The redesigned 2027 Silverado arrives at the end of 2026, so this is the truck on the lot next summer. Seven trims from $39,000 to $77,000 before destination, and the two-inch lift and 34-inch tires that make a Trail Boss a Trail Boss show up two rungs below the top. Here is where the money lands on the sand.
The opinions on this page come from Beach4x4, our rental company in Kill Devil Hills, whose 4x4s run the Carova beach every day of the season. The Beach Test Drive is our drive-before-you-buy program: a new vehicle, this beach, nobody selling. Planned for summer 2027.
2027 starting prices before the $2,795 destination charge, from Chevrolet’s September 2026 pricing as reported by GM-Trucks.com and autoevolution.
The base, the sweet spot and the desert one
A full-size pickup on sand is about the tires and the lift, and Chevrolet puts both on the ladder early. Above that, the money buys an interior, a V8 and, at the top, racing shocks. Highway 12 below is North Carolina Highway 12, the two-lane road up the Outer Banks; the drive from Kitty Hawk to the Corolla beach ramp is about 45 minutes of it.
Custom
The base
$43,6002027, before destination
The Work Truck with the looks: body-color bumpers, 20-inch wheels, the 2.7-liter TurboMax four with 350 horsepower, and four-wheel drive available. The Work Truck itself is $5,000 less and rides on steel wheels.
In four-wheel drive, aired down, a stock Silverado floats up this beach; we’ve watched thousands do it. The 20-inch wheels are the weak spot: less sidewall to air down, so go easy in the softest stretch.
Leaf springs and an empty bed: a little choppy over the patched pavement through Duck, like every half-ton but the Ram. Quiet and quick with the turbo four.
The driver who wants a new Silverado and the beach, and knows the tires are the part that matters.
Custom Trail Boss
The sweet spot
$54,4002027, before destination
The two-inch factory lift and 34-inch tires that define the Trail Boss, the Z71 package’s skid plates, hill descent control and off-road suspension, and four-wheel drive. The Trail Boss proper, $6,800 up, adds the off-road hood, front buckets with the Multi-Flex console, Bose audio and a nicer interior around the same hardware.
The tall one. The lift and the 34s aired down make soft sand an afterthought, and the step up puts you above every other truck on the beach. The Custom Trail Boss is the Trail Boss idea with plainer seats.
Mud-terrain tires hum and the lift adds a little sway through the curves in Corolla. Forty-five minutes each way is the honest test of whether you mind.
The driver who wants the Trail Boss stance and hardware and would rather put the $6,800 into the summer.
ZR2
The desert one
$77,2002027, before destination
35-inch mud-terrains, a two-inch lift, lockers front and rear, Multimatic DSSV spool-valve shocks with jounce dampers, the Duramax diesel standard and a 6.6-liter V8 available. The Bison edition adds AEV armor and beadlock-capable wheels.
The DSSV shocks are built for speed over rough ground, and at the beach’s 35 miles an hour you’d feel their calm over the ruts and little else. The front locker stays off. The 35s float like the 34s.
Surprisingly composed for a lifted truck on 35s; the spool-valve shocks are the reason. Loud on the mud-terrains, and the diesel changes the sound of the whole trip.
The driver who wants the top Chevy off-roader and has places to use it that aren’t this one.
What the money buys you on this beach
Carova is soft sand, packed sand, ruts and 45 minutes of two-lane each way. That is the whole test. Here is which Silverado money shows up in it.
What you’d feel
The two-inch lift and the 34-inch tires, every rut and every soft spot. The step up. Hill descent control on the way down the ramp, once, for the novelty.
What you wouldn’t
The front locker. 35s over 34s. Spool-valve shocks at the speeds this beach allows. The High Country’s V8 and leather, except in your ears and on the seat.
What the Trail Boss buys over the Custom Trail Boss
The same lift, monotube shocks, tires and Z71 gear, plus the dedicated off-road hood, front buckets with the Multi-Flex console, Bose audio and the nicer interior. About $6,800. The interior is where you’d notice the difference on a five-and-a-half-hour day; the buckets also drop the seat count from six to five.
