The owners manual, available from gmc.com for free as a pdf if you don't have the paper copy, has a table with the maximum trailer weight and GCWR, based on engine, cab, bed length and how the trailer is connected.

And remember that adding people and/or luggage/equipment in the truck itself (cab or bed) reduces how much you can tow.

 

GM will tell you some astronomical number like 9,500lbs. It’s not true. Well, it is true, and the truck can do it, but safely it’s not smart.

 

OK, can you post a photo of your RPO sheet for us? It's in your glove box. Also take photos of the silver door sticker and the Tire and Load information sticker on the door jamb.

It can be up to over 12,000 pounds. The K2s were the first GM trucks to adhere to the J2807 SAE towing standard that most all automakers now use. If it can says it, it can do it. But can you? Every man has got to know his limitations!

 

Ok the I will post the only sticker in the glove box and the two stickers on the door jamb .
The manual is useless if you don’t know the axle ratio

 

1500 DC 2WD 4.3L V-6 5,600 lbs. (3.42 gear)
1500 DC 2WD 5.3L V-8 6,400 lbs. (3.08 gear)
1500 DC 2WD 5.3L V-8 9,400 lbs. (3.42 gear)
1500 DC 2WD 5.3L V-8 11,100 lbs. (3.73 gear with tow package)
1500 DC 2WD 6.2L V-8 9,400 lbs. (3.23 gear)
500 DC 2WD 6.2L V-8 12,000 lbs. (3.42gear with tow package)
1500 DC 4WD 4.3L V-6 7,100 lbs. (3.42 gear)
1500 DC 4WD 5.3L V-8 6,200 lbs.(3.08 gear)
1500 DC 4WD 5.3L V-8 9,200 lbs. (3.42 gear)
1500 DC 4WD 5.3L V-8 10,800 lbs. (3.42 gear with tow package)
1500 DC 4WD 5.3L V-8 10,900 lbs. (3.73 gear with tow package)
1500 DC 4WD 6.2L V-8 9,200 lbs. (3.42 gear)
1500 DC 4WD 6.2L V-8 11,800 lbs. (3.42 gear with tow package)

 

Ok, You have 3.42 gears and your curb weight as delivered (that's all options including a tank of gas) was 5411 pounds. Your hitch carrying capacity is 9,200 pounds and 9,000 with a 5th wheel or gooseneck. Happy towing! - James

Copy this for your records, this is the RPO sheet for your truck:

