trailer CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2003 1.G Owner's Manual

To engage the 4 Wheel Steer tow mode, press the
button until the 4 and tow mode indicators light up on
the instrument panel. If the tow indicator is ¯ashing you
will have to center the steering wheel by turning it to
the left or right. While in the 4 wheel steer tow mode, it
is possible the steering wheel may be slightly off
center. For more information, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-68.
Car Washes for QUADRASTEERŸ
Equipped Vehicles
Notice:Because your vehicle has a wider rear
track a small number of older car washes may be
too narrow for your vehicle. Conveyor systems
on some automatic car washes may damage your
vehicle. Only use conveyor system car washes with
13-inch (33 cm) wide conveyor rails and/or
stationary washes with at least 82 inches (208 cm)
between the rails. Before using the car wash
check with the manager.
4-18

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see ªRecreational Vehicle Towingº following.
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 ªdinghy towingº (towing your vehicle
will all four wheels on the ground) and ªdolly towingº
(towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
two wheels up on a device known as a ªdollyº).
With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See
Dinghy
TowingandDolly Towingfollowing.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. See
Before Leaving on a Long Trip on
page 4-44.
Dinghy Towing
When towing your vehicle, turn the ignition to LOCK.
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
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. To properly tow these vehicles,
they should be placed on a platform trailer with all four
wheels off the ground.
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Dolly Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
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. To properly tow these vehicles, they
should be placed on a platform trailer with all four wheels
off the ground.
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to tow your vehicle:
1. Firmly set the parking brake.
2. Shift an automatic transmission to PARK (P), or a
manual transmission to FIRST (1).
3. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the tow
vehicle.
4. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL. See
Four-Wheel Drive on page 2-33for the proper
procedure to select the neutral position for
your vehicle.
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is ®rmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
6. Turn the ignition off.
{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) for
an automatic transmission, or if your vehicle is
in gear, for a manual transmission. You or
others could be injured. Make sure the parking
brake is ®rmly set before you shift the transfer
case to NEUTRAL.
All-Wheel Drive Vehicles
If your vehicle is equipped with the Silverado SS
package your vehicle was not designed to be towed
with any of its wheels on the ground. If your vehicle must
be towed, see
Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-55.
Notice:Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Don't tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle if
any of its wheels will be on the ground.
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Your dealer can help you make a good vehicle-camper
match and help you determine the CWR.
After you've loaded your vehicle and camper, drive to a
weigh station and weigh the front and rear wheels
separately. This will tell you the loads on the axles. The
loads on the front and rear axles shouldn't be more
than either of the GAWRs. The total of the axle loads
should not be more than the GVWR.
Open the driver's door and look at the Certi®cation/Tire
label to ®nd out your GAWR and GVWR.
If you've gone over the weight ratings, move or take out
some things until all the weight falls below the ratings.
Of course, you should always tie down any loose
items when you load your vehicle or camper.
When you install and load your slide-in camper, check
the manufacturer's instructions.
If you want more information on curb weights, cargo
weights, Cargo Weight Rating and the correct center of
gravity zone for your vehicle, your dealer can help
you. Just ask for a copy of²Consumer Information,
Truck-Camper Loading.²Trailer Recommendations
You must subtract your hitch loads from the CWR for
your vehicle. Weigh your vehicle with the trailer
attached, so that you won't go over the GVWR or
GAWR. If you are using a weight-distributing hitch,
weigh the vehicle without the spring bars in place.
You'll get the best performance if you spread out the
weight of your load the right way, and if you choose the
correct hitch and trailer brakes.
For more information, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-68.
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab
General Motors is aware that some vehicle owners may
consider having the pickup box removed and a
commercial or recreational body installed. Before you do
so, ®rst contact GM Customer Assistance for information
on such conversions speci®c to this vehicle. Owners
should be aware that, as manufactured, there are
differences between a chassis cab and a pickup with
the box removed which may affect vehicle safety.
The components necessary to adapt a pickup to permit
its safe use with a specialized body should be
installed by a body builder in accordance with the
information available from GM Customer Assistance.
See
Customer Assistance Offices on page 7-4.
4-67

Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you don't use the correct equipment and
drive properly, you can lose control when you
pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well Ð or
even at all. You and your passengers could be
seriously injured. Pull a trailer only if you have
followed all the steps in this section. Ask your
dealer for advice and information about towing
a trailer with your vehicle.
Notice:Pulling a trailer improperly can damage
your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered
by your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
To identify the vehicle trailering capacity of your vehicle,
you should read the information in
Weight of theTrailer that appears later in this section.If yours was built with trailering options, as many are,
it's ready for heavier trailers. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be used properly.
That's the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested,
important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of
these are important for your safety and that of your
passengers. So please read this section carefully before
you pull a trailer.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
Notice:If your vehicle is equipped with the SS trim
package, do not pull a ®fth-wheel camper or you
could damage your vehicle.
If you do, here are some important points:
·There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live
but also where you'll be driving. A good source for
this information can be state or provincial police.
4-68

·Consider using a sway control if your trailer will
weigh less than 5,000 lbs. (2 270 kg) for light duty
vehicles, or less than 7,500 lbs. (3 405 kg) for heavy
duty vehicles. You should always use a sway control
if your trailer will weigh more than these limits. You
can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls.
·Don't tow a trailer at all during the ®rst 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
·Then, during the ®rst 500 miles (800 km) that you tow
a trailer, don't drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and don't
make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine
and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
·If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow
in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission
to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection
if the transmission shifts too often (e.g., under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions). If you have a manual
transmission and you are towing a trailer, it's better
not to use the highest gear. See
Tow/Haul Mode
Light on page 3-53.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
·the weight of the trailer,
·the weight of the trailer tongue
·and the weight on your vehicle's tires.
Tow/Haul Mode
Tow/haul is a feature on automatic transmission
equipped vehicles that assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load. The purpose of
the tow/haul mode is to:
·Reduce the frequency and improve the predictability
of transmission shifts when pulling a heavy trailer or
a large or heavy load.
·Provide the same solid shift feel when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load as when
the vehicle is unloaded.
·Improve control of vehicle speed while requiring
less throttle pedal activity when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load.
Automatic transmission equipped vehicles are provided
with a button at the end of the shift lever which when
pressed enables tow/haul. When the button is pressed,
a light on the instrument panel will illuminate to
indicate that tow/haul has been selected. Tow/haul may
be turned off by pressing the button again, at which
time the indicator light on the instrument panel will turn
off. The vehicle will automatically turn off tow/haul
every time it is started.
4-69

Tow/haul is designed to be most effective when the
vehicle and trailer combined weight is at least 75% of
the vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See
Weight of the Trailerlater in the section. Tow/haul
is most useful under the following driving conditions:
·When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load
through rolling terrain.
·When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy
load in stop and go traffic.
·When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy
load in busy parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is desired.
Operating the vehicle in tow/haul when lightly loaded or
with no trailer at all will not cause damage. However,
there is no bene®t to the selection of tow/haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a selection when unloaded
may result in unpleasant engine and transmission driving
characteristics and reduced fuel economy. Tow/haul
is recommended only when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. And, it can also depend
on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
Use one of the following charts to determine how
much your vehicle can weigh, based upon your vehicle
model and options.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming the
driver and one passenger are in the tow vehicle and it
has all the required trailering equipment. The weight
of additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo
in the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the
maximum trailer weight.
Above the 5,000 lbs. (2 268 kg) trailer rating, the
handling/trailering suspension is required on
C-1500 models and the handling/trailering or off-road
suspension is required on K-1500 models.
4-70

Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
C-1500 Regular Cab Short Box (2WD)*
4300 V6 (Auto)3.08
3.424,500 lbs. (2 041kg)
5,000 lbs. (2 267kg)9,000 lbs. (4 086 kg)
9,500 lbs. (4 313 kg)
4300 V6 (Manual)3.08
3.423,500 lbs. (1 587 kg)
4,000 lbs. (1 814 kg)8,000 lbs. (3 632 kg)
8,500 lbs. (3 859 kg)
4800 V8 (Auto)3.42
3.736,400 lbs. (2 902 kg)
7,400 lbs. (3 356 kg)11,000 lbs. (4 994 kg)
12,000 lbs. (5 448 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual)3.42
3.734,400 lbs. (1 995 kg)
5,400 lbs. (2 449 kg)9,000 lbs. (4 086 kg)
10,000 lbs. (4 540 kg)
5300 V83.42
3.737,400 lbs. (3 356 kg)
8,400 lbs. (3 810 kg)12,000 lbs. (5 448 kg)
13,000 lbs. (5 902 kg)
* Tongue weight should be 10 percent to 15 percent of trailer weight up to 1,000 lbs (454 kg). Fifth-wheel or
gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs. (680 kg) maximum.
Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
(C-1500 Extended Cab Short Box (2WD)*
4300 V6 (Auto)3.42
3.734,700 lbs. (2 133 kg)
5,200 lbs. (2 360 kg)9,500 lbs. (4 313 kg)
10,000 lbs. (4 540 kg)
4300 V6 (Manual) 3.42 3,700 lbs. (1 679 kg) 8,500 lbs. (3 859 kg)
4800 V8 (Auto)3.42
3.736,100 lbs. (2 769 kg)
7,100 lbs. (3 223 kg)11,000 lbs. (4 994 kg)
12,000 lbs. (5 448 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual)3.42
3.734,100 lbs. (1 859 kg)
5,100 lbs. (2 313 kg)9,000 lbs. (4 086 kg)
10,000 lbs. (4 540 kg)
5300 V83.42
3.737,100 lbs. (3 223 kg)
8,100 lbs. (3 677 kg)**12,000 lbs. (5 448 kg)
13,000 lbs. (5 902 kg)
4-71

Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
5300 V8 w/4WS3.73
4.107,600 lbs. (3 447 kg)***
8,600 lbs. (3 900 kg)***13 000 lbs. (5 896 kg)
14 000 lbs. (6 350 kg)
* Tongue weight should be 10 percent to 15 percent of trailer weight up to 1,000 lbs (454 kg). Fifth-wheel or
gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs. (680 kg) maximum.
**Maximum 8,000 lbs. (3 628 kg) for ®fth-wheel or gooseneck.
***Maximum 7,500 lbs. (3 401 kg) for ®fth-wheel or gooseneck.
Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
C-1500 Crew Cab Short Box (2WD)*
6000 V83.73
4.108,200 lbs. (3 719 kg)
10,200 lbs. (4 626 kg)14,000 lbs. (6 356 kg)
16,000 lbs. (7 264 kg)
6000 V8 w/4WS3.73
4.107,900 lbs. (3 583 kg)
9,900 lbs. (4 490 kg)14,000 lbs. (6 356 kg)
16,000 lbs. (7 264 kg
* Tongue weight should be 10 percent to 15 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680kg). Fifth-wheel or
gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 2,500 lbs. (1 133 kg) maximum.
Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
C-1500 Short-Short Box Crew Cab (2WD)*
5300 V83.42
3.73? lbs. (? kg)
? lbs. (? kg)? lbs. (? kg)
? lbs. (? kg)
* Tongue weight should be 10 percent to 15 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680kg). Fifth-wheel or
gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 2,500 lbs. (1 133 kg) maximum.
4-72

Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
C±1500 Regular Cab Long Box (2WD)*
4300 V6 (Auto)3.08
3.424,400 lbs. (1 995 kg)
4,900 lbs. (2 222 kg)9,000 lbs. (4 086 kg)
9,500 lbs. (4 313 kg)
4300 V6 (Manual)3.08
3.423,400 lbs. (1 542 kg)
3,900 lbs. (1 769 kg)8,000 lbs. (3 632 kg)
8,500 lbs. (3 859 kg)
4800 V8 (Auto)3.42
3.736,300 lbs. (2 857 kg)
7,300 lbs. (3 311 kg)11,000 lbs. (4 994 kg)
12,000 lbs. (5 448 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual)3.42
3.734,300 lbs. (1 950 kg)
5,300 lbs. (2 404 kg)9,000 lbs. (4 086 kg)
10,000 lbs. (4 540 kg)
5300 V83.42
3.737,300 lbs. (3 311 kg)
8,300 lbs. (3 764 kg)12,000 lbs. (5 448 kg)
13,000 lbs. (5 902 kg)
* Tongue weight should be 10 percent to 15 percent of trailer weight up to 1,000 lbs (454 kg). Fifth-wheel or
gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs. (680 kg) maximum.
Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
C±1500 Extended Cab Long Box (2WD)*
4800 V8 (Auto)3.42
3.735,900 lbs. (2 676 kg)
6,900 lbs. (3 129 kg)11,000 lbs. (4 994 kg)
12,000 lbs. (5 448 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual)3.42
3.733,900 lbs. (1 769 kg)
4,900 lbs.. (2 222 kg)9,000 lbs. (4 086 kg)
10,000 lbs. (4 540 kg)
5300 V83.42
3.736,900 lbs. (3 129 kg)
7,900 lbs. (3 583 kg)12,000 lbs. (5 448 kg)
13,000 lbs. (5 902 kg)
* Tongue weight should be 10 percent to 15 percent of trailer weight up to 1,000 lbs (454 kg). Fifth-wheel or
gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs. (680 kg) maximum.
4-73