Off-road packages have become incredibly popular in the past decade, and manufacturers have been adding them to everything from cute-utes to heavy-duty pickups. These packages range in complexity from stickers and paint to full-on hardcore trail machines. Chevrolet reintroduced its famous ZR2 off-road package on the 2017 Colorado. A rugged ZR2 package was added to Silverado for the 2022 model year, and the 2023 Colorado ZR2 got a significant refresh. Now, Chevrolet is going all-in on ZR2 by revealing a new Silverado HD ZR2 will join the lineup for 2024.

Unfortunately, that’s the extent of what Chevy shared while introducing the new 2024 Silverado HD. So, knowing what we do about the Colorado and Silverado ZR2 and what are sure to be the Silverado HD ZR2’s biggest rivals (Ford Super Duty Tremor and Ram Power Wagon), we can easily break down what we expect from the forthcoming Silverado HD ZR2.

Let’s face it: Heavy-duty pickups are, well … heavy. We say this only to temper expectations and remind everyone that the Silverado HD ZR2 isn’t likely to be the same desert whoop-bashing machine as its Colorado and Silverado 1500 counterparts. What it is likely to share in common, however, are the impressive Multimatic DSSV dampers.

In fact, spy photos have surfaced that appear to confirm the presence of DSSV dampers. Because of the necessary load-carrying capacity of the Silverado HD, we don’t expect to find wider control arms like the others sport, but maybe Chevy will surprise us.

By fitting the Multimatic DSSV dampers to the Silverado HD ZR2, Chevy will quickly leapfrog its competition in terms of damper tech. Ford fits its Super Duty Tremor with unbranded twin-tube dampers that are “specially tuned,” and Ram uses a Bilstein monotube shock on the Power Wagon. Although both options are good in their own right, the Multimatic DSSVs are a league above.

For decades GM has fitted the Silverado HD with the G80 Gov Lock automatic locking rear differential. In factory trim the G80 works well enough. However, as anyone who actually uses their truck off-road knows, it certainly has a long list of limitations. Looking at both the Colorado and Silverado ZR2, we find they come equipped with selectable front and rear electronic locking differentials.

Although we would absolutely love for the Silverado HD ZR2 to get the same treatment, we are going to be conservative and say the truck will most likely arrive with a selectable electronic locking rear differential and a limited-slip front differential. This configuration would match that of the Ford Super Duty Tremor. Ram’s Power Wagon gets an electronic locking front. However, without the torque of a diesel engine option, it’s easier for Ram to keep the locked front axle alive.

Tire size and choice has long been high on our gripe list when it comes to Chevy’s ZR2. The Colorado ZR2 came fitted with a 31-inch Goodyear Duratrac off-road tire from its introduction in 2017 until the redesigned model landed for 2023. For 2023, the Colorado bumped up to 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires, similar to what is found on the 2022 Silverado ZR2. Knowing this, our expectation for the 2024 Silverado HD ZR2 is that it will also come equipped with a version of the Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tire in about a 33-inch diameter.

What we would like to see, however, is the same tire but closer to a 35-inch diameter. Going to a 35-inch tire would provide a sizable increase in off-road capability along with the appropriate styling for such a large pickup. Ford’s Super Duty Tremor already comes fit with 35-inch Goodyear tires, while the Ram Power Wagon is equipped with a smaller 33-inch tall Goodyear, closer to what we honestly expect from the Silverado HD ZR2.

Under the hood, we would love to see the option of either Chevy’s 6.6-liter gasoline V-8 (401 hp and 464 lb-ft) or Duramax diesel V-8 (470 hp and 975 lb-ft). And there’s nothing to suggest the Silverado HD ZR2 won’t arrive with both engine options. Ford offers both a gasoline V-8 engine and its Power Stroke diesel on the Super Duty Tremor. However, Ram has stuck with a gasoline V-8 engine only for the Power Wagon since its introduction, citing the overall size and weight of the Cummins diesel as to why it’s not available.

For 2024 the Chevy Silverado HD receives a modest face-lift, which consists of new headlamps and a new grille. The one thing we can see from the ZR2 teaser image is that the new off-roader will come with the unique Chevy Flowtie emblem. It’s also fair to say the new Silverado HD ZR2 will also come equipped with a high-clearance front bumper, ample skidplating, available steel rock rails, and of course red tow hooks.

Chevy has said production of the new 2024 Silverado HD will begin in the first half of 2023, and the ZR2 model will be a late availability. We suspect to see the ZR2 available only on the three-quarter-ton 2500HD model, positioned near or above the top-tier High Country and carrying a price tag north of $75,000 to start. If a 3500HD ZR2 materializes, expect the price to rise, as well.