trailer GMC SIERRA 2007 Owner's Guide

Towing a Trailer
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see the
DURAMAX®Diesel manual for more information.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeNew
Vehicle Break-In on page 132for more information.
{CAUTION:
If you do not 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 — 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 trailering capacity of your vehicle,
you should read the information in “Weight of
the Trailer” that appears later in this section.
Trailering is different than just driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering means changes in acceleration,
braking, 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.
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If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
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.
Consider using a sway control. See “Hitches”
later in this section.
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.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to
shift the transmission to THIRD (3), or
FOURTH (4) with the Allison or Hydra-matic
6-speed transmissions, or if necessary, a lower
gear selection if the transmission shifts toooften, such as under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions. SeeTow/Haul Mode Light on
page 266.
Three important considerations have to do with
weight:
The weight of the trailer
The weight of the trailer tongue
The weight on your vehicle’s tires
Tow/Haul Mode
Press this button at the end of the shift lever to
enable/disable the tow/haul mode.
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Tow/Haul is a feature that assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load. See
Tow/Haul Mode on page 144for more information.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most effective when
the vehicle and trailer combined weight is at
least 75 percent of the vehicle’s Gross Combined
Weight Rating (GCWR). See “Weight of the
Trailer” later 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 benet to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the vehicle is
unloaded. Such a selection when unloaded may
result in unpleasant engine and transmissiondriving 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. It can also depend
on any special equipment that you have on
your vehicle, and the amount of tongue weight the
vehicle can carry. See “Weight of the Trailer
Tongue” later in this section for more information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming
only the driver is 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.
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Use one of the following charts to determine how much your vehicle can weigh, based upon your vehicle
model and options.
C-1500 Regular Cab
Standard Box (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
4.3L V63.23
3.734,800 lbs (2 177 kg)
5,300 lbs (2 404 kg)9,500 lbs (4 309 kg)
10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
4.8L V83.23
3.735,200 lbs (2 359 kg)
7,200 lbs (3 266 kg)10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)
5.3L V83.42
3.737,200 lbs (3 266 kg)
8,200 lbs (3 719 kg)12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 897 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
maximum.
C-1500 Extended Cab
Standard Box (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
4.3L V63.23
3.734,300 lbs (1 950 kg)
4,800 lbs (2 177 kg)9,500 lbs (4 309 kg)
10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
4.8L V83.23
3.734,700 lbs (2 132 kg)
6,700 lbs (3 039 kg)10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)
5.3L V83.42
3.736,700 lbs (3 039 kg)
7,700 lbs (3 493 kg)12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 897 kg)
6.0L V8 3.73 10,300 lbs (4 717 kg) 15,500 lbs (7 031 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
maximum.
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer rating limited to 6,800 lbs (3 084 kg) except with 6000 V8 engine limited to
6,900 lbs (3 130 kg).
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C-1500 Extended Cab
Short Box (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
4.3L V63.23
3.734,400 lbs (1 196 kg)
4,900 lbs (2 223 kg)9,500 lbs (4 309 kg)
10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
4.8L V83.23
3.734,800 lbs (2 177 kg)
6,800 lbs (3 084 kg)10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
12,000 lbs (5 448 kg)
5.3L V83.42
3.736,800 lbs (3 084 kg)
7,800 lbs (3 538 kg)12,000 lbs (5 448 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 902 kg)
6.0L V8 3.73 8,900 lbs (4 037 kg) 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
6.0L V8** 3.73 8,700 lbs (3 946 kg) 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
*This model is neither designed nor intended to tow fth-wheel or gooseneck trailers.
**NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required.
C-1500 Crew Cab Short
Box (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
4.8L V83.23
3.734,600 lbs (2 086 kg)
6,600 lbs (2 994 kg)10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)
5.3L V83.42
3.736,600 lbs (2 994 kg)
7,600 lbs (3 447 kg)12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 897 kg)
6.0L V8 3.73 10,200 lbs (4 627 kg) 15,500 lbs (7 031 kg)
*This model is neither designed nor intended to tow fth-wheel or gooseneck trailers.
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C-1500 Regular Cab
Long Box (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
4.3L V63.23
3.734,700 lbs (2 132 kg)
5,200 lbs (2 359 kg)9,500 lbs (4 309 kg)
10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
4.8L V83.23
3.735,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
7,000 lbs (3 175 kg)10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
12,000 lbs (5 448 kg)
5.3L V83.42
3.737,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
8,000 lbs (3 629 kg)12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 896 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
maximum.
