Finding Towing Capacity
Does anyone know how to find the actual towing capacity of a vehicle? Every source that I look at gives a different answer. I have a 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 HD 6.0 Liter, 5 speed automatic (I think), ...
Forum Discussion
Michelle.S wrote:
GM never had a 5 speed auto Huh, wonder what the 5 gears were that were in my 2005 K3500 Dually. Or don't you consider overdrive as a gear, if that's the case they still only have a 4 speed, but with 2 over drive gears.
Did you have the 8.1L engine in that truck? If so, you had the Allison 1000 transmission which was definitely a 5-speed tranny.
Through the 2001-2007(old body style) model year the engine/transmission/gear/axle options in 2500HD and 3500HD trucks were as follows:
Duramax - Allison 1000 - 3.73 gears - AAM 11.5" full floating axle
Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000 - 3.73 or 4.10 gears - AAM 11.5" full floating axle
Vortec 6000 - 4l80E - 4.10 gears - AAM 10.5" full floating axle
Any van model with the 8.1L got the 4L85E transmission. The van body did not leave enough room to fit the Allison.
To Wandering1's suggestion of going to the GM for exact info.... That's a decent idea but the OP shouldn't be surprised if GM doesn't get back to him quickly regarding questions on a 10 year old truck. The local dealership might be an option, but the quality of info there can vary too depending on knowledge of the service or parts department. Several years ago I was shopping to find a limited slip or locking differential to install in my truck. It is a 2WD and came originally with an open differential which meant I got stuck in just about any wet condition. Long story short, the dealership (fairly large I might add) couldn't decipher from the VIN if I had the 10.5" or 11.5" axle. Only through a lot of research across multiple sources was I able to find all the information I listed above.
KJ
