2011 trailering guide - assets.cobaltnitra.com

1 GMC s Professional Grade vehicles are long renowned for their engineering excellence and refinement. They come in a variety of sizes and offer a wide range of powertrains and options designed to get the job done efficiently and safely. Trailer weight ratings (TWRs) range from 2900 lbs. for a 4-cylinder 4WD Canyon Extended Cab to 21,700 lbs. on a 3500HD 4WD Regular Cab Long Box Dual Rear Wheel with a gooseneck or fifth wheel towing is not limited to just work and commercial buyers. Many customers in the personal-use segment of the market use their vehicles for more than hauling people and cargo. These customers have boats, recreational trailers, snowmobiles and many other toys that require a capable vehicle to safely transport all of these guide gives you the tools you need to properly spec GMC models for unique usage scenarios and fulfill a customer s particular trailering needs. That starts by asking the right questions to determine exactly what is expected of the trailering guideThis material is not legally approved for use in any advertising.

2 It is intended for use by dealership employees only and is not to be disseminated to, or reviewed by, consumers. Information contained herein is designed to be as comprehensive and factual as possible. General Motors reserves the right, however, to make changes at any time, without notice, in materials, equipment, specifications, models and availability. Copyright 2010 General Motors Company. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this work may be reproduced, rebroadcast or redistributed, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of General Motors Company. PDF created December gMC trailering guide1table of ContentsRight Vehicle for the Job ..2 Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings ..3 trailering 101 What You Need to Know Definitions of Commonly Used trailering /Hauling Terms ..4 Tongue Weights/Load Distribution ..5 Will This Vehicle Pull My Trailer? 4 Easy Steps ..6 7 Ensuring the Proper trailering Equipment ..8 trailering Worksheet and Weight Calculator ..9 trailering /Hauling Specification Charts.

3 10 17 Connecting for Safety on the Road ..18-19 trailering Technologies ..20 trailering Tips and Additional Information ..21-222011 gMC trailering guide2right vehiCle for the job engines From the Vortec I4 with 185 hp, to the Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 with a whopping 765 of torque, there is a GMC engine for almost any job. transmissions GMC offers 4-speed and 6-speed automatic transmissions with innovative features such as a Tow/Haul mode for enhanced trailer towing convenience. trailering Packages Factory-installed packages designed to improve the performance of the vehicle when towing a trailer. In addition to a trailer hitch platform and all necessary wiring connections, trailering packages may also include features like an automatic locking rear differential, an external transmission oil cooler, a heavy duty engine cooling package and an external engine oil cooler. Other trailering options may include an integrated trailer brake controller, trailer towing mirrors and rear backup camera.

4 Drive type The type of drive system has an impact on how the vehicle drives and handles, especially when towing a trailer. rear-Wheel drive The addition of cargo or trailer tongue weight increases weight on the rear, increasing traction. Rear-wheel-drive vehicles typically have lighter chassis weights, resulting in better fuel economy than all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles. The lighter chassis allows you to dedicate more of the vehicle s load-carrying capacity to cargo weight. front-Wheel drive Provides good traction on dry pavement. Since the trailer adds weight to the rear of the vehicle, proper trailer loading is important to maintain proper handling of the vehicle. If your customer plans to tow frequently, recommend the all-wheel drive model. four-Wheel drive Provides the option of outstanding traction on demand. When set in Auto 4WD mode, the system detects wheel slippage and automatically transfers torque to the front wheels. When conditions warrant, the system automatically returns to two-wheel drive.

5 Another configuration that can make a difference is that when the transmission is placed in 4HI, it locks the front and rear together for more traction. 4LO helps in really difficult situations such as deep mud or snow. all-Wheel drive Is a good option for customers who trailer over wet or snow-covered roads on a regular basis. Advanced AWD designs automatically distribute power to front and rear axles, allowing every drive wheel to provide power. This gives the vehicle ideal traction to take on less-than-ideal road conditions. automatic locking rear differential The Eaton G80 locker locks rear wheels side-to-side in low traction a vehicle is used for hauling and trailering , safety is a primary concern. If the vehicle is not up to the task, not only can the trip be uncomfortable, it can also be dangerous. Fortunately, GMC vehicles are available in a wide range of configurations and offer comprehensive equipment to make the job easier. We ll explain many of these features throughout this guide , but for now, let s look at the gMC trailering guide3 MaxiMuM trailer Weight ratings by Model (lbs.)

