When planning a ski trip to a place like Wolf Creek in Colorado, you’re going to need a vehicle that’s extremely capable in the snow and reliable enough to get you there without any problems at all. Introducing the 2021 Silverado HD Carhartt special edition. Both Carhartt and Chevrolet have a reputation for building long-lasting products that have been the go-to brands for generations of Americans. This truck is no different, starting its life as the iconic Silverado 2500 LTZ crew cab, powered by the legendary 6.6l Duramax diesel.
The Carhartt Edition adds a Z71 off-road package, Twin-Tube Rancho Shocks, Hill descent control, and skid plates to protect all of the vital drivetrain components. Adorned with Carhartt logos throughout the interior and exterior, this truck follows the same design cues as when it debuted at SEMA in 2019. It’s the perfect transport for your upcoming winter adventure! 2021 Silverado HD Carhartt ensures you drive in safety, luxury, and style—the ideal way to travel on any great American getaway.
Photo: Tony Maples Photography
It was 3 a.m. on a chilly December morning, light frost covering the ground, when the Texas Hill Country staff began loading up for the trek from Texas to Colorado in the Carhartt 2500. This is a typical winter weekend for our team of road warriors—however, the vehicle in question is anything but typical. We’d heard all the latest buzz about this collaboration between Carhartt and Chevrolet, and we were excited to climb aboard and see what the hype was about.
The remote start on the Silverado was a nice touch for the cold morning. The truck rumbled to life as the team loaded our gear into the bed of the pickup—skis, snowboards, camera gear, and provisions. We had no worries of rain or snow ruining the luggage, since the Carhartt edition comes standard with a soft tonneau cover. A set of exterior lights gave us plenty of illumination to navigate around the truck for the 15 minutes or so we spent loading up.
Photo: Tony Maples Photography
The driver for our Texas Hill Country team had blue hands from the cold by the time we finished. Fortunately, the heated leather seats and steering wheel remedied that quickly. The multiple settings allowed us to dial things in to our exact comfort level, and after getting settled in, we were on our way. The nine-hour drive was a familiar one to our driver, but it was nonetheless nice to have the luxury of modern digital guidance. Navigation can be handled in two ways—via Android/Apple Car Play, or if you opt for the onboard navigation, your route is projected onto the HD heads-up display, one of our favorite features right off the bat.
The Carhartt 2500 is a large truck with 20″ wheels, all-terrain tires, and a towing capacity north of 35,000 pounds. However, the comfort level of the truck is not sacrificed for any of these amenities. We were incredibly comfortable for the nine-hour drive. Road noise was minimal, and the amount of interior space meant we were felt at home during the long road trip. The Allison 10-speed automatic transmission also ensured we weren’t stopping in every town for fuel!
Photo: Tony Maples Photography
A couple hours outside of Pagosa Springs, we hit a very intense blizzard, high winds and low visibility, with close to a foot of snow on the ground, and the majority of traffic came to a standstill. We were sure this would be a major slowdown. However, before we knew it, the automatic all-wheel-drive had engaged, and we were able to continue our journey smoothly and in the assurance of safety. There was no slipping or sliding, though we did carry on with all appropriate cation. As much confidence as the truck inspires in those conditions, you can’t be blamed for being bold enough to advance ahead when lesser vehicles linger behind.
Without any further delays, we pulled into Pagosa Springs and spent the next several days riding the wonderful terrain at Wolf Creek. The road from Pagosa Springs to the resort is aptly named “Wolf Creek Pass,” a potentially dangerous road on the Continental Divide, featured in songs and pop culture. The Pass has an infamous hairpin curve six-and-a-half miles from the summit, with several runaway ramps throughout. The Carhartt Silverado performed flawlessly even on days with several inches of fresh snow, no doubt partly due to the automatic all-wheel drive and hill descent control. We were able to drive mountain roads in full confidence.
It was a bit bittersweet to come home to Texas knowing that we had to return the Carhartt Silverado. Our driver had become so comfortable in the truck, he even considered tracking one down for himself. If you’d like to do the same, you can find a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD starting at $34,900.
