Chevrolet Colorado 2015, Equinox 2015, Silverado 2015, Express 2015, Silverado 2500HD 2015 Trailering Guide
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2015 TRAILERING GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
02 |
SELECTING A VEHICLE/MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS |
10 |
SILVERADO HD CONVENTIONAL TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS |
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03 |
VEHICLES AND HITCHES |
11 |
SILVERADO HD FIFTH-WHEEL/GOOSENECK TRAILER |
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04 |
TRAILERING BASICS |
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WEIGHT RATINGS |
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12 |
COLORADO, TAHOE, SUBURBAN, TRAVERSE AND EQUINOX |
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05 |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRAILERING |
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TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS |
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06 |
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU START TRAILERING |
13 |
EXPRESS PASSENGER VAN AND EXPRESS CARGO VAN TRAILER |
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08 |
TRAILERING TECHNOLOGIES |
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WEIGHT RATINGS |
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14 |
DINGHY TOWING |
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09 |
SILVERADO CONVENTIONAL TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS |
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02 SELECTING A VEHICLE/MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS (LBS.)1
The chart below gives you an idea of the maximum amount of weight you can confidently and safely trailer with different Chevrolet models when your vehicle is properly equipped. When determining the total weight of trailer and cargo, include the weight of any additional passengers and optional equipment (driver weight and base equipment are already included). See pages 09–15 for maximum trailer weight ratings by specific model.
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1,000 |
2,000 |
3,000 |
4,000 |
5,000 |
6,000 |
7,000 |
8,000 |
9,000 |
10,000 |
11,000 |
12,000 |
13,000 |
14,000 |
15,000 |
16,000 |
17,000 |
18,000 |
19,000 |
20,000 |
21,000 |
22,000 |
23,000 |
24,000 |
Equinox |
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3,500 |
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Traverse |
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5,200 |
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Colorado |
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7,000 |
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Suburban |
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8,300 |
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Tahoe |
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8,600 |
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Express 2500 Passenger Van |
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9,800 |
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Express 3500 Passenger Van |
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10,000 |
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Express 2500/3500 Cargo Van |
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10,000 |
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Silverado 1500 |
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12,000 |
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Silverado 2500HD |
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17,900 |
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Silverado 3500HD |
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23,200 |
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1 Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the Trailering section of the Owner’s Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow.
03 VEHICLES AND HITCHES
Hitch Ball on Step-Bumper |
Fifth-Wheel Hitch |
Hitch Ball on Draw Bar |
Gooseneck Hitch |
Weight-Distributing Hitch with Sway Cover |
SELECTING THE RIGHT HITCH Choosing the right hitch and making the proper electrical connections affects how your vehicle handles, corners and brakes, and allows you to alert other drivers of your intentions. Before selecting a hitch or trailering package, you should be familiar with the weight ratings specific to your Chevrolet vehicle, which are detailed on pages 09–13.
SELECTING TRAILERING EQUIPMENT Most Chevrolet vehicles offer a variety of standard and available equipment for enhanced trailering performance. Aside from the equipment described below, features such as heavy-duty cooling and extendable trailering mirrors may be available. See your Chevrolet dealer for more information on the model you’re interested in.
WEIGHT-CARRYING HITCH This consists of a hitch ball mounted to a step-bumper or draw bar. Hitch balls are available in a range of sizes. Make sure that the diameter of your hitch ball matches your trailer coupler. Also check that the ball meets or exceeds the gross trailer weight rating.
WEIGHT-DISTRIBUTING HITCH This hitch type distributes the trailer tongue load by using spring bars to shift some of the hitch weight forward onto the tow vehicle’s front axle and rearward to the trailer’s axles.
FIFTH-WHEEL HITCH AND GOOSENECK HITCH These are designed for heavy trailering. Located in the bed of the truck, these hitches position the trailer’s kingpin weight over, or
1 Not required on Silverado 2500HD or 3500HD.
slightly in front of, the truck’s rear axle. Fifth-wheel and gooseneck hitches are most frequently used with travel trailers, horse trailers and other large trailers.
