2020 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 weight

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13337620) - 2020 - CRC - 4/11/19
Driving and Operating 297
Ask your dealer for trailering
information or assistance.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
Conventional Hitch
A conventional hitch is bolted to the
frame or cross member of the tow
vehicle, and is generally rated Class
2, 3, or 4.
Gooseneck Hitch
A gooseneck hitch is designed to be
coupled to a special hitch leveraging
a hitch ball, and is mounted over the
rear axle in the truck bed.
Fifth-Wheel Hitch
A fifth-wheel hitch is mounted over
the rear axle in the truck bed, and
leverages a hinged plate—the
same type of hitch leveraged by
semi trucks. Generally, fifth-wheel
hitches accommodate large trailers
with as many as one, two, or three
axles. Always use the correct hitch
equipment for your vehicle.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by,
and rough roads can affect the
trailer and the hitch.
Proper hitch equipment for your
vehicle helps maintain control of the
vehicle-trailer combination. Many
trailers can be towed using a
weight-carrying hitch which has a
coupler latched to the hitch ball, or a
tow eye latched to a pintle hook.
Other trailers may require a
weight-distributing hitch that uses
spring bars to distribute the trailer
tongue weight between your vehicle
and trailer axles. Fifth-wheel and
gooseneck hitches may also be
used. See
“Maximum Trailer Tongue
Weight ”under Trailer Towing 0292
for weight limits with various hitch
types.
Avoid sharp turns when using a
step-bumper hitch to prevent
damage. Make wider turns to
prevent contact between your trailer
and your bumper. Consider using mechanical sway
controls with any trailer. Ask a
trailering professional about sway
controls or refer to the trailer
manufacturer's recommendations
and instructions.Weight-Distributing Hitch and
Adjustment
A weight-distributing hitch may be
useful with some trailers. Use the
following guidelines to determine if a
weight-distributing hitch should
be used.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13337620) - 2020 - CRC - 4/11/19
298 Driving and Operating
Vehicle SeriesTrailer WeightWeight-Distributing Hitch
Usage Hitch Distribution
1500 Up to 3 175 kg (7,000 lb) Not Required 50%
1500 Over 3 175 kg (7,000 lb) Required50%
2500/3500 Up to 9 080 kg (20,000 lb) Not Required 25%
1. Front of Vehicle
2. H1/H2 Body to Ground
Distance
Towing with Model 1500 Trucks
1. Position the truck so that the trailer is ready to connect.
Keep the trailer detached. 2. Measure the height of the top
of the front wheel opening at
the fender to the ground (H1).
3. Attach the vehicle to the trailer. Do not attach weight
distribution bars at this time.
4. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on
the fender to the ground (H2).
5. Install and adjust the tension in the weight-distributing bars per
the manufacturers’
recommendations so that the
height of the front fender is
approximately H2−[(H2−H1)/2]
(halfway between the two
measured ride heights). 6. Visually inspect the trailer and
weight-distributing hitch to
ensure that the manufacturers’
recommendations have
been met.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13337620) - 2020 - CRC - 4/11/19
Driving and Operating 299
MeasurementHeight Example 1500 (mm)
H1 1 000
H2 1 050
H2−H1 50
(H2−H1)/2 25
H2−[(H2−H1)/2] 1 025
Towing with Model 2500/3500
Trucks 1. Position the truck so that the trailer is ready to connect.
Keep the trailer detached.
2. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening at
the fender to the ground (H1).
3. Attach the vehicle to the trailer. Do not attach weight
distribution bars at this time.
4. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on
the fender to the ground (H2).
5. Install and adjust the tension in the weight-distributing bars per
the manufacturers’ recommendations so that the
height of the front fender is
approximately H2−[(H2−H1)/4]
(1/4 the difference between the
two measured ride heights,
below the secondary ride
height {H2}).
6. Visually inspect the trailer and weight-distributing hitch to
ensure that the manufacturers’
recommendations have
been met.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13337620) - 2020 - CRC - 4/11/19
300 Driving and Operating
MeasurementHeight Example 2500/3500 (mm)
H1 1 040
H2 1 080
H2−H1 40
(H2−H1)/4 10
H2−[(H2−H1)/4] 1 070
Tires
.
