GMC 2003 Sierra - Manual (Page 349)

Tow/hauil is designed to be most effectivg when the
vehicle and trailer combined weight is at leasi 7S% of
the vehicle's Gross Combined Weigh! Rating (GCWR).
See
W eigi)! of the rafter laler in the section^ Tow^aul
is mos( useful under (he toUowing driving conditions;
• When pulling a heavy iraHer or a large or heavv !oad
through rolling tenafn^
• When pulling a heavy trailer or a largs or heavy
load In stop and go traffic.
• When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy
load in busy parldng lots whore I m proved low
speed conlrOl of the vehicle is desired.
Operating the vehicle in tow/haul when lightly loaded or
with rw trailer at all will not cause damage. HowevsTf
there is no beneRt lo Ihe ssJectlon of low/haul when (he
vehicle is unloaded. Such a solectran when unloaded
may result In unpleasant engine and transmission driving
characleristkcs and reduced luel economy. Tow/haul
is recornrnended only when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your ng. For
example^ speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehida Is used to pull
a trailer are afl important, And, it can also deper^d
on any Special equipment that you have on your vehjcle.
Use one of the following chans lo deiermine how
much your vehicte tan weigh, based upon your vehicle
model and options,
Maximum trailer weight is catculatad assuming Ihe
driver and one passenger are in the tow vehicle and it
has all the required trallering equipment. The weight
of additionaJ optiorral equipmenl, passengers and cargo
in the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the
maxirmim trailer weight-
Above the 5,OOD lbs. (2 2БВ Kg) trailer rating, the
hand ling/tra lie ring suspension is required on
С-15СЮ models and the handllng/traileTing or ofl-road
suspension is required on K-150Q models,
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