gcwr GMC SIERRA 2008 User Guide

C-2500 Crew Cab Long
Box HD (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.109,900 lbs (4 490 kg)
12,400 lbs (5 624 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
K-2500 Extended
Cab Standard
Box HD (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.109,900 lbs (4 490 kg)
12,400 lbs (5 624 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
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K-2500 Crew
Cab Standard
Box HD (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.109,800 lbs (4 445 kg)
12,300 lbs (5 579 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
K-2500 Regular Cab
Long Box HD (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.1010,200 lbs (4 627 kg)
12,700 lbs (5 761 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
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K-2500 Extended Cab
Long Box HD (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.109,700 lbs (4 400 kg)
12,200 lbs (5 534 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
K-2500 Crew Cab Long
Box HD (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.109,600 lbs (4 354 kg)
12,100 lbs (5 488 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
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C-3500 Regular
Cab (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.1010,100 lbs (4 581 kg)
12,600 lbs (5 715 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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
3,500 lbs (1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 13,000 lbs (5 897 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
C-3500 Extended
Cab (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.109,700 lbs (4 400 kg)
12,200 lbs (5 534 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
18,500 lbs (8 391 kg)
6.0L V8
(Dual Rear Wheels)3.73
4.109,500 lbs (4 309 kg)
12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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
3,500 lbs (1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 13,000 lbs (5 897 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
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C-3500 Crew
Cab (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.109,600 lbs (4 354 kg)
12,100 lbs (5 488 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
18,500 lbs (8 391 kg)
6.0L V8
(Dual Rear Wheels)3.73
4.109,300 lbs (4 218 kg)
11,800 lbs (5 352 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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
3,500 lbs (1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 13,000 lbs (5 897 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
K-3500 Regular
Cab (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.109,900 lbs (4 490 kg)
12,400 lbs (5 624 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
18,500 lbs (8 391 kg)
6.0L V8
(Dual Rear Wheels)3.73
4.109,700 lbs (4 400 kg)
12,200 lbs (5 534 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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
3,500 lbs (1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 13,000 lbs (5 897 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
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K-3500 Extended
Cab (4WD)* Axle RatioMaximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.109,500 lbs (4 309 kg)
12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
18,500 lbs (8 391 kg)
6.0L V8
(Dual Rear Wheels)3.73
4.109,200 lbs (4 173 kg)
11,700 lbs (5 307 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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
3,500 lbs (1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 13,000 lbs (5 897 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
K-3500 Crew
Cab (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
6.0L V83.73
4.109,300 lbs (4 218 kg)
11,800 lbs (5 352 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
18,500 lbs (8 391 kg)
6.0L V8
(Dual Rear Wheels)3.73
4.109,100 lbs (4 128 kg)
11,600 lbs (5 262 kg)16,000 lbs (7 257 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
3,500 lbs (1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 13,000 lbs (5 897 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
Ask your dealer/retailer for our trailering information or
advice, or write us at our Customer Assistance Offices.SeeCustomer Assistance Offices on page 7-5for more
information.
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Fifth wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be
15 to 25 percent of the trailer weight up to the maximum
amount specied in the trailering chart for your vehicle.
See “Weight of the Trailer”, and “Fifth-Wheel and
Gooseneck Trailering” in this section.
Do not exceed the maximum allowable tongue weight
for your vehicle. Choose the shortest hitch extension
that will position the hitch ball closest to the vehicle. This
will help reduce the effect of trailer tongue weight on
the rear axle.
After you have loaded the trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue separately, to see if the weights
are proper. If they are not, you may be able to get them
right by moving some items around in the trailer.
Trailering may be limited by the vehicle’s ability to carry
tongue weight. Tongue weight cannot cause the
vehicle to exceed the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) or the RGAWR (Rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating). The effect of additional weight may reduce
your trailering capacity more than the total of the
additional weight.Consider the following example:
A vehicle model base weight is 5,500 lbs (2 495 kg);
2,800 lbs (1 270 kg) at the front axle and 2,700 lbs
(1 225 kg) at the rear axle. It has a GVWR of 7,200 lbs
(3 266 kg), a RGAWR of 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) and a
GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) of
14,000 lbs (6 350 kg). The trailer rating should be:
You can expect tongue weight to be at least 10 percent of
trailer weight (850 lbs (386 kg)) and because the weight
is applied well behind the rear axle, the effect on the rear
axle will be greater than just the weight itself, as much as
1.5 times as much. The weight at the rear axle could be
850 lbs (386 kg) X 1.5 = 1,275 lbs (578 kg). Since the
rear axle already weighs 2,700 lbs (1 225 kg), adding
1,275 lbs (578 kg) brings the total to 3,975 lbs (1 803 kg).
This is very close to, but within the limit for RGAWR
as well. The vehicle is set to trailer up to
8,500 lbs (3 856 kg).
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But let’s say your specic vehicle is equipped with some
of the latest options and you have a front seat passenger
and two rear seat passengers with some luggage and
gear in the vehicle as well. You may add 300 lbs (136 kg)
to the front axle weight and 400 lbs (181 kg) to the rear
axle weight. Your vehicle now weighs:
Weight is still below 7,200 lbs (3 266 kg) and you may
think that you should subtract 700 additional pounds
(318 kg) from your trailering capacity to stay within
GCWR limits. Your maximum trailer would only be
7,800 lbs (3 538 kg). You may go further and think you
must limit tongue weight to less than 1,000 lbs (454 kg) to
avoid exceeding GVWR. But, you must still consider the
effect on the rear axle. Because your rear axle now
weighs 3,100 lbs (1 406 kg), you can only put 900 lbs
(408 kg) on the rear axle without exceeding RGAWR.The effect of tongue weight is about 1.5 times the actual
weight. Dividing the 900 lbs (408 kg) by 1.5 leaves you
with being able to handle only 600 lbs (272 kg) of tongue
weight. Since tongue weight is usually at least 10 percent
of total loaded trailer weight, you can expect that the
largest trailer your vehicle can properly handle is
6,000 lbs (2 721 kg).
It is important that you make sure your vehicle does not
exceed any of its ratings — GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR,
Maximum Trailer Rating or Tongue Weight. The
only way to be sure you are not exceeding any of these
ratings is to weigh your vehicle and trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inated to the upper limit
for cold tires. You’ll nd these numbers on the
Certication label at the rear edge of the driver’s door or
see Loading Your Vehicle for more information. Then
be sure you don’t go over the GVW limit for your vehicle,
or the GAWR, including the weight of the trailer
tongue. If you use a weight distributing hitch, make sure
you don’t go over the rear axle limit before you apply
the weight distribution spring bars.
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