2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN load capacity

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
4-4 Storage
Do not exceed the maximum vehicle
capacity when loading the vehicle.
For more information on vehicle
capacity and loading, seeVehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑16.
.If small heavy objects are placed
on the roof, cut a piece of 9 mm
or 3/8 inch plywood to fit inside
the crossrails and siderails to
spread the load. Tie the plywood
to the siderail supports.
.Tie the load and secure it to
the crossrails or the siderail
supports. Use the crossrails only
to keep the load from sliding. To
move a crossrail, lift the release
lever up, on both sides of the
rail. Then slide the crossrail to
the desired position balancing
the force side to side. Press
the release lever down on both
sides of the rail, down to tighten
it. Try to slide the crossrail back
and forth slightly to make sure it
is tight.
.To carry long items, move the
crossrails as far apart as
possible. Tie the load to the
crossrails and the siderails or
siderail supports. Also tie the
load to the bumpers, but do
not tie the load so tightly that
the crossrails or siderails are
damaged.
.After moving a crossrail, be sure
it is securely locked into the
siderail.
A Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL) is located above the rear
window glass.
Make sure items loaded on the
roof of the vehicle do not block or
damage the CHMSL.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
5-14 Instruments and Controls
When the oil pressure reaches
the low pressure zone, the OIL
PRESSURE LOW STOP ENGINE
message appears in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Engine Oil Messages on page 5‑38
andEngine Oil on page 10‑7 for
more information.
A reading in the low pressure zone
may be caused by a dangerously
low oil level or some other problem
causing low oil pressure. Check the
oil as soon as possible.
{WARNING
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced. Notice:
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule for changing engine oil.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric
English
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
It also provides an indicator of how
hard the vehicle is working. During a
majority of the operation, the gauge
reads 100°C (210°F) or less. If you
are pulling a load or going up hills,
it is normal for the temperature to
fluctuate and approach the 122°C
(250°F) mark. If the gauge reaches
the 125°C (260°F) mark, it indicates
that the cooling system is working
beyond its capacity.

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
9-16 Driving and Operating
Recovery Hooks
{WARNING
Never pull on recovery hooks
from the side. The hooks could
break and you and others could
be injured. When using recovery
hooks, always pull the vehicle
straight out.
Notice:Never use recovery
hooks to tow the vehicle. Your
vehicle could be damaged and
it would not be covered by
warranty.
For vehicles with recovery hooks at
the front of the vehicle, you can use
them if you are stuck off-road and
need to be pulled to some place
where you can continue driving.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight your vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on your vehicle
show how much weight it was
designed to carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire label.
{WARNING
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
(Continued)

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-17
WARNING (Continued)
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information
Label
Label Example
A vehicle specific Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the center pillar (B-pillar). With the driver door
open, you will find the label
attached below the door lock
post (striker). The tire and
loading information label shows
the number of occupant seating
positions (A), and the maximum
vehicle capacity weight (B) in
kilograms and pounds.
The Tire and Loading
Information label also shows the
size of the original equipment
tires (C) and the recommended
cold tire inflation pressures (D).
For more information on tires
and inflation see
Tires on
page 10‑44 and
Tire Pressure on
page 10‑52.
There is also important loading
information on the vehicle
Certification/Tire label. It tells
you the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) and the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the front and rear axles. See
“Certification/Tire Label”
later in
this section.
Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit
1.Locate the statement
“The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs” on your vehicle's
placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
9-18 Driving and Operating
4.The resulting figure equals
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the“XXX”
amount equals 1400 lbs
and there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity
is 650 lbs (1400 −750
(5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, the load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo
and luggage load capacity of your vehicle. SeeTrailer
Towing on page 9‑70
for
important information on
towing a trailer, towing safety
rules and trailering tips.
Example 1
A. Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 1 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs)
B. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 2 = 136 kg
(300 lbs)
C. Available Occupant and Cargo Weight = 317 kg (700 lbs)
Example 2
A. Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 2 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs)
B. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 5 = 136 kg
(750 lbs)
C. Available Cargo Weight = 113 kg (250 lbs)

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-19
Example 3
A. Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 3 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs)
B. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 91 kg (200 lbs) × 5 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs)
C. Available Cargo Weight = 0 kg (0 lbs)
Refer to your vehicle's tire and
loading information label for
specific 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.
Certification/Tire Label
A vehicle specific Certification/
Tire label is found on the rear
edge of the driver door. The
label shows the size of your
vehicle's original tires and the
inflation 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.
The Certification/Tire 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 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 Certification/Tire label also
contains information about your
Front Axle Reserve Capacity.

Black plate (73,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-73
VehicleAxle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR*
2500 Series 2WD Long Wheel Base 6.0L V8 3.734 355 kg (9,600 lbs) 7 257 kg (16,000 lbs)
2500 Series 4WD Long Wheel Base 6.0L V8 3.734 264 kg (9,400 lbs) 7 257 kg (16,000 lbs)
*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 the vehicle should not be
exceeded.
Ask your dealer for trailering
information or advice, or write us at
our Customer Assistance Offices,
See Customer Assistance Offices
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13‑4
or Customer Assistance Offices
(Mexico) on page 13‑5.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
very important because it is also
part of the vehicle weight. The
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
includes the curb weight of the
vehicle, any cargo carried in it, and
the people who will be riding in the
vehicle as well as trailer tongue weight. Vehicle options, equipment,
passengers and cargo in the vehicle
reduce the amount of tongue weight
the vehicle can carry, which will also
reduce the trailer weight the vehicle
can tow. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑16 for more information
about the vehicle's maximum load
capacity.

Black plate (88,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
9-88 Driving and Operating
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.
{WARNING
On some vehicles that have
certain front mounted equipment,
such as a snow plow, it may be
possible to load the front axle to
the front gross axle weight rating
(GAWR) but not have enough
weight on the rear axle to have
proper braking performance.
If the brakes cannot work
properly, you could have a crash.
To help the 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(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
may be less than the front
GAWR, and the total vehicle
weight is less than the gross
vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
Maintaining a proper front and
rear weight distribution ratio is
necessary to provide proper
braking performance.
Total vehicle reserve capacity is the
difference between the GVWR and
the weight of the vehicle with full
fuel and passengers. It is the
amount of weight that can be added
to the vehicle before reaching
theGVWR. Keep in mind that
reserve capacity numbers are
intended as a guide when selecting
the amount of equipment or cargo
the vehicle can carry. If you are
unsure of the vehicle's front, rear,
or total weight, go to a weigh station
and weigh the vehicle. Your dealer
can also help you with this. The total vehicle reserve capacity
for the vehicle can be found in the
lower right corner of the
Certification/Tire label as shown
previously.
See your dealer for additional
advice and information about
using a snow plow on the vehicle.
Also, see
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑16.
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
above the overhead console. See
Auxiliary Roof-Mounted Lamp on
page 6‑6 for switch location.