GMC Towing: How to Check your Towing Capacity

 

 

When it comes to trailering, numbers do count. Here’s what you need to know before you tow. First, let’s get familiar with these terms, which you can find in the owner manual, like GVWR, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, which is the maximum allowable weight of your vehicle, including its parts, driver, passengers, and cargo. When calculating the GVW, Gross Vehicle Weight, with a trailer attached, the trailer tongue weight must be included as part of the weight the vehicle is carrying. GAWR, Gross Axle Weight Rating, which is the maximum distributed weight on each axle. GCWR, Gross Combined Weight Rating, is the maximum allowable combined weight of your loaded vehicle and loaded trailer. Remember the weight of your vehicle plus cargo, plus the weight of the trailer, plus any objects in the trailer, shouldn’t exceed the GCWR of your vehicle. There’s payload or the amount of weight your vehicle can carry safely. Tongue weight is the downward force from the coupler of the trailer on the vehicle hitch. For conventional trailers, the general guideline is to keep the tongue weight at around 10% to 15% of the loaded trailer weight. For gooseneck or fifth wheel trailering, it should be 15% to 25% of the loaded trailer weight. Maximum trailer weight rating is the heaviest trailer weight the vehicle can tow. This is calculated assuming the tow vehicle has a driver, a front seat passenger, and all required trailering equipment.

It may be necessary to reduce the trailer weight to stay within the GCWR, GVWR, maximum trailer tongue load or GAWR, rear of the vehicle. Curb weight is the weight of your vehicle without any passengers or cargo in it. This includes the weight of its standard and optional equipment, as well as its fuel, oil and coolant. Want to find out your vehicle’s towing capacity? Look for the available trailering information label on the driver door jamb. You can also check the owner manual for more information, or check the trailering guide online at gmc.com. Just select your vehicle model to get the information you need. You can use the available load calculator on the myGMC mobile app. Just tap more on the bottom of the app home screen, tap trailering, then load calculator. If your vehicle is equipped, you can input all the trailering information needed and the app will let you know if you’re overloading your vehicle. Just keep these details in mind and you’re good to tow.