Do not tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire on the
vehicle.
. Tires must be properly inflated to
support loads while towing a
trailer. See Tires0379 for
instructions on proper tire
inflation.
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 15–25% of the
trailer weight up to the maximum
amount specified in the trailering
chart for the vehicle. See
“Trailer
Weight" under Trailer Towing0292.
The hitch should be 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
may be used. There should be at
least 15 cm (6 in) 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 safety chains
between the vehicle and the trailer.
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 lb) with a
factory-installed step bumper, safety
chains may be attached to the

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13337620) - 2020 - CRC - 4/11/19
Driving and Operating 301
attaching points on the bumper;
otherwise, safety chains should be
attached to holes on the trailer hitch.
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. Always leave enough slack in
the safety chains to allow the
combination to turn. Never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Loaded trailers over 900 kg
(2,000 lb) must be equipped with
brake systems and with brakes for
each axle. Trailer braking equipment
conforming to Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent, is
recommended.
State or local regulations may
require trailers to have their own
braking system if the loaded weight
of the trailer exceeds certain
minimums that can vary from state
to state. Read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes so
they are installed, adjusted, andmaintained properly. Never attempt
to tap into your vehicle's hydraulic
brake system. If you do, both the
vehicle antilock brakes and the
trailer brakes may not function,
which could result in a crash.
Auxiliary Battery
If equipped, the vehicle's auxiliary
battery can be used to supply
electrical power to additional
equipment that may be added, such
as a slide-in camper.
Locate the auxiliary battery
connector under the hood on the
driver side of the vehicle, next to the
engine compartment fuse block.
Follow the proper installation
instructions included with any
electrical equipment that is installed.
Caution
To prevent draining the auxiliary
battery, always turn off electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not use any equipment that
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
may exceed the
maximum amperage rating of
30 amps.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Basic Trailer Wiring
If the vehicle is not equipped with a
trailer connector on the rear bumper,
a 7-wire trailering harness is tied to
the vehicles frame. The harness
requires the installation of a trailer
connector, which is available
through your dealer.
Use only a round, seven-wire
connector with flat blade terminals
meeting SAE J2863 specifications
for proper electrical connectivity.
The seven-wire harness contains
the following trailer circuits:
Stop/Turn
Signal Left Yellow/Blue
Stop/Turn
Signal Right Green/Violet

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13337620) - 2020 - CRC - 4/11/19
304 Driving and Operating
lamp circuits on the trailer. DIC
messages and Trailering App alerts
may be displayed if lighting circuit
issues are detected on the trailer.
Pressing START LIGHT TEST in the
Trailering App automatically
activates the trailer lamps. The
Trailering App is not a substitute for
manually inspecting your trailer
lamps. SeeTrailering App 0310.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals will illuminate to indicate
the vehicle is turning, changing
lanes, or stopping. When towing a
trailer, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will illuminate even if the
trailer is not properly connected or
the bulbs are burned out.
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter
Tow/Haul Mode, see Driver Mode
Control 0238.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy
load. See Tow/Haul Mode 0226. Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be
most effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75% of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See
“Trailer Weight ”under Trailer
Towing 0292.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when
towing a heavy trailer or carrying a
large or heavy load:
. Through rolling terrain.
. In stop-and-go traffic.
. In busy parking lots.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
Mode when lightly loaded or not
towing will not cause damage;
however, it is not recommended and
may result in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics,
heavy or light steering efforts, and
reduced fuel economy.Integrated Trailer Brake
Control System
The vehicle may have an Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system
for use with electric trailer brakes or
most electric over hydraulic trailer brake systems. These instructions
apply to both types of electric trailer
brakes.
This symbol is on the Trailer Brake
Control Panel on vehicles with an
ITBC system. The power output to
the trailer brakes is proportional to
the amount of vehicle braking. This
available power output to the trailer
brakes can be adjusted to a wide
range of trailering situations.
