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K-2500 Crew Cab Long
Box HD (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6000 V8 4.10 9,700 lbs (4 400 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
8100 V83.73
4.1013,200 lbs (5 987 kg)
14,600 lbs (6 622 kg)20,000 lbs (9 072 kg)
22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Diesel 3.73 13,200 lbs (5 987 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 3,000 lbs
(1 361 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 12,000 lbs (5 443 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
C-3500 Regular Cab
(2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6000 V8 4.10 10,300 lbs (4 672 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 3,500 lbs
(1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 12,000 lbs (5 443 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
C-3500 Extended Cab
(2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6000 V8 4.10 9,800 lbs (4 445 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
6000 V8 (Dual Rear
Wheels)4.10 9,700 lbs (4 400 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
8100 V8 4.10 15,500 lbs (7 031 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
8100 V8 (Dual Rear
Wheels)4.10 15,300 lbs (6 940 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Diesel (Manual) 3.73 15,300 lbs (6 940 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg
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C-3500 Extended Cab
(2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6.6L V8 Diesel (Dual
Rear Wheels) (Manual)3.73 15,100 lbs (6 849 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Diesel (Dual
Rear Wheels)
(Automatic)3.73 16,600 lbs (7 530 kg) 23,500 lbs (10 659 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 3,500 lbs
(1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 12,000 lbs (5 443 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
C-3500 Crew Cab (2WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6000 V8 4.10 9,600 lbs (4 354 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
6000 V8 (Dual Rear
Wheels)4.10 9,500 lbs (4 309 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
8100 V8 4.10 15,300 lbs (6 940 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
8100 V8 (Dual Rear
Wheels)4.10 15,100 lbs (6 849 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Diesel 3.73 15,100 lbs (6 849 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Diesel (Dual
Rear Wheels) (Manual)3.73 14,900 lbs (6 759 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Diesel (Dual
Rear Wheels)
(Automatic)3.73 16,400 lbs (7 439 kg) 23,500 lbs (10 659 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 3,500 lbs
(1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 12,000 lbs (5 443 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
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K-3500 Regular Cab (4WD)* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6000 V8 Single Rear Wheel 4.10 10,000 lbs (4 536 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
6000 V8 Dual Rear Wheel 4.10 9,800 lbs (4 445 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
8100 V8 Single Rear Wheel 4.10 15,600 lbs (7 076 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
8100 V8 Dual Rear Wheel 4.10 15,400 lbs (6 985 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Single Rear Wheel 3.73 15,400 lbs (6 985 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Dual Rear Wheel
(Manual)3.73 15,200 lbs (6 895 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Dual Rear Wheel
(Automatic)3.73 16,700 lbs (7 575 kg) 23,500 lbs (10 659 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 3,500 lbs
(1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 12,000 lbs (5 443 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
K-3500 Extended Cab (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6000 V8 Single Rear Wheel 4.10 9,600 lbs (4 354 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
6000 V8 Dual Rear Wheel 4.10 9,400 lbs (4 264 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg)
8100 V8 Single Rear Wheel 4.10 15,200 lbs (6 895 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
8100 V8 Dual Rear Wheel 4.10 15,000 lbs (6 804 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Single Rear Wheel 3.73 15,000 lbs (6 804 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
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K-3500 Extended Cab (4WD)*Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6.6L V8 Dual Rear Wheel
(Manual)3.73 14,800 lbs (6 713 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Dual Rear Wheel
(Automatic)3.73 16,300 lbs (7 394 kg) 23,500 lbs (10 659 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 3,500 lbs
(1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 12,000 lbs (5 443 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
K-3500 Crew Cab (4WD)* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
6000 V8 Single Rear Wheel 4.10 9,400 lbs (4 264 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 264 kg)
6000 V8 Dual Rear Wheel 4.10 9,200 lbs (4 173 kg) 16,000 lbs (7 264 kg)
8100 V8 Single Rear Wheel 4.10 15,000 lbs (6 804 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
8100 V8 Dual Rear Wheel 4.10 14,800 lbs (6 713 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Diesel Single Rear
Wheel3.73 14,700 lbs (6 668 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Diesel Dual Rear
Wheel (Manual)3.73 14,500 lbs (6 557 kg) 22,000 lbs (9 979 kg)
6.6L V8 Diesel Dual Rear
Wheel (Automatic)3.73 16,000 lbs (7 257 kg) 23,500 lbs (10 659 kg)
*Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 3,500 lbs
(1 587 kg) maximum.
*Trailer rating limited to 12,000 lbs (5 443 kg) with weight distributing hitch.
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The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR)
is the total allowable weight of the completely
loaded vehicle and trailer including any
passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions.
