weight GMC SIERRA 1500 2012 User Guide

Black plate (20,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
9-20 Driving and Operating
The Certification/Tire label also
contains important information
about your Front Axle Reserve
Capacity. See“What is front axle
reserve capacity, and how do I
calculate it?” underAdding a
Snow Plow or Similar Equipment
on page 9‑106.
{WARNING
In the case of a sudden stop
or collision, things carried in
the bed of your truck could
shift forward and come into
the passenger area, injuring
you and others. If you put
things in the bed of your truck,
you should make sure they
are properly secured.
{WARNING
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Notice: Overloading the
vehicle may cause damage.
Repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do
not overload the vehicle. 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.
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.

Black plate (21,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Driving and Operating 9-21
{WARNING
Things you put inside the
vehicle can strike and injure
people in a sudden stop or
turn, or in a crash.
.Put things in the cargo
area of the 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 the 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“under Off-Road Driving
on page 9‑6.
Two-Tiered Loading
Depending on the model of your
pick‐up, an upper load platform
can be created by positioning
three or four 5 cm (2 inches) by
15 cm (6 inches) wooden planks
across the width of the pickup
box. The planks must be
inserted in the pickup box
depressions. When using this upper load
platform, be sure the load is
securely tied down to prevent it
from shifting. The load's center
of gravity should be positioned
in a zone over the rear axle.
The zone is located in the area
between the front of each wheel
well and the rear of each wheel
well. The center of gravity height
must not extend above the top
of the pickup box flareboard.
Any load that extends beyond
the vehicle's taillamp area must
be properly marked according to
local laws and regulations.
Remember not to exceed
the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the front or
rear axle.

Black plate (22,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
9-22 Driving and Operating
Add-On Equipment
When you carry removable
items, you may need to put a
limit on how many people you
carry inside your vehicle. Be
sure to weigh your vehicle
before you buy and install the
new equipment.
Notice:Overloading the
vehicle may cause damage.
Repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do
not overload the vehicle.
Remember not to exceed
the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the front or
rear axle. * Equipment
Maximum
Weight
Ladder Rack
and Cargo 340 kg
(750 lbs)
Cross Toolbox
and Cargo 181 kg
(400 lbs)
Side Boxes
and Cargo 113 kg per
side (250 lbs
per side)
* The combined weight for all
rail‐mounted equipment should
not exceed 454 kg (1,000 lbs).Loading Points
A. Primary Load Points
B. Secondary Load Areas
C. Cargo Management Option Holes
Structural members (A) and (B) are
included in the pick-up box design.
Additional accessories should use
these load points. Depending on
the accessory design, use a
spacer under the accessory
at the load points to remove gap.

Black plate (23,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Driving and Operating 9-23
The holes for the Cargo
Management System (C) are not
intended for attachment of
aftermarket equipment. See
www.gmupfitter.com for additional
pick-up box load bearing structural
information.
Truck-Camper Loading
Information
A vehicle-specific Truck‐Camper
Loading Information label is
attached to the inside of the
vehicle's glove box. This label
indicates if a slide-in camper
can be carried, how much of a
load the vehicle can carry, and
how to correctly spread out the
load. It will help to match the
right slide in camper to the
vehicle.
Your dealer can help make a
good vehicle-camper match and
help determine the Cargo
Weight Rating (CWR).When installing and loading a
slide-in camper, check the
manufacturer's instructions.
When carrying a slide-in
camper, the total cargo load of
the vehicle is the weight of the
camper, plus the following:
.Everything added to the
camper after it left the factory
.Everything in the camper
.All the people inside
The CWR is the maximum
weight of the load the vehicle
can carry. It does not include the
weight of the people inside. But,
use about 68 kg (150 lbs) for
each seat.
The total cargo load must not be
more than the vehicle's CWR. Refer to the Truck-Camper
Loading Information label in
the glove box for dimensions A
and B as shown in the following
illustration.
Use the rear edge of the load
floor for measurement purposes.
The recommended location for
the cargo center of gravity is at
point C for the CWR. It is the
point where the mass of
a body is concentrated and,
if suspended at that point, would
balance the front and rear.

