Yahoo Autos A Beginner's Guide To Chevrolet's ZR2 And ZR2 Bison Trims
The Chevy Silverado HD ZR2 Bison
Off-road-capable vehicles have never been more popular in the enthusiast world, with basically every new truck and SUV being marketed using its ability to hit the trails. But while most automakers are mostly sticking to “rugged” looks and maybe one specific off-road trim, Chevrolet is going all in with its ZR2 and ZR2 Bison family. As it currently stands, you can choose from three different ZR2 trucks – the Colorado, the Silverado 1500, and the Silverado HD – two of which also come with an even more intense Bison designation. Let’s talk about what makes them special.
Full Disclosure: Chevy invited me out to Palm Springs, California to get my hands on every member of the ZR2 off-roading family, including the Bison trims.
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What sets the ZR2 trim apart from other off-road-focused trims are primarily in the mechanicals, with the biggest upgrade being Multimatic DSSV (Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve) dampers that are used exclusively on GM’s high-performance vehicles. The DSSV setup replaces the conventional damper with a spool valve, the latter of which is a spring-loaded cylindrical sleeve. In plain English, that means you can run a ZR2 truck through its paces and feel confident that the suspension will respond the same way every single time – even after a long day of lurching over rocks. These dampers can also be tuned independently, giving you greater precision when it comes to tackling various off-road obstacles.
Further, the ZR2 trims of all three trucks feature revised steering knuckles and front control arms that are specific to off-road applications, in addition to larger skid plates and different off-road modes that adjust the throttle, transmission, stability control, and anti-lock brakes.
The Bison trims are beefed up with more off-road armor like steel skid plates and bespoke steel bumpers with integrated winches and recovery points, plus other changes designed to enhance the standard off-road experience. Plenty of people outfit their trucks with aftermarket parts that are designed exclusively for off-roading, so Chevy decided to team up with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to introduce the Bison line; basically, giving you the ultra off-road experience you get from aftermarket parts, but ones that are actually included under a Chevy warranty.
The Chevy Colorado ZR2
Let’s Go Racing
Part of what makes Chevy’s ZR2 packages so impressive is their racing pedigree. Both the Colorado ZR2 and the Silverado 1500 ZR2 have been used by the Chad Hall Racing team, which competes in events like the Mint 400, the Baja 1000, and more.
The race trucks are about as close to stock as you can get with a competition vehicle; the primary differences come in the form of mandatory safety equipment, a racing seat, and a fuel cell. The Colorado ZR2, for example, has been racing since 2017, and with 12,000 miles of competition and a perfect finish record under its belt, you can feel comfortable hitting the trail. If it can withstand the brutal conditions of motorsport, then you’re probably not going to do too much damage during a weekend rock crawl.
