The 2022 Chevy Silverado has upped its game, proving it can still be a fierce competitor in the battle of full size pickup trucks. The RST trim model we just worked on sits in the middle of the Silverado’s 2022 line-up, and it offers a great balance of features and price. We decided to kick those features up a notch with some robust customization.
We enhanced this Silverado with a custom blackout and a bold but simple off-road set up. Using some genuine Chevy accessories along with a lift and off-road tires we brought this build to life. Busting open the factory mold for this Chevy Silverado was an all around awesome project!
6″ Lift Kit
One of the biggest ways to customize a truck and improve its off-road capacity is with a lift kit. We raised this hellish truck to the heavens when we installed a Vertex 6-inch lift kit from good ole Rough Country. Huge tie rods on this lift meet the needs of larger tires and the overall ground clearance makes it much better for off-road use.
Going off-road means moving across unforgiving terrain at times. To make these trips smoother the Vertex Reservoir shocks give this Silverado 8 settings/modes to change between. The Vertex shocks are constructed with stainless steel to provide durability, corrosion resistance, and superior ride quality! Having that flexibility and protection allows for the best ride quality on whatever landscape you end up facing.
Off-Road Tires
At the very bottom of this build, we swapped the tires out for some 20″ Dynapro XT tires from Hankook. The design of these tires features lateral and horizontal grooves in-between polygon blocks that delivers improved traction. Burly tires like these Dynapro XTs add to the muscle at the base of this red and black Silverado.
2″ Wheel Spacers
To further improve control on the road we attached 2-inch wheel spacers from Rough Country. Wheel spacers are metal discs that push the wheels further out from the body of the truck and allow for better handling. The handling is improved by giving the truck a wider stance which creates more stability at the cost of turn radius. Attaching these spacers gives the truck a larger and more authoritative presence on the road.
Black Powder Coated Wheels
Instead of replacing the factory wheels for a new design we gave them new life with a powder coating. Having all-black powder coated wheels adds to the blackout styling, matching the other black features we added.
What makes powder coat finishes a good option is two main benefits. The first being flexibility of design, which means your wheels can be personalized to almost any color. Most often times we use black because it looks good on every vehicle, and we do a lot of chrome deletes to match with it. The second upside of a powder coated finish is long-lasting durability. Wheels take a lot of damage from debris and gravel along the road. These powder coat finishes help provide another layer of protection for your ride’s wheels.
Painted Calipers
To create more design elements on this build’s exterior we had to focus on the smaller details. Another feature we added to this Silverado’s wheels were painted calipers. We opted to paint the caliper a bright gloss red which makes them stand out, and draws more attention to the new wheel and tire setup.
Red calipers are a quick mod that can hint at the performance of the vehicle. With trucks, we also recommend applying a ceramic coating to the caliper because it makes break dust, mud, and debris easier to clean while applying another barrier of protection.
Side Steps
After all these additions the height of the truck is a lot greater than when we started. After a long days work it can be a chore to throw yourself into the cab. What we’re getting at is you’re going to need some side steps. Side steps add to the look of your vehicle, and they aid everyone’s mobility around your truck. For this reason we opted to attach a pair of genuine Chevrolet sport side steps.
You might think that’s about all side steps are good for, in which case you’d be wrong. They also provide a place to scrape off dirt, snow, and mud before entering the vehicle which helps keep your interior clean. Side steps are can even end up being helpful by lending a boost upward to adjust anything secured on the roof. Now, as you can see this official Chevy accessory offers some great practical use, and it can be a good extension of branding for proud Chevy drivers.
Custom Painted Tow Hooks
Small areas of a custom truck, like tow hooks, can be used to make a big impact. For this custom Chevy Silverado we removed the hooks and coated them in a bright gloss red to expand the color pop. This helped to further the red and black color scheme without going too heavy on the red.
Blackout And Red Accent Custom Emblems
We are not fans of chrome, so all the old accents and emblems had to go. We upgraded the emblems for the Z71, Silverado Lettering, and RST accents by swapping them with certified Chevy replacements. This emblem blackout package helps give the Silverado a distinguished custom look that not many other trucks have.
Of course the focal point for this build is the custom painted Chevy bowtie badge. This emblem’s bright red trim and black center matches the rest of the truck’s color pop bringing the whole piece together. Modifying your vehicle with pieces like this and making it your own is something anyone can enjoy.
Tailgate Vinyl Inlay
With the color pop near completion, just the back end needs some final touches to finish it up. A great place to add color on the tailgate is the indented branding. That’s why we applied a red vinyl inlay to the Chevrolet lettering. We placed the vinyl lettering in with precision and wrapped up the last bit of red accents on this truck. Vinyl inlays like this one come in all kinds of colors or patterns to best meet your trucks style.
Custom Leather Seating
Elevating the interior to match the appeal of the exterior required an upholstery upgrade. We knew some Katzkin premium leather seating would get the job done, so we gave it custom black leather with a diamond stitching design.
It’s a secret for some people, but the truth is you don’t have to shell out the big bucks for a higher trim level when all you want is leather seating! We offer factory match leather seating, or custom leather seating from Katzkin and Alea. So, you’re more than likely to find something to fit your ride.
Window Tint
With all the black paint on the body we thought we’d give this custom Silverado a touch more darkness with a window tint. Applying a tinted film to your windows has loads of benefits like protecting your interior, your valuables, and mostly you from the sun’s rays. Of course having darker windows can also provide privacy and give the vehicle a stern look to it.
Using high quality 3M Premium FX tint film, we applied a 35% tint on the front windows leaving the back windows at their factory shade. Rear windows are usually darker when they leave factory and don’t always require an additional tint.
When you go to select your tint you need to keep in mind your local laws so that you don’t get ticketed. We always recommend a professional install for this modification. Poor tint jobs will bubble and discolor over time. Make sure your window tint installer has a good warranty to protect your investment!
Spray-In Bed Liner
Truck beds take a lot of abuse, so bed liners often make a good addition to any truck. On this build we used an Xtreme spray-in bedliner for the best fit and clean coverage. Other options usually consist of drop-in ready to use bedliners fitted to the vehicle. Either option works well with their own pros and cons, but the important thing is that the bed is protected.
If you’re looking for ways to customize your Chevy Silverado check out our website. We provide a variety of custom services across the contiguous United States. We also carry vinyl overlays, emblems, and more for you to take a look at. Reach out with any questions we are more then happy to help!
