Chevy has published a video on its YouTube channel that shows Chevy truck owners how to properly determine the maximum towing capacity for their particular vehicle.
This video starts by explaining some basic towing terminology for less informed viewers. This includes Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), which is the maximum allowable weight of the vehicle including passengers and cargo, along with Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), which is the maximum allowable weight of both the vehicle and the trailer it is towing. Terms like Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and Tongue Weight are also addressed, which are the allowable max weights for the axles and the trailer hitch tongue, respectively.
Once Chevy truck owners know these terms, they can pull up their phone or computer and visit Chevrolet’s dedicated online towing information guide (GM Authority readers can access the landing page at this link), which allows the user to input their truck model variant and model year. The website will then provide the user with the correct trailering information for their vehicle. Users can also check the towing section in the user’s manual included with the vehicle, or simply check the trailering information label in the driver’s side door jamb.
There’s one other way that Chevy truck owners can determine the maximum towing capacity for their truck, too. Users can tap the Load Calculator function in the MyChevrolet mobile app, which will allow them to input all their trailer information into the app. The app will then automatically calculate the combined weight ratings and determine if the vehicle with the hitched trailer is ready to hit the road, or if it’s too heavy.
Check out the video embedded below to learn more about these methods for determining the maximum towing capacity of the Chevy Colorado, Chevy Silverado 1500 and Chevy Silverado HD.
Subscribe to GM Authority as we bring you the latest Chevy Silverado news, Chevy news and ongoing GM news coverage.
Comments
This was actually well done, the trailering information label that GM uses is so convenient. Now if they would just update the website so I can see the new payload capacity on the 1500 diesel that would be great. It’s still using the old 7100lb GVWR so idk if the curb weight is correct.
How to determine towing capacity = Ford.com/ trucks or Ramtrucks.com 1075lb of torque to haul any dam thing you want down the highway and it handles the load with factory air bags , and a real exhaust brake
GM offers a under powered duramax with a fake branded transmission
All of the trucks currently put forward will tow any damn thing u want down the highway. Some have better peak numbers no doubt, if chasing peak numbers is your game, then so be it. This real EXHAUST brake you speak of, the one thats actually done inside the turbo charger is basically the same in all trucks. Yes its in the exhaust but should be actually called a vgt brake. Its not a conventional Jake, pac or actually in the exhaust pipe style exhaust brake. That fake branded trans you are correct about. Its a gm unit, but technically the trans in the ford is also a gm unit per sei. Joint venture(ford, gm). The current aisin trans(asian built) in the ram will proly change if they dont present updates(10 speed). Its rumored to possibly get the new allison 10 speed which would put the ram at having an engine that is not ram(fiat) a transmission that is not ram(fiat) and a rear end that is not ram(fiat). But hey they got those airbags! Which are not theirs either. Also im sure long term those air bags will be bullet proof. There is just not much about these trucks anymore that is so called in house, but if there is a truck that is made up of a hodge podge of others technoloy its definitly the ram. Which they pull off quite well i must say. Alot ofem on the road, and i had rather work on 6.7 cummins vs any of them as well.
I think the exhaust brake was in reference to the RAM being constant when on where the GM is just temporarily applied when you push the button.
It drives me insane that all these manufacturers are chasing these huge towing numbers and horsepower torque wars while completely ignoring their payload capacity. Id say at least half to people who tow are over their payload capacity and dont realize it.
Later Rams with a 5.9 had as a dealer installed option a Jacobs-branded brake which was a butterfly valve in the exhaust. When the 6.7 Cummins came, it went to a VGT-style brake. Basically, he’s 15 years behind the times.
the exhaust brake on a duramax is a joke.
