Silverado 1500 & Travel Trailer
I have a 2009 Chevy Silverado crew cab 1500 2x4 I'm a little confused on some numbers 1: GVWR 6800 2: Towing Capacity 10,600 I'm looking to buy a travel trailer and just a little confused on w...
Forum Discussion
Your towing capacity is 10,600# only with the 6.0L or 6.2L w/3:73 gears and the Max Trailering Pkg. If you only have the 4.8 l w/3:23 gears, your TC is only 4700#. There were lots of configurations available on the 1/2 ton GM trucks. Payload is only part of the equation. Its dependent on how many passengers you have and how much stuff you haul in the truck. Yous may be similar to mine, just over 1600#. That said, we need more information, more important you need to know how your truck is equipped. Without that info this is just guesswork and that could be dangerous.
Check your owners manual for the towing chart. Yours is on page 4-54. Note that it also lists the GCWR, which is the max total your truck, trailer, people, and "stuff" can weigh. Page 4-62 give your max tongue weight, 1000# with a WD hitch.
2009 Silverado Owners Manual
To cross reference things you also need to know your RPO codes. They are on a sticker in your glove box.
K5L = HD Cooling Pkg
NHT = Max Trailering Pkg
GU5 = 3.23 gears
GU6 = 3.42
GT4 = 3.73
GM RPO Codes
Realistically, the "1000# rule" is a reasonable place to start. For best towing experience your loaded trailer should weigh no more than 1000# less than your rated towing capacity. Once you find a trailer that is within that range, you can do more detailed number crunching to make sure you are within safe towing ranges. That is GCWR, payload, tongue weight, etc. I've towed well below my rated capacity with several tow vehicles, and I've towed at close to capacity with 2 of those same vehicles. Of course pushing it is doable, but there are limitations. Its far nicer to tow when you have reserve capacity.
Check your owners manual for the towing chart. Yours is on page 4-54. Note that it also lists the GCWR, which is the max total your truck, trailer, people, and "stuff" can weigh. Page 4-62 give your max tongue weight, 1000# with a WD hitch.
2009 Silverado Owners Manual
To cross reference things you also need to know your RPO codes. They are on a sticker in your glove box.
K5L = HD Cooling Pkg
NHT = Max Trailering Pkg
GU5 = 3.23 gears
GU6 = 3.42
GT4 = 3.73
GM RPO Codes
Realistically, the "1000# rule" is a reasonable place to start. For best towing experience your loaded trailer should weigh no more than 1000# less than your rated towing capacity. Once you find a trailer that is within that range, you can do more detailed number crunching to make sure you are within safe towing ranges. That is GCWR, payload, tongue weight, etc. I've towed well below my rated capacity with several tow vehicles, and I've towed at close to capacity with 2 of those same vehicles. Of course pushing it is doable, but there are limitations. Its far nicer to tow when you have reserve capacity.
