Used Commercial Chevy Trucks

The Benefits of Buying Used

As a car dealership, we certainly understand the appeal of buying a new vehicle and everything that comes with it, including great peace of mind. That being said, we also recognize that a brand-new model is not the right choice for everyone and that a pre-owned vehicle is a great way to save some money. This is particularly important when you are looking at commercial trucks that will help improve the performance of your business. We are a business too, so we know the pressures to reduce your expenses and boost profits in order to be as successful as possible.

The important thing to remember when shopping for a commercial truck is that you want to get a good value that will get the job done. If you can spend the same amount of money for either a brand-new truck or one that is used but can handle more work, then the better option is often to get the one that will make your job easier. A used Chevy commercial truck is a fantastic investment for your business because these vehicles are designed to last a long time and keep on working as long as you need them. Making your money stretch further when getting any equipment for your business is important; you are usually better off buying a high-quality item pre-owned rather than shopping new and paying the same amount for less.

Excellent Commercial Chevy Trucks

One of our favorite things about the Chevy lineup, in general, is that it is incredibly broad and includes a wide range of different vehicles. Even when you look at something with more limited appeal, like their commercial trucks, you still find a ton of different options to choose from. This means you can find the truck that perfectly meets your needs and get exactly what you are looking for. Whether that means a standard Silverado 1500 that is a great all-around pickup, or a specialized chassis cab with an upfit and custom setup to perfectly meet your business’s needs, we have you covered.

As we look at different options below, we are going to use the specs for their 2021 model years simply as a basis for comparison so you can get a sense of what will work for you. The actual towing or payload capacities of commercial trucks depend on a number of factors, including the engine and overall configuration, so keep that in mind. Specs below will include important figures like Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), and both conventional and fifth-wheel (5th-W) towing.

The Silverado 1500

Although the Chevy Silverado 1500 is also sold as a consumer vehicle, it is such an excellent and well-rounded pickup that it works well for a lot of our business customers. As a commercial truck, this is a great option if you are looking for something that is not necessarily specialized and will work well for a wide range of needs. You can fill the rear bed with lumber or drywall, pull a trailer behind you, and even load up for a cookout or camping with coworkers on the weekend to celebrate a job well done.

• Max Payload: 2,280 lbs
• Max Towing: 13,300 lbs
• Max 5th-W: 13,300 lbs
• Max GCWR: 19,100 lbs

As you can see, this is a great option for a lot of fleet vehicles, particularly when you need a general-use truck that is not designed for very specific tasks. Maximum capabilities with this pickup fall short of what you can get with some of Chevy’s more-powerful trucks, but it is a great baseline for the Silverado series. If you need something with more muscle, then there are plenty of fantastic Chevy options that can get the job done.

The Silverado HD Series

If you want a conventional truck, rather than a chassis cab or similar option, but you need more power than the Silverado 1500 offers, then there are a couple of excellent heavy-duty models. The Silverado 2500 HD is the next step up and has a lot more muscle than the 1500, while the 3500 HD is the most-powerful conventional pickup that Chevy offers. Of particular note is that the 3500 HD is available with a Dual Rear-Wheel (DRW) configuration, in addition to the standard Single Rear-Wheel (SRW) setup. This is the best option if you are looking to do some serious towing using a gooseneck or fifth-wheel setup. Below are the specs for both the 2500 HD and 3500 HD to consider:

Silverado 2500 HD

• Max Towing: 18,500 lbs
• Max 5th-W: 18,500 lbs
• Max GVWR: 11,550 lbs
• Max GCWR: 27,500 lbs

Silverado 3500 HD - SRW

• Max Towing: 20,000 lbs
• Max 5th-W: 21,500 lbs
• Max GVWR: 12,250 lbs
• Max GCWR: 29,700 lbs

Silverado 3500 HD - DRW

• Max Towing: 20,000 lbs
• Max 5th-W: 36,000 lbs
• Max GVWR: 14,000 lbs
• Max GCWR: 43,900 lbs

You can see that the differences in terms of conventional towing between these options are not massive; the Silverado 2500 HD can handle nearly as much as the 3500 HD. Once you get into towing with a fifth-wheel setup, however, the 3500 HD is a much better choice, particularly with a dually setup. When properly configured for it, the Silverado 3500 HD can handle nearly double the fifth-wheel towing that the 2500 HD can manage, which often makes a huge difference.

The Silverado HD Chassis Cabs

If you are interested in really customizing your commercial truck to get the most out of it, then a chassis cab is a fantastic option. Chevy Silverado chassis cab models provide you with an excellent platform on which you can install the upfit of your choice to get your job done. Whether that means a dump truck or bin to handle soil, gravel, and other debris, a utility upfit with numerous compartments and containers for all of your tools and materials, or any other custom option your business needs, these trucks can handle it.

There are numerous chassis cab models available from Chevy, starting with a chassis version of the 3500 HD, then moving up to the 4500 HD, 5500 HD, and the 6500 HD. Each one is a fantastic option, and it really comes down to getting just what you need for your business. Rather than drown you in too many specs, we will just look at what each of these trucks offers in terms of GVWR to give you a good sense of what they can handle.