Black plate (24,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
9-24 Driving and Operating
Here is an example of proper
truck and camper match:
A.Camper Center of Gravity
B.Recommended Center of
Gravity Location Zone
When the truck is used to carry
a slide‐in camper, the total cargo
load of the truck consists of the
manufacturer's camper weight
figure, the weight of installed
additional camper equipment not
included in the manufacturer's
camper weight figure, the weight of camper cargo, and the weight
of passengers in the camper.
The total cargo load should not
exceed the truck's cargo weight
rating, and the camper's center
of gravity (A) should fall within
the truck's recommended
center of gravity zone (B) when
installed.
Any accessories or other
equipment that are added to the
vehicle must be weighed. Then,
subtract this extra weight from
the CWR. This extra weight may
shorten the center of gravity
zone of the vehicle.
If the slide-in camper and its
load weighs less than the CWR,
the center of gravity zone for
your vehicle may be larger.
Secure loose items to prevent
weight shifts that could affect the
balance of the vehicle. When the
truck‐camper is loaded, drive to
a scale and weigh on the frontand on the rear wheels
separately to determine axle
loads. Individual axle loads
should not exceed either of
the gross axle weight ratings
(GAWR). The total axle loads
should not exceed your vehicle's
gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR). These ratings are
given on the vehicle certification
label attached to the rear
edge of the driver door. See
“Certification/Tire Label”
under
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑16. If weight ratings are
exceeded, move or remove
items to bring all weights below
the ratings.
See your dealer for more
information on curb weights,
cargo weights, Cargo Weight
Rating and the correct center of
gravity zone.

Black plate (31,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Driving and Operating 9-31
WARNING (Continued)
gear—not in N (Neutral). If you
are pulling a trailer, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
on page 9‑74.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake.
See Parking Brake on page 9‑54
for more information.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position by pulling the
shift lever toward you and
moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear —not in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the vehicle
with the ignition key in your
hand, the vehicle is in P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle With the
Engine Running
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and
the transfer case is in N (Neutral),
the vehicle will be free to roll,
even if the shift lever is in
P (Park). So be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear —not in
N (Neutral).
And, if you leave the vehicle
with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could be injured. Do not
leave the vehicle with the engine
running unless you have to. If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure your
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you move the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pulling it toward
you. If you can, it means that the
shift lever was not fully locked into
P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and
you do not shift your transmission
into P (Park) properly, the weight
of the vehicle may put too much
force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may find it
difficult to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park). This is called torque lock.
To prevent torque lock, set the
parking brake and then shift into
P (Park) properly before you leave
the driver seat. To find out how,
Shifting Into Park on page 9‑30.

Black plate (74,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
9-74 Driving and Operating
Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that
has been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer.
See the following trailer towing
information in this section:
.For information on driving while
towing a trailer, see“Driving
Characteristics and
Towing Tips.”
.For maximum vehicle and trailer
weights, see “Trailer Towing.”
.For information on equipment to
tow a trailer, see “Towing
Equipment.”
For information on towing a disabled
vehicle, see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑93. For information on
towing the vehicle behind another vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing on
page 10‑93.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Pulling a Trailer
Important points for pulling a trailer:
.There are many different laws,
including speed limit restrictions,
having to do with trailering.
Make sure the rig will be legal,
not only where you live but
also where you will be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or
provincial police.
.Consider using a sway control.
See
“Hitches” underTowing
Equipment on page 9‑94.
.Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 800 km (500 miles) the
new vehicle is driven. The
engine, axle, or other parts could
be damaged.
.During the first 800 km
(500 miles) that a trailer is
towed, do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) and do not make starts
at full throttle. This helps the
engine and other parts of the
vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
.Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads
and/or hilly conditions.
Important considerations that have
to do with weight:
.Weight of the trailer
.Weight of the trailer tongue
.Weight on the vehicle's tires
.Weight of the trailering
combination

