Towing Specs

[ryan_hermanutz]

I have a question for you guys, I'm trying to figure out some towing stuff. I want to know how much weight I can tow, my truck says my GVMR is 7,000# but the manual says GCWR is 11,000#, which is the difference between the two and why.

[rodram]

the Gross Combined Weight Rating is the maximum combined weight of truck + contents (people, gas, gear) + trailer that you should be handling when rolling down the road ..... it should be equal to the GVW of the truck plus the maximum tow capacity of the truck. This suggests that your maximum tow capacity is 4,000 pounds, which for a 4.8 and if you have high ratio gears (like 3.42 or 3.23) then it sounds like it could be right

 

the maximum towing capacity of the truck is a number that GM assigns for safe towing ... there is no standard method of assigning this number, but it will be based on your engine power, engine cooling capacity, transmission toughness, transmission cooling capacity, overall torque (rear differential gears), and braking ability... (ie., not dependant on suspension)