2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO ground clearance

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-8 Driving and Operating
If you think you will need some
more ground clearance at the front
of your vehicle, you can remove
the front fascia lower air dam. The
air dam is held in place by 2 bolts
and 10 snaps accessible from
underneath the front fascia.
To remove the air dam:
1. Remove the 2 outboard air dambolts.
2. With a flat‐blade tool, disengage the snaps.
3. After the bolts are removed and the snaps are disengaged, push
forward on the air dam until it
is free.
Notice: Operating your vehicle
for extended periods without
the front fascia lower air dam
installed can cause improper air
flow to the engine. Always be
sure to replace the front fascia
air dam when you are finished
off-road driving. After off-roading, be sure to reinstall
the air dam:
1. Line up the snaps and push the
air dam rearward to engage the
snaps.
2. Install the 2 outboard bolts.
Loading Your Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving
{WARNING
.Cargo on the load floor piled
higher than the seatbacks
can be thrown forward during
a sudden stop. You or your
passengers could be injured.
Keep cargo below the top of
the seatbacks.
.Unsecured cargo on the
load floor can be tossed
about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your
passengers can be struck by
flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly. (Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Heavy loads on the roof raise
the vehicle's center of gravity,
making it more likely to roll
over. You can be seriously or
fatally injured if the vehicle
rolls over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not on
the roof. Keep cargo in the
cargo area as far forward
and low as possible.
There are some important things to
remember about how to load your
vehicle.
.The heaviest things should be
on the floor, forward of the rear
axle. Put heavier items as far
forward as you can.
.Be sure the load is properly
secured, so things are not
tossed around.

Black plate (112,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-112 Driving and Operating
Fifth-Wheel and Gooseneck
Trailering
Fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers
can be used with many pickup
models. These trailers place a
larger percentage of the weight
(kingpin weight) on the tow vehicle
than conventional trailers. Make
sure this weight does not cause the
vehicle to exceed GAWR or GVWR.
Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin
weight should be 15 to 25 percent of
the trailer weight up to the maximum
amount specified in the trailering
chart for the vehicle. See“Weight of
the Trailer” underTrailer Towing
on
page 9‑94for more information. The hitch should be located in the
pickup bed so that its centerline is
over or slightly in front of the rear
axle. Take care that it is not so far
forward that it will contact the back
of the cab in sharp turns. This is
especially important for short box
pickups. Trailer pin box extensions
and sliding fifth-wheel hitch
assemblies can help this condition.
There should be at least six inches
of clearance between the top of the
pickup box and the bottom of the
trailer shelf that extends over
the box.
Make sure the hitch is attached to
the tow vehicle frame rails. Do not
use the pickup box for support.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer to help prevent the
tongue from contacting the road
if it becomes separated from the
hitch. Instructions about safety
chains may be provided by the
hitch manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer. If the trailer being
towed weighs up to 2 271 kg
(5,000 lbs) with a factory-installed
step bumper, safety chains may
be attached to the attaching points
on the bumper; otherwise, safety
chains should be attached to holes
on the trailer hitch platform. Always
leave just enough slack so the
combination can turn. Never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.

Black plate (80,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
10-80 Vehicle Care
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or
corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts and
wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it
(except some aluminum wheels,
which can sometimes be repaired).
See your dealer if any of these
conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of
wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have
the same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset and be
mounted the same way as the
one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of the
wheels, wheel bolts, wheel nuts
or Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) sensors, replace them only
with new GM original equipment
parts. This way, you will be sure to
have the right wheel, wheel bolts,
wheel nuts, and TPMS sensors for
the vehicle.{WARNING
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel
nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the
braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control.
You could have a collision in
which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for replacement.
Notice: The wrong wheel can
also cause problems with bearing
life, brake cooling, speedometer
or odometer calibration,
headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and
tire or tire chain clearance to
the body and chassis. Whenever a wheel, wheel
bolt or wheel nut is replaced
on a dual wheel setup, check
the wheel nut torque after
100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles
(160, 1 600 and 10 000 km)
of driving. For proper torque,
see
“Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications
on
page 12‑2.
See If a Tire Goes Flat
on
page 10‑81for more information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{WARNING
Putting a used wheel on the
vehicle is dangerous. You cannot
know how it has been used
or how far it has been driven.
It could fail suddenly and cause
a crash. If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.

Black plate (101,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-101
Towing
Towing the Vehicle
Notice:To avoid damage,
the disabled vehicle should
be towed with all four wheels
off the ground. Care must be
taken with vehicles that have
low ground clearance and/or
special equipment.
Consult your dealer or a
professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed.
See Roadside Assistance Program
on page 13‑7.
To tow the vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational purposes,
such as behind a motor home, see
“Recreational Vehicle Towing” in this
section.
Recreational Vehicle
Towing
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
Recreational vehicle towing means
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle, such as a motorhome.
The two most common types of
recreational vehicle towing are
known as dinghy towing and dolly
towing. Dinghy towing is towing the
vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground. Dolly towing is towing the
vehicle with two wheels on the
ground and two wheels up on a
device known as a dolly. Here are some important things to
consider before recreational vehicle
towing:.What is the towing capacity
of the towing vehicle?
Be sure to read the tow
vehicle manufacturer's
recommendations.
.What is the distance that will be
travelled? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how
long they can tow.
.Is the proper towing equipment
going to be used? See your
dealer or trailering professional
for additional advice and
equipment recommendations.
.Is the vehicle ready to be
towed? Just as preparing the
vehicle for a long trip, make sure
the vehicle is prepared to be
towed.