Nigel Atkinson, with Road Test Reviews wroteThe Trail Boss is a Chevrolet Silverado kitted out with a plethora of off-road features including skid plates, a mechanical locking rear differential, hill descent control, a two-inch factory suspension lift over the Z71, Rancho shocks and high gloss black painted wheels shod with Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires. Outside you get a black grille, black bumpers, red tow hooks and Trail Boss decals on the rear fenders.
In normal driving everyday driving, the Trail Boss is well well-mannered and easy to maneuver and can move at a quick pace. Having a stiff suspension is a big advantage since the Trail Boss doesnt roll much in corners and if it had some grip would corner with real verve. It is easy to get up to license losing speeds too, such is the ease at which it accelerates on the freeway, but the limiter kicks in at 98 mph to remind you shouldnt be going that fast. Well we had to test it.
Off the beaten path is where we find out why it is called the Trail Boss. We headed out East to Sheep Mountain Road which sits to the North of the 8 Freeway and winds its way to nearly the top, The road is dry now despite heavier than normal rainfall this year, so dust is the only issue. At the start the going is easy until to start the climb and the road narrows and you hit some quite large water bars, like huge speed bumps. The suspension provided great body control over these big dips and ruts, and not once did we ground or bottom out the suspension. Traction was never going to be a problem and we powered up very easily in 4 wheel high. In the descent we used four-wheel-drive low since we wanted to test the Hill Descent Control, and it works great controlling the vehicles speed and forward motion while the driver can concentrate on seeing the terrain in front. All in all, the Trail Boss did a great job.
If you are looking for a cool off-road truck that will do almost everything then the Trail Boss will work for you.