2000 GMC SIERRA Owner's Manual

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4-45
CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can't see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn't collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well
-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.

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4-46
Recreational Vehicle Towing
There may be times when you want to tow your vehicle
behind another vehicle for use at your destination. Be
sure to use the proper towing equipment designed for
recreational vehicle towing. Follow the instructions for
the towing equipment.
When towing your vehicle, turn the ignition to OFF.
To prevent your battery from draining while towing,
remove the IGN 0 fuse from the instrument panel fuse
block. Be sure to replace the fuse when you reach your
destination. See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in
the Index.
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Tw o-wheel-drive vehicles, should not be towed with
all four wheels on the ground. Two
-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal lubrication
while being towed. To properly tow these vehicles, they
should be placed on a platform trailer with all four
wheels off the ground.
In rare cases when it's unavoidable that a
two
-wheel-drive vehicle is to be towed with all four
wheels on the ground, the propeller shaft to axle yoke
orientation should be marked and the propeller shaft
removed following the applicable service manual
removal/installation procedure.
Dust or dirt can enter the back of the transmission
through the opening created by removing the propeller
shaft if proper protection is not provided. Also, check
the transmission fluid level before driving the truck.

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4-47 Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case into NEUTRAL (N) can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission
is in PARK (P), for an automatic transmission,
or if your vehicle is in gear, for a manual
transmission. You or others could be injured.
Make sure the parking brake is firmly set before
you shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL (N).
Use the following procedure to correctly tow your
vehicle on all four wheels:
1. Firmly set the parking brake.
2. Shift an automatic transmission to PARK (P), or a
manual transmission to FIRST (1).
3. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.
4. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N). See
ªFour
-Wheel Driveº in the Index for the proper
procedure to select the neutral position for
your vehicle.
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is firmly attached to the towing vehicle.
6. Turn the ignition to OFF. The OFF position unlocks
the steering column and reduces battery drain as long
as the IGN 0 fuse is removed. Unlocking the steering
column will allow the proper movement of the front
wheels and tires during towing.

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4-48
Loading Your Vehicle
The Certification/Tire label is found on the rear edge of
the driver's door or in the Incomplete Vehicle Document
in the cab.
The label shows the size of your original tires and the
inflation pressures needed to obtain the gross weight
capacity of your vehicle. This is called the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.The Certification/Tire label also tells you the maximum
weights for the front and rear axles, called Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). To find out the actual loads on
your front and rear axles, you need to go to a weigh
station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can help
you with this. Be sure to spread out your load equally on
both sides of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the
GAWR for either the front or rear axle.
The Certification/Tire label also contains information
about your Front Axle Reserve Capacity. See ªFront
Axle Reserve Capacityº later in this section.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread
it out.CAUTION:
In the case of a sudden stop or collision, things
carried in the bed of your truck could shift
forward and come into the passenger area,
injuring you and others. If you put things in the
bed of your truck, you should make sure they are
properly secured.

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4-49
NOTICE:
Some vehicles may be equipped with RPO VYU
(snow plow prep package). With this option, the
payload your vehicle can carry is reduced when a
snow plow is installed. Your vehicle can be
damaged if either the front or rear axle ratings,
or the GVW are exceeded.
As a general guideline, with a 650 lb. (295 kg)
snow plow, the weight of the occupants and cargo
must not exceed 300 lb. (135 kg). However, this
may depend on the vehicle's option content.
Therefore, to help avoid vehicle damage:

Make sure the weight on the front and rear
axles does not exceed their respective
axle ratings.
NOTICE: (Continued)
NOTICE: (Continued)

For the front axle, if more cargo or
passengers need to be carried, appropriate
counter ballast must be installed rear of the
rear axle and properly secured.

Total vehicle weight must not exceed the
GVW rating.

See your dealer for advice and information
about using a snow plow on your vehicle.
CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, and it can change the way your vehicle
handles. These could cause you to lose control
and crash. Also, overloading can shorten the life
of your vehicle.

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4-50
Your warranty does not cover parts or components that
fail because of overloading.
This will help you decide how much cargo and installed
equipment your truck can carry.
Using heavier suspension components to get added
durability might not change your weight ratings. Ask
your dealer to help you load your vehicle the right way.
If you put things inside your vehicle
-- like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything else
-- they go as fast as the
vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly, or if
there is a crash, they'll keep going.
CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
in a crash.

Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle.
Try to spread the weight evenly.

Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that some of them are
above the tops of the seats.

Don't leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.

When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.

Don't leave a seat folded down unless you
need to.
There's also important loading information for off-road
driving in this manual. See ªLoading Your Vehicle for
Off
-Road Drivingº in the Index.

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4-51 Front Axle Reserve Capacity
This is the difference between your front GAWR and the
front axle weight of your truck with full fuel and
passengers. It is the amount of weight you can add to
your front axle before reaching your front GAWR.
The front axle reserve
capacity for your vehicle
can be found in the lower
right corner of the
tire/certification label, as
shown in this example.In order to calculate the amount of weight any front
accessory is adding to the front axle, use the
following formula.
(W x (A+W.B.)) / W.B.= Weight the accessory is adding
to the front axle
Where: W= Weight of added accessory
A= Distance that the accessory is
in front of the front axle
W.B.= Vehicle Wheelbase

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4-52
For example, adding a 700 lbs. (318 kg) snow plow
adds more than 700 lbs. (318 kg) to the front axle.
Using the formula, if the snow plow is 4 ft. (122 cm)
in front of the front axle and the wheel base is 10 ft.
(305 cm), then:
W= 700 lbs. (318 kg), A= 4 ft. (122 cm) and W.B.=
10 ft. (305 cm)
(W x (A+W.B.)) / W.B. = (700 x (4ft. + 10 ft.)) /
10 ft. = 980 lbs.
So, if your truck's front axle reserve capacity is more
than 980 lbs. (445 kg), you could add this snow plow
without exceeding the front GAWR.
You can add heavier equipment on the front of the
vehicle if you compensate for it by carrying fewer
passengers, less cargo or by positioning cargo more
towards the rear. This has the effect of reducing the load
on the front. However, the front GAWR, rear GAWR
and the GVWR must never be exceeded.Total Vehicle Reserve Capacity
This is the difference between your GVWR and the
weight of your truck with full fuel and passengers. It is
the amount of weight you can add to your vehicle before
reaching your GVWR.
The reserve capacity numbers are intended as a guide
when selecting the amount of equipment or cargo your
truck can carry. If you are unsure of your truck's front,
rear or total weight, go to a weigh station and weigh
your vehicle. Your dealer can help you with this.
Truck-Camper Loading Information
This label is inside your glove box. It will tell you if
your vehicle can carry a slide
-in camper, how much of a
load your vehicle can carry, and how to correctly spread
out your load. Also, it will help you match the right
slide
-in camper to your vehicle.
When you carry a slide
-in camper, the total cargo load
of your vehicle is the weight of the camper, plus

everything else added to the camper after it left
the factory,

everything in the camper and

all the people inside.