Towing Capability Question

[Ridgerunner29]

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.

[JIMNLIN]

The same truck with a 4.10 rear axle can tow 13,000 lbs. A diesel with a 3.73 rear axle is also rated for 13,000 lbs.

13000 lbs is the most the class hitch that GM uses can tow. Has nothing to do with a particular trucks max tow rating.

Use this http://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/ for the latest GM tech specs.
It has a weights calculator and gives you the trucks actual weight as shipped with all its options.

[TomG2]

The Silverado website does address the overstated tow ratings but refers to the "Competition is doing it, so we will too" approach.

[skipnchar]

Tow ratings are warranted issues. Federal regulations only address safety issues. No reason the government should dictate where gm or any other manufacturer cuts off their warranty.

[Ridgerunner29]

dahkota 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

I guess I wasn't clear here. The numbers you quoted are for different model years. The 2014 2500 has a 13K tow limit, not 9.4K.

Take another look at the Silverado website. When I look I read that a 2014 2500HD CC 6.0 4X4 Std Bed with 3.73 rear axle can tow up to 9400 lbs.. The same truck with a 4.10 rear axle can tow 13,000 lbs. A diesel with a 3.73 rear axle is also rated for 13,000 lbs.


http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado-2500hd-heavy-duty-trucks/specs/capabilities.config%3Dcrew_cab_standard_box.html

[The_Texan]

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

Don't know where you are getting your info from, but my 1500 tows our 10K+ GN without any problem and is "within" GM specs......Please provide your source.

[JIMNLIN]

desert captain wrote:
Hello... you do know this is an RV site, right? Travel trailers, fifth wheels, that sort of thing. Now if you just want to argue you might (maybe), be able to get that 1500 to pull a flat bed trailer with 10,000# on it but good luck controlling it. The 1500 is a half ton with limited payload, probably well under 1500#. just because you "can" do something does not mean it is a good idea.

Hello .. yeah I've towed RVs since the '60 and have been a RV.net member since '03. So I understand towing issues and am aware this is a RV forum. If you read my reply above closely I acknowledged that fact about RV folks.

Along with my 5er I pull other trailers also with my trucks. A couple of trailers to make some side money with. I see other members mention they have different trailers also

Luck has nothing to do with the wifes 1500 controlling the 10k bumper pull or even the 12k GN trailer.

Just because you may not have the necessary experience or have (or had) the right 1/2 ton truck towing 11k weights doesn't mean its a bad idea.

[TomG2]

I have towed with a F-150 and a F-250. The F-250 was better. I have towed the same travel trailer (about 7,000 pounds) with a 2012 Silverado 1500 and a 2013 2500HD. The 2500HD is a much better experience. The big advantage to the 1500 is better fuel mileage when empty. So, if you don't haul much, or tow much, get a half ton pickup.

[dahkota]

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

I guess I wasn't clear here. The numbers you quoted are for different model years. The 2014 2500 has a 13K tow limit, not 9.4K.

[CaLBaR]

Ridgerunner29 wrote:

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

I agree with you.

1500 as I listed has a payload capacity of 1883 lbs. GCWR 16,700 lbs
2500HD as I listed has a payload capacity of 3066 lbs. GCWR 16,000 lbs

So how is it that a 1500 can be rated to pull an 11,700 lb trailer? I guess it is true that the car companies are not using the auto engineering standard for rating light truck towing capabilities.

By the numbers it could tow 11,700lb trailer which at 15% tongue weight (max for a TT) is 1755 lbs for a payload of 1883 lbs. Not sure how you guys figure you wold run out of payload. Would I do it, probably not, but by the numbers you could if you had nothing else in the truck. A 2014 1500 truck is not the 1500 truck of 10 years ago, more like a 2500 truck of 10 years ago. Keep up with the times folks the new trucks are much more capable in everyway.

[bmanning]

RedRocket204 wrote:

bmanning wrote:
Only Toyota adopted the standardized tow ratings system; their ratings went down slightly but not drastically.

To give you an idea of the ratings change:

Our 2010 Sequoia Ltd is rated at max 10K lbs (Lets leave payload out of this)

Year 2011 Sequoia Ltd is the first year where the ratings were change for Toyota...and the Sequoia dropped to a max 7400 lbs...which is the current max rating for the 2014 Sequoia.


Do I believe our '10 Sequoia can tow 10k lbs (again, lets leave payload out of this), NO WAY. Definitely one of the reasons I bought a 1 ton truck in 2011 which is our primary tow vehicle now.

I will admit that it is my understanding the Tundra rating did not change as drastically, but loosing 2600 lbs rating on the Sequoia is fairly significant.

Wow! That is a HUGE drop...thanks for providing that info.

I think it's more clear now why the other manufacturers are so hesitant to adopt the standardization.

[RedRocket204]

bmanning wrote:
Only Toyota adopted the standardized tow ratings system; their ratings went down slightly but not drastically.

To give you an idea of the ratings change:

Our 2010 Sequoia Ltd is rated at max 10K lbs (Lets leave payload out of this)

Year 2011 Sequoia Ltd is the first year where the ratings were change for Toyota...and the Sequoia dropped to a max 7400 lbs...which is the current max rating for the 2014 Sequoia.


Do I believe our '10 Sequoia can tow 10k lbs (again, lets leave payload out of this), NO WAY. Definitely one of the reasons I bought a 1 ton truck in 2011 which is our primary tow vehicle now.

I will admit that it is my understanding the Tundra rating did not change as drastically, but loosing 2600 lbs rating on the Sequoia is fairly significant.

[tegu69]

A few months ago, I had to wait in dealership waiting room for my new fifth wheel to be ready. Waiting most of the day, I watched their feature movie "The long, long trailer" three times that day. Desi and Lucy pulled a 36' trailer across country with a convertible. No problem.

[Desert_Captain]

JIMNLIN wrote:

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.

Hello... you do know this is an RV site, right? Travel trailers, fifth wheels, that sort of thing. Now if you just want to argue you might (maybe), be able to get that 1500 to pull a flat bed trailer with 10,000# on it but good luck controlling it. The 1500 is a half ton with limited payload, probably well under 1500#. just because you "can" do something does not mean it is a good idea. :R

[bmanning]

Only Toyota adopted the standardized tow ratings system; their ratings went down slightly but not drastically.

Urban legend is that the other manufacturers played a "you first" "No, you first" game like 3rd graders in a schoolyard which resulted in none of them adopting the standardized rating system. Score a win for marketing over engineering in that one...

More than I'm surprised that a 2014 1500 can tow 11700, I'm surprised that a 2013 2500 is rated at only 9400lb.

It's always OK to have an opinion (people without opinions concern me) but I have to wonder how many of us that claim "no way that can be done with a half ton" have driven and towed with a- key word here- modern half ton.

A bad experience with a 1997 half-ton truck doesn't mean a 2014 cannot handle a relatively big job.

Same across the board- today's 3/4 and 1-tons, capability-wise at least, would roast the same truck of 15 years ago.

[TomG2]

It's called advertising, regardless of the brand. Pity some guy that sees on tv or on here that half ton pickups can tow over 11,000 and buys the first 1500 or F-150 that catches his eye and tries it. Do you possibly think the manufacturers make more money selling two pickups instead of one? Sure, there are very specific models which under very limited conditions can meet the advertising claims. Check out the fine print regarding frontal area limitations for one.