What is the weak link for Chevy max tow ratings?

Viperpoker wrote:
Nope, I’m towing 19k, possibly 23 or 24k in the future with a big toy hauler. Would rather have the truck capable of towing 35k than the one rated at 23k to pull either load. No bragging rights, just better to have more capability than you need. If your trailer is 13k, you don’t need a ctd. You could find 1500’s rated to tow that. Seems like a 2500/3500 that you own is overkill for that trailer, like trying to win a pissing contest, or bragging rights.

The trailer is 12.5k dry and is generally between 13-14k loaded. Sometimes it we will load more depending on the trip and it will be well over 14k. So no, there is no 1500 that is rated to tow that much and I got the right truck for the job. I don't need to say mine is rated to tow some exorbitant amount that I will never tow to make me feel better about what I drive. I am not a one brand only fanboy to care about such things.

Viperpoker wrote:
And yes, all of these ratings are based on a regular cab, 2wd, short bed. I think everyone understands that, and when we get our crew cab, 4wd longbed it will reduce the ratings. But that applies across all three manufacturers, and across last years trucks also. So the new Chevy 4wd cc lb won’t tow 35,500, it will be somewhat reduced. It will still be 12,000 better than a 4wd cc lb from last year. Never gonna convince me it is a bad thing that the Chevy has much more capability this year.

I could care less if all I needed to tow was 19k. If you had a new Ford PSD rated to tow 30k, a new Ram CTD rated to tow just 23k, and a new GM Dmax rated to 30k all being the same price, I would still pick the Ram because of the Cummins. I worked for Cummins, I know how to work on them, and they have proven reliable to me. If another engine would prove just as reliable to me then I would consider that as well. That is what I base my truck decisions on if all are rated to tow what I need them to, not some pissing contest tow rating that I will never tow or even attempt to tow.

I would be interested to hear if GM ever formally explains the rate increase. It might be on YouTube somewhere. It would be a great question for Mr. Pickup to ask one of the GM engineers that they seem to chat with on the internet. If someone comes across this, please post it. My guess is they wont discuss it, but you never know. It could be that the strategy of, while outperforming the competition at the weights up to its max rating, that didn't sell enough trucks. The only way to compete in the sales arena was to be competitive on the spec sheet, and not just the hp and torque spec. They had to wait for this new model to upgrade the pickup to get there. This new HD looks to be very impressive on a lot of different fronts. Even though my '18 pulls everything I ask of it without issue, it makes me want the new model. Guess that is the idea.

ShinerBock wrote:

Viperpoker wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

Viperpoker wrote:

I guess since you think GM is stupid for making this truck, you can buy a used 2018 that has a weaker trans, frame, axles, drive shaft, etc. That would be a better truck for you, and wouldn’t be stupid. No pissing match there.

Nope, I would never buy a GM product after what they did to my old man. I own a 2014 Ram CTD and do not plan on getting a new one for at least the next 5 years.

I would also have no problems owning something with a "weaker" frame as long as it can tow the 13k I need it to. Anything else after that is pointless to me. And in my view, anything above 23k in a light duty truck is just a pissing match for bragging rights. That kind of weight should be left to the medium duty trucks.

Also, I think you are confusing things. Just because someone owns a 2020 GM HD(even in the configuration that isn't rated to tow 35k+) doesn't make them stupid. It is the marketing pissing match itself and towing that much weight in a 8k lb light duty truck that I think is stupid. Not sure how you got confused with that.

I drive a Ram ctd also, but am happy that all of the trucks are getting better. I could get a 2001 ram 3500 that is rated to tow about 14,000. I think the newer more capable trucks are better.

I own a Dodge Viper. I have no desire to see them remove two cylinders and make it a V8, even though the v10 is overkill. I guess anything over a vw bug or a smart car is above what is needed, but I like a little more “go” than that.

I also own a charger hellcat. Haven’t seen many hellcat owners saying “I wish it had less hp. 707 hp is too much. Chevy got it right with the 650 hp zl1.” No, what I see is hellcat owners saying “****, the new car is 797 hp. I need to trade”

I tow a 19,000 lb fifth wheel. I may in the future go to a 44 foot toy hauler, and have two or three Harley’s loaded on it. If I do, I would like to have plenty of truck to pull that. And for basically the same price, Ram, Ford, and GM are now about equal. Last year GM was a lot less truck than the other two, but cost about the same.