The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
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 Communications Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total
or gross weight of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle
Weight (GVW) includes the curb weight of the
vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and
the people who will be riding in the vehicle. If you
have a lot of options, equipment, passengers
or cargo in your vehicle, it will reduce the tongue
weight your vehicle can carry, which will also
reduce the trailer weight your vehicle can tow. And
if you will tow a trailer, you must add the tongue
load to the GVW because your vehicle will be
carrying that weight, too. SeeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 409for more information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
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The trailer tongue weight (A) should be 10 percent
to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight,
up to a maximum of 600 lbs (272 kg) for the
1500 or 2500 series, and up to a maximum of
750 lbs (340 kg) for the 2500 HD or 3500 series
with a weight carrying hitch. The trailer tongue
weight (A) should be 10 percent to 15 percent of
the total loaded trailer weight, up to a maximum
of 1,000 lbs (453 kg) for the 1500 series and up to
a maximum of 1,500 lbs (680 kg) for the 2500,
2500 HD or 3500 series with a weight distributing
hitch.
Fifth wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be
15 to 25 percent of the trailer weight up to the
maximum amount speci ed in the trailering chartfor your vehicle. See “Weight of the Trailer”, and
“Fifth-Wheel and Gooseneck Trailering” in this
section.
Do not exceed the maximum allowable tongue
weight for your vehicle. Choose the shortest hitch
extension that will position the hitch ball closest
to the vehicle. This will help reduce the effect
of trailer tongue weight on the rear axle.
After you have loaded the trailer, weigh the trailer
and then the tongue separately, to see if the
weights are proper. If they are not, you may be
able to get them right by moving some items
around in the trailer.
Trailering may be limited by the vehicle’s ability to
carry tongue weight. Tongue weight cannot
cause the vehicle to exceed the GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating) or the RGAWR (Rear
Gross Axle Weight Rating). The effect of additional
weight may reduce your trailering capacity more
than the total of the additional weight.
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Consider the following example:
A vehicle model base weight is 5,500 lbs
(2 495 kg); 2,800 lbs (1 270 kg) at the front axle
and 2,700 lbs (1 225 kg) at the rear axle. It has a
GVWR of 7,200 lbs (3 266 kg), a RGAWR of
4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) and a GCWR (Gross
Combination Weight Rating) of 14,000 lbs
(6 350 kg). The trailer rating should be:
You can expect tongue weight to be at least
10 percent of trailer weight (850 lbs (386 kg)) and
because the weight is applied well behind the rear
axle, the effect on the rear axle will be greater than
just the weight itself, as much as 1.5 times as much.
The weight at the rear axle could be 850 lbs
(386 kg) X 1.5 = 1,275 lbs (578 kg). Since the rear
axle already weighs 2,700 lbs (1 225 kg), adding
1,275 lbs (578 kg) brings the total to 3,975 lbs
(1 803 kg). This is very close to, but within the limit
for RGAWR as well. The vehicle is set to trailer up
to 8,500 lbs (3 856 kg).But let’s say your speci c vehicle is equipped with
some of the latest options and you have a front
seat passenger and two rear seat passengers with
some luggage and gear in the vehicle as well.
You may add 300 lbs (136 kg) to the front
axle weight and 400 lbs (181 kg) to the rear axle
weight. Your vehicle now weighs:
Weight is still below 7,200 lbs (3 266 kg) and you
may think that you should subtract 700 additional
pounds (318 kg) from your trailering capacity
to stay within GCWR limits. Your maximum trailer
would only be 7,800 lbs (3 538 kg). You may
go further and think you must limit tongue weight
to less than 1,000 lbs (454 kg) to avoid
exceeding GVWR. But, you must still consider the
effect on the rear axle. Because your rear axle
now weighs 3,100 lbs (1 406 kg), you can only put
900 lbs (408 kg) on the rear axle without
exceeding RGAWR.
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The effect of tongue weight is about 1.5 times the
actual weight. Dividing the 900 lbs (408 kg) by
1.5 leaves you with being able to handle only
600 lbs (272 kg) of tongue weight. Since tongue
weight is usually at least
10 percent of total loaded trailer weight, you can
expect that the largest trailer your vehicle can
properly handle is 6,000 lbs (2 721 kg).
It is important that you make sure your vehicle
does not exceed any of its ratings — GCWR,
GVWR, RGAWR, Maximum Trailer Rating
or Tongue Weight. The only way to be sure you
are not exceeding any of these ratings is to weigh
your vehicle and trailer.Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are in ated to the
upper limit for cold tires. You’ll nd these numbers
on the Certi cation label at the rear edge of the
driver’s door or see Loading Your Vehicle for more
information. Then be sure you don’t go over the
GVW limit for your vehicle, or the GAWR, including
the weight of the trailer tongue. If you use a
weight distributing hitch, make sure you don’t go
over the rear axle limit before you apply the weight
distribution spring bars.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads
are a few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch.
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