2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Owners Manual

4-54
Q:How do I know if my vehicle can handle a
snow plow?
A:Some vehicles are built with a special package,
called RPO VYU (snow plow prep package).
If your vehicle has this option, you can add a
plow to it, provided certain weights, such as the
weights on the vehicle's axles and the GVW,
aren't exceeded.
Q:How heavy can a snow plow safely be?
A:The plow your vehicle can carry depends on many
things, such as:

The options your vehicle came with, and the
weight of those options,

The weight and number of passengers you intend
to carry,

The weight of items you've added to your
vehicle, like a tool box or truck cap,

The total weight of any additional cargo you
intend to carry.
Say, for example, you have a 700 lb. (318 kg) snow
plow. The total weight of all occupants and cargo
inside the cab should not exceed 300 lb. (135 kg).This means that you may only be able to carry
one passenger. But, even this may be too much if
you've got other equipment already adding to the
weight of your vehicle.
Here are some guidelines for safely carrying a snow
plow on your vehicle:

Make sure the weight on the front and rear axles
doesn't exceed the axle rating for each.

For the front axle, if more cargo or passengers must
be carried, appropriate counter ballast must be
installed rear of the rear axle. Counter ballast must
be properly secured so it won't move during driving.

Follow the snow plow manufacturer's
recommendations regarding rear ballast. Rear ballast
may be required to ensure a proper front and rear
weight distribution ratio, even though the actual
weight at the front axle may be less than the front
axle rating.

The snow plow manufacturer or installer can assist
you in determining the amount of rear ballast
required, to help make sure your snowplow/vehicle
combination does not exceed the GVW rating, the
front and rear axle ratings, and the front and rear
weight distribution ratio.

The total vehicle must not exceed the GVW rating.

4-55
Q:What is front axle reserve capacity, and how
do I calculate it?
A:Front axle reserve capacity is the difference
between your front GAWR and the front axle
weight of your truck with full fuel and passengers.
Basically, it's 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.In order to calculate the amount of weight any front
accessory, such as a snow plow, 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

4-56
For example, adding a 700 lb. (318 kg) snow plow
actually adds more than 700 lb. (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 lb. (318 kg)
A=4 ft. (122 cm)
W.B.=10 ft. (305 cm)
(W x (A + W.B.))/W.B.= (700 x (4 + 10))/10 =
980 lb. (445 kg)
So, if your truck's front axle reserve capacity is
more than 980 lb. (445 kg), you could add this
snow plow without exceeding the front GAWR.
Q:What if I want to add heavier equipment to
my vehicle?
A: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.
CAUTION:
On some vehicles equipped with certain front
mounted equipment, such as a snow plow, it may
be possible to load the front axle to the front
GAWR but not have enough weight on the rear
axle to have proper braking performance.
If your brakes can't work properly, you could
have a crash. To help your brakes work properly
when a snow plow is installed, always follow
the snow plow manufacturer or installer's
recommendation for rear ballast to ensure a
proper front and rear weight distribution ratio,
even though the actual front weight may be less
than the front GAWR, and the total vehicle weight
is less than the GVWR. Maintaining a proper
front and rear weight distribution ratio is
necessary to provide proper braking performance.

4-57
Q:What is total vehicle reserve capacity?
A:This is the difference between your GVWR and the
weight of your truck with full fuel and passengers.
It's the amount of weight you can add to your
vehicle before reaching your GVWR.
Keep in mind that 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 also help you with this.
See your dealer for additional advice and
information about using a snow plow on your
vehicle. Also, see ªLoading Your Vehicleº earlier
in this section.
Truck Camper Loading Information
Your vehicle was neither designed nor intended to carry
a slide
-in type camper.
NOTICE:
Adding a slide-in camper or similar equipment to
your vehicle can damage it, and the repairs wouldn't
be covered by warranty. Don't install a slide
-in
camper or similar equipment on your vehicle.

4-58
Towing a Trailer
CAUTION:
If you don't use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull a trailer.
For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the brakes
may not work well
-- or even at all. You and your
passengers could be seriously injured. Pull a trailer
only if you have followed all the steps in this section.
Ask your dealer for advice and information about
towing a trailer with your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by
your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for
your vehicle, you should read the information in
ªWeight of the Trailerº that appears later in this section.
If yours was built with trailering options, as many are,
it's ready for heavier trailers. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment,
and it has to be used properly.
That's the reason for this part. In it are many
time
-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.

4-59 If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:

There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you'll be driving. A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.

Consider using a sway control if your trailer will
weigh 5, 000 lbs. (2 268 kg) or less. You should
always use a sway control if your trailer will weigh
more than 5, 000 lbs. (2 268 kg). You can ask a
hitch dealer about sway controls.

Don't tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don't drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and
don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.

You should tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to
shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary,
a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts
too often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions). See ªTow/Haul Modeº in the Index.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:

the weight of the trailer,

the weight of the trailer tongue

and the weight on your vehicle's tires.

4-60
Tow/Haul Mode
Tow/haul is a feature that assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load. The purpose of the
tow/haul mode is to:

Reduce the frequency and improve the predictability
of transmission shifts when pulling a heavy trailer or
a large or heavy load.

Provide the same solid shift feel when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load as when the
vehicle is unloaded.

Improve control of vehicle speed while requiring less
throttle pedal activity when pulling a heavy trailer or
a large or heavy load.
Your vehicle is equipped with a button at the end of the
shift lever which when pressed enables tow/haul. When
the button is pressed, a light on the instrument panel will
illuminate to indicate that tow/haul has been selected.
Tow/haul may be turned off by pressing the button
again, at which time the indicator light on the instrument
panel will turn off. The vehicle will automatically turn
off tow/haul every time it is started.Tow/haul is designed to be most effective when
the vehicle and trailer combined weight is at least
75% of the vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR). See ªWeight of the Trailerº later in this
section. Tow/haul is most useful under the following
driving conditions:

When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load
through rolling terrain.

When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load
in stop and go traffic.

When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load
in busy parking lots where improved low speed
control of the vehicle is desired.
Operating the vehicle in tow/haul when lightly loaded or
with no trailer at all will not cause damage. However,
there is no benefit to the selection of tow/haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a selection when unloaded
may result in unpleasant engine and transmission
driving characteristics and reduced fuel economy.
Tow/haul is recommended only when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load.

4-61 Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig.
For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to
pull a trailer are all important. And, it can also depend
on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
Use one of the following charts to determine how much
your vehicle can weigh, based upon your vehicle model
and options.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming the
driver and one passenger are in the tow vehicle and it
has all the required trailering equipment. The weight of
additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the maximum
trailer weight.Above the 5,000 lbs. (2 268 kg) trailer rating, the
handling/trailering suspension is required on C-1500
models and the handling/trailering or off
-road
suspension is required on K
-1500 models.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed to be used with
a fifth
-wheel hitch device. Using such a device
could result in damage to the vehicle.
These damages would not be covered by your
vehicle's warranty.