2011 Silverado HD adds Safety Features

The 2011 Silverado HD is redesigned with many improvements and revisions. One aspect of the ’11 Silverado HD that had dramatically improved is safety features. This year adds the first application of trailer sway control to GM’s full-size pickups. It works using the truck’s antilock braking system and integrated trailer brake controller to brake individual wheels on the pickup automatically when it senses dangerous yaw in the rear of the truck from the trailer, which could happen if weight unexpectedly shifts inside the trailer. If the trailer has electric brakes and is connected to the Silverado’s 7-pin trailer connector, the truck can also automatically apply the trailer’s brakes to stop dangerous sway. TRW is the supplier for the system. The Silverado will continue to compete with its main rival, the Ford F-350. In comparison, the Ford F-350 for 2011, which can be found at many Ford dealers in NH, adds traction control, a hill launch assist feature, side curtain airbags, a redesigned instrument panel offering more information, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel and trailer sway control. At AutoFair Ford, one of the top Ford NH dealerships, they usually have in stock F-350′s that come with antilock brakes, dual front airbags, adjustable height outboard belt anchors, and child-seat LATCH anchors.

Another new safety feature of the ’11 Silverado HD can help with hill starts. Hill-hold assist will automatically apply the vehicle’s brakes for 1.5 seconds once you lift your foot off the brake when you’re on an incline. Its part of the Silverado’s integrated trailer brake controller, so it will apply the trailer’s brakes, too, if it has electric brakes. Finally, all SRW Silverado HD pickups will come standard with GM’s StabiliTrak stability and traction control system. Though it’s not required on trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, on the GM pickups it will run up to the heaviest 11,600-pound GVWR.