GMC SIERRA 2010 Owner's Manual

Example 3
Item DescriptionTotal
A Vehicle Capacity
Weight for
Example 3 = 1,000 lbs
(453 kg)
B Subtract Occupant
Weight @ 200 lbs
(91 kg) × 5 = 1000 lbs (453 kg)
C Available Cargo
Weight =
0 lbs (0 kg)
Refer to your vehicle's tire and loading information
label for specific information about your vehicle's
capacity weight and seating positions. The combined weight of the driver, passengers,
and cargo should never exceed your vehicle's
capacity weight.
Certification/Tire Label
A vehicle specific Certification/Tire label is found
on the rear edge of the driver's door. The label
shows the size of your vehicle's original tires and
the inflation pressures needed to obtain the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle. This is called
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The
GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel, and cargo.
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The Certification/Tire label also tells you the
maximum weights for the front and rear axles,
called Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To find
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 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 5‑36.
{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). If you do, parts
on the vehicle can break, and it can change
the way the vehicle handles. These could
cause you to lose control and crash.
Also, overloading can 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.
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{WARNING:
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 5‑11.
Two-Tiered Loading
Depending on the model of your pick‐up, you
can create an upper load platform by positioning
two or four 2 inches (5 cm) by 6 inches (15 cm)
wooden planks across the width of the pickup box.
The planks must be inserted in the pickup box
depressions. The length of the planks must allow
for at least a 3/4 inch (2 cm) bearing surface on
each end of the plank.
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.
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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 750 lbs (340 kg)
Cross Toolbox
and Cargo 400 lbs (181 kg)
Side Boxes
and Cargo 250 lbs per side
(113 kg per side)
* The combined weight for all rail‐mounted
equipment should not exceed 1,000 lbs (454 kg).
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment
Before installing a snow plow on the vehicle, here are
some things you 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.
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.
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The plow the vehicle can carry depends on many
things, such as:
.The options the vehicle came with, and the weight
of those options.
.The weight and number of passengers you intend
to carry.
.The weight of items added to the vehicle, like a
tool box or truck cap.
.The total weight of any additional cargo you intend
to carry.
Say, for example, you have a 318 kg (700 lb) snow plow.
The total weight of all occupants and cargo inside the
cab should not exceed 135 kg (300 lb). 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 the vehicle. Here are some guidelines for safely carrying a snow
plow on the 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.
.The snow plow manufacturer or installer can
assist you in determining the amount of rear ballast
required, to help make sure the 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.
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Front axle reserve capacity is the difference between
your the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and the
front axle weight of the vehicle with full fuel and
passengers. Basically, it is the amount of weight that
can be added to the front axle before reaching the
front GAWR.
The front axle reserve capacity for the vehicle can be
found in the lower right corner of the Certification/Tire
label, as shown.
United StatesCanadaIn 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 Wheelbase
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For example, adding a 318 kg (700 lb) snow plow
actually adds more than 318 kg (700 lbs) to the
front axle. Using the formula, if the snow plow is
122 cm (4 ft) in front of the front axle and the
wheel base is 305 cm (10 ft), then:
W = 318 kg (700 lb)
A = 122 cm (4 ft)
W.B. = 305 cm (10 ft)
(W x (A + W.B.))/W.B. = (700 x (4 + 10))/10 = 445 kg
(980 lbs)
So, if the front axle reserve capacity is more than
445 kg (980 lbs), you could add the snow plow without
exceeding the front GAWR.
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 toward
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.
{WARNING:
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.
Total vehicle reserve capacity is the difference between
the GVWR and the weight of the truck with full fuel and
passengers. It is the amount of weight that can be
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added to the vehicle before reaching the GVWR. Keep
in mind that reserve capacity numbers are intended as
a guide when selecting the amount of equipment or
cargo the truck can carry. If unsure of the vehicle's front,
rear, or total weight, go to a weigh station and weigh the
vehicle. Your dealer/retailer can also help with this.
The total vehicle reserve capacity for the vehicle can be
found in the lower right corner of the Certification/Tire
label as shown previously.
See your dealer/retailer for additional advice and
information about using a snow plow on the vehicle.
Also, seeLoading the Vehicle on page 5‑30.
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. See Auxiliary
Roof-Mounted Lamp
on page 4‑14for switch location.
Truck-Camper Loading Information
A vehicle specific Truck‐Camper Loading
information label is attached to the inside of your
vehicle's glove box. This label will tell you if your
vehicle can carry a slide-in camper, how much of
a load your vehicle can carry, and how to correctly
spread out the load. Also, it will help you match
the right slide-in camper to your vehicle.
When you carry a slide-in camper, the total cargo
load of your vehicle is the weight of the camper,
plus the following:
.Everything else added to the camper after it
left the factory
.Everything in the camper
.All the people inside
The Cargo Weight Rating (CWR) is the maximum
weight of the load your vehicle can carry. It does
not include the weight of the people inside. But,
you can figure about 150 lbs (68 kg) for each seat.
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The total cargo load must not be more than your
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.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
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and the camper's center of gravity (A) should fall
within the truck's recommended center of gravity
zone (B) when installed.
You must weigh any accessories or other
equipment that you add to your vehicle. Then,
subtract this extra weight from the CWR. This
extra weight may shorten the center of gravity
zone of your vehicle. Your dealer can help you
with this.
If your slide-in camper and its load weighs less
than the CWR, the center of gravity zone for your
vehicle may be larger.
Your dealer can help you make a good
vehicle-camper match and help you determine
the CWR.
After you have 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 should not be more than either of the Gross
Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR). The total of the
axle loads should not be more than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).Open the driver's door and look at the
Certification/Tire label to find out your vehicle's
GAWRs and GVWR.
If your vehicle has gone over the weight ratings,
move or take out some things until all the weight
falls below the ratings.
Secure loose items to prevent weight shifts that
could affect the balance of your vehicle. When the
truck‐camper is loaded, drive to a scale and weigh
on the front and 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's door. See
“Certification/Tire Label” under
Loading the Vehicle
on page 5‑30. If weight
ratings are exceeded, move or remove items to
bring all weights below the ratings.
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