CHEVROLET TAHOE 2007 3.G Owners Manual

The Certication/Tire label also tells you the
maximum weights for the front and rear axles,
called Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To nd
out the actual loads on your front and rear
axles, you need to go to a weigh station and
weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can help you with
this. Be sure to spread out your load equally on
both sides of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the
GAWR for either the front or rear axle.
The Certication/Tire label also contains
information about your Front Axle Reserve
Capacity.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should
spread it out.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do,
parts on your vehicle can break, and it
can change the way your vehicle handles.
These could cause you to lose control
and crash. Also, overloading can shorten
the life of your vehicle.
Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
The label will help you decide how much cargo
and installed equipment your truck can carry.
Using heavier suspension components to
get added durability might not change your weight
ratings. Ask your dealer to help you load your
vehicle the right way.
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If you put things inside your vehicle — like
suitcases, tools, packages, or anything
else — they go as fast as the vehicle goes.
If you have to stop or turn quickly, or if there is a
crash, they will keep going.
{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can
strike and injure people in a sudden stop
or turn, or in a crash.
Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight
evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above the tops of
the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Do not leave a seat folded down
unless you need to.There is also important loading information for
off-road driving in this manual. See “Loading Your
Vehicle for Off-Road Driving” underOff-Road
Driving on page 372.
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment
Before installing a snow plow on your vehicle,
here are some things you will need to know:
Notice:If your vehicle does not have the snow
plow prep package, adding a plow can
damage your vehicle, and the repairs would
not be covered by warranty. Unless your
vehicle was built to carry a snow plow, do not
add one to your vehicle. If your vehicle has
the snow plow prep package, called RPO VYU,
then the payload your vehicle can carry will
be reduced when a snow plow is installed.
Your vehicle can be damaged if either the front
or rear axle ratings or the Gross Vehicle
Weight (GVW) are exceeded.
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Q:How do I know if my vehicle can handle a
snow plow?
A:Some vehicles are built with a special snow
plow prep package, called RPO VYU. If your
vehicle has this option, you can add a
plow to it, provided certain weights, such as
the weights on the vehicle’s axles and
the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), are not
exceeded.
Q:How heavy can a snow plow safely be?
A:The plow your vehicle can carry depends on
many things, such as:
The options your vehicle came with, and the
weight of those options.
The weight and number of passengers you
intend to carry.
The weight of items you have added to your
vehicle.
The total weight of any additional cargo you
intend to carry.Say, for example, you have a 700 lb (318 kg)
snow plow. The total weight of all occupants and
cargo inside the cab should not exceed 300 lb
(135 kg). This means that you may only be able to
carry one passenger. But, even this may be too
much if you have got other equipment already
adding to the weight of your vehicle.
Here are some guidelines for safely carrying a
snow plow on your vehicle:
Make sure the weight on the front and rear
axles does not exceed the axle rating for each.
For the front axle, if more cargo or passengers
must be carried, appropriate counter ballast
must be installed rear of the rear axle. Counter
ballast must be properly secured so it will not
move during driving.
Follow the snow plow manufacturer’s
recommendations regarding rear ballast. Rear
ballast may be required to ensure a proper front
and rear weight distribution ratio, even though
the actual weight at the front axle may be less
than the front axle rating.
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The snow plow manufacturer or installer can
assist you in determining the amount of rear
ballast required, to help make sure your
snowplow/vehicle combination does not exceed
the GVW rating, the front and rear axle ratings,
and the front and rear weight distribution ratio.
The total vehicle must not exceed the GVW
rating.
Q:What is front axle reserve capacity, and
how do I calculate it?
A:Front axle reserve capacity is the difference
between your front Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) and the front axle weight of your
vehicle with full fuel and passengers. Basically,
it is the amount of weight you can add to
your front axle before reaching your
front GAWR.The front axle reserve capacity for your vehicle
can be found in the lower right corner of the
Certication/Tire label, as shown.
United StatesCanada
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In order to calculate the amount of weight any
front accessory, such as a snow plow, is adding to
the front axle, use the following formula:
(W x (A + W.B.)) /W.B.= Weight the accessory is
adding to the front axle.
Where:
W = Weight of added accessory
A = Distance that the accessory is in front of the
front axle
W.B. = Vehicle WheelbaseFor example, adding a 700 lb (318 kg) snow plow
actually adds more than 700 lbs (318 kg) to the
front axle. Using the formula, if the snow plow
is 4 ft (122 cm) in front of the front axle and the
wheel base is 10 ft (305 cm), then:
W = 700 lb (318 kg)
A = 4 ft (122 cm)
W.B. = 10 ft (305 cm)
(W x (A + W.B.))/W.B. = (700 x (4 + 10))/10 =
980 lbs (445 kg)
So, if your vehicle’s front axle reserve capacity is
more than 980 lbs (445 kg), you could add the
snow plow without exceeding the front GAWR.