HITCHES It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
•If you’ll be towing a trailer that requires a weightdistributing hitch, be sure to use a frame-mounted, weight-distributing hitch1 and sway control of the proper size
•If you have to make any holes in the body of your vehicle to install a trailer hitch, be sure to seal the holes if you ever remove the hitch. If they’re not sealed, dirt, water and deadly carbon monoxide from the exhaust can get into your vehicle
FIFTH-WHEEL TRAILERING Some Silverado models can be equipped with a fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer hitch.
•Follow the manufacturer’s directions for installation, but note that the hitch must be attached to the truck frame. Do not use the pickup bed for additional support. For proper kingpin tongue load distribution and control of the trailer, the hitch must be mounted so the kingpin load is placed (over or slightly) ahead of the rear axle centerline
•Fifth-wheel trailer kingpin loads are higher than conventional trailer tongue loads, so pay careful attention to the truck’s payload capacity and rear axle weight ratings
•Your Chevrolet dealer can help you calculate the maximum allowable payload and GVWR required for your fifth-wheel trailering application. The weight of any additional equipment and all passengers other than the driver must be subtracted from the payload weight to determine the maximum kingpin load available
WIRING HARNESS This allows you to connect the electrical components of your trailer, such as turn signals and brake lights, to the trailering vehicle. Select Silverado models and all Suburban and Tahoe models feature a seven-pin wiring harness to streamline hookup of trailer lighting and brakes, and a bussed electrical center makes it easier to connect the integrated trailer brake controller.
TRAILER BRAKES These are required above a 2,000-lb. trailer weight on Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban, and above a 1,000-lb. trailer weight on all other models. The most common trailer braking systems are surge brakes (found primarily on boat trailers) and electric brakes (often used on travel trailers, horse trailers and car haulers). Surge brakes are a self-contained hydraulic brake system on the trailer, activated during deceleration as the trailer coupler pushes on the hitch ball. An electric trailer brake system uses a brake control unit mounted inside the trailering vehicle; it operates by sensing the vehicle brakes and then applying the trailer brakes.
SERIES In general, a higher series number in a model indicates a greater load-carrying capacity. In addition, a vehicle with a higher series number typically has a stronger frame, stiffer suspension and higher-capacity brakes, increasing the vehicle’s ability to trailer heavy loads.
04 TRAILERING BASICS
Towing a trailer involves all major vehicle systems of your Chevrolet vehicle. Easy and safe trailering requires a properly equipped vehicle, additional trailering equipment and an appropriate trailer. It also requires loading both the vehicle and trailer properly, using safe driving techniques, meeting regional legal requirements, and following break-in and maintenance schedules. The vehicle owner is responsible for obtaining the proper equipment (hitch ball, hitch type of the proper size and capacity) required to safely tow both the trailer and the load that will be towed. For more information, consult your Owner’s Manual or speak to a trailering expert at your Chevrolet dealer. These charts will assist in determining how to best equip your Chevrolet vehicle for trailering. To help you understand the charts, consider these trailering factors:
RGAWR AND GVWR Addition of trailer hitch weight cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). These ratings can be found on the certification label located on the driver door or doorframe.
GCWR The Gross Combination Weight Rating is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and trailer.
TRAILER WEIGHT RATING This rating is determined by subtracting the tow vehicle’s weight (curb weight) from the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR). Base vehicle (curb) weight plus driver is used, so additional passengers, equipment and cargo weight reduce this rating.
NOTE The safety steps described here are by no means the only precautions to be taken when trailering. See the Owner’s Manual for your Chevrolet vehicle for additional guidelines and trailering tips.
TRAILERING CAUTION If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive properly, you can lose control of your vehicle when you pull a trailer. If the trailer is too heavy, your vehicle brakes may be less effective. You and your passengers could be seriously injured. Pull a trailer only after you have read the information in this guide and followed the steps on the following pages.
