2015 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra Adopt Towing Standard
What It Means for Older Trucks
GM has announced all new 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups will adopt an industry-wide towing standard. This adoption means the newer trucks have different towing capacities versus previous generations. Confused? Here is what you need to know.
For decades, truck manufactures have been locked in an eternal game of one-upmanship over the king of towing title. This has largely resulted in inflated maximum towing capacity numbers. The inflated numbers and race to be the best got so bad engineers would “recalculate” their numbers to increase towing capacity – even though the truck hadn’t changed at all.
These less than truthful towing capacity numbers combined with zero government oversight lead many to decree the issue as a public safety problem. The thought was many owners were overloading their trucks with the inflated numbers. An over-loaded truck is extremely difficult to handle and stop. Quite often, the brakes will overheat due to the excessive load which may cause an accident.
In response to this madness, the truck makers and the Society of American Engineers got together to develop a standard. Finalized in 2010, the new standard was meant to remove the inflated numbers and increase safety.
The Towing Standard
Officially known as the SAE J2807 towing standard, it has specific tests to determine how much a truck can safely pull. The idea is to test out these trucks as a normal driver would tow.
SAE says the testing includes:
Acceleration: For any given trailer weight, the tow vehicle needs to accelerate to 30 mph in 12 seconds or less, to 60 in 30 seconds or less, and from 40 to 60 mph over level ground in no more than 18 seconds. Dualies are allowed extra time to meet these requirements.
Climbing: Tow vehicles need to climb the Davis Dam Grade (or an equivalent simulation) – a 3,000-foot run over an 11.4-mile stretch of Arizona State Route 68 southeast of Las Vegas – without dropping below 40 mph and with the air conditioning on full blast. Dualies get it easy again, with a 35-mph minimum speed.
Launching: On a 12-percent grade (an incline that rises 12 feet for every 100 feet of horizontal distance), the tow vehicle must be able to move 16 feet from a standstill five times within five minutes. That’s in the uphill direction, in both forward and reverse.
Weight: The standard specifies that vehicles with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of less than 8,500 pounds carry a 150-pound driver and a 150-pound passenger. Vehicles above 8,500 pounds add an extra 100 pounds of equipment. If you’re heavier than 150 pounds or carry more gear, deduct that extra weight from the maximum towing figure.
Plus, there is testing for braking, parking (hold the weight on a 12% grade) and deformation of the frame and/or hitch receiver.
GM’s New Towing Limits
Starting with the 2015 models, GM will adhere to the towing standard. This means these trucks will have different towing numbers than identical models of just a year ago.
Here is a look at popular towing combinations.
| Configuration | Regular cab 2WD 4.3L V-6 6.5’ box 3.43 axle | Double cab 2WD 5.3L V-8 6.5’ box 3.08 axle | Crew cab 2WD 5.3L V-8 5.7’ box 3.42 axle | Regular cab 4×4 4.3L V-6 6.5’ box 3.42 axle | Double cab 4×4 5.3L V-8 6.5’ box 3.42 axle | Crew cab 4×4 5.3L V-8 5.7’ box 3.73 axle | |
| 2014 | (Pre SAE J2807) | 6,400 lbs. | 6,900 lbs. | 9,800 lbs. | 7,600 lbs. | 9,600 lbs. | 11,200 lbs. |
| 2015 | (SAE J2807) | 6,100 lbs. | 6,500 lbs. | 9,400 lbs. | 7,600 lbs. | 9,200 lbs. | 10,800 lbs. |
Key points:
- Most of the 47 build combinations will drop 300-500 lbs.
- V-6, 4wd trucks have the same rating of 7,600 lbs.
- A majority of the truck combinations featuring a 6.2L, V-8 with the maximum trailering package will maintain the top rating of 12,000 lbs.
Old Truck’s Unsafe?
One of the big questions for older truck owners/shoppers is how safe are the older models. While the previous towing capacity numbers were surely inflated, they weren’t exactly unsafe.
The fact is all truck makers had their own system for determining towing capacities. All this standard does is align the various testing methods.
What’s next? It is expected that Ford, Ram and Nissan will adhere to the standard and follow suit.
See General Motors Left Car & Truck Towing & Hauling for sale on eBay.