1GCVKNEC0HZ159026

Vehicle:
Listed Below
Year:
2017
Build Date:
2016-11-05


RPO Description
AE7 SEAT,FRT SPLIT,EASY ENTRY EASY ENTRY SPLIT F/SEAT(AE7)
AKO WINDOW TYPE PRIVACY PRIVACY WINDOW(AKO)
AL0 SENSOR INDICATOR INFLATABLE RESTRAINT, FRT PASS/CHILD PRESENCE DETECTOR FRT PASS/CHILD PRESENCE DETECTOR INFL REST IND SENSOR(AL0)
AM7 SEAT,REAR FOLDING RR FLDG ST(AM7)
AQQ LOCK CONTROL, ENTRY REMOTE ENTRY, EXTENDED RANGE EXTENDED RANGE REMOTE LOCK CONTROL(AQQ)
AU3 LOCK,SIDE DOOR,ELECTRIC ELEC S/D LK(AU3)
AXK VEHICLE TYPE TRUCK VEHICLE-TRUCK(AXK)
AY0 RESTRAINT SYSTEM SEAT, INFLATABLE, DRIVER & PASS, FRT SIDE, ROOF SIDE DRVR & PASS FRT SIDE & ROOF INFLATABLE RESTRAINT(AY0)
A31 WINDOW,ELECTRIC OPERATED,SIDE ELEC SI WDO(A31)
A91 LOCK CONTROL RR CMPT TAILGATE, REM CONT ELEC OPEN/CLOSE R/COMPT LID PULDN(A91)
BWN STEPS CORNER ASSIST, BUMPER
B30 CARPET,FLOOR AND WHEELHOUSE FLR CPT(B30)
B32 COVERING,FLOOR MATS,FRONT AUXILIARY FRT AUX FLR MATS(B32)
B33 COVERING,FLOOR MATS,REAR AUXILIARY RR AUX FLR MATS(B33)
C49 DEFOGGER,REAR WINDOW,ELECTRIC ELEC RR WDO DEFG(C49)
C5Z GVW RATING(7200 LBS) 7200 LB GVWR(C5Z)
C67 AIR CONDITIONER,FRONT,ELECTRONIC CONTROLS A/C FRT ELEC CONT(C67)
DL8 MIRROR,OUTSIDE,RH AND LH REMOTE CONTROL,ELECTRIC,DEFOG ELEC R/CON HTD O/S MIR(DL8)
EF7 COUNTRY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) U S A(EF7)
E63 Unk.
FHO VEHICLE FUEL GASOLINE E10 E10 GASOLINE FUEL TYPE(FHO)
FWI PLANT CODE FORT WAYNE, IN GM T&B FORT WAYNE,IN PLANT(FWI)
GBA PRIMARY COLOR EXTERIOR, BLACK (G) EXTERIOR COLOR(GBA)
GU6 AXLE,REAR,3.42 RATIO 3.42R(GU6)
G80 AXLE,REAR,POSITRACTION,LIMITED SLIP POSITRACTION L/SLIP R/AXL(G80)
HQY Unk.
H2R INTERIOR TRIM CONFIG CLOTH, LEVEL 1, JET BLACK/DK ASH INTERIOR TRIM(H2R)
IO3 RADIO INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM - BASE BASE RADIO INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM(IO3)
I17 ENGINEERING YEAR 2017
JD9 BRAKE VAC POWER, 17" DISC/DISC, W/VSES, 7700 LBS 7700 LB VAC PWR BRAKES(JD9)
KC4 Unk.
KG4 GENERATOR 150 AMP 150 AMP GEN(KG4)
KI4 RECEPTACLE ELECTRICAL, ACCESSORY 110 VOLT ACCESSORY - 100 VOLT ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE(KI4)
KNP COOLING SYSTEM,TRANSMISSION,HEAVY DUTY HVY DUTY TRANS CLG SYS(KNP)
KRV REFRIGERANT LOW GWP LOW GWP REFRIGERANT(KRV)
K34 CRUISE CONTROL,AUTOMATIC,ELECTRONIC CRCONT(K34)
L83 Unk.
MAH MARKETING AREA NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA(MAH)
MYC TRANSMISSION AUTO 6 SPD, HMD, 6L-80 6-SPD A/TRANS(MYC)
NE1 CERTIFICATION EMISSION, GEOGRAPHICALLY RESTRICTED REGISTRATION FOR VEHICLES UP TO 14, 000 LBS GVW (USE 2 RESTRICTED REGISTRATION EMIS(NE1)
NE8 EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEVEL 3 EMISSIONS
NK5 STEERING WHEEL(STANDARD) STD WHL(NK5)
NQG TRANSFER CASE MANUAL SHIFT CONT, TWO SPEED, ALUM 2-SPD MAN SHFT ALUM TRANSFER CASE(NQG)
NUF EMISSION SYSTEM CALIFORNIA, ULEV125
N33 STEERING COLUMN,TILT TYPE TILT STRG COL(N33)
PCM CONTROL - SALES ITEM NO. 106
PCX CONTROL - SALES ITEM NO. 115
RC3 TIRE ALL P265/70R17 SL 113S BW AT TIRE(RC3)
RC4 TIRE SPARE P265/70R17 SL 113S BW ALS SPARE TIRE(RC4)
RD6 WHEEL 17 X 8.0, J, STEEL, DESIGN 2 ALUM WHEEL(RD6)
RUF WHEEL SPARE 17 X 7.5, J, STEEL, DESIGN 1 SPARE WHEEL(RUF)
R9N CONTROL - SALES ITEM NO. 89
SAF LOCK SPARE TIRE, HOIST SHAFT SPARE TIRE LOCK HOIST SHF(SAF)
SLM SALES PROCESSING - STOCK ORDERS
TDM Unk.
T4F HEADLAMPS HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLAMPS(T4F)
UDC DISPLAY INSTRUMENT DRIVER INFO ENHANCED (ONE COLOR GRAPHIC) DRIVER INFO ENHANCED DISPLAY(UDC)
UE0 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM VEHICLE, G.P.S.---NOT INSTALLED VEH COMM SYS NOT INSTALLED(UE0)
UJM TIRE PRESS INDICATOR MANUAL LEARN MANUAL LEARN TIRE PRESS IND(UJM)
UMN SPEEDOMETER INST, MILES & KILO, MILES ODOMETER MPH & KPH SPEEDO W/MILES ODOMETER(UMN)
UQ3 Unk.
UVC CAMERA REAR VIEW REAR VIEW CAMERA(UVC)
U2J DIGITAL AUDIO SYSTEM S-BAND "NOT INSTALLED" U2J)
U73 ANTENNA,FIXED FIXED ANT(U73)
VJH BUMPER RR CHROME CHROME REAR BUMPER(VJH)
VK3 LICENSE PLATE,FRONT MOUNTING PACKAGE FRT LIC PLT MTG PKG(VK3)
VRK VALUE ADDED ASM ROOF TRIM UPLEVEL ROOF TRIM(VRK)
VT7 OWNERS MANUAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENGLISH LANGUAGE OWNERS MANUAL(VT7)
VZ3 LABEL MERCURY DISPOSAL NOTIFICATION MERCURY DISPOSAL NOTICE LABEL(VZ3)
V22 GRILLE,RADIATOR(CHROME) CHROME GRL(V22)
V46 BUMPER,FRONT(CHROME) CHROME FRT BPR(V46)
V76 HOOK,FRONT TOW FRT TOW HOOK(V76)
V8D VEHICLE STATEMENT US US VEHICLE STATEMENT(V8D)
WMH VIN MODEL YEAR 2017
XL7 FREQUENCIES RATING 315 MHZ LONG DISTANCE 315 MHZ FREQ(XL7)
X88 CONVERSION CHEVROLET CHEVROLET(X88)
ZY1 Unk.
Z82 TRAILERING PACKAGE(SPECIAL)(REESE TYPE HITCH) PROVISION FOR HD TRAILER EQUIP(Z82)
Z85 CHASSIS PACKAGE,INCREASED CAPACITY CHAS PKG(Z85)
1SZ PACKAGE OPTION- (1SZ)
1WT PACKAGE WT OPTION 1 "WT" PKG(1WT)
4D7 INTERIOR TRIM JET BLACK/DK ASH INTERIOR TRIM COLOR(4D7)
6GG COMPONENT FRT LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP SUSP(6GG)
7GG COMPONENT FRT RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP SUSP(7GG)
8X2 COMPONENT RR LH NON-COMPUTER SEL SUSP SUSP(8X2)
9X2 COMPONENT RR RH NON-COMPUTER SEL SUSP SUSP(9X2)

