Customer satisfaction program N202309631

[Brad Holleran]

I actually got the the letter Thursday August 5th 2021 !…..dropped my towing capacity 500 lbs and tongue weight 50 lbs. My wife and I are aircraft techs from the RCAF, we know weight and balance and make no mistakes applying it to everything we own. Bought a GMC Sierra SLT 1500 with a 6.2 liter engine, towing capacity of 9300 lbs, existing trailer setup at around 9400 ish pounds so figured on the wire yet still good to go.
The new tag on the truck puts us at 8800 lbs and tongue weight 50 lbs less which now puts us way out of the small window I feel comfortable staying in.
Called GM, was informed absolutely do not tow anything over the new stated weight restriction which leaves me standing in the yard scratching my back side with a truck that has 13,000 kms on it and a awesome 40,000 dollar trailer sitting.
Imagine the choice words I have expressed the past few days LOL !…..Supposedly corporate office will be in touch very soon to resolve the issue, i’ll keep everyone in the loop as best I can.

[hollywoodsle]

27 minutes ago, Brad Holleran said:

I actually got the the letter Thursday August 5th 2021 !…..dropped my towing capacity 500 lbs and tongue weight 50 lbs. My wife and I are aircraft techs from the RCAF, we know weight and balance and make no mistakes applying it to everything we own. Bought a GMC Sierra SLT 1500 with a 6.2 liter engine, towing capacity of 9300 lbs, existing trailer setup at around 9400 ish pounds so figured on the wire yet still good to go.
The new tag on the truck puts us at 8800 lbs and tongue weight 50 lbs less which now puts us way out of the small window I feel comfortable staying in.
Called GM, was informed absolutely do not tow anything over the new stated weight restriction which leaves me standing in the yard scratching my back side with a truck that has 13,000 kms on it and a awesome 40,000 dollar trailer sitting.
Imagine the choice words I have expressed the past few days LOL !…..Supposedly corporate office will be in touch very soon to resolve the issue, i’ll keep everyone in the loop as best I can.

 

 

So you're overweight regardless.

 

Doubt very much this is going to be received very well here, or by GM.

[cltsig]

4 minutes ago, hollywoodsle said:

 

 

So you're overweight regardless.

 

Doubt very much this is going to be received very well here, or by GM.

Right, but he bought it when it was not over the stated capacities.  I disagree, it will be received here well because GM misstated the capacity which was a decision point for purchasing this truck.  

[hollywoodsle]

51 minutes ago, cltsig said:

Right, but he bought it when it was not over the stated capacities.  I disagree, it will be received here well because GM misstated the capacity which was a decision point for purchasing this truck.  

Wrong, it was over the whole time tow capacity 9300 trailer weight 9400

[It's Tim]

2 hours ago, Brad Holleran said:

Bought a GMC Sierra SLT 1500 with a 6.2 liter engine, towing capacity of 9300 lbs, existing trailer setup at around 9400 ish pounds so figured on the wire yet still good to go.

Until you're involved in an accident.

You didn't need a different decal, you need a different truck.

[Transient]

This thread has a very random start.  Let's back up to the very first sentence in the first post.  What letter?  What sticker?  Why is there a reduction in towing on these trucks?  These, and many more, questions need to be answered.  It sounds like the OP has a 2021 Trail Boss, aimed by the 9300 lbs towing capacity.  I have a 2020 Trail Boss with the 6.2.  I want to know more info.

[Brad Holleran]

Reply to hollywoodsle !......I understand your point though the max GCWR is still 15,000 lbs, max trailer is now 8800lbs, max tongue weight now at 880lbs.

Dry weight of trailer without contents is 8490 lbs + 2 30lb propane cylinders @ 50lbs each + 2 deep cycle batteries @ 50 lbs each = 8730 lbs

The truck is 5096 lbs dry + 200 lbs fuel + 350 lbs 2 passengers = 5646 lbs

Total GCW = 14,376lbs which is within total GCWR.

Issue is !.....with the new tag the GCWR is still the same, the tongue weight is now 880 lbs which I am exactly that, The trailer is totally empty at 8730lbs  leaving me 70 lbs for clothes, bedding, food, water, hoses, extension cords tools and anything else I may have forgotten. 

I purchased the truck knowing the initial 9300lb max trailer weight was on the wire when loaded with everything I need to enjoy. The truck is awesome, great gas mileage when used to get groceries or what ever and at Max GCWR works well. 

Only legal way of traveling is having the total contents of the trailer loaded in the back of my truck in order to not exceed max trailer weight when traveling which was not a issue until they dropped me 500lbs leaving me 5 to 600 lbs over weight when the trailer is loaded.

 

[redwngr]

I recall reading about this a few months back.

Seems some trucks went out with incorrect (vin specific) capacity stickers on the door post so some customers will be notified. 