Every Silverado, bottom to top
Starting price, the off-road gear that matters here, and our take. Trims and prices change every model year; the note under the table says which year and when we looked.
| Trim | Starts at | Off-road gear | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work Truck | $38,600 | Steel wheels, 2.7-liter turbo four, 4x4 available | The work truck; floats fine aired down |
| Custom | $43,600 | The Work Truck with 20-inch wheels and dual exhaust | The baseThe base most people buy |
| Silverado | $47,900 | The old LT, badged LT with two-wheel drive and Z71 with four; the 4x4 includes the Z71 package: two-speed transfer case, automatic rear locker, skid plates, hill descent control, off-road suspension | The everyday truck with the off-road package thrown in |
| Custom Trail Boss | $54,400 | 2-inch factory lift on monotube shocks, 34-inch mud-terrains, Z71, 4x4, front bench for six | Sweet spotThe Trail Boss hardware at the lowest price |
| Trail Boss | $61,200 | The same lift, shocks and 34-inch mud-terrains; off-road hood, front buckets, the nicer interior | The Custom Trail Boss with the nicer seats, for five |
| High Country | $71,700 | 5.7-liter V8 standard, leather, 4x4 available | The luxury Silverado |
| ZR2 | $77,200 | 35-inch mud-terrains, 2-inch lift, lockers front and rear, Multimatic DSSV shocks, Duramax diesel standard | The desert oneBuilt for speed over rough ground |
2027 model year, starting prices before the $2,795 destination charge, from Chevrolet’s September 18, 2026 pricing as reported by GM-Trucks.com (updated October 23, 2026) and autoevolution (September 20, 2026). Equipment from Chevrolet’s 2027 Silverado release. The LT trim became the Silverado trim for 2027.
Watch a review, not ours
Edmunds goes hands-on with the redesigned 2027 Silverado 1500: the new interior, the V8s, the trims. Their video, their opinions. It is here because it is the best one we found; we make nothing from it.
Hands-on with the new 2027 Chevy Silverado 1500. Edmunds, on YouTube. Model year shown: 2027. Plays from YouTube when you press play; YouTube’s terms and cookies apply then.
Every Silverado version in one checklist
Chevrolet sells the 2027 Silverado 1500 in seven trims plus the Bison edition, three bodies, three beds and four engines. Here is all of it on one sheet. 2027 starting prices before the $2,795 destination charge, from Chevrolet’s September 2026 pricing as reported by GM-Trucks.com and autoevolution; equipment from Chevrolet’s 2027 trim pages and release, with 2026 content where Chevrolet had not published the 2027 detail when we looked.
Every 4WD Silverado has a 4 Auto mode. Low range and the automatic rear locker come with the Z71 package, which is why the first two rows carry daggers. The LT and RST trims are gone for 2027; the old LT is the Silverado trim. Scroll the table sideways on a phone.
| Version | Starts at | Engine, as it comes | 4WD | Two-speed case (4 Lo) | Rear locker | Front locker | Factory lift | Tires, as it comes | Skid plates | Shocks | On this beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Truckregular, double or crew | $38,600regular body, standard bed, 2WD | 2.7 turbo four, automatic | ○ | †1 | †1 | — | none | 31-in. all-seasons, 17-in. steel | †1 | standard | The work truck; floats fine aired down. Ask about the transfer case |
| Customdouble or crew | $43,600double body, standard bed, 2WD | 2.7 turbo four, automatic | ○ | †1 | †1 | — | none | 20-inch wheels; tire size not published | †1 | standard | The base most people buy; 20s are the wrong wheel for sand |
| SilveradoLT with 2WD, Z71 with 4WD | $47,9002WD double; Z71 4WD from $51,500 | 2.7 turbo four, automatic | ○2 | ✓2 | ✓2 | — | none | 31.6-in. all-terrains, 18s | ✓2 | Z71 off-road shocks with 4WD | The everyday truck with the off-road package thrown in with 4WD |
| Custom Trail Bosscrew only, 4WD | $54,400short bed | 2.7 turbo four, automatic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | 2 in. | 34-in. mud-terrains, 18s | ✓ | monotube | The Trail Boss hardware at the lowest price; the sweet spot |
| Trail Bosscrew only, 4WD | $61,200short bed | 2.7 turbo four, automatic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | 2 in. | 34-in. mud-terrains, 18s | ✓ | monotube | The Custom Trail Boss with the nicer seats |
| High Countrycrew only | $71,700short bed, 2WD; 4WD from $74,800 | 5.7 V8, automatic | ○ | ✓3 | ○3 | — | none | 32.8-in. all-seasons, 22s | † | Adaptive Ride Control | The luxury Silverado; 22s and street tires are the wrong setup for sand |
| ZR2crew only, short bed, 4WD | $77,200 | 3.0 Duramax diesel, automatic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓4 | ✓ | 2 in. | 35-in. mud-terrains, 18s | ✓ | Multimatic DSSV | Built for speed over rough ground; the lockers wait for rocks |
| Halo models: fun to read about, not what this beach needs | |||||||||||
| ZR2 BisonAEV edition of the ZR2 | $85,220$8,020 over the ZR2 | 3.0 Duramax diesel, automatic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓4 | ✓ | 2 in. | 35-in. mud-terrains, beadlock-capable 18s | ✓ | Multimatic DSSV | The ZR2 in armor: AEV bumpers and plates |
- Since 2020, Work Truck and Custom 4x4s without the Z71 package have used a single-speed Autotrac transfer case (Auto, 2 Hi, 4 Hi, no low range) and no automatic rear locker. Chevrolet had not published the 2027 Work Truck and Custom 4WD equipment when we looked, so ask. On this beach, tires and air pressure matter more than low range, but you want to know.
