The truck buying public isn’t what it used to be. That isn’t to say they’re fewer than they once were – far from it, in fact. The base has just expanded to include people who do more than haul things. In many cases, trailers and pulp wood have given way to kids and jet skis. However, there’s still a place in the market for those who use pickups to actually pick up and haul things.

A truck company has to appeal to all parts of that market. Consequently, full-size trucks have become family vehicles that offer automatic climate control, leather seating and in-dash CD changers in their luxurious cabs. If you’re after one of these new breed of family-friendly trucks but still need some towing capacity, the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 will be a good choice, fulfilling both your need to work and need to play.

In recent years, the Silverado was justly criticized for their – quite frankly – cheap cabin styling. That all changed as General Motors realized that people want good-looking styling, high quality materials and an interior that they actually enjoy being in with their families. Thanks to a full redesign, the Chevrolet Silverado’s interior is better than it’s ever been before.

The latest model comes with handsome styling, good driving dynamics and more safety features than previous model years, including side curtain airbags and stability control. The 2009 Silverado also has a six speed automatic transmission available, which is – thankfully – an improvement over their standard four speed.

In this class of truck, there’s fierce competition amongst top brands, to say the least, although the 2009 Silverado is a strong entry into this market. Frankly, it would be hard to make a bad choice – there’s such a bewildering number of choices among options and configurations that you’ll certainly be able to find the exact model you want.

Specifically, the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offers one of three body styles – standard, extended and crew cab. The standard cab has either a standard or long bed, while the extended cabs offer the option of a short, standard or long bed.

Regular cabs are offered with two trim levels – the base level called “Work,” and the midlevel called LT. There’s also a more plush LTZ trim line available for the extended and crew cabs, while the crew cabs also have an optional LS package. The Work package comes with all the basics, including air-conditioning, OnStar, a trip computer, a split-front bench seat, vinyl seats, a CD/MP3 player, a satellite radio option and tilt steering. If you move up a level, you’ll find that the LS package features full power accessories, cruise control, driver’s lumbar supports and keyless entry.

In addition, there are five different engine options. The standard Work trucks have a 4.3 liter V6 engine, with 260 pound-feet of torque and 195 horsepower. You can upgrade to a 4.8 liter V6, with the same torque and horsepower. Or, you can get 315 horsepower and 338 pound-feet of torque of you move up to the 5.3 liter V8. With the LT trim package, you can choose from either of these V8 engines, while the LTZ trim package has the 5.3 liter V8 standard. There are also two larger 6.0 liter V8 engines available with certain packages, boasting 367 horsepower with 375 pound-feet of torque, and 403 horsepower with 417 pound-feet of torque respectively.

With this level of customization available, it’s easy to see how the 2009 Chevy Silverado can meet your needs – whether they involve hauling lumber, construction materials or just the family around town on the weekend.