6 0500010,00015,00020,000 Yukon XL9600 Yukon8500 Sierra 2500HD17,80013,000 Sierra 150010,60010,700 Yukon XL Denali7900 Yukon Denali8300 Acadia5200 Canyon6000 Terrain3500 Savana 1500 Cargo6800 Savana 2500 Cargo10,000 Savana 3500 Cargo10,000 Savana 1500 Passenger6200 Savana 2500 Passenger9800 Savana 3500 Passenger9900 Sierra 1500 Hybrid6100 Sierra Denali 15009600 Sierra Denali 2500HD17,10013,000 Sierra 3500HD21,70017,000 Sierra Denali 3500HD21,30017,00025,000 Conventional HitchGooseneck or Fifth Wheel Hitch2011 gMC trailering guide4trailering 101 What you need to knoWdefinitions of CoMMonly used trailering /hauling terMsTo effectively spec a full-size truck for proper trailering and hauling, you need to know the language. The trailer towing community uses words and acronyms that provide a kind of shorthand to getting things done right. The list below defines commonly used trailering and hauling Weight (CW) The weight of an empty vehicle without occupants or cargo, but including fluids and all axle Weight rating (gaWr) The maximum allowable weight to be carried by an axle.

7 The GAWR can vary between front and rear axles. Trailer tonque weight has a large effect on rear GAWR. If weight is applied well behind the tow vehicle rear axle centerline, it will have a greater than expected effect on loaded rear axle weight. Depending upon the tow vehicle wheelbase and the distance to the hitch ball, the multiplier is usually about gross Combination Weight rating (gCWr) The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle and trailer combination. The GCWR includes the weight of the driver, passengers, fuel, optional equipment and cargo in both vehicle Weight (gvW) The total loaded weight of the vehicle (tow vehicle or trailer). This is everything that contributes to the weight of the vehicle, including the curb weight of the vehicle, driver, passengers, fuel, cargo, tongue weight of the trailer, weight of the hitch and all optional vehicle Weight rating (gvWr) The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle (tow vehicle or trailer).kingpin Weight The static weight placed on the hitch and carried by the tow vehicle when towing a fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer.

8 It is typically about 20 to 25 percent of loaded trailer weight. Note that the way a trailer is loaded can affect the kingpin (Pl) The amount of weight that may be carried by the vehicle including driver, passengers, cargo and the tongue weight of the trailer. Also includes any options, factory or aftermarket, and the weight of any upfit body Weight rating (tWr) The maximum allowable trailer weight a vehicle can tow. This number is generally determined by subtracting the vehicle weight from the GCWR. At the TWR for a properly equipped vehicle, it should be able to accelerate and merge with traffic, climb typical inclines at highway speeds, have control on varying road surfaces and stop effectively within a reasonable (or hitch) Weight The static weight placed on the hitch and carried by the tow vehicle. It is typically 10 to 15 percent of loaded trailer weight. Note that the way a trailer is loaded can affect the tongue weight. 2011 gMC trailering guide5tongue Weights/load distributionThe tongue weight (or kingpin weight) of any trailer is an important figure to measure because it affects the total or gross weight of the tow vehicle.

9 Many trailer owners estimate trailer weight from things such as past experiences, discussions with other trailer owners and dry weight figures found in sales brochures. These methods may lead to very low estimates. It is very important that the customer knows his actual trailer weight, loaded as ready for a the trailer is loaded, weigh the trailer and tongue weight separately to see if the weights are proper. If they are not, moving items fore-and-aft in the trailer may correct the imbalance. The trailer tongue weight should generally be 10 percent to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight. For fifth wheel or gooseneck trailers, the kingpin weight should generally be 20 percent to 25 percent of the trailer general rule of thumb is to distribute 60 percent of the load over the front half of the trailer and evenly from side-to-side. Once the weight is distributed properly, all cargo should be secured to prevent the load from Weighttrailer WeightloW tongue WeightIf the tongue weight is too low, it can lead to trailer tongue WeightIf the weight is too high, it can overload the rear suspension of the vehicle negatively affecting steering and handling and compromising Online Order guide features helpful tools to help you determine payload and towing capabilities based on the model and options selected.

10 2011 gMC trailering guide6 Will this Pull My trailer? 4 easy stePssteP 1 CalCulate gross PayloadPayload capacity is the maximum allowable weight of loaded cargo and aftermarket equipment a vehicle can is the combined weight of everything in and on the vehicle: in the bed/cargo area? in the cab? on the roof? mounted on the vehicle?Including the weight of: all aftermarket equipment and accessories, ( camper shell, slide-in camper, tool boxes, roof luggage carrier, snow plow, etc.). vehicle fuel (approximately 6 ). all personal gear and cargo. all occupants (150-lb. average/person). tongue (or kingpin) weight (not more than 10 15% of loaded trailer weight for tongue weight, or not more than 20 25% of loaded trailer weight for kingpin weight).Not including: weight of vehicle. weight of trailer nor its 2 CalCulate gross vehiCle WeightGVWR is the maximum amount a tow vehicle may weigh in other words, the fully loaded vehicle weight. This does not include the weight of what is being towed, but it does include the trailer tongue (or kingpin) weight (as indicated in Step 1) because this weight is carried by the tow the vehicle s invoice determine the vehicle ship weight and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.