2025 Chevy Silverado 1500 RST vs. Trail Boss

What Is the Silverado 1500 RST?

The Chevrolet RST trim draws its inspiration from the company’s RS Camaro models of the 1960s. RS, or Rally Sport, models typically came adorned with a variety of cosmetic enhancements. Fast forward to 2018 and the RST, or Rally Sport Truck, was born with the introduction of the Chevy Tahoe RST. The Tahoe RST featured sporty styling with body-colored badging, blacked-out trim, and 22-inch wheels. It came powered by the company’s 6.2-liter V-8 engine.

In 2019 Chevrolet extended the RST trim to its newly redesigned Silverado lineup. Like the Tahoe RST, the Silverado RST also featured street-performance-inspired design cues and a sporty exterior appearance. Some of the touches included body-colored center grille bar, bumpers, and door handles; blacked-out badges; unique 18-inch wheels with both 20- and 22-inch options available; and a host of powerful engine options. 

Positioned between LT and LTZ, the Silverado RST comes standard with a cloth front bench seat, although leather bucket seats are available. The company’s large 13.4-inch center touchscreen is also standard, and nearly all technology packages that Chevy offers are available to add to RST.

What Is the Silverado Trail Boss?

Chevy’s Z71 off-road package has been around for nearly four decades. In 1988, the company first offered the package on its K1500 pickup. The Z71 initially started as an internal RPO (Regular Production Option) code that indicated that a truck was fit with off-road suspension, shocks, and skid plates. There was no flashy sticker or badging, just an option code on a build sheet. By the early 1990’s, people caught on and began requesting Z71-equipped trucks from dealers. By the mid 1990’s, Chevrolet was offering Z71 stickers on the rear quarter panels of equipped trucks, not only as a badge of honor but also as a marketing opportunity.

Through the years, Chevy has applied the Z71 package to nearly all its body-on-frame trucks and SUVs; it has retained its ruggedness ever since. However, there has always been a subset of buyers looking for more, and in 2019 Chevy introduced the Silverado Trail Boss.

The Silverado Trail Boss is a unique trim that builds on the basics of the Z71 package. It comes fit with an off-road tuned suspension, Rancho monotube dampers, and a host of underbody skid plates. The main differentiator, however, is the factory-installed 2-inch lift. The truck also comes fit with aggressive 275/65R18 Goodyear Territory all-terrain tires.

Custom Trail Boss Versus LT Trail Boss

Unlike any other Silverado trim, Chevy offers two variants of the Trail Boss: Custom and LT. As their names suggest, the two Trail Boss trims are based on the value-oriented Custom trim and mainstream LT. The Custom Trail Boss is a perfect entry-level off-roader with its base price of about $54,000. The Custom Trail Boss comes with a blacked-out exterior with no chrome or fog lamps. Inside is minimalistic with a front cloth bench seat (and no option to add leather). The 7.0-inch infotainment system and 3.5-inch driver information center are standard. It’s truly a no-frills work-truck-style pickup.

Bumping up to the LT Trail Boss brings more standard and optional luxury and a starting price that’s about $7,000 higher. Cloth seating is still standard; however, leather buckets are available. The large 13.4-inch infotainment system and 12.3-inch digital color driver information system are standard, along with dual-zone climate control. The exterior gets high-gloss black door handles and mirror caps, LED tail lamps, high-intensity LED reflector headlamps, chrome accents, and LED fog lamps. Chevy’s suite of advanced safety features is also available on the LT Trail Boss.

RST and Trail Boss: Cab and Box Configuration

Chevy currently offers a robust lineup of Silverado cab and bed configurations that includes a regular-cab with either a standard length (6-foot 6-inch) or long bed (8-foot), a double-cab with a standard-length bed, and a crew-cab with either a short (5-foot 8-inch) or standard-length bed. For 2025, the Silverado RST comes available in double-cab and crew-cab with both bed configurations. The Trail Boss, both Custom and LT, is only available in crew-cab with both bed lengths.

RST and Trail Boss: Engine Options

The Custom Trail Boss is offered with the TurboMax 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission standard. It can be optioned with either the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel I-6 or 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V-8 engine, both of which offer a 10-speed automatic. Stepping up to the LT Trail Boss brings the additional option of the range-topping 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8 engine.

For 2025, the optional 3.0-liter Duramax adds $1,590 to the cost of the Custom Trail Boss, while the same engine is $2,245 more for the LT Trail Boss. The 5.3-liter V-8 adds $1,795 to the Custom Trail Boss and $2,450 to the LT Trail Boss. The 6.2-liter V-8 is a $4,940 upcharge for the LT Trail Boss.