Chassis Cab GVWR

• 3500 HD: 14,000 lbs
• 4500 HD: 16,500 lbs
• 5500 HD: 19,500 lbs
• 6500 HD: 23,500 lbs

As you would expect, the models in a higher weight class are able to handle greater weight loaded onto them, giving you more options for your upfit and for using the truck. You can see why figuring out what you need for your business is so important because the last thing you want to do is invest in something that cannot handle what you need. At the same time, however, paying more for too much truck might not be as detrimental to getting your job done, but it does present an extra expense that could have been used elsewhere. Having someone you can trust by your side to help you figure out which truck is perfect for you really does make a big difference and can ensure the best use of your time and money.

Powerful Chevy Low Cab Forward Models

If you like the flexibility and customization options of a chassis cab, but you are looking for something with a more robust design and increased driver visibility, then you should check out Chevy’s lineup of Low Cab Forward pickups. These models have a cab that is still spacious and functional while focusing primarily on giving you the most truck space for your cargo and everything you need to be able to load up onto it. Whether you are looking for a box truck designed to haul a lot of cargo, you need a long bed for hauling large objects, or you simply prefer the improved functionality these trucks offer, they are a fantastic solution for a lot of business needs.

The Low Cab Forward 3500 and 4500

This is a great place to start if you think the functionality of a Low Cab Forward model will meet your needs, but you do not necessarily require the greatest amount of muscle possible. These trucks come with a 6.6L V8 gas engine that delivers 350 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque, which comes paired with a 6-speed transmission featuring double overdrive. They are highly functional, give you a massive amount of platform space, and work well for a lot of industries. The specs below are for the 3500/4500 models:

• Max GVWR: 12,000/14,500 lbs
• Max GCWR: 18,000/20,500 lbs

You can see that these trucks both offer terrific potential for upfits, so you can put them to work however you need them. When shopping for used commercial trucks, you will find some models that already have upfits installed. That can make it easy to get what you need quickly, though if you require a different setup, it is often simple enough to figure out the best configuration and options and then make changes that you want.

The Low Cab Forward 4500 HD and 5500 HD

A more powerful and heavy-duty option than the standard 3500 and 4500 Chevy Low Cab Forward trucks, the 4500 HD and 5500 HD models are a great choice for a lot of businesses. These trucks are powered by a 5.2L I-4 Turbo-Diesel engine that delivers 215 hp and 452 lb-ft of torque. Much like the other Low Cab Forward models, they are available with either a regular cab or a crew cab, depending on how much space you need inside for passengers. The following is for the 4500 HD/5500 HD models:

• Max GVWR: 14,500/17,950 lbs
• Max GCWR: 20,500/23,950 lbs

As you can see, in terms of capability, the 4500 HD is pretty comparable to the 4500 model, though it features a diesel engine rather than a conventional gas engine. This can be an important distinction to keep in mind since fuel costs will certainly factor into your budget each year. You can see that Chevy is committed to offering a wide range of options for commercial customers, making it easy to find exactly the right setup for what you need.

The Low Cab Forward 4500 XD and 5500 XD

Two of the most powerful options for commercial trucks, the Chevy Low Cab Forward 4500 XD and 5500 XD take the impressive performance of these models to the next level. These trucks are powered by the same 5.2L I-4 diesel engine as their HD counterparts but feature a more robust design that gives them greater capability. The specs below are for the 4500 XD/5500 XD models so you can easily compare them:

• Max GVWR: 16,000/19,500 lbs
• Max GCWR: 22,000/25,500 lbs

These are fantastic options for a wide range of business needs and work particularly well for heavy delivery needs. If you run a landscaping service, for example, and you are looking for a truck to handle tree deliveries for you, then these are both terrific choices. They also work very well for handling massive amounts of cargo: fit them with a large box, and you can set up a wide range of storage solutions for deliveries, getting tools and equipment to job sites, and pretty much anything else you need.

The Low Cab Forward 6500 XD

If the previous trucks do not have quite enough power and capability to meet your needs, then the Chevy Low Cab Forward 6500 XD is one to consider. This is the ultimate level of performance from a Chevy commercial truck, and it is powered by an exclusive 5.2L Turbo-Diesel engine that delivers 215 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with an Allison 2550 Rugged Duty Series automatic transmission for easy use and fantastic overall performance.

• Max GVWR: 25,950 lbs
• Max GCWR: 30,000 lbs

You can see that the weight it can handle far exceeds any other Low Cab Forward from Chevy and makes it one of the most sought-after commercial models for businesses that require a truck for a massive amount of work. Best of all, there are eight different wheelbase configurations available for this truck, giving it support for between 14 and 30 feet of box length. This model can be hard to track down on the used market since most businesses keep them for as long as possible, which is why it helps to have someone by your side to help you find one.

McCluskey Chevrolet Understands Commercial Needs

Here at McCluskey Chevrolet, your success is the most important thing to us, and we work hard every day to help all of our commercial clients go further than ever before. You might be just starting your business and looking for your first commercial truck or expanding after decades of growth and success; whatever your needs are, we will make sure they are met. As part of the McCluskey Automotive Group, we have been serving our customers here in Cincinnati and the surrounding area for decades. We are not new to this business, and we have years of experience helping our commercial customers get exactly what they need.

As far as we are concerned, your success is our success, which is why we strive every day to ensure you have what you need. There are plenty of fine dealerships out there that can help someone get a midsize truck to enjoy on the weekend. When you are looking for a commercial truck to meet the serious needs of your business, however, then you deserve to work with professionals who understand the differences between serious work trucks.

Stay on the Road to Success