- The Silverado trim is badged LT with two-wheel drive and Z71 with four. The 4WD comes with the Z71 package: two-speed transfer case with a 4 Auto mode, the G80 automatic locking rear differential, skid plates, hill descent control and off-road shocks (2026 content; Chevrolet’s 2027 list says skid plates, hill descent control and off-road suspension).
- With 4WD, on the 2026 truck: two-speed Autotrac and the G80 automatic locker. 2027 not spelled out.
- Electronic lockers front and rear, standard. Every other version’s rear locker is the G80 automatic unit, which locks itself when one wheel spins.
Body, bed and the rest
Chevy’s short bed is 5 feet 8, the standard 6 feet 6, the long bed 8 feet. The regular body is Work Truck only; the Trail Bosses, High Country and ZR2 are crew only.
| Version | Bodies | Beds | Power sliding rear window | Multi-Flex tailgate | Spray-in bed liner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Truckregular, double or crew | regular, double, crew | short, standard or long | — | — | † |
| Customdouble or crew | double, crew | standard; short on the crew | — | — | † |
| SilveradoLT with 2WD, Z71 with 4WD | double, crew | standard; short on the crew | ✓ | † | † |
| Custom Trail Bosscrew only, 4WD | crew | short or standard | † | † | † |
| Trail Bosscrew only, 4WD | crew | short or standard | ✓ | † | ✓ |
| High Countrycrew only | crew | short; standard with 4WD | ✓ | ○ | ○ |
| ZR2crew only, short bed, 4WD | crew | short | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Halo models: fun to read about, not what this beach needs | |||||
| ZR2 BisonAEV edition of the ZR2 | crew | short | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Dashes and daggers in this table rest on CarsDirect’s 2027 configurator lists and 2026 dealer sheets; Chevrolet had not itemized every trim’s interior when we looked.
Packages worth knowing
The option sheet is long. These are the six that change how a Silverado feels on this beach or on Highway 12, with our take under each.
- Z71 Off-Road packageSilverado trim: included with 4WD. Work Truck, Custom and High Country for 2027: unsettled; ask.
Two-speed transfer case with 4 Auto, the G80 automatic rear locker, skid plates, hill descent control and off-road shocks on 18-inch all-terrains (2026 content; Chevrolet’s 2027 list names the plates, hill descent and the suspension).
The low range and the automatic locker are the two things in it you would ever use on this beach. On a Work Truck or Custom 4x4, make sure the truck has them.
- Trail Boss contentCustom Trail Boss and Trail Boss: included.
A 2-inch factory lift on monotube shocks, 34-inch mud-terrains on 18-inch Dark Android wheels, the Z71 pieces, a two-speed transfer case and the automatic rear locker. The Trail Boss adds the off-road hood, front buckets (five seats instead of the bench’s six), Bose audio and the nicer interior.
Two inches up and on bigger tires. The lift is what you feel in the ruts by the ramp.
- Off-Road Package (Trail Boss)Custom Trail Boss and Trail Boss: optional, $5,345.
18-inch high-gloss black beadlock-capable wheels, rocker protectors, auxiliary switches on the touch screen, off-road lights.
The switches and the lights are handy at a night launch; the rockers are for rocks.
- Max Trailering packageSilverado trim: $7,345 on the LT, $7,070 on the Z71. Other trims: ask.
A shorter axle ratio, more cooling and heavy-duty suspension; the 5.7 V8 double-body 2WD with it is Chevy’s 13,700-pound truck.
For the boat and the camper, not the beach.
- Multi-Flex tailgateZR2 and Bison: standard. High Country: optional over its power tailgate. Elsewhere: not published for 2027.
Six positions: inner gate, load stop, step, work surface, full-width step; lighter for 2027 with built-in tie-downs.
The step is the part you use with a cooler and sandy feet.
- Rally packageZ71 and Custom Trail Boss: optional, $3,299.
Hood and tailgate stripes and decals, 18-inch high-gloss black wheels.
Looks only.
