2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Owners Manual

Item Description Total
AVehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 3=1,000 lbs (453 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 200 lbs
(91 kg)×5=1,000 lbs (453 kg)
CAvailable Cargo
Weight=0 lbs (0 kg)
Refer to your vehicle’s tire and loading information label
for specic information about your vehicle’s capacity
weight and seating positions. The combined weight of
the driver, passengers and cargo should never
exceed your vehicle’s capacity weight.
Certication/Tire Label
A vehicle specic Certication/Tire label is found on the
rear edge of the driver’s door. The label shows the
size of your vehicle’s original tires and the ination
pressures needed to obtain the gross weight capacity of
your vehicle. This is called Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. Example 3
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The Certication/Tire label also tells you the maximum
weights for the front and rear axles, called Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To nd 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 Certication/Tire label also contains information
about your Front Axle Reserve Capacity.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread
it out.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either
the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (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.Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
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.
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.
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{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.
Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Do not 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” underOff-Road Driving on
page 4-22.
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment
Before installing a snow plow on your vehicle, here are
some things you will need to know:
Notice:If your vehicle does not have the snow
plow prep package, adding a plow can damage your
vehicle, and the repairs would not be covered by
warranty. Unless your vehicle was built to carry
a snow plow, do not add one to your vehicle. If your
vehicle has the snow plow option called RPO VYU
(snow plow prep package), then the payload
your vehicle can carry will be reduced when a snow
plow is installed. Your vehicle can be damaged if
either the front or rear axle ratings or the gross
vehicle weight (GVW) are exceeded.
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, are not
exceeded.
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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 have added to your
vehicle.
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 have 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
does not 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 will not 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.
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Q:What is front axle reserve capacity, and how do
I calculate it?
A:Front axle reserve capacity is the difference
between your front gross axle weight rating (GAWR)
and the front axle weight of your vehicle with full
fuel and passengers. Basically, 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 Certication/Tire
label, as shown.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 United States
Canada
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For example, adding a 700 lb (318 kg) snow plow
actually 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 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 lbs (445 kg)
So, if your vehicle’s front axle reserve capacity is more
than 980 lbs (445 kg), you could add the 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
towards the rear. This has the effect of reducing the
load on the front. However, the front GAWR, rear
GAWR and the gross vehicle weight rating (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 not 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.
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Q:What is total vehicle reserve capacity?
A:This is the difference between your GVWR and the
weight of your vehicle with full fuel and passengers.
It is 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 vehicle can carry. If you are unsure
of your vehicle’s front, rear, or total weight, go to a
weigh station and weigh your vehicle. Your
dealer can also help you with this.
The total vehicle reserve capacity for your vehicle
can be found in the lower right corner of the
Certication/Tire label as shown previously.
See your dealer for additional advice and information
about using a snow plow on your vehicle. Also,
seeLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-52.
Emergency Roof Lamp Provisions
Vehicles with the RPO VYU snow plow prep package
also have an emergency roof lamp provision package,
RPO TRW. Wiring for the emergency roof lamp is
provided in the B-pillar as shown. SeeAuxiliary Roof
Mounted Lamp on page 3-18for switch location.
A. Body Side Inner Panel
B. Emergency Roof Lamp Harness
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Towing
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 7-6.
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”.
With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy
Towing” and “Dolly Towing”, following.Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:
What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll
want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be
towed. SeeBefore Leaving on a Long Trip on
page 4-42.
Dinghy Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Notice:If you tow a two-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, the transmission could be
damaged. The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not tow a two-wheel-drive vehicle with
all four wheels on the ground.
Two-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.
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