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 external storage
External roll cage and rock rails built from 2-inch DOM
2x layers internal sound deadening combined with R4 insulation throughout cab
Integration for 48V solar, battery, generator setup to run camper, on-board welding, and plasma cutting
Cadillac Escalade heated and cooled seats
25k front, 22k rear winch