Special editions
Three for 2027. The 2026 Midnight Edition was not on Chevrolet’s 2027 list when we looked.
| Edition | Built on | Price | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZR2 Bison | ZR2 | +$8,020 | AEV stamped-steel bumpers with cast recovery points, rocker protection, heavier skid plates under the front, transfer case, rear differential and fuel tank, 18-inch beadlock-capable wheels. |
| Texas Edition | Z71 (the 4WD Silverado trim) | +$3,440 | Bose audio, the Multi-Flex console, floor liners, assist steps, front buckets, Texas badging. |
| Rally | Z71 and Custom Trail Boss | +$3,299 package | Stripes and black wheels; sold as a Rally Edition on the 2026 Custom and RST, a package for 2027. |
The beach checklist
What the Carova sand asks of a Silverado, and what it does not.
- You need
✓Four-wheel drive. A low range is nice on this beach, not required; on a Work Truck or Custom 4x4, ask whether the transfer case has one.
✓Tires you can air down to 18 to 20 psi, and a gauge and a compressor in the back. The Trail Boss and ZR2 mud-terrains and the Z71 all-terrains air down better than the all-seasons and the 20s and 22s.
✓The Currituck County beach parking permit in season, to stop or park on the sand; the Currituck 4x4 beach guide has the dates.
- Nice to have
○The automatic rear locker, for the one soft spot a summer that bites. Z71 and up.
○The Trail Boss lift and its 34s. More sidewall to air down, more clearance in the ruts.
○A power rear window. The Silverado’s slides; it is the closest a full-size pickup gets to the top coming off.
- Skip for sand
—The ZR2’s front locker and DSSV shocks. Rock and desert gear.
—35s over 34s. A little more footprint aired down, which the 34s do not need here.
—The 5.7 and 6.6 V8s and the diesel, except for towing. The beach limit is 35 miles an hour, 15 within 300 feet of any person.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need lockers for this beach?
No. Four-wheel drive, tires aired down to 18 to 20 psi and a little momentum get a stock 4x4 up and down Carova every day. A rear locker is a nice backup in the softest spots. Front lockers, 37-inch tires and desert-racing shocks are built for places that aren’t this one.
Is the top trim better on sand?
Usually not in any way you’d feel at beach speed, which is 35 miles an hour and 15 near people. The top trims buy horsepower, 35-inch or 37-inch tires and shocks tuned for speed over rough ground. What you’d feel here is the ride on Highway 12, the seat, and whether the tires float, and the sweet-spot trim has all three.
Can I try one on this beach before I buy?
Yes. The Beach Test Drive, our drive-before-you-buy program planned for summer 2027, puts shoppers in new Broncos, Wranglers, Gladiators, Silverados and Rams for five and a half hours on the Carova sand, the whole family along and no salesperson. Until then, Beach4x4, our rental company in Kill Devil Hills, rents 4x4s for this beach by the day or the week.
Is the Custom Trail Boss the same truck as the Trail Boss?
Underneath, yes: the two-inch lift, the 34-inch tires, the Z71 skid plates and off-road suspension, four-wheel drive. The shocks are the same monotubes. The Trail Boss adds the off-road hood, front bucket seats and the nicer interior for about $6,800, and the buckets make it a five-seater where the Custom Trail Boss’s bench seats six. On the sand they feel the same. In the seat, for five and a half hours, you’d know which one you were in.
Sources
- GM-Trucks.com, 2027 Silverado 1500 pricing by trim (updated October 23, 2026)
- autoevolution, 2027 Silverado 1500 prices (September 20, 2026)
- Chevrolet, 2027 Silverado 1500 release (June 16, 2026)
- Chevrolet, 2027 Silverado 1500 trims
- GM Authority, 2027 Silverado 1500 full pricing by body, bed and engine (September 23, 2026)
- GM Authority, the 2027 Silverado trim is LT with 2WD and Z71 with 4WD (October 12, 2026)
- CarsDirect, 2027 Silverado 1500 trims, features and packages
- Pickup Truck + SUV Talk, no 4 Lo on some Silverado 4x4s (updated July 2025)
- Hendrick Chevrolet, the Z71 package explained
- Ritchie Bros., F-150, Ram 1500 and Silverado 1500 compared (May 13, 2026)
Prices on this page are the makers’ published starting prices on the dates shown and change with every model year. Dealers in The Beach Test Drive program sell to its drivers at the factory invoice, which is a different number; that program explains it. Opinions on how each trim feels are ours, drawn from the published equipment lists and from running four-wheel drives on this beach.
Related: Which 4x4 for the beach? All the comparisons · The Beach Test Drive, summer 2027 · Best tires for sand · How to air down · Beach driving setup