Tow/Haul Mode - Chevrolet Silverado Classic 2007 Owner's Manual

Tow/Haul Mode

Tow/Haul is a feature on automatic transmission
equipped vehicles that assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load. See
Tow/Haul Mode on page 143 for more information.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most effective when
the vehicle and trailer combined weight is at
least 75% of the vehicle's Gross Combined Weight
Rating (GCWR). See "Weight of the Trailer"
later in the section. Tow/Haul is most useful under
the following driving conditions:
•
When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load through rolling terrain.
•
When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load in stop and go traffic.
•
When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy
load in busy parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is desired.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul when lightly
loaded or with no trailer at all will not cause
damage. However, there is no benefit to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the vehicle is
unloaded. Such a selection when unloaded may
result in unpleasant engine and transmission
driving characteristics and reduced fuel economy.
Tow/Haul is recommended 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 rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to
pull a trailer are all important. It can also depend
on any special equipment that you have on
your 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.
Above the 5,000 lbs (2 268 kg) trailer rating, the
handling/trailering suspension is required on
two-wheel drive 1500 series models and the
handling/trailering or off-road suspension is
required on four-wheel drive 1500 series models.
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