Towing Equipment - GMC 2011 Sierra Denali Owner's Manual

9-80 Driving and Operating
Total Weight on the Vehicle's
Tires
Be sure the vehicle's tires are
inflated to the inflation pressures
found on the Certification Tire label
on the driver door or see Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9 23 for more
information. Make sure not to
exceed the GVWR limit for the
vehicle, or the RGAWR, with the
tow vehicle and trailer fully loaded
for the trip including the weight
of the trailer tongue. If using a
weight-distributing hitch, make sure
not to exceed the RGAWR before
applying the weight distribution
spring bars.
Weight of the Trailering
Combination
It is important that the combination
of the tow vehicle and trailer does
not exceed any of its weight
ratings GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR,
Trailer Weight Rating, or Tongue
Weight. The only way to be sure it is
not exceeding any of these ratings
is to weigh the tow vehicle and
trailer combination, fully loaded for
the trip, getting individual weights
for each of these items.

Towing Equipment

Hitches
The correct hitch equipment helps
maintain combination control.
Most small-to-medium trailers can
be towed with a weight-carrying
hitch which simply features a
coupler latched to the hitch ball.
Larger trailers may require a
weight-distributing hitch that
uses spring bars to distribute the
trailer tongue weight among the
two vehicle and trailer axles.
See Weight of the Trailer Tongue
under Trailer Towing on page 9 76
for rating limits with various hitch
types.
If a step-bumper hitch will be used,
the bumper could be damaged in
sharp turns. Make sure there
is ample room when turning to avoid
contact between the trailer and the
bumper.
Consider using sway controls
with any trailer. Ask a trailering
professional about sway controls or
refer to the trailer manufacturer's
recommendations and instructions.