2025 SEMA | Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD

At the 2025 SEMA Show, LiquidSpring showcased a Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD medium-duty truck designed by Zimmer Designs. With its larger-than-life demeanor and innovative blend of functionality and flash, the massive truck drew a multitude of eyeballs all week long. Since it was located in the LiquidSpring Smart Suspension booth, the truck naturally ran the company’s rear suspension system, making the commercial-grade medium-duty GM platform more palatable for off-road exploration.

The base platform is a Chevy Silverado 6500HD Chassis Cab (84-inch cab-to-axle) equipped with a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine and an Allison six-speed transmission. Medium-duty work trucks, once reserved for vocational use, are starting to infiltrate the overland community due to their payload/towing capacities as well as their general robustness. Additionally, companies like LiquidSpring have helped make them more mainstream. The LiquidSpring Smart Suspension is a hydropneumatic system that actively adjusts damping based on load and terrain conditions. This is a performance-oriented industrial system, not a showy air-ride.

Zimmer Designs configured the truck for camper integration with a 12-foot ProTech flatbed designed to accommodate double- and triple-slide truck campers. There is extensive onboard storage (93 cubic feet) — because overlanders need ample storage. Also prevalent is the external protection structure (yes, the hood still opens). The bed is prepared for power system integration, such as 48-volt solar, battery banks, and generator power. This suggests that the build was designed for extended remote operation, although short-duration recreation is always an option.

The interior of the Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD features Cadillac Escalade heated and cooled seating, enhancing comfort for extended periods behind the wheel. Industrial-scale winches are installed at both ends — 25,000 pounds (front) and 22,000 pounds (rear) — sized appropriately for the weight class with the camper installed and loaded.

Overall, the focus of this build is on function — specifically, payload, suspension control, and system integration capability — although appearance always plays a role when it comes to these expedition rigs. For diesel enthusiasts who follow medium-duty platforms (such as the Chevy 4500HD–6500HD, Ford F-550/F-600, and Ram 5500), this serves as an example of a vocational-class chassis that’s been configured for off-grid camper support using OEM-tier hardware.

Build Details

Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD, 84-inch cab-to-axle
LiquidSpring Rear Suspension
Dana Super 60 front axle
Dana 110 rear axle with Detroit Locker
Duramax 6.6-liter engine
Allison six-speed transmission
Meritor 3.1 transfer case
12-foot flatbed designed to integrate double and triple slide truck campers
93 cubic feet of external storage
External roll cage and rock rails built from 2-inch DOM
2x layers of internal sound deadening combined with R4 insulation throughout the cab
Integration for 48V solar, battery, and generator setup to run camper, on-board welding, and plasma cutting
Cadillac Escalade heated and cooled seats
25k front, 22k rear winch