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TL;DR
- On the 2026 Silverado 1500, Trail Boss means the Z71 Off-Road Package plus a 2-inch factory lift, an Autotrac two-speed transfer case and an automatic locking rear differential (Chevrolet).
- On the 2026 Colorado, Trail Boss is its own trim: 2-inch lift, 32-inch all-terrain tires and a transfer case shield.
- Trail Boss doesn't get the ZR2's Multimatic DSSV dampers or front locker on either truck.
- GM's spec sheet gives the 2023 Colorado Trail Boss 9.5 in of ground clearance, versus 8.9 in for the Z71 and 10.7 in for the ZR2.
- For 2027 the Silverado lineup has Custom Trail Boss and Trail Boss, both with a 2-inch lift and 34-inch tires; the LT Trail Boss name goes away.
At a Glance
| Trim (2026) | Lift | Tires | Lockers | Dampers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silverado Custom Trail Boss | 2 in | Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT on 18-in wheels | Automatic locking rear | Z71 off-road |
| Silverado LT Trail Boss | 2 in | 20-in wheels | Automatic locking rear | Z71 off-road |
| Silverado ZR2 | 2 in | 33-in Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT | Front and rear electronic | Multimatic DSSV |
| Colorado Trail Boss | 2 in | 32-in all-terrain on 18-in wheels | G80 limited-slip rear (2023 spec) | Twin-tube (2023 spec) |
| Colorado ZR2 | 3 in | 33-in MT on 17-in wheels | Front and rear locking | Multimatic DSSV |
Trail Boss and Z71: How They Relate
Chevrolet uses “Z71” in two ways. On the Silverado, Z71 is an off-road package, and every Silverado Trail Boss includes it: Chevrolet lists the Custom Trail Boss with the Z71 Off-Road Package, the Autotrac two-speed transfer case, an automatic locking rear differential and skid plates. A Silverado Trail Boss is therefore a Z71 truck with a 2-inch lift, off-road tires and its own styling. For 2027, Chevrolet says the Z71 package becomes standard on 4WD versions of the Silverado trim (the trim formerly called LT), with skid plates, hill descent control and off-road suspension.
On the Colorado, Z71 and Trail Boss are separate trims. Trail Boss gets the lift and the wider track. Z71 has no factory lift but adds its own styling, including a Jet Black interior with Adrenaline Red accents and LED headlamps, taillamps and fog lamps. We cover the Colorado choices in Colorado ZR2 vs Trail Boss and ZR2 vs Z71.
Silverado 1500 Trail Boss (2026)
| Item | Custom Trail Boss | LT Trail Boss |
|---|---|---|
| Lift and package | 2-inch factory lift, Z71 Off-Road Package | 2-inch factory lift, Z71 Off-Road Package |
| Drivetrain | Autotrac 2-speed transfer case, automatic locking rear diff, skid plates | Autotrac 2-speed transfer case, automatic locking rear diff |
| Wheels and tires | 18-inch high-gloss Black with Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT | 20-inch high-gloss Black |
| Engines | TurboMax standard; 5.3L V8 or Duramax 3.0L available | TurboMax standard; 5.3L V8, 6.2L V8 or Duramax 3.0L available |
| Screens | — | 13.4-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch Driver Information Center |
| Engine | Output | Transmission |
|---|---|---|
| 2.7L TurboMax | 310 hp, 430 lb-ft | 8-speed automatic |
| 5.3L V8 | 355 hp, 383 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic |
| 6.2L V8 (LT Trail Boss only) | 420 hp, 460 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic |
| Duramax 3.0L turbo-diesel | 305 hp, 495 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic |
If you tow, engine and axle choice matter more than the badge. Our Silverado towing capacity by trim guide explains why the lift can pull the tow rating down.
Colorado Trail Boss (2026)
Chevrolet lists the 2026 Colorado Trail Boss with the same 2.7L TurboMax (310 hp, 430 lb-ft) as every Colorado, 18-inch wheels with 32-inch all-terrain tires (20-inch wheels optional), a 2-inch factory lift, four selectable drive modes with an off-road performance display, and a two-speed automatic transfer case with a transfer case shield.