C-1500 Extended Cab
Long Box (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
5.3L V83.42
3.736,500 lbs (2 948 kg)
7,500 lbs (3 402 kg)12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 897 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
maximum.
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer rating limited to 7,600 lbs (3 447 kg).
K-1500 Regular Cab
Standard Box (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
4.3L V6 3.73 5,100 lbs (2 313 kg) 10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
4.8L V83.42
4.105,900 lbs (2 676 kg)
7,900 lbs (3 583 kg)11,000 lbs (4 989 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 902 kg)
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K-1500 Regular Cab
Standard Box (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
5.3L V83.73
4.107,900 lbs (3 583 kg)
8,900 lbs (4 037 kg)13,000 lbs (5 896 kg)
14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
maximum.
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer rating limited to 7,300 lbs (3 311 kg).
K-1500 Extended Cab
Standard Box (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
4.8L V83.42
4.105,500 lbs (2 495 kg)
7,500 lbs (3 402 kg)11,000 lbs (4 989 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 897 kg)
5.3L V83.73
4.107,500 lbs (3 402 kg)
8,500 lbs (3 855 kg)13,000 lbs (5 897 kg)
14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
6.0L V8 3.73 8,500 lbs (3 855 kg) 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
6.0L V8** 4.10 10,500 lbs (4 763 kg) 16,000 lbs (6 257 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
maximum.
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer rating limited to 6,900 lbs (3 130 kg) except with 6000 V8 engine which has
sufficient payload for any fth wheel/gooseneck trailering.
**NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required.
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K-1500 Extended Cab
Short Box (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
4.8L V83.42
4.105,500 lbs (2 495 kg)
7,500 lbs (3 402 kg)11,000 lbs (4 989 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 897 kg)
5.3L V83.73
4.107,500 lbs (3 402 kg)
8,500 lbs (3 855 kg)13,000 lbs (5 897 kg)
14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
6.0L V8 3.73 8,600 lbs (3 9015 kg) 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
*This model is neither designed nor intended to tow fth-wheel or gooseneck trailers.
K-1500 Crew Cab Short
Box (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
4.8L V83.42
4.105,400 lbs (2 449 kg)
7,400 lbs (3 356 kg)11,000 lbs (4 989 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 897 kg)
5.3L V83.73
4.107,500 lbs (3 402 kg)
8,500 lbs (3 855 kg)13,000 lbs (5 897 kg)
14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
6.0L V8 3.73 8,500 lbs (3 855 kg) 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
6.0L V8** 4.10 10,500 lbs (4 763 kg) 16,000 lbs (6 257 kg)
6.2L V8 3.42 8,500 lbs (3 855 kg) 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
*This model is neither designed nor intended to tow fth-wheel or gooseneck trailers.
**NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required.
K-1500 Regular Cab
Long Box (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
4.3L V6 3.73 4,800 lbs (2 177 kg) 10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
4.8L V83.42
4.105,900 lbs (2 676 kg)
7,900 lbs (3 583 kg)11,000 lbs (4 989 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 896 kg)
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K-1500 Regular Cab
Long Box (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
5.3L V83.73
4.107,900 lbs (3 583 kg)
8,900 lbs (4 037 kg)13,000 lbs (5 896 kg)
14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
maximum.
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer rating limited to 8,300 lbs (3 765 kg).
K-1500 Extended Cab
Long Box (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
5.3L V83.73
4.107,300 lbs (3 311 kg)
8,300 lbs (3 765 kg)13,000 lbs (5 896 kg)
14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
*This vehicle has insufficient payload for fth-wheel or gooseneck trailering.
C-2500 Extended
Cab Standard Box
HD (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6.0L V8 3.73 12,700 lbs (5 761 kg) 18,500 lbs (8 391 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin tongue weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to
3,000 lbs (1 361 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 13,000 lbs (5 897 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
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C-2500 Crew
Cab Standard Box
HD (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6.0L V8 3.73 12,500 lbs (5 670 kg) 18,500 lbs (8 391 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 3,000 lbs
(1 361 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 13,000 lbs (5 897 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
C-2500 Regular Cab
Long Box HD (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6.0L V8 3.73 12,900 lbs (5 851 kg) 18,500 lbs (8 391 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin tongue weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to
3,000 lbs (1 361 kg) maximum.
*Trailer ratings above 13,000 lbs (5 897 kg) require a fth-wheel or gooseneck hitch.
C-2500 Extended Cab
Long Box HD (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6.0L V8 3.73 12,500 lbs (5 670 kg) 18,500 lbs (8 391 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 3,000 lbs
(1 361 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 13,000 lbs (5 897 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
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