I started this thread just trying to determine where GM had less than the other two. With the new truck, that has been explained. I don’t think GM is stupid for upgrading their truck. If a 2019 was sitting next to a 2020 for the same price, I am going to choose the one with the much higher rating.

No sure why I was told your life story on what you own.....

I never said GM is stupid for upgrading their truck either. Again, I said I think this whole pissing match that keeps increasing the ratings on a light duty truck is what is stupid. If you are towing that much weight then they should move up to a medium duty just like one has to move up to a half ton to an HD or SRW to DRW with bigger loads. All this is is fanboy bragging rights and I doubt anyone here would buy the regular cab configuration that is required to tow that much.

Nope, I’m towing 19k, possibly 23 or 24k in the future with a big toy hauler. Would rather have the truck capable of towing 35k than the one rated at 23k to pull either load. No bragging rights, just better to have more capability than you need. If your trailer is 13k, you don’t need a ctd. You could find 1500’s rated to tow that. Seems like a 2500/3500 that you own is overkill for that trailer, like trying to win a pissing contest, or bragging rights.

And yes, all of these ratings are based on a regular cab, 2wd, short bed. I think everyone understands that, and when we get our crew cab, 4wd longbed it will reduce the ratings. But that applies across all three manufacturers, and across last years trucks also. So the new Chevy 4wd cc lb won’t tow 35,500, it will be somewhat reduced. It will still be 12,000 better than a 4wd cc lb from last year. Never gonna convince me it is a bad thing that the Chevy has much more capability this year.

Viperpoker wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

Viperpoker wrote:

I guess since you think GM is stupid for making this truck, you can buy a used 2018 that has a weaker trans, frame, axles, drive shaft, etc. That would be a better truck for you, and wouldn’t be stupid. No pissing match there.

Nope, I would never buy a GM product after what they did to my old man. I own a 2014 Ram CTD and do not plan on getting a new one for at least the next 5 years.

I would also have no problems owning something with a "weaker" frame as long as it can tow the 13k I need it to. Anything else after that is pointless to me. And in my view, anything above 23k in a light duty truck is just a pissing match for bragging rights. That kind of weight should be left to the medium duty trucks.

Also, I think you are confusing things. Just because someone owns a 2020 GM HD(even in the configuration that isn't rated to tow 35k+) doesn't make them stupid. It is the marketing pissing match itself and towing that much weight in a 8k lb light duty truck that I think is stupid. Not sure how you got confused with that.

I drive a Ram ctd also, but am happy that all of the trucks are getting better. I could get a 2001 ram 3500 that is rated to tow about 14,000. I think the newer more capable trucks are better.

I own a Dodge Viper. I have no desire to see them remove two cylinders and make it a V8, even though the v10 is overkill. I guess anything over a vw bug or a smart car is above what is needed, but I like a little more “go” than that.

I also own a charger hellcat. Haven’t seen many hellcat owners saying “I wish it had less hp. 707 hp is too much. Chevy got it right with the 650 hp zl1.” No, what I see is hellcat owners saying “****, the new car is 797 hp. I need to trade”

I tow a 19,000 lb fifth wheel. I may in the future go to a 44 foot toy hauler, and have two or three Harley’s loaded on it. If I do, I would like to have plenty of truck to pull that. And for basically the same price, Ram, Ford, and GM are now about equal. Last year GM was a lot less truck than the other two, but cost about the same.

I started this thread just trying to determine where GM had less than the other two. With the new truck, that has been explained. I don’t think GM is stupid for upgrading their truck. If a 2019 was sitting next to a 2020 for the same price, I am going to choose the one with the much higher rating.

No sure why I was told your life story on what you own.....

I never said GM is stupid for upgrading their truck either. Again, I said I think this whole pissing match that keeps increasing the ratings on a light duty truck is what is stupid. If you are towing that much weight then they should move up to a medium duty just like one has to move up to a half ton to an HD or SRW to DRW with bigger loads. All this is is fanboy bragging rights and I doubt anyone here would buy the regular cab configuration that is required to tow that much.

ShinerBock wrote:

Viperpoker wrote:

I guess since you think GM is stupid for making this truck, you can buy a used 2018 that has a weaker trans, frame, axles, drive shaft, etc. That would be a better truck for you, and wouldn’t be stupid. No pissing match there.

Nope, I would never buy a GM product after what they did to my old man. I own a 2014 Ram CTD and do not plan on getting a new one for at least the next 5 years.

I would also have no problems owning something with a "weaker" frame as long as it can tow the 13k I need it to. Anything else after that is pointless to me. And in my view, anything above 23k in a light duty truck is just a pissing match for bragging rights. That kind of weight should be left to the medium duty trucks.