mechanic ,
Thank you for the reply , it was true , and honest , to the point, so thanks. I own all three trucks , 2022 Ford F350 king ranch, 2021 ram 3500 mega HO with AISIN , and a 2019 denali. Yes RAM might be a Hodge podge of parts, but the truck pulls, pulls,pulls. The cummins simply wants to work. the exhaust brake is the best of the 3. RAM mirrors suck ass. The denali 2500 duramax is great till about 10K pulling, then lags compare to ram and ford. GM has to many cheap cosmetic crap on trucks with unfinished black plastic exteriors to there blow plastic interiors and now there new car like dash and cheap thin seats. The Ford is refined and sits well, comfortable, runs like a scalded ape, beautiful interiors, and plenty of power for pulling too. there is so much torque that it literally eats the tires off the truck. The air bag system on the 3500 works flawlessly , picks the heavy ass loads back up level , its great. Ford and GM should figure it out. My 2016 Ram 3500 AISIN was a recall king with a total of 13 in 5 years, my 2021 has had 1 recall, so there doing much better all thow my Ram was never in the shop for repairs and never let me down.. ride down the interstate Ram are the most pulling car carriers, hot shots, and enclosed and equipment trailers and they run too, most them guys run 75 – 80 mph. you do not see many duramax 3500 pulling in comparison. On the Ram being a hodge podge , maybe they figured it out, and you made me think of something. I own a 2022 Freightliner Sport chassis M2-112 with a detroit DD13 and a Allison 4000 505 Hp 1850 torque, and you talk about a mix of different parts that work well, and talk about pulling from a proven million mile motor, flawless allison , dream liner air suspension , serta seats, billstein shocks , jacobs brake, ect. maybe Ram went the right direction.
The issue with the RAMs are the springs, it just completely ruins the payload capacity of their 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks. Im either getting a Sierra 1500 or a RAM 2500. Ford’s trucks are ugly and their real world payload nunbers are way under their listed specs which really pissed me off.
The babymax in the 1500 is proving to be an absolutely great diesel and the 10 speed strikes the perfect balance of towing and empty capability. That awful 6 speed in the RAM needs to go.
Ram 2500 is a step up from a 1500, its designed to pull a trailer or 5th wheel to a camp ground every now and then. its designed with springs for comfort, its why the ram 2500 only has a 850 torque cummins and the RF68E junk transmission. want the real deal , step up and spend 10K more get the 3500 with leaf springs, air bags and HO Aisin 6 speed and you will have payload and pulling for anything you want , or step up one more time and get a Freightliner sport chassis pick up.
I wouldnt pull anything but the smallest 5th wheel with a 2500 unless it was 2WD and non crew cab. A 9k 5th wheel would be putting around 1900lbs on the back of the truck and the 2wd crew cab starts at 2400-2600lbs and 4wd 2100-2300. A lot of the travel trailers will be around 15% tongue weight and usually off balance side to side as well.
The Chevy 2500 and F250 are way more capable.
Of course once you go to 3500 and higher the RAM rules the roost. Im planning room in case we upgrade so I need a very capable 1/2 ton or a 3/4 ton.
I hate Fords exterior and GM last gen interior so it kind of leaves me with the RAM in the 3/4ton. Payload on a 4WD laramie 2500 is 2150lbs but since it weighs more then a 1/2ton I’m more comfortable pushing closer to the capacity. A 3500 would be around 83k with the way we configure it and 2500 72k. With the GM 1500 being around 63k that RAM 2500 is really tempting.
Jon,
You are correct, My2021 Ram 3500 laramie mega 4×4, air suspension, dual altiators, two tone, 20″, 8″ nav screen ( NOT 12″ too much touch screen and loss of knobs) moon roof , laramie 2 package was listed at 85K, and paid 74 K , but that was before the semi conductor crap, so yes today you would pay about 87K. ford exterior took awhile to grow on me too. Ram is a nice truck. I paid 61 K for my 2016 Ram 3500 speced the same as the 2021 above, when I traded at 5 years with 37000 miles I received a real trade amount of 52400. and it was super clean, in perfect condition and it was in big demand cause of the HO diesel and Aisin did 2 oil changes and a new set of tires in the 5 years of ownership, so it cost me 9 grand to own, so that not to bad I would say. the supply shortage surely helped thoses numbers. I hope you buy the ram, its a better truck, nice interior, cummins.