2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is an all-new pickup that has been completely overhauled and re-engineered from the ground up. Bigger in every regard in comparison to its K2-based predecessor, the new 2019 half-ton Silverado has 8 trim levels available, 5 engines to choose from and 3 transmissions. Joining the existing 4.3L V6, 5.3L V8 and 6.2L V8 EcoTec engine lineup is a new 2.7L turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque. Also newly brought into the lineup is a 10-speed automatic transmission, co-developed with Ford. The new 10-speed boasts non-sequential shift capability and is sure to improve drivability and fuel economy. In terms of body and chassis, this new gen Silverado is lighter than before, without compromising any strength or ability. Further use of high-strength steel and aluminum components throught the body, frame and suspension has dropped the weight by as much as 470 lbs (configuration dependent).

Tonneau Covers and Bed Protection

Now based on the GM T1 platform, 2019 Silverados can have a 5.8ft, 6.6ft or 8ft bed. The ability to keep the bed dry (namely the cargo carried within) and secure in inclement weather is an important element for any Silverado 1500 pickup owner to consider. A quality bed or tonneau covercan easily solve this problem, and so do without costing an arm and a leg. Different types of tonneau covers exist made out of a variety of materials and open and latch types to fit your personal preferences but the most popular are the roll up, foldup, or hard cover.

• Roll up: A roll up cover is typically made out of vinyl for easy cleaning and attaches to the bedrails of the truck. The name of this cover is pretty self-explanatory as you simply have to roll up the cover to access the bed of your truck. In terms of load capacity on the top side, roll-up covers have the lowest. That said, there are roll up metal covers that roll in and out of a drum located at the front of the bed. These covers use small metal slats with a flexible linkage inbetween that allows them to roll up out of the way. This cover is extremely strong but can be quite a bit more costly.
• Foldup: Fold-ups are built with multiple sections, allowing you to access a certain section of the bed without the inconvenience of having to remove the entire cover. The most common type is a tri-fold cover, which places a folding panel over the front, middle and rear areas of the bed. Largely built with heavy-duty vinyl as well as an aluminum frame, it is heavier than a roll-up and offers better durability.
• Hard cover: The hard cover is arguably the most traditional tonneau and is normally made out of fiberglass or a composite, painted to match the body color.

Wheel Lugs

Changing the lug nuts on your 2019 Silverado is done to either change the aesthetic or because the OEM wheel nuts no longer fit with an aftermarket wheel. The latter is quite common, as many aftermarket mags use a smaller lug bore in which the regular 14x1.5mm wheel lugs just don't fit. When choosing a new set of wheel lug nuts, there are a few variables to consider. First, regardless of overall width, all 2019 Silverado 1500 trucks use a 14x1.5mm thread pattern. Next is construction. Carbon steel and aluminum are the two materials in play, with carbon steel being the most common and strongest. Aluminum lugs are certainly lighter and can be anodized in cool colors, however they are softer than steel and for that reason aren't really suited to the loads and weights that a pickup truck may see. Also, one-piece construction is significantly more durable than two piece. A two piece lug has the hex and thread as one piece, and then a cap put on top as the second. More often then not, after a couple of seasons the cap will deteriorate and easily twist off. If available in the style you want, one piece wheel nuts are better. Finally, there is hex versus spline. Traditionally, lug nuts feature a hex that is used to fit the socket to turn the nut on and off. However, nowadays there are many new styles that feature a spline drive and a specialty key must be used in order to drive these nuts on and off. These are usually 'low-profile' style nuts, that are made to fit in a wheel with narrow bolt holes. Hex nuts are much stronger and can be used easily with an impact wrench. The same cannot be said for spline drive nuts. While they aren't weak persay, the wall of their specialty socket is prone to cracking when used with an impact wrench. It is always recommended to turn spline drive lug nuts by hand.