TRAILER CLASSIFICATION |
TYPICAL EXAMPLES |
TYPICAL GROSS TRAILER WEIGHT EXAMPLES |
TYPICAL HITCH TYPE1 |
Light-Duty (I) |
Folding camping trailer, snowmobiles and personal watercraft trailers (trailer and cargo combined) |
Up to 2,000 lbs. gross trailer weight |
Weight-carrying hitch |
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Medium-Duty (II) |
Single-axle trailers up to 18 ft., open utility trailers and small speedboats |
2,001–3,500 lbs. gross trailer weight |
Weight-carrying hitch |
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Heavy-Duty (III) |
Dualor single-axle trailers, larger boats and enclosed utility trailers |
3,501–5,000 lbs. gross trailer weight |
Weight-carrying hitch2 or weight-distributing hitch |
Extra Heavy-Duty (IV) |
Two-horse, travel and fifth-wheel recreational trailers |
5,001–10,000 lbs. gross trailer weight |
Weight-distributing hitch2 or fifth-wheel hitch |
Maximum Heavy-Duty (V) |
Largest horse, travel and fifth-wheel recreational or commercial trailers |
10,001 lbs.-and-above gross trailer weight |
Weight-distributing hitch,2 fifth-wheel hitch or gooseneck hitch |
1 Represents minimum recommended hitches. Please refer to your trailer’s Owner’s Manual or ask your Chevrolet dealer. 2 Not required on Silverado 2500HD or 3500HD.
05 IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRAILERING
The information below is intended to give you some details about the trailer ratings on your vehicle and a way to ensure that the vehicle you use can handle the load you want to pull.
TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS AND GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATINGS Chevrolet engineers perform extensive testing of acceleration, handling, braking, and thermal and structural performance to determine the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) and the trailer weight rating for your vehicle. The GCWR is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. You should not exceed the GCWR of your vehicle when you tow a trailer.
Chevrolet also calculates and publishes a trailer weight rating for each model or series of Chevrolet vehicles for comparison purposes. The trailer weight rating is not specific to an individual vehicle and is most useful for comparing product lines to one another to help you select a product that will meet your needs. When you buy a vehicle, you should ensure that the total load (including passengers, cargo and equipment) you intend to pull with it will be less than the trailer weight rating of the vehicle.
Because the trailer weight rating is calculated for a line of vehicles, rather than an individual load situation, some standardized assumptions are made when calculating the trailer weight rating. First, the base curb weight of that type of vehicle is used (the weight of a standard equipped vehicle without any options). Second, it is assumed that there is only one person in the vehicle (the driver) who weighs 150 lbs. Third, it is assumed there is a certain tongue weight for the load (a tongue weight is the weight of only the tongue of the loaded
trailer). For conventional trailering, a tongue weight that is 10% of the loaded trailer weight is used. For fifth-wheel/gooseneck trailering, a tongue weight that is 16.7% of the loaded trailer weight is used.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR LOAD WITHIN THE CAPABILITIES OF YOUR VEHICLE To be sure that your trailering combination is appropriate for your vehicle, you must first obtain the weight of your specific vehicle, with all the optional equipment you ordered. You can take your vehicle to a weigh station to get this figure, or you can see your dealer who can help you calculate this figure based on the weight of the options you ordered. You can then subtract the weight of your vehicle from the GCWR. The difference between the two is the capacity you have available for your cargo, passengers, trailer, load and any other equipment you might use to set up your trailer. Put another way, your GCWR should always be greater than or equal to the weight of your vehicle, passengers, cargo, trailer (with equipment) and load.
It is also important that your vehicle and your trailering combination do not exceed the tongue weight, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) limitations for your vehicle. The only way to be sure to not exceed any of these ratings is to weigh the tow vehicle and trailer combination, fully loaded for the trip, getting individual weights for each of these items. This can be done
at a weigh station with a multi-platform scale.
The tongue weight for your trailer is the downward force of the coupler of the trailer on the vehicle hitch. You can
calculate the tongue weight by placing the tongue of the trailer on an appropriate scale. For conventional trailering,
the tongue weight should be 10% to 15% of the loaded trailer weight. For fifth-wheel/gooseneck trailering, the tongue weight should be 15% to 25% of the loaded trailer weight.
The GVWR is the maximum amount the vehicle itself should weigh, including the as-equipped weight of the vehicle plus the cargo, passengers and trailer tongue weight. Put another way, the GVWR should always be greater than or equal to the weight of your vehicle, passengers, cargo and tongue weight.
Finally, the RGAWR is the maximum allowable weight the rear axle can carry. You can weigh your fully loaded vehicle and trailer at a multi-platform weigh station to determine the weight on the rear axle of the vehicle and ensure that you do not exceed the RGAWR. You can find both the GVWR and the RGAWR on the Certification/Tire label, which is found on the rear edge of the driver door.
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