2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT & Custom: Douglaston Buyers Guide
Quick Answer: WT & Custom
The 2026 Silverado 1500 WT (Work Truck) starts at $36,900 and the Custom starts at $42,400, both before the destination charge. WT is the base trim: steel wheels, a straightforward cabin, and a chassis built around job-site durability rather than trim. Custom adds exterior brightwork, upgraded seating fabric, and more convenience content while keeping the same work-truck bones. Both are available with Regular Cab, Double Cab, or Crew Cab configurations and the base 2.7L TurboMax engine, with the 5.3L V8 and 3.0L Duramax diesel available as you move up the options list.
Who actually buys WT and Custom
WT is the trim contractors, landscapers, and small fleets in Queens and Long Island order specifically because it doesn't have anything to break that isn't essential — vinyl or rubberized flooring options, a straightforward gauge cluster, and a body built to take a bed-liner, a ladder rack, or both without anyone worrying about scratching leather. It's also, notably, the trim most likely to be paired with the 2.7L TurboMax engine, which happens to carry this truck's highest payload rating — a genuinely useful coincidence for a trim aimed at exactly the buyers who care about payload most.
Custom is the trim for the buyer who wants the WT's honesty about what a truck is for, with a bit more of the stuff that makes a daily-driver commute or a family weekend more comfortable — added exterior chrome and trim pieces, nicer cloth seating, and a step up in infotainment content over the base WT screen. It's also the more common Regular Cab and Double Cab choice among East Hills' own inventory, since it splits the difference between a stripped work truck and the technology-forward LT.
What you get, trim by trim
WT ($36,900): Standard safety suite (forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking), a base infotainment touchscreen, 17-inch steel wheels on most configurations, and the widest range of cab/bed combinations in the lineup — this is the trim Chevrolet builds the most configurations of, because fleet and commercial buyers need the flexibility.
Custom ($42,400): Adds body-color exterior trim in place of WT's black plastic, upgraded cloth seating, additional exterior lighting, and generally a nicer standard wheel. Custom's starting price actually dropped $1,200 versus 2025 as Chevrolet restructured what counts as standard content for the model year — worth knowing if you're comparing a 2026 window sticker to a 2025 one and the number looks off.
Custom Trail Boss — the off-road-package version of Custom, with its own suspension lift and 33-inch tires — is covered separately in the Trail Boss guide, since it's priced and equipped closer to that group than to standard Custom.
Engine choice on WT and Custom
Both trims start with the 2.7L TurboMax turbocharged four-cylinder (310 hp, 430 lb-ft) — the lineup's payload leader, and a genuinely capable engine for single-axle trailers and typical job-site loads. The 5.3L V8 (355 hp, 383 lb-ft) is available as a step-up on both trims for buyers who tow more regularly, and the 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel is available on Custom (not offered on WT) for buyers prioritizing fuel economy and torque over outright horsepower — it's rated up to 25 mpg combined in its most efficient configuration, well ahead of anything else in the lineup.
What East Hills buyers say
East Hills Chevrolet of Douglaston's Silverado reviews skew heavily toward straightforward, no-pressure buying experiences — the kind that matter most to a work-truck buyer who doesn't have time for a drawn-out sales process. Jonathan Reid summed it up after his most recent purchase: "There was no BS, we got straight to the point, and he got me the best price possible, with no fooling around." That kind of transaction is exactly what a contractor buying a WT for the crew is looking for.
Frequently asked questions
What's the real difference between WT and Custom?
Mostly trim and comfort, not capability — the drivetrain options and safety equipment are shared. Custom adds body-color exterior trim, upgraded cloth seating, and a nicer standard wheel over WT's steel-wheel, black-trim base spec, for roughly $5,500 more to start.
Can I get a diesel WT?
No — the 3.0L Duramax diesel is offered starting at Custom and above on the 2026 Silverado 1500, not on WT.
What cab and bed combinations are available on WT?
WT offers the widest range in the lineup — Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab, in multiple bed lengths depending on cab choice. Ask East Hills' sales team for the current in-stock configurations, since not every combination is kept on every lot.
Is the 2.7L engine actually good enough for towing?
For a single-axle trailer, landscaping equipment, or a mid-size boat, yes — and it happens to carry the highest payload rating in the lineup because it's the lightest engine option. For heavier or more frequent towing, the 5.3L V8 or 3.0L Duramax diesel (available on Custom) are worth the step up.
Where can I see WT and Custom Silverados in Douglaston?
At East Hills Chevrolet of Douglaston, 240-02 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, NY 11362. Current on-lot configurations change frequently on work-truck trims especially, so a call ahead is worthwhile if you need a specific cab/bed combination.
MSRP figures exclude the destination freight charge plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy numbers are EPA estimates and real-world results will differ by configuration, options, and driving conditions. Equipment, packages, and availability can change with production timing; confirm current specs and pricing with East Hills Chevrolet of Douglaston. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of East Hills Chevrolet of Douglaston.