The Silverado RST also comes standard with the 2.7-liter TurboMax engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. In double-cab configuration, the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel and 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V-8 are both optional. Crew-cab models add the 6.2-liter V-8 into the mix as well. Stepping up to the Duramax diesel will add $2,045 to double-cab models and $1,390 to crew-cab. The 5.3-liter V-8 is a $1,595 option for both configurations, and the 6.2-liter V-8 adds a staggering $5,140 to the RST crew-cab.

RST and Trail Boss: Towing and Hauling

Both the Silverado RST and Trail Boss offer robust maximum towing and payload capacity. Actual towing will vary by truck based on options and curb weight. However, Silverado RST models with double-cabs are rated to tow a maximum of 9,000 pounds with the 2.7-liter engine, 9,100 pounds with the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel, and 9,300 pounds with the 5.3-liter V-8.

Stepping into a crew-cab for either the RST or Trail Boss brings a maximum of 9,000 pounds of towing with either the 2.7-liter or 3.0-liter engine, 9,300 pounds (short bed) or 9,200 pounds (standard bed) with the 5.3-liter V-8, and 9,200 pounds (short bed) or 9,000 pounds (standard bed) with the 6.2-liter V-8. Adding the NHT Max Trailering package, which brings improved cooling, an integrated trailer brake controller, and often requires 20-inch wheels, bumps those figures up a notch. With the NHT package, 3.0-liter-equipped Silverados can tow a maximum of 13,000 pounds. The 5.3-liter hits 11,000 pounds, and the 6.2-liter can do 13,200.

When it comes to payload, the double-cab Silverado RST can haul up to 2,030 pounds when fit with the 2.7-liter engine, 1,960 pounds with the 3.0-liter Duramax, and 2,110 pounds with the 5.3-liter V-8. In crew-cab configuration those numbers drop slightly to 2,020 pounds with both the 2.7-liter and 5.3-liter, 1,870 pounds with the 3.0-liter Duramax, and 1,980 pounds with the 6.2-liter V-8.  

Due to its lifted suspension, the Silverado Trail Boss receives a lower maximum payload rating. The Trail Boss payload tops out at 1,960 pounds for 2.7-liter-equipped trucks, 1,930 for those with the 5.3-liter V-8, 1,830 for the 6.2-liter V-8, and 1,780 pounds for the 3.0-liter Duramax.

There’s Also an Off-Road RST

So where’s the confusion between the RST and Trail Boss? Probably here. If it’s the best of both the RST and Trail Boss package that you’re looking for, Chevy has an option for that. The ever-popular Z71 off-road package can be added to the Silverado RST for $1,930. Adding Z71 also requires either the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel, 5.3-liter V-8, or 6.2-liter V-8.

For that price, the RST gains an off-road tuned suspension with Rancho twin-tube dampers, a two-speed Autotrac transfercase, hill descent control, steel skid plates, a heavy-duty air filter, and all-weather floor mats. Dual exhaust tips and the company’s Chevytec spray-on bed liner are added as well. Wheels change to 18-inch bright silver aluminum units with 265/65R18 all-terrain tires. IIn addition to the RST, the Z71 Off-Road Package can be added to Silverado WT, LT, LTZ, and High Country models as well.

RST and Trail Boss: Our Choices

The truck-buying process is personal and emotional, so what we think doesn’t really matter. No matter what, you can’t go wrong with the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado lineup, especially if the price is right and a particular truck won’t stop begging to be taken home. 

Here are some thoughts, however. Give us a moderately affordable 6.2-liter (standard engine) regular-cab, standard-bed RST option and we’ll happily walk away with classic sport truck vibes wrapped in modern-day technology. This is the ideal Rally Sport Truck. It doesn’t exist; you can’t even get a 6.2-liter double-cab RST. And while you can get a 6.2-liter crew-cab RST, that’s not unique to the RST. Therefore, the RST is okay, but lacks any to-die-for qualities.

Between the Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss, do whatever it takes to get yourself into the LT Trail Boss–unless you can convince someone to literally give you a Custom. Pony up for the bigger interior screens, advanced tech and luxury options, and refined exterior styling. 

Between the RST and Trail Boss, your gut feeling is already pulling you in a direction, and either direction is okay. If you’re looking for a street truck (or must have a crew-cab two-wheel-drive truck or double-cab four-wheel-drive truck), go with the RST. If you’re looking for a well-rounded on- and off-roader, go with the Trail Boss. If you’re feeling really weirdly conflicted and can’t make up your mind, go with the RST Z71.

If all of this has left your mind spinning, do the next best thing and buy the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 you already have in your driveway a special treat from RealTruck–perhaps a tonneau cover, some retractable side steps, or some floor mats.