2003 GMC YUKON DENALI weight

Q: Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A: It’s much more likely to happen going uphill. But if it
happens going downhill, here’s what
to do.
Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
Apply the parking brake.
Shift to PARK (P) and, while still braking, restart the
Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake,
If the engine won’t start, get out and get help.
engine.
and
drive straight down.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across
the incline
of a hill. If this happens, you have to
decide whether
to try to drive across the incline. Here
are some things
to consider:
A hill that can be driven straight up or down may be
too steep to drive across. When you go straight up
or down a
hill, the length of the wheel base (the
distance from the front wheels
to the rear wheels)
reduces the likelihood the vehicle will tumble end
over end. But when you drive across an incline,
the much more narrow track width (the distance
between the left and right wheels) may not prevent
the vehicle from tilting and rolling over.
Also,
driving across an incline puts more weight on the
downhill wheels. This could cause a downhill
slide or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be a problem when you
drive across a hill.
Loose gravel, muddy spots,
or even wet grass can cause your tires
to slip
sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways,
it can hit something that will trip
it (a rock, a rut, etc.)
and roll over.
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the
incline even worse. If you drive across a rock
with the uphill wheels, or
if the downhill wheels
drop into a rut or depression, your vehicle can tilt
even more.
For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully
whether to try to drive across an incline. Just because
the trail goes across the incline doesn’t mean you
have to drive it. The last vehicle to try it might have
rolled over.
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Towing Loading Your Vehicle
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page
7-5.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle
- such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly towing”
(towing your vehicle with two wheels
on the ground and
two wheels
up on a device known as a “dolly”).
Your vehicle was not designed
to be towed with any of
its wheels on the ground.
If your vehicle must be
towed, see Towing Your Vehicle on page
4-44.
Notices Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, or even with only two
of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Don’t tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle
if
any of its wheels will be on the ground.
II II
GAWR FRT GAWR RR
!E mNERS MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION[-]
The Certificationmire label is found on the rear edge of
the driver’s door.
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 Certificationmire 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
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weigh station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can If
you put things inside your vehicle - like suitcases,
help you with this. Be sure to spread out your load
tools, packages, or anything else
- they go as fast as
equally on both sides of the centerline.
the vehicle goes.
If you have to stop or turn quickly,
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the GAWR
for either the front or rear axle. or
if there
is a crash, they’ll keep going.
And,
if you do have a heavy load, you should
spread it out.
Do no. .Jad ,3ur vehic., 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.
Your warranty does not cover parts or components that
fail because
of overloading.
The label 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. 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.
0 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 “Loading Your Vehicle
for Off-Road Driving” under Operating Your
All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle
Off Paved Roads on page 4-16.
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Automatic Level Control
The automatic level control rear suspension comes as a
part of the AutorideTMsuspension. See AutorideTM on
page
4-46.
This type of level control is fully automatic and will
provide a better leveled riding position as well as better
handling under a variety of passenger and loading
conditions. An air compressor connected
to the rear
shocks will raise or lower the rear of the vehicle
to maintain proper vehicle height. The system is
activated when the ignition key
is turned to RUN and
will automatically adjust vehicle height thereafter.
The system may exhaust (lower vehicle height) for up
to
10 minutes after the ignition key has been turned to
OFF. You may hear the air compressor operating when
the height is being adjusted.
If a weight-distributing hitch is being used, it is
recommended
to allow the shocks to inflate, thereby
leveling the vehicle prior to adjusting the height.
AutorideTM
The AutorideTM feature provides superior vehicle ride
and handling under a variety
of passenger and loading
conditions.
The system is fully automatic and
uses a computer
controller
to continuously monitor vehicle speed, wheel
to body position, IifVdive and steering position of the
vehicle. The controller then sends signals to each shock
absorber
to independently adjust the damping level to
provide the optimum vehicle ride.
AutorideTM also interacts with the towlhaul mode that,
when activated, will provide additional control of
the shock absorbers. This additional control results in
better ride and handling characteristics when the vehicle
is loaded or towing a trailer. See "Tow/Haul Mode"
under Towing a Trailer on page
4-47 for more
information.
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Trailer Recommendations
You must subtract your hitch loads from the Cargo
Weight Rating (CWR). CWR is the maximum weight of
the load your vehicle can carry.
It doesn’t include
the weight of the people inside. But you can figure about
150 Ibs. (68 kg) for each seat. The total cargo load
must
not be more than your vehicle’s CWR.
Weigh your vehicle with the trailer attached,
so that you
won’t
go over the GVWR or GAWR. If you are using
a weight-distributing hitch, weigh the vehicle without the
spring bars in place.
You’ll get the best performance if you spread out the
weight of your load the right way, and
if you choose the
correct hitch and trailer brakes.
For more information, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-47.
Towing a Trailer
Is
IOU don’_ Ase e correct equipment anc-
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.
Nofice: 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. Additional rear axle maintenance
is required for a vehicle used to tow a trailer. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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To identify the trailering capacity for your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” 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.
0
0
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 Ibs. (2 270 kg) or less. You should
always use a sway control
if your trailer will weigh
more than
5,000 Ibs. (2 270 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 can 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 “Tow/Haul Mode” under Towing
a
Trailer on page 4-47.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
0 the weight of the trailer,
the weight of the trailer tongue
0 and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
4-48

Tow/Haul Mode
The tow/haul feature 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 provided 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 percent
of the vehicle’s Gross Combination Weight Rating
(GCWR). See Weight
of the Trailer later in this section.
Tovdhaul is mcst useful wder the f~l!~~ing driving
conditions:
When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy
0 When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy
load through rolling terrain.
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.
4-49

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 only the driver
is 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.
*Maximum Trailer
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or you can write
us at the address listed in
your Warranty and Owner Assistance Information Booklet.
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre,
163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
LIH 8P7
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