Also, I think you are confusing things. Just because someone owns a 2020 GM HD(even in the configuration that isn't rated to tow 35k+) doesn't make them stupid. It is the marketing pissing match itself and towing that much weight in a 8k lb light duty truck that I think is stupid. Not sure how you got confused with that.

I drive a Ram ctd also, but am happy that all of the trucks are getting better. I could get a 2001 ram 3500 that is rated to tow about 14,000. I think the newer more capable trucks are better.

I own a Dodge Viper. I have no desire to see them remove two cylinders and make it a V8, even though the v10 is overkill. I guess anything over a vw bug or a smart car is above what is needed, but I like a little more “go” than that.

I also own a charger hellcat. Haven’t seen many hellcat owners saying “I wish it had less hp. 707 hp is too much. Chevy got it right with the 650 hp zl1.” No, what I see is hellcat owners saying “****, the new car is 797 hp. I need to trade”

I tow a 19,000 lb fifth wheel. I may in the future go to a 44 foot toy hauler, and have two or three Harley’s loaded on it. If I do, I would like to have plenty of truck to pull that. And for basically the same price, Ram, Ford, and GM are now about equal. Last year GM was a lot less truck than the other two, but cost about the same.

I started this thread just trying to determine where GM had less than the other two. With the new truck, that has been explained. I don’t think GM is stupid for upgrading their truck. If a 2019 was sitting next to a 2020 for the same price, I am going to choose the one with the much higher rating.

350/3500 are medium duty? So now we have 350/3500's identifying as medium duty. Are trucks now payload/GVWR neutral? So are half tons going to now identify as 1 tons?:h

I think it's great that they all now can tow 35K SAE rated!

These 3500/350 trucks are actually MD Trucks! Simply look at the suspensions under them. Simply no reason to buy a MD truck.

The 14k self imposed GVWR is a JOKE for these trucks.

I tow 33-35k combined in ALL conditions and I can honestly say it's ROCK SOLID.

Still waiting for someone to tell my how I can load to my SAE RAWR and load ZERO weight to my front axle and NOT be over 14k.

As DA "FISH" says "towing just got easier".

ShinerBock wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

What do you have for an excuse of why GM is now towing with the BigBoys???

Stupidity. Just pissing match bragging rights by fanboys who are the types of people who like to say "mine is better" to help them get through life and will probably never own the truck configuration or licence needed to tow that much. Those kind of tow ratings should be left to heavier medium duty trucks.

Kind of funny that the very same people here who say you shouldn't tow a 10k trailer with a 6k half ton even though it is within its ratings don't mind touting when their favorite brand's truck configuration they will never own is rated to tow 30k+ with an 8k truck.

Hey per GM's specs I could not tow my 23k RV.

Viperpoker wrote:

I guess since you think GM is stupid for making this truck, you can buy a used 2018 that has a weaker trans, frame, axles, drive shaft, etc. That would be a better truck for you, and wouldn’t be stupid. No pissing match there.

Nope, I would never buy a GM product after what they did to my old man. I own a 2014 Ram CTD and do not plan on getting a new one for at least the next 5 years.

I would also have no problems owning something with a "weaker" frame as long as it can tow the 13k I need it to. Anything else after that is pointless to me. And in my view, anything above 23k in a light duty truck is just a pissing match for bragging rights. That kind of weight should be left to the medium duty trucks.

Also, I think you are confusing things. Just because someone owns a 2020 GM HD(even in the configuration that isn't rated to tow 35k+) doesn't make them stupid. It is the marketing pissing match itself and towing that much weight in a 8k lb light duty truck that I think is stupid. Not sure how you got confused with that.

ShinerBock wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

What do you have for an excuse of why GM is now towing with the BigBoys???

Stupidity. Just pissing match bragging rights by fanboys who are the types of people who like to say "mine is better" to help them get through life and will probably never own the truck configuration or licence needed to tow that much. Those kind of tow ratings should be left to heavier medium duty trucks.

Kind of funny that the very same people here who say you shouldn't tow a 10k trailer with a 6k half ton even though it is within its ratings don't mind touting when their favorite brand's truck configuration they will never own is rated to tow 30k+ with an 8k truck.

I guess since you think GM is stupid for making this truck, you can buy a used 2018 that has a weaker trans, frame, axles, drive shaft, etc. That would be a better truck for you, and wouldn’t be stupid. No pissing match there.