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Q:What if I want to add heavier equipment to
my vehicle?
A:You can add heavier equipment on the front
of the vehicle if you compensate for it by
carrying fewer passengers, less cargo, or by
positioning cargo towards the rear. This
has the effect of reducing the load on the front.
However, the front GAWR, rear GAWR, and
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
must never be exceeded.
{CAUTION:
On some vehicles that have certain front
mounted equipment, such as a snow
plow, it may be possible to load the front
axle to the front gross axle weight rating
(GAWR) but not have enough weight on
the rear axle to have proper braking
performance. If your brakes can not work
properly, you could have a crash. To help
your brakes work properly when a snow
plow is installed, always follow the snow
plow manufacturer or installer’s
recommendation for rear ballast to ensure
a proper front and rear weight distribution
ratio, even though the actual front weight
may be less than the front GAWR, and the
total vehicle weight is less than the gross
vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Maintaining
a proper front and rear weight distribution
ratio is necessary to provide proper
braking performance.
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Q:What is total vehicle reserve capacity?
A:This is the difference between your GVWR and
the weight of your vehicle with full fuel and
passengers. It is the amount of weight you can
add to your vehicle before reaching your
GVWR. Keep in mind that reserve capacity
numbers are intended as a guide when
selecting the amount of equipment or cargo
your vehicle can carry. If you are unsure
of your vehicle’s front, rear, or total weight, go
to a weigh station and weigh your vehicle.
Your dealer can also help you with this.
The total vehicle reserve capacity for your
vehicle can be found in the lower right corner
of the Certication/Tire label as shown
previously.
See your dealer for additional advice and
information about using a snow plow on your
vehicle. Also, seeLoading Your Vehicle on
page 407.
Emergency Roof Lamp Provisions
Vehicles with the RPO VYU snow plow prep
package also have an emergency roof lamp
provision package, RPO TRW. Wiring for the
emergency roof lamp is provided above the
overhead console. SeeAuxiliary Roof Mounted
Lamp on page 218for switch location.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle
towed. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on
page 604.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational purposes (such as behind
a motorhome), see “Recreational Vehicle
Towing” following.
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Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your
vehicle behind another vehicle – such as behind a
motorhome. The two most common types of
recreational vehicle towing are known as dinghy
towing, towing your vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground, and dolly towing, towing your
vehicle with two wheels on the ground and two
wheels up on a device known as a “dolly”.
With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See
“Dinghy Towing” and “Dolly Towing”, following.
Here are some important things to consider before
you do recreational vehicle towing:
What’s the towing capacity of the towing
vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle
manufacturer’s recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they
can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional
for additional advice and equipment
recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as
you would prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is
prepared to be towed. SeeBefore Leaving on
a Long Trip on page 396.
Dinghy Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Notice:If you tow a two-wheel-drive vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground, the
transmission could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Do not
tow a two-wheel-drive vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground.
Two-wheel-drive vehicles should not be towed
with all four wheels on the ground.
Two-wheel-drive transmissions have no provisions
for internal lubrication while being towed.
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Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to tow your vehicle:
1. Shift the transmission to PARK (P).
2. Turn the engine off, but leave the ignition on.
3. Firmly set the parking brake.
4. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Shifting a four-wheel-drive vehicle’s
transfer case into NEUTRAL can cause
your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or
others could be injured. Make sure the
parking brake is rmly set before you shift
the transfer case to NEUTRAL.
5. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N). See
Four-Wheel Drive on page 150for the proper
procedure to select the NEUTRAL (N)
position for your vehicle.
6. Release the parking brake only after the
vehicle being towed is rmly attached to
the towing vehicle.
7. Turn the ignition off.
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Dolly Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Notice:If you tow a two-wheel-drive vehicle
with the rear wheels on the ground, the
transmission could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Never
tow your vehicle with the rear wheels on the
ground.
Two-wheel-drive vehicles should not be towed
with the rear wheels on the ground.
Two-wheel-drive transmissions have no provisions
for internal lubrication while being towed.
Two-wheel-drive vehicles can be towed on a dolly
with the front wheels on the ground provided
that the wheels are straight.
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
If your vehicle is equipped with StabiliTrak®,itis
not designed to be dolly towed. If you need to tow
your vehicle, see “Dinghy Towing” earlier in this
section.If your vehicle is not equipped with StabiliTrak
®,
use the following procedure to tow your vehicle:
1. Drive the vehicle up onto the tow dolly.
2. Shift the transmission to PARK (P).
3. Turn the engine off, but leave the ignition on.
4. Firmly set the parking brake.
5. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow dolly.
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