15 hidden features of your Chevrolet or GMC truck

Summary

The Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra pack a series of hidden features most owners never activate. The multifunction tailgate folds in six ways, with a step that supports 375 lb. (170 kg). The onboard trailering app lets you save one profile per trailer and test the lights without outside help. Up to 8 cameras and 14 viewing angles make hitching alone realistic. Add to that the 120 V outlets, app-based remote start, and software updates received without a visit at the shop, even though we’re always happy to see you at Paillé.

You have a GM truck and you may be using 10% of what it can do

You purchased it to work, tow, head out hunting, or simply cruise with style. Chances are your truck gives you functions you have never tried. Here are 15 hidden features of your Chevrolet or GMC truck, with what each one can change in your routine.

GMC Sierra truck backed up to a residential garage, ready to be loaded.

The multifunction tailgate: the feature everyone should know

The Multi-Flex Tailgate at Chevrolet and the MultiPro Tailgate at GMC share the same idea: a tailgate that folds six different ways. Coming back from the hardware store with eight-foot boards? The main tailgate load stop keeps them from sliding out of your cargo bed on the way home. The inner panel also folds into a full-width step that can support 375 lb. (170 kg). It is available on the Silverado and Sierra, depending on your configuration.

Dashboard and center console of a GMC Sierra, with trailering controls within reach.

You can create a custom profile for each of your trailers

The onboard trailering app lets you store several trailers, each with its weight, length, and hitch type. Your Saturday ATV trailer and your Monday work trailer do not share the same parameters. Call up the right profile and the truck adjusts its settings and alerts accordingly.

You can test your trailer lights without asking for help

Before, hitching alone and testing the lights meant running back and forth between the cab and the trailer. Your truck now runs the sequence by itself. It activates the flashers, brake lights, and marker lights one by one, then confirms the result on screen. If a bulb is out, you can spot it in your driveway rather than on Highway 40 behind a police officer.

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Hitch your trailer on your own thanks to the cameras

With up to 8 cameras and 14 available views, hitching solo becomes realistic. The close-up view shows exactly where the ball is relative to the coupler. You ease back and stop in the right place on the first try. If you have ever retried three times because a neighbour's hand signals meant the opposite of what you understood, this might become your favourite function ever. No more forced smiles when you are fuming.

Transparent Trailer View: you can see “through” your trailer

This feature combines your truck's cameras with a camera installed at the rear of the trailer to create one continuous virtual image. Imagine seeing what is behind your 30-foot trailer as if there were only bumpers. That is the kind of result you can count on, and it also works with a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch. Note: a compatible camera must be installed at the back of your trailer, just so you know the function will not turn on the day you hook up a friend's trailer.

Driver behind the wheel of a GMC Sierra 1500, with the screen showing trailering technologies.

“Add-ons, equipment, and packages can matter a lot more than you think. Here is one example: with a diesel engine on a 1500 you can tow 9,200 lb. With the Max Trailering Package the ratio goes from 3.23 to 3.73 and capacity rises to 12,700 lb. (in Crew Cab with a standard bed).”

‒Alexandre Rivest, sales consultant.

Driving modes: your truck adapts to what you do

Depending on the model, the truck offers Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, Terrain, and Snow/Ice modes. In Tow/Haul, the transmission holds gears longer and helps hold speed downhill, which avoids overheating the brakes with 9,000 lb. in tow. In Snow/Ice mode, throttle response becomes gentler to limit wheelspin when starting on an icy incline.

Hill Descent Control

Hill Descent Control manages speed for you when the grade gets steep. Turn it on, take your foot off the brakes, and your truck maintains a slow and steady pace while you focus on steering. On an icy forest road, a muddy hunting trail, or your cottage's sloped driveway in January, it helps prevent wheel lockup that can turn a descent into a slide.

Interior rearview mirror in camera mode showing the rear view of a GM truck on the road.

The rearview mirror camera: an unobstructed rear view

The interior rearview mirror switches to camera mode with a simple lever under the housing. Instead of staring at a rear window blocked by sheets of plywood, you get a wide digital image of what is behind your truck. It is most useful with a full cargo bed, a trailer hitched, or three passengers in the back.

120 V outlets in the cargo bed and cabin: your truck as a power source

Several Silverado and Sierra models offer 120 V power outlets in the cargo bed, in the cabin, or both depending on the configuration. On a jobsite, that means you can plug in a jigsaw, a battery charger, or a work light without having to haul a generator.

App-based remote start: a warm truck before you step outside

In January, at -25 °C, start your truck from your living room and the cabin is warm by the time you leave. The myChevrolet or myGMC app also handles the rest: lock, unlock, locate your truck in a mall parking lot, and check tire pressure or oil life.

Seat and mirror memory: your truck recognizes your preferred position

Did someone you know use your truck over the weekend? One button is all it takes to return to your preferred position on Monday morning. The system saves the driver's seat setting and mirror angles, and it can recall the profile linked to your key as soon as you unlock.

Front seats of a Chevrolet Silverado, adjustable thanks to memory settings.

Hidden storage compartments: more space than you think

You may have storage spaces you have never explored. Depending on the model, you will find a compartment under the load floor, storage under the rear bench, spaces behind the backrests, and a double-bottom centre console. It is the logical place for your first-aid kit, booster cables, tie-down straps, and registration papers. For cargo, the Durabed cargo bed on the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offers 2,523 L (89.1 cu ft) of volume with 12 standard tie-downs rated at 500 lb. (227 kg) per corner.

Driver assistance alerts and systems

Every 2026 Chevrolet Silverado comes with Chevrolet Safety Assist, a bundle of six standard functions. You get Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Following Distance Indicator, and IntelliBeam headlamps. Depending on equipment, you can also get Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Sone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Many of these alerts can be adjusted for sensitivity or turned off in the menus, depending on your tolerance for audible warnings.

Over-the-air updates

It works like a phone that updates overnight. On compatible models, your truck receives fixes, performance improvements, and sometimes new functions by Wi-Fi or through OnStar connectivity. Not every model is compatible yet, so it is worth checking what your model year actually receives.

At Paillé GM, we show you how to get the most from your truck

The Paillé GM team does not stop at handing you the keys on delivery day. You can spend time with your advisor to set up trailer profiles, seat memory, and any other function, either the same day or a year later. We are here for you. The demo happens at the dealership, live, on your own vehicle.

Sources: Silverado 1500 2026 | Chevrolet Canada. Silverado HD 2026 | Chevrolet Canada.

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