Pickup trucks are the backbone of American society. Need proof? Look no further than the fact that the Ford F-150 outsells any other make and model vehicle in the US by a substantial margin, or at the fact that city cars are all but dead, and yet full-size trucks are brimming with innovation. But with the innovation comes cost, and for the Chevrolet Silverado HD, 2021 sees the price tags climb. Fortunately for buyers, the increases across the board aren't very high, and the fact that the 2021 Silverado 3500 HD can now tow up to 36,000 pounds means that even a small price increase could well be worth it.

In its base trim, the Silverado HD WT (Worker Truck) is now $300 more expensive, with a base MSRP starting at $34,900 for the 4x2 Regular Cab with the 6.6-liter gasoline V8, excluding destination charge. The LT and Custom trims both see a rise of $400 and now start at $39,000 (4x2 Regular Cab) and $39,700 (4x2 Double Cab), respectively. The LTZ, which can't be equipped with the Regular Cab body, sees a minor increase of $200 for the new year and starts at $49,300 in 2WD Double Cab guise.

At the top of the pile, the High Country trim can only be specced on models with 4x4 and the Crew Cab configuration, with prices starting at a substantial $62,400 with the standard bed and 6.6-liter gasoline V8. At $800 more, this represents the largest increase over last year's prices. Along with these model-specific increases, Chevrolet's destination charge has also climbed by $100 for the new year, now sitting at $1,695. The prices listed above are for the base gasoline V8. If you want the 6.6-liter Duramax V8 - the only engine with which the 36,000-pound max tow rating is available - you'll need to add another $10,165 to the invoice.

Considering the amount of tech that has been added to the 2021 Silverado HD, the minimal price increases seem well worth the extra outlay.