Weight Of The Trailer - GMC 2009 Envoy Denali Owner's Manual

Pulling A Trailer
Here are some important points:
•
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
the rig will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you will be driving. A good source for
this information can be state or provincial police.
•
Consider using a sway control. See "Hitches" later
in this section.
•
Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
•
Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that a
trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)
and do not make starts at full throttle. This helps
the engine and other parts of the vehicle wear in at
the heavier loads.
•
Vehicles with an automatic transmissions can tow
in D (Drive). Shift the transmission to a lower gear
if the transmission shifts too often under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
•
The weight of the trailer
•
The weight of the trailer tongue
•
The weight on the vehicle's tires

Weight of the Trailer

How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how the rig is used. For example, speed,
altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much
the vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important. It can
depend on any special equipment on the vehicle, and the
amount of tongue weight the vehicle can carry. See
"Weight of the Trailer Tongue" later in this section for
more information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming only the
driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all the required
trailering equipment. The weight of additional optional
equipment, passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle
must be subtracted from the maximum trailer weight.
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