Silverado or Colorado: Which Size Truck is Right for You?

Having a lot of extra cargo space is one reason that many people start shopping for trucks for sale. A typical sedan won’t hold much more than a few suitcases or the spoils of a day of shopping, and even an SUV or hatchback are limited thanks to the literal cap on the space. You might be able to load up a piece of furniture or even some equipment, but your haul is likely to hang out the back.

Only a truck will provide the space to haul larger pieces of furniture or equipment. Not only do you have a longer bed, but the open space means that you can haul bulkier items without a problem. You can also attach a trailer to a truck for additional carrying room if you need it.

Trucks come in a range of sizes, so it’s important that you thoroughly evaluate your options to make sure that you have enough room for what you need. Some trucks carry little more than what an SUV can.

Whatever size truck you need, Chevrolet has some reliable and quality brands that will fit your budget. Two of its most popular models are the Silverado and Colorado, each of which offer exceptional value.

Here are some things to think about to determine which truck is right for you:

Is the truck for business or personal use?

The Chevy Colorado and Silverado both offer gorgeous design and a plethora of quality features. However, the Colorado is a mid-size truck, and the Silverado is a full-size truck.

If you are shopping trucks for sale for your own personal use, you might want to stick to the Colorado. Not only are you unlikely to need the extra cargo space but you’ll also appreciate the improved fuel efficiency.

However, if you need a truck for your business, you will probably need to upgrade to the full-size Silverado. You are likely to need to haul items more frequently, and you are more likely to have to haul larger items.

The type of business you operate will depend on the space you need. For example, if you are a handyman, you might only need room for a few toolboxes and some miscellaneous equipment. However, if you run a landscaping business, you’ll need room for riding lawnmowers, trimmers and other equipment.

How frequently do you haul items?

Even if you are shopping for a truck for personal use, you might still need a larger truck, depending on how frequently you haul items and what you are hauling. For example, you might be a serious woodworking hobbyist who regularly needs to pick up large loads of lumber or new tools, and you might need a larger truck like the Silverado. However, if you just head to the home improvement store on the weekends for mulch and new landscaping plants, you’re probably better off with the smaller Colorado.

If you find that you are hauling items more frequently or that you are hauling larger items with any regularity, you may need to upgrade to the Silverado. Also consider the possibility of adding a trailer to the Colorado if you occasionally need to haul larger items but not regularly.

How heavy are the items you haul?

Even if you haul items that are small enough to fit in the Colorado, they may exceed the truck’s towing capacity and you may need to upgrade.

The base model 2015 Chevrolet Colorado has a 3500-pound towing capacity, which should be enough for most personal use but may not be enough for business use. You can double the towing capacity by opting for the V6 engine and the trailering package.

Meanwhile, the base model 2015 Chevrolet Silverado has a 5,500-pound towing capacity with its 4.3-liter V6 engine. However, if you upgrade to the 5.3-liter V8 engine, the Silverado has a towing capacity from 6,200 to 11,500 pounds, and the 6.2-liter V8 has a towing capacity of 12,000 pounds.

With the Silverado, you can haul even the heaviest of loads. The Colorado wouldn’t be able to handle even smaller, denser loads, such as building or landscaping stone, but the Silverado can handle the larger and heavier cargo.

How much passenger room do you need?

Both the Colorado and the Silverado offer regular cabs and crew cabs to give you more flexibility for passenger space. The thing to remember, however, is that if you expand the cab for more passengers, you are likely to have a shorter cargo bed, which will limit your carrying capacity. If you need the room for additional passengers but don’t want to sacrifice the cargo space, you can opt for the trailering package to create additional cargo capacity.

The Silverado is offered in three different cargo-bed lengths: 5’8″, 6’6″ and 8′. You can get a crew cab for the two smaller bed lengths but not for the 8′ bed. Therefore, if you need the additional passenger space, you will lose some of the cargo space.

Meanwhile, the longest bed on the Colorado is six foot, whether you have a crew cab or an extended cab. Bed extenders are available for the occasional larger object. However, if you need the cargo room and the passenger room, the Silverado is the better bet.

Both trucks have convenience features that make for a nice ride, such as an infotainment system, leather seating and wood trim, depending on the trim level you choose.

Pricing

Of course, one of the most important things on your mind when you are shopping for trucks for sale will be the price. Both the Colorado and the Silverado are affordable, giving you options for your budget.

The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado starts at $20,120, and the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado starts at $26,560. As you add features, the price will go up. Some options are exceptional values. For example, the trailering package for the Colorado costs only $250.

You can go to the Chevrolet website to experiment with the different options to build your truck, and you can get updated pricing information as you go along. You may find a suitable configuration on either truck if you have basic to moderate towing needs, but you will likely find that you have to upgrade to the Silverado for more serious towing capacity.

You will need to find the right balance between towing capacity, passenger room and budget to find the perfect truck for you.

Of course, you should also visit your local Chevy dealer to learn what each truck has to offer in person. Taking a test drive will give you a better understanding of how each truck handles and what kind of features they offer. A big part of choosing the right truck is determining how it “feels” to you when you are behind the wheel.

If you are shopping for trucks for sale, DePaula Chevrolet has a wide selection of quality new and used Chevrolet trucks and other models. We have the right truck for you at a price that meets your budget. We also offer a variety of financing options to help you get the right terms. Visit us today and take a test drive of the Colorado and the Silverado to figure out which is right for you.