Black plate (79,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Driving and Operating 9-79
Notice:Pulling a trailer
improperly can damage the
vehicle and result in costly
repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this
section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
To identify the trailering capacity of
the vehicle, read the information in
“Weight of the Trailer” later in this
section.
Trailering is different than just
driving the vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly. The following information has 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 pulling a
trailer.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how the rig is used.
Speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, and how much
the vehicle is used to pull a trailer
are all important. It can depend on
any special equipment on the
vehicle, and the amount of tongue
weight the vehicle can carry. See
“Weight of the Trailer Tongue”
later
in this section for more information. Trailer weight rating (TWR) is
calculated assuming the tow vehicle
has only the driver but all required
trailering equipment. Weight of
additional optional equipment,
passengers, and cargo in the tow
vehicle must be subtracted from the
trailer weight rating.
For kingpin weight and trailer
tongue weight information, see
“Weight of the Trailer Tongue”
later
in this section.

Black plate (80,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
9-80 Driving and Operating
Use the following chart to determine how much the vehicle can weigh, based upon the vehicle model and options.
Weights listed apply for conventional trailers and fifth-wheel trailers unless otherwise noted.Vehicle Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR (a)
1500 Series 2WD Regular Cab Standard Box
4.3L V6 (b) 3.232 177 kg (4,800 lbs) 4 309 kg (9,500 lbs)
4.3L V6 —With Automatic
Transmission (b) 3.73
2 449 kg (5,400 lbs) 4 536 kg (10,000 lbs)
4.3L V6 —With Manual
Transmission (b) 3.73
1 860 kg (4,100 lbs) 3 938 kg (8,683 lbs)
4.8L V8 (b) 3.232 132 kg (4,700 lbs) 4 309 kg (9,500 lbs)
4.8L V8 (b) 3.733 266 kg (7,200 lbs) 5 443 kg (12,000 lbs)
5.3L LMG V8 (b) 3.082 994 kg (6,600 lbs) 5 216 kg (11,500 lbs)
5.3L LMG V8, K5L HD
Cooling Pkg 3.08
3 357 kg (7,400 lbs) 5 534 kg (12,200 lbs)
5.3L LMG V8 K5L HD Cooling Pkg 3.42 4 128 kg (9,100 lbs) 6 350 kg (14,000 lbs)
1500 Series 2WD Extended Cab Standard Box 4.3L V6 (b) 3.231 996 kg (4,400 lbs) 4 309 kg (9,500 lbs)
4.8L V8 (b) 3.232 132 kg (4,700 lbs) 4 536 kg (10,000 lbs)
4.8L V8 (b) 3.733 039 kg (6,700 lbs) 5 443 kg (12,000 lbs)

Black plate (81,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Driving and Operating 9-81
VehicleAxle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR (a)
5.3L V8 (b) 3.082 812 kg (6,200 lbs) 5 216 kg (11,500 lbs)
5.3L V8 K5L HD Cooling Pkg (b) 3.083 130 kg (6,900 lbs) 5 534 kg (12,200 lbs)
5.3L V8 K5L HD Cooling
Pkg —Conventional Trailer 3.42
4 400 kg (9,700 lbs) 6 804 kg (15,000 lbs)
5.3L V8 K5L HD Cooling
Pkg —Fifth-Wheel Trailer 3.42
4 264 kg (9,400 lbs) 6 804 kg (15,000 lbs)
6.2L V8 K5L HD Cooling
Pkg —Conventional Trailer 3.42
4 400 kg (9,700 lbs) 6 804 kg (15,000 lbs)
6.2L V8 K5L HD Cooling
Pkg —Fifth-Wheel Trailer 3.42
4 264 kg (9,400 lbs) 6 804 kg (15,000 lbs)
6.2L V8 NHT Max Trailering
Pkg —Conventional Trailer 3.73
4 853 kg (10,700 lbs) 7 257 kg (16,000 lbs)
6.2L V8 NHT Max Trailering
Pkg —Fifth-Wheel Trailer 3.73
4 808 kg (10,600 lbs) 7 257 kg (16,000 lbs)
1500 Series 2WD Crew Cab Short Box (b) 4.8L V8 3.232 132 kg (4,700 lbs) 4 536 kg (10,000 lbs)
4.8L V8 3.733 039 kg (6,700 lbs) 5 443 kg (12,000 lbs)
5.3L V8 (LMG) 3.082 812 kg (6,200 lbs) 5 216 kg (11,500 lbs)