GM's 2023 Colorado specification sheet shows what the lift and wider stance change against the Z71 and ZR2:
| Spec | Z71 | Trail Boss | ZR2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground clearance | 8.9 in | 9.5 in | 10.7 in |
| Front track | 62.6 in | 66.2 in | 66.3 in |
| Approach angle | 29.1° | 30.5° | 38.3° |
| Departure angle | 22.3° | 22.4° | 25.1° |
| Breakover angle | 19.5° | 21.0° | 24.6° |
| Rear differential | G80 limited-slip | G80 limited-slip | Power-locking front and rear |
| Standard tires | P265/65R18 all-terrain | P265/65R18 all-terrain | LT285/70R17 mud-terrain |
The Trail Boss track is within a tenth of an inch of the ZR2's, which is why the two look so similar from the front. The ground clearance and approach angle gaps come from the ZR2's larger tires and its lift, which Chevrolet lists at 3 inches for 2026.
Trail Boss vs ZR2
ZR2 is the step above on both trucks. On the 2026 Silverado, Chevrolet lists it with Multimatic DSSV dampers, front and rear electronic locking differentials, an off-road cut front bumper that allows a 33.5-degree approach angle, large aluminum underbody skid plates and 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. The Duramax is standard on the ZR2. Trail Boss keeps the Z71 shocks and a rear-only automatic locker, which suits gravel roads, forest service tracks and moderate trails. The ZR2's dampers and front locker matter on fast desert roads and hard rock trails.
What Changes for 2027
Chevrolet's June 2026 announcement of the next-generation 2027 Silverado 1500 lists seven trims, three of them lifted: ZR2, Trail Boss and Custom Trail Boss. Chevrolet expects it to go on sale at the end of 2026.
| Trim | Lift and tires | Other hardware |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Trail Boss | 2-inch lift, 34-inch tires | Entry point to the lifted lineup |
| Trail Boss | 2-inch lift, 34-inch MT tires | Dedicated off-road hood, monotube shocks, two interior themes |
| ZR2 | 2-inch lift, 35-inch MT tires | Front and rear e-lockers, Multimatic DSSV dampers with jounce dampers |
The LT trim is renamed Silverado. The 2027 engines are a 2.7L TurboMax rated at 350 hp and 455 lb-ft with a 10-speed transmission, new 5.7L (402 hp) and 6.6L (481 hp) V8s, and the Duramax 3.0L (305 hp, 495 lb-ft). Because 2027 is a new generation, check that any lift, bumper or skid plate you buy lists the 2027 model year rather than assuming 2026 parts carry over.
Next Steps
For problems, service notes and common upgrades, go to the Silverado and Sierra 1500 owners hub or the Colorado and Canyon owners hub. If you plan to go bigger on tires later, check the numbers first with our lift and tire fitment calculator.
How We Cover This
Equipment and figures come from Chevrolet's Silverado and Colorado trim pages, its 2027 Silverado announcement and GM's 2023 Colorado specification sheet. We don't drive or test vehicles ourselves. See how we rank.
Toyota, Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Jeep and Ram are trademarks of their respective owners. 4x4 & Overlanding is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by any vehicle manufacturer.
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We research products from manufacturer specs and owner feedback; we don't test them ourselves. How we choose.
Sources
- Chevrolet — 2026 Silverado 1500 — 2026 Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss equipment (2-inch lift, Z71 Off-Road Package, Autotrac 2-speed transfer case, automatic locking rear differential, skid plates, wheels and Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires, screens); ZR2 DSSV dampers, front and rear e-lockers, off-road cut bumper and 33.5-degree approach angle, aluminum skid plates and 33-inch tires; engine outputs and availability by trim.
- Chevrolet — 2026 Colorado — 2026 Colorado Trail Boss (2.7L TurboMax 310 hp / 430 lb-ft, 18-inch wheels with 32-inch AT tires, 2-inch lift, four drive modes, 2-speed auto transfer case and shield), Z71 styling content, and ZR2 3-inch lift, 33-inch MT tires and Multimatic DSSV dampers.
- Chevrolet — 2023 Colorado Specification Sheet — Z71 vs Trail Boss vs ZR2 ground clearance, front track, and approach, departure and breakover angles; G80 limited-slip rear on Trail Boss and Z71; power-locking front and rear differentials on ZR2; twin-tube shocks except on ZR2; standard tire sizes.
- Chevrolet Newsroom — Next-Generation 2027 Silverado 1500 — 2027 lifted trims (Custom Trail Boss, Trail Boss, ZR2) with 2-inch lift and 34- or 35-inch tires; Trail Boss off-road hood, interior themes and monotube shocks; ZR2 e-lockers and DSSV with jounce dampers; LT renamed Silverado; Z71 standard on Silverado 4WD; 2027 engine outputs; expected on sale at the end of 2026.