The ITBC system is integrated with
the vehicle’
s brake, antilock brake,
and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) systems. In trailering
conditions that cause the vehicle’s
antilock brake or StabiliTrak/ESC
systems to activate, power sent to
the trailer's brakes will be
automatically adjusted to minimize

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13337620) - 2020 - CRC - 4/11/19
310 Driving and Operating
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from
vehicle tires. Trailer tires are
designed with stiff sidewalls to help
prevent sway and to support heavy
loads. These features can make it
difficult to determine if the trailer tire
pressures are low only based on a
visual inspection.
Always check all trailer tire
pressures before each trip when the
tires are cool. Low trailer tire
pressure is a leading cause of trailer
tire blow-outs.
If the vehicle is equipped with a
trailer tire pressure monitoring
system, see the trailer tire pressure
monitoring system description and
the trailering app.
Trailer tires deteriorate over time.
The trailer tire sidewall will show the
week and year the tire was
manufactured. Many trailer tire
manufacturers recommend
replacing tires more than six
years old.Overloading is another leading
cause of trailer tire blow-outs. Never
load your trailer with more weight
than the tires are designed to
support. The load rating is located
on the trailer tire sidewall.
Always know the maximum speed
rating for the trailer tires before
driving. This may be significantly
lower than the vehicle tire speed
rating. The speed rating may be on
the trailer tire sidewall. If the speed
rating is not shown, the default
trailer tire speed rating is 105 km/h
(65 mph).
Trailering App
Trailer Light App
If equipped, the Trailer Lights App is
on the Home Page of the
infotainment display.
Touch Start to cycle the trailer lamps
on and off to determine if they are
working. The test follows this
sequence:
1. The running lights turn on first
and remain on throughout the
sequence.
2. The brake lights turn on for about two seconds.
3. The left turn signal light flashes three times.
4. The right turn signal light flashes three times.
5. The reverse lights turn on for about two seconds.
6. Steps 2–5 repeat for approximately one minute and
45 seconds, or until the test
deactivates.
Touch Stop to stop the test. The test
will automatically end after
one minute and 45 seconds.
The sequence also deactivates
when any of the following occur:
. The ignition is turned off.
. The transmission is shifted out
of P (Park).
. The brake pedal is pressed.
. The turn signal is activated.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13337620) - 2020 - CRC - 4/11/19
Driving and Operating 323
Adding a Snow Plow or
Similar Equipment
Caution
Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph)
with a snow plow mounted to the
vehicle. The vehicle could
overheat and be damaged.
Before installing a snow plow on the
vehicle, follow these guidelines:
Caution
If the vehicle does not have the
snow plow prep package, RPO
VYU, adding a plow can damage
the vehicle, and the repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Unless the vehicle was
built to carry a snow plow, do not
add one to the vehicle. If the
vehicle has RPO VYU, then the
payload the vehicle can carry will
be reduced when a snow plow is (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
installed. The vehicle can be
damaged if either the front or rear
axle ratings or the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) are
exceeded.
The plow the vehicle can carry
depends on many things, such as:
. The options the vehicle came
with, and the weight of those
options.
. The weight and number of
passengers to be carried.
. The weight of items added to the
vehicle, like a tool box or
truck cap.
. The total weight of any
additional cargo to be carried.
For example, if the snow plow
weighs 318 kg (700 lb), the total
weight of all occupants and cargo
inside the cab should not exceed
135 kg (300 lb). This means that you
may only be able to carry one
passenger. Even this may be too much if there is other equipment
already adding to the weight of the
vehicle.
To safely carry a snow plow on the
vehicle:
.
Follow all aftermarket snow plow
manufacturer ’s instructions for
the operation and transportation
of the snow plow.
. With a snow plow attached, the
engine coolant temperature
gauge may show a higher
temperature than while driving
without one. The snow plow
could block the airflow to the
radiator. This could be more
noticeable as vehicle speed
increases. At speeds above
72 km (45 mph), this may cause
the engine coolant to overheat.
. To increase the airflow, move the
snow plow blade postion.
. If driving more than 24 km
(15 mi), angle the plow blade
position.