Towing Without A Hitch

2KCAV · November 8, 2007

Hey Guys,

I'v Got a NBS Sierra 1500 with the 4.8 and 6'6" box, and was wondering how much weight I can tow (if any) with a ball on the bumper?

thanks guys

Draenor · November 8, 2007

Its not stamped on the bumper anymore or in the service manual? Dont quote me but I recall 200lbs tongue, 2000lbs capacity.

gmcjoe · November 8, 2007

It is stamped on the bumper, you might have to remove the black pad to see it.

Silverado4x4 · November 8, 2007

You didnt get the hitch under the bumper? I though they all came with them,If you did just go out and buy a reciever to slide in the hitch.

TFA · November 8, 2007

Hey, 1st post here. Kind of on the same subject, I have a 07 Serria ext. cab long bed, 5.3 NBS and tow a trailer with mowers on it that weighs about 3000 to 3300lbs. Should I use the tow/haul mode or not? I think the book says use it if the weight is over 75% of gross vehicle weight. I just noticed better gas miliage when I did not have the tow/haul mode engaged, I just wasn't sure if it could damage the transmission over time. Thanks for any help.

jrrod2004 · November 8, 2007

Hey, 1st post here. Kind of on the same subject, I have a 07 Serria ext. cab long bed, 5.3 NBS and tow a trailer with mowers on it that weighs about 3000 to 3300lbs. Should I use the tow/haul mode or not? I think the book says use it if the weight is over 75% of gross vehicle weight. I just noticed better gas miliage when I did not have the tow/haul mode engaged, I just wasn't sure if it could damage the transmission over time. Thanks for any help.

your transmission can overheat faster and wear faster, the tow/haul mode changes the shift points on the transmission to handle a load better (not to mention keep the engine in the meat of its powerband)

TFA · November 9, 2007

I have the towing package with the transmission cooler if that matters

cerbomark · November 9, 2007

I sometimes forget to put the tow/haul button on or if I feel the truck is pulling fine without it. Don t see it causing a problem on light loads. As far as towing off the bumper , I found that the height of the bumper was way too high for my trailers to be level. You also should know what rear gears you have cause that will change the tow rating. The tow ratings are listed in the owners man..

2KCAV · November 9, 2007

I diddnt see any thing in the manual, I'll have to check under the plastic on the bumper...

pm26 · November 9, 2007

Typically, small trucks have 2000/200 ratings for the bumpers. Full size truck bumpers used to be rated for 5000/500 lbs, but that was years ago, when bumpers were sturdy, not flimsy like now. So I would not go over 3000/300 lbs on a new truck when pulling by the bumper.

cerbomark · November 9, 2007

1500 extended cab,4wd, standard box , 4.8 3.42 rear=5500 lbs,

4.8, 4.10 rear=7500 lbs.

5000 lbs max. off the bumper.

You can have a hitch installed for about $300 if this doesn t work for you. Don t forget about the height of the hitch to keep your trailer level.

silverad03 · November 9, 2007

Seeing as how the factory receiver hitch relies upon the rear bumper as an integral component of the hitch because of the rather cheesy design, or at least it was on the 99-07s and it still looks about the same on the NNBS, I'd say the towing capacity of the bumper probably isn't terribly far off from the factory tow hitch rating. The dealership/prior owner of my truck painted over the load rating stickers on mine so I'm not really certain what the factory hitch is rated for. I'd definitely have a look under the bumper step pad as a start.

gmcjoe · November 9, 2007

Seeing as how the factory receiver hitch relies upon the rear bumper as an integral component of the hitch because of the rather cheesy design, or at least it was on the 99-07s and it still looks about the same on the NNBS, I'd say the towing capacity of the bumper probably isn't terribly far off from the factory tow hitch rating. The dealership/prior owner of my truck painted over the load rating stickers on mine so I'm not really certain what the factory hitch is rated for. I'd definitely have a look under the bumper step pad as a start.

At first I thought you were a bit off...

Then I walked outside. My 2000 GMC Sierra K1500 Z71 is rated as follows:

Bumper hitch rating (info stamped on black pad on bumper) :

Max Tongue Load 500 pounds

Max Trailer Load 5,000 pounds

GM Factory hitch ratings:

Weight Carrying

Max Tongue Load 600 pounds

Max Trailer Load 5,000 pounds

Pretty d**n close

silverad03 · November 9, 2007

Seeing as how the factory receiver hitch relies upon the rear bumper as an integral component of the hitch because of the rather cheesy design, or at least it was on the 99-07s and it still looks about the same on the NNBS, I'd say the towing capacity of the bumper probably isn't terribly far off from the factory tow hitch rating. The dealership/prior owner of my truck painted over the load rating stickers on mine so I'm not really certain what the factory hitch is rated for. I'd definitely have a look under the bumper step pad as a start.

At first I thought you were a bit off...

Then I walked outside. My 2000 GMC Sierra K1500 Z71 is rated as follows:

Bumper hitch rating (info stamped on black pad on bumper) :

Max Tongue Load 500 pounds

Max Trailer Load 5,000 pounds

GM Factory hitch ratings:

Weight Carrying

Max Tongue Load 600 pounds

Max Trailer Load 5,000 pounds

Pretty d**n close

To get off-topic for a moment:

If you look closely at the factory tow hitch, all it fundamentally amounts to is a SQUARE receiver tube welded perpendicular to the side of a ROUND cross tube - which basically means you would have all the weight on the receiver transmitted to the frame of your truck by one little central weld point on the cross tube.

To beef up the hitch, GM put a plate that straddles the receiver tube and attaches to the round cross tube on the back side of the tube - this provides an additional little weld point and also serves as the safety chains attachment point. Since GM tells us you could theoretically have 5000lbs of weight pushing and pulling against these two little weld points, GM had a U-shaped piece welded on top of the receiver tube and bolted to the bumper, which is probably the most sturdy part of the factory hitch system.

So, basically what you have is a receiver tube bolted to the bumper and a couple small weld points transmitting the towing forces to the frame of the vehicle - to me that's not very confidence inspiring if you are planning on towing near the rated capacity of the hitch. That's also why the factory tow hitch rated capacity is not significantly different from the rated capacity of the bumper. There have been a number of the GM hitches that have broken while towing near their capacity - some of these breakages occurred when using a weight distribution hitch, but for me a $150 aftermarket hitch with a sturdy square cross tube is cheap insurance if you will be towing near the factory tow hitch capacity.

But to get back to topic, looks like you can probably tow about 500/5000 with the factory bumper, assuming you have an appropriately rated hitch ball, etc. Make sure you verify the rating on your bumper before you hook up, though.