It appears that a Chevy 1500 5.3 has a higher towing capability than a Chevy 2500 6.0. Chevy site says a 1500 CC std box 5.3 3.73 4X4 will tow 11700 lbs. 2500HD CC std box 6.0 3.73 4X4 will tow 9400 lbs. Am I reading the data wrong? Is there any engineering explanation for these towing specs that seem to defy logic? Or is this just one of the marketing strategies for the 150 / 1500 market.I thought the society of auto engineers had come up with a method for establishing standards for tow ratings for light trucks. It looks like the sales side of the company is not listening to the engineering side of the company. Or maybe I'm missing something that I should be able to clearly see.

While shopping for a new 1500 series truck recently, I was told that the 3.73s in the 1500 series was "on hold" for some reason. Went with e Ecoboost Super Cab 4X4.

2500HD CC std box 6.0 3.73 4X4 will tow 9400 lbs. - 2013 model1500 CC std box 5.3 3.73 4X4 will tow 11700 lbs. - 2014 model

Ridgerunner29 wrote:It appears that a Chevy 1500 5.3 has a higher towing capability than a Chevy 2500 6.0. Chevy site says a 1500 CC std box 5.3 3.73 4X4 will tow 11700 lbs. 2500HD CC std box 6.0 3.73 4X4 will tow 9400 lbs. Am I reading the data wrong? Is there any engineering explanation for these towing specs that seem to defy logic? Or is this just one of the marketing strategies for the 150 / 1500 market.I thought the society of auto engineers had come up with a method for establishing standards for tow ratings for light trucks. It looks like the sales side of the company is not listening to the engineering side of the company. Or maybe I'm missing something that I should be able to clearly see.WhenI looked at the GM web site it says: 1500 (with max trailering pkg) 11,500 tow capacity2500 HD 13,000 conventional tow and 17,800 5th wheel towI think the 9,400 lbs you reference for the 2500 is the GVWR

dahkota wrote:2500HD CC std box 6.0 3.73 4X4 will tow 9400 lbs. - 2013 model1500 CC std box 5.3 3.73 4X4 will tow 11700 lbs. - 2014 modelCheck the payloads for both. The 1500 will not, repeat not, tow 11,700#. You will exceed its payload long before you get anywhere near 11,700. :C

Either the website is wrong or your looking at the wrong numbers. The 2500 will clearly tow more from a mechanical standpoint than the 1500.I don't know what you're going to tow but if this truck is being purchased specifically for towing I would get the 2500. I probably will never buy anything less than a 3500 truck. They are the same size, same shape, same controls, etc. but so much more capable. And, the price isn't THAT different.I do wish all the manufacturers would go to the new standardized tow ratings but they can't agree when. If some do and others don't the ones who do are now at a marketing disadvantage so they're kind of daring each other to go first.

Towing Capability Question | Good Sam Community

38 Replies

JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Dec 30, 2013
Desert Captain wrote:
dahkota wrote:
2500HD CC std box 6.0 3.73 4X4 will tow 9400 lbs. - 2013 model
1500 CC std box 5.3 3.73 4X4 will tow 11700 lbs. - 2014 model

Check the payloads for both. The 1500 will not, repeat not, tow 11,700#. You will exceed its payload long before you get anywhere near 11,700. :C

Sure it will.
Your comming at it from a RV trailer owners perspective.

GM as all LDT makers market their truck to all types of trailer owners other than someone pulling a RV. Lots of different trailer types out here that need to be pulled.

A better statement could be made it won't carry the pin weight from a 11700 lb RV trailer with its fixed pin weight.

Example; My wifes 1500 chevy handle's my 10k car hauler bumper pull or my 12k GN flatdeck trailer just fine ..... with wheeled equipment. Wheeled equipment allows the trailer hitch weight to be adjusted depending if I use the wifes 1500 or my 2500 Dodge or my old beater '98 3500 DRW one ton chevy.
Ridgerunner29
Explorer
Dec 30, 2013
Jbechtoldt wrote:
Ridgerunner29 wrote:
It appears that a Chevy 1500 5.3 has a higher towing capability than a Chevy 2500 6.0. Chevy site says a 1500 CC std box 5.3 3.73 4X4 will tow 11700 lbs. 2500HD CC std box 6.0 3.73 4X4 will tow 9400 lbs. Am I reading the data wrong? Is there any engineering explanation for these towing specs that seem to defy logic? Or is this just one of the marketing strategies for the 150 / 1500 market.

I thought the society of auto engineers had come up with a method for establishing standards for tow ratings for light trucks. It looks like the sales side of the company is not listening to the engineering side of the company. Or maybe I'm missing something that I should be able to clearly see.

WhenI looked at the GM web site it says:

1500 (with max trailering pkg) 11,500 tow capacity

2500 HD 13,000 conventional tow and 17,800 5th wheel tow

I think the 9,400 lbs you reference for the 2500 is the GVWR

The 2500HD with the 13,000 lb rating has a 4.10 rear end. I am attempting to compare a 1500 and 2500 with both having a 3.73 rear end. 3.73 2500HD with 6.0 tow capacity for conventional trailer is 9,400 lbs.
KD4UPL
Explorer II
Dec 30, 2013
Either the website is wrong or your looking at the wrong numbers. The 2500 will clearly tow more from a mechanical standpoint than the 1500.
I don't know what you're going to tow but if this truck is being purchased specifically for towing I would get the 2500.
I probably will never buy anything less than a 3500 truck. They are the same size, same shape, same controls, etc. but so much more capable. And, the price isn't THAT different.
I do wish all the manufacturers would go to the new standardized tow ratings but they can't agree when. If some do and others don't the ones who do are now at a marketing disadvantage so they're kind of daring each other to go first.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Dec 30, 2013
dahkota wrote:
2500HD CC std box 6.0 3.73 4X4 will tow 9400 lbs. - 2013 model
1500 CC std box 5.3 3.73 4X4 will tow 11700 lbs. - 2014 model

Check the payloads for both. The 1500 will not, repeat not, tow 11,700#. You will exceed its payload long before you get anywhere near 11,700. :C
Jbechtoldt
Explorer
Dec 30, 2013
Ridgerunner29 wrote:
It appears that a Chevy 1500 5.3 has a higher towing capability than a Chevy 2500 6.0. Chevy site says a 1500 CC std box 5.3 3.73 4X4 will tow 11700 lbs. 2500HD CC std box 6.0 3.73 4X4 will tow 9400 lbs. Am I reading the data wrong? Is there any engineering explanation for these towing specs that seem to defy logic? Or is this just one of the marketing strategies for the 150 / 1500 market.

I thought the society of auto engineers had come up with a method for establishing standards for tow ratings for light trucks. It looks like the sales side of the company is not listening to the engineering side of the company. Or maybe I'm missing something that I should be able to clearly see.

WhenI looked at the GM web site it says:

1500 (with max trailering pkg) 11,500 tow capacity

2500 HD 13,000 conventional tow and 17,800 5th wheel tow

I think the 9,400 lbs you reference for the 2500 is the GVWR
dahkota
Explorer
Dec 30, 2013
2500HD CC std box 6.0 3.73 4X4 will tow 9400 lbs. - 2013 model
1500 CC std box 5.3 3.73 4X4 will tow 11700 lbs. - 2014 model
Turbo_Diesel_Du
Explorer
Dec 30, 2013
While shopping for a new 1500 series truck recently, I was told that the 3.73s in the 1500 series was "on hold" for some reason. Went with e Ecoboost Super Cab 4X4.

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Towing Capability Question

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