

Ford’s F-250 and F-350 are all-new for 2023. The new trucks are a new generation of Super Duty trucks for Ford. Ford had a major announcement about the trucks this week, and shared a lot, but not all of the tech specs. Instead, Ford simply whetted our appetites for more info by saying that its engines will be more powerful, even its Power Stroke V8 diesel.

The Tremor Off-Road Package includes a front-end lift and uniquely tuned suspension. The truck looks the part in Ford’s images, with a tough stance that looks like it can tackle the trails, especially with the dealer-installed Warn winch. It comes with a Dana brand front axle with limited-slip differential and axle vent tubes,for fording water. It also has 35-inch Goodyear tires, unique 18-inch wheels, Trail Control, selectable drive modes including a rock-crawl mode and new for this year, Trail Turn Assist, which brakes a rear wheel to make turn-in quicker on dirt.

Forget the Power Wagon, the 2500 Rebel is off-road ready

The new Ram Rebel 2500 could make the Power Wagon superfluous. The new Rebel keeps the good stuff from the Power Wagon, like the diesel option, its off-road ready features, and massive towing and hauling abilities. The Power Wagon can tow up to 37,090 pounds, and comes with a 12,000 pound Warn winch, and a disconnecting front sway bar. The Rebel can still tow, but its max load is 16,870 pounds.

Like the Power Wagon (and its 1500 Rebel cousin), it is off-road ready and gets skid plates and special shocks, a winch, a sophisticated 4×4 system, and 11 inches of ground clearance. Inside, it gets similar seat trim to the Power Wagon, Uconnect 5C NAV with an 8.4-inch or 1-inch screen, and a digital rearview mirror. But, at its core, the 2500 Rebel is an off-road heavy duty trick that has massive capabilities.

Chevy is bringing the Silverado HD ZR2 for HD duty

Chevy, too, is jumping into the off-road big truck world and has confirmed that we will get a ZR2 version of its new 2024 Silverado HD. You can spot one in the wild with its new dual projector-beam headlights and trail cam in the grille. Chevy hasn’t released much info on the new ZR2 truck, but we agree with the folks at The Drive that it will likely get the fancy MultiMatic shocks of other ZR2 trucks.

One of the big upgrades for Chevy includes making the 10-speed Allison brand transmission standard across the HD range, and it will allow either engine to tow more and hold peak power longer. Overall, all of the Silverado HD trucks will get more power from either the Duramax or gas-powered V8 engines.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.