 

https://www.torquenews.com/3768/why-you-may-need-check-towing-capacity-your-2020-chevrolet-silverado

 

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2021/04/gm-to-replace-towing-labels-on-certain-2020-chevy-silverado-gmc-sierra-pickups/

 

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/your-2020-chevy-silverado-might-have-the-wrong-towing-label/

 

 

 

 

 

[Brad Holleran]

Letter from GM

 

Edited August 11, 2021 by Brad Holleran
remove personal info

[Brad Holleran]

Maybe not the right thing to do however I did put the whole letter up for those who are first hearing of this issue !

 

[TRKLGND]

3 hours ago, Brad Holleran said:

Reply to hollywoodsle !......I understand your point though the max GCWR is still 15,000 lbs, max trailer is now 8800lbs, max tongue weight now at 880lbs.

Dry weight of trailer without contents is 8490 lbs + 2 30lb propane cylinders @ 50lbs each + 2 deep cycle batteries @ 50 lbs each = 8730 lbs

The truck is 5096 lbs dry + 200 lbs fuel + 350 lbs 2 passengers = 5646 lbs

Total GCW = 14,376lbs which is within total GCWR.

Issue is !.....with the new tag the GCWR is still the same, the tongue weight is now 880 lbs which I am exactly that, The trailer is totally empty at 8730lbs  leaving me 70 lbs for clothes, bedding, food, water, hoses, extension cords tools and anything else I may have forgotten. 

I purchased the truck knowing the initial 9300lb max trailer weight was on the wire when loaded with everything I need to enjoy. The truck is awesome, great gas mileage when used to get groceries or what ever and at Max GCWR works well. 

Only legal way of traveling is having the total contents of the trailer loaded in the back of my truck in order to not exceed max trailer weight when traveling which was not a issue until they dropped me 500lbs leaving me 5 to 600 lbs over weight when the trailer is loaded.

 

Just my opinion but it seems you bought too little truck for your trailer or too much trailer for your truck depending on which you purchased first.  Towing "on the wire" is not the smartest of decisions.  Short distances, flat terrain and only occasionally then maybe.  Hills/mountains and/or long distances then you need more truck or less trailer.  A good rule of thumb is to leave a 10% margin.  Your trailer dry was outside of this margin.
The letter you received reducing max trailer weight and max tongue weight is inconsequential.  

[Brad Holleran]

TRKLGND !.... Totally understand your point. I did have the trailer before the truck, do also understand that I am on the wire yet I have a issue spending a pile extra money on a large truck to sometimes pull a trailer and most of it's life getting groceries.

As I explained in the beginning, I know my stuff, run the truck to it's engineered capacity which initially pulled the trailer legally and gives me best fuel mileage.   

[Atlas]

A little of this, a little of that. OP has every right to be upset that GM over-stated, over-sold the tow capacity and then later revised it after he had purchased the truck.  That's not good for GM, and it's not good for the customer, certainly without any statement or offer of compensation or remedy.

 

In hindsight, maybe it wasn't the truck for the job, even if barely inside of the stated capacities. Personally, if I were to tow something of significant weight, regularly, I would err on the side of "too much truck" versus having to worry about being technically and legally overloaded if I have too many personal effects in my travel trailer. Whether for reasons of budget, frugality, or inexperience, the truck was purchased with maximum capacity in mind and GM has put him in an unfortunate situation.

 

Tell us about what GM does for you, would be curious how they plan to work with their customers.

[TRKLGND]

42 minutes ago, Brad Holleran said:

TRKLGND !.... Totally understand your point. I did have the trailer before the truck, do also understand that I am on the wire yet I have a issue spending a pile extra money on a large truck to sometimes pull a trailer and most of it's life getting groceries.

As I explained in the beginning, I know my stuff, run the truck to it's engineered capacity which initially pulled the trailer legally and gives me best fuel mileage.   

You didn't have to get a larger truck.  There are plenty of 1500s than can do 12k plus.  Would have been everything you needed.

[Transient]

12 hours ago, TRKLGND said:

Just my opinion but it seems you bought too little truck for your trailer or too much trailer for your truck depending on which you purchased first.  Towing "on the wire" is not the smartest of decisions.  Short distances, flat terrain and only occasionally then maybe.  Hills/mountains and/or long distances then you need more truck or less trailer.  A good rule of thumb is to leave a 10% margin.  Your trailer dry was outside of this margin.
The letter you received reducing max trailer weight and max tongue weight is inconsequential.  

100% agreed.  Travel trailer are like big sails when the wind hits them.  Unless it's a small toy hauler, a travel trailer this heavy is likely more than 30 feet.  My travel trailer is 28 feet and max loaded is 7500 lbs.  30+ feet on a light half ton could make for a bad day.  I think I'm pushing it with my 28 footer, and I have a CDL.

Edited August 12, 2021 by Transient