​​Giving Your Chevrolet Pickup Truck More Off Road Equipment on a Budget ​ 

Western Nevada has been blessed with great natural topography. From the Sierras in the west to the vast deserts in the east and south, this incredible geography serves as an invitation for adventure in your vehicle.  Fortunately, Chevrolet builds three incredible off-road performance machines made to traverse such terrain: the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, the 2026 Silverado 1500 ZR2, and the 2026 Silverado HD ZR2. Each of these off-roading pickup trucks have all of the features and equipment you need to tackle the rough country. However, we know you would want to add more to these rigs.   

However, there is one thing that might be stopping you from making your ZR2 your own – your budget.  Our ZR2 offerings deliver incredible performance for their price tag, but we understand they may not be for everyone. However, there are ways of building up and accessorizing other grades of Colorado and Silverado pickups to tailor them for off-road fun, all without breaking the bank.  

Where do you start? Consider these most common modifications you could make on your Chevrolet pickup truck an agile machine to tackle the rough country. The suspension and chassis are usually the first modifications to make. There are usually more robust suspension components and lift kits out there. If you choose a higher lift, you will need a shock absorber set-up with longer travel.   

With higher lifts and longer suspension travel, swapping out the tires with appropriate wheels is your next step. You can go bigger, as long as you can clear the fenders, but also keep in mind larger wheels and tires may rub suspension components; those may also need to be upgraded or modified in turn. 

Protecting the chassis and driveline is very important when you’re going away from the highway. A good set of skid/bash plates can help do the trick. Not just for underneath the engine bay, but throughout the frame all the way to rear.  Luckily, many of the protective plates developed for ZR2 models (even the incredible AEV-tuned models) are available as official Chevrolet Performance accessories.  

There are also modifications available to enhance the performance of your Chevrolet pickup truck. Adding a cold air intake and a more robust exhaust system will increase horsepower and torque to tackle the rough stuff easier.   

The final step is to add more to the bed. Everything from roll bars to a full overlanding set-up opens up the possibilities back there. You can also add off road lights to mount onto the roll bar.   

Many of these parts and accessories are available through Michael Hohl Chevrolet. We use the GM Genuine Parts and Accessories catalogs with a wide variety of items you can add to your Chevrolet pickup truck. If you see something in those catalogs, place an order with us and it will be shipped to us or you. If you want expert installation of these parts and accessories, our Genuine Service Center can do that for you, as well.