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Chevy Silverado EV Can’t Be Dinghy Or Dolly Towed

The all-new 2024 Chevy Silverado EV got its big debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2022, introducing an all-electric take on the iconic pickup nameplate. Offering a combination of practicality and zero-emissions powertrain technology, the Chevy Silverado EV looks to do all the same stuff as its internal-combustion-powered counterpart. However, should the Chevy Silverado EV ever require a tow, GM says the pickup can’t be dinghy or dolly towed.

The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV at the worksite.

According to the Chevy Silverado EV owner’s manual, dolly towing or dinghy towing the all-electric pickup may damage it. Instead, the manual specifies that the Chevy Silverado EV should only be put on a flatbed truck or trailer if transported.

“The vehicle was neither designed nor intended to be towed with any of its wheels on the ground,” the manual states. The manual says that a flatbed tow truck is recommended, that ramps may be required to help reduce approach angles, while a tow eye can be used to load it up as well. The tow eye is not recommended for pulling the truck out of snow, mud, sand, or a ditch. There are front attachment points in the frame behind the front bumper. These are also not recommended for pulling the truck out of snow, mud, sand, or a ditch. The vehicle should be in Neutral and the electric parking brake should be released prior to loading onto the flatbed.

Back in May, the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV’s official range-per-charge figures were released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exceeding the original GM estimates. According to the EPA, the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV 3WT and 4WT will cover an estimated 450 miles of range with a full charge. Critically, these figures are 100 miles higher than the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV’s closest competitor, the Ford F-150 Lighting, which is estimated to deliver 320 miles per charge.

As a reminder, the Chevy Silverado EV is equipped with GM Ultium batteries and GM Ultium Drive motors, while production takes place at the GM Factory Zero plant in Michigan. Under the skin, the Silverado EV rides on the GM BT1 platform.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Silverado EV news, Chevy Silverado news, Chevy news, GM electric vehicle news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. So if I need to get it out of the mud, snow, or ditch, I need a forklift to put it on a platform and a crane to lift the platform out and then lift the forklift out?

    Or a bunch of gorillas to lift since we can’t push it out?

    In other words, the manual is stating that if you get it stuck you’re on your own and gm only recommends leaving it there.

    Reply
  2. Just keeps getting a higher cost of ownership.

    Reply
  3. Useless as tits on a boar hog. It’s a freaking truck that can’t be used as a truck. What group of morons thought this was a good idea?

    Reply
    1. It gets better! I recently did some training on this truck and it’s not recommended to use any floor jacks or jack stands either. The only approved method of lifting the truck is with a vehicle hoist at the correct frame contact points or the supplied spare tire jack.

      Reply
  4. Hey, I just bought a brand new Chevrolet Colorado Z71, however how do you connect your I Pod to the truck. There is know instructions on how to connect my I pod.

    Reply
  5. How can I connect an I Pod to the new Chevrolet Colorado Z71??

    Reply
    1. The same way you would connect an iPhone, using the lightning cable!

      Reply
  6. While on the subject of flat towing I have a 2023 GMC SIERRA 1500 with 3.0 Duramax and have learned you have to use a battery disconnect switch when flat towing or it will set the emergency brake on its own.

    Reply
    1. It’s been that way since K2XX. Primary reason is that with push button ignition the steering column lock is electronic. To keep it disengaged, the ignition must be in run mode all the time with power on, or power interrupted by battery disconnect while in run mode and tcase in N. There is also the issue of continuous back drive of electronic power steering gear without torque at steering wheel if the battery was connected, could overload some capacitors . You don’t need a disconnect switch, just a way to pull ground off of battery and restrain.

      Reply
  7. I want to know, how towing with dollies will damage it? Using any method to raise the vehicle off the ground would seem to better than putting on a flatbed!

    Reply
  8. well, for the love of god, don’t park where your brand new untowable Silverado my get towed by the city… who’s going to pay for destroying your truck over a $60 parking ticket?

    Reply
  9. Towing companies aren’t going to touch it when they find out what their liability is.

    Reply
  10. Just admit it’s an Avalanche EV. I’ll keep my 5.3 Avalanche. I could tow it but it never needs it. Lol 😆

    Reply
  11. Boo EVs. I’m insecure and threatened by change. Rabble rabble rabble

    Reply
  12. “The vehicle was neither designed nor intended to be towed with any of its wheels on the ground,” the manual states

    So you’ll need ramp towing if you run out of range ….,. Ouch .

    Reply
  13. In other words,it’s useless

    Reply
    1. As is your comment.

      Reply
  14. Isn’t this no different than a 2019+ Silverado with a single speed transfer case? It can’t be flat towed either and must be flat bed towed.

    Reply
    1. It’s no diefferent than AWD and some 4WD vehicles.

      Reply
  15. You cannot dinghy or dolly tow any EV for that matter. It will overcharge the battery and risk a battery fire. You can tow an EV for short distances at slow speeds without a problem, like retrieving from a ditch or if stuck on a mud pit or something like that. You cannot do it a high speeds and for long distances. Any EV, not just the Silverado. Please do some research.

    Reply
  16. I’m a tow operator. They’re saying flatbed only, no dollies.
    Dollies and wheel lift tow truck gets all four wheels off the ground.
    What kind of monkeys do they have at gm saying you can’t use that to tow it? No wheels are turning, it’s entirely off the ground.

    So when I show up, able to tow it safely, people are going to refuse to let me because gm doesn’t know how dollies work?

    Reply
    1. I think they are referring to the dollies from, for example, Uhaul. Only pick up the front tires, leave the rear on the ground.
      You’re not wrong to ridicule though.

      Reply
    2. You’re more an exception than the rule when you consider the entire population. Commonly a dolly is used to leave the front wheels out of the ground and drag the vehicle on it’s rear wheels. If you do it the way you’ve described than it should be fine because all 4 wheels will be off the ground. I doubt anyone is gonna care if you do so and it should not void the warranty. Also, people need to do some more research. Like I said, every single EV faces the same problem because of the nature of the propulsion system. It’s not GM in particular. And yes, you can tow it for very short distances in case you get stuck off road.

      Reply
  17. SOOOO STUPID a vehicle meant for serious work cannot be towed! Ranchers and farmers be aware… this truck is only for show and not real work in any situation you might get stuck. What if…… the battery gets disconnected first? Can the EV be towed then?? I hate the push for EVs. It is a fake fix for a “problem” that EVs won’t help. Grrrr!

    Reply
  18. Hmm, let me think here a minute. I’ve been a driver and owned cars now for 55 years and the number of times I have had to dolly tow a car is exactly…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………ZERO. I am so upset I can’t do that to an electric car.

    Reply

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