 

Wow !!! I’m impressed !!!!Thank you

 

So I have posi rearend too ? Nice

 

It's not correctly worded. We call them lockers but G80 combines functions of both a locker and a limited slip. The important thing to note is that it does not take limited slip additive, that causes problems.

 

G80 is a locking rear-end in trucks, not a "posi".

 

So it performs like posi ??

 

It's a one wheeler until one wheel begins turning 120 rpms more than the other, then the other wheel is engaged and locked in and it acts like a posi until the need for it ends.

 

Its more known for performing like a stick of dynamite.

I see Swathdiver posted it, but did you try the QR code on the sticker?

 

It works fine for the vast majority of people. It doesn't like being abused, doing things like burnouts on dry pavement.

 

What exactly is the 6GG and 7GG. Tried searching and this is the only thread coming up

 

Those are your front shock codes. You can look in the description for shocks after loading your vehicle by description or VIN to find out which part numbers are for yours.

https://parts-catalog.acdelco.com/acesCat.php?

 

6GG - FRT LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP
7GG - FRT RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP

Its for the assembly line to know what springs/struts to put on I believe.

GM Master RPO Code Listing

The attached .pdf file contains all of the RPO codes associated with our vehicles:

www.silveradosierra.com

 

Gotcha. I knew what it meant but not what computer sel suspension

 

If the factory rates it at 9200 use about 2/3 if that number or about 6000 lbs as a realistic limit. Anywhere that 6000# limit and you need a WDH. Sway control really helps.

 

GM is following the J2807 standard now. If they rate it to tow 9,200 pounds, it can do so across Death Valley on the hottest days in the summer and across the Eisenhower Tunnel at that rate. However, a man has got to know HIS limitations. The truck can do it, can he?

 

Here is the best article that I have found on the subject. Please read the entire article. It is far from if the tag claims 9500, hook it up and go on vacation. RV engineer answers: Is maximum towing capacity just smoke and mirrors?

 

This is the meat of the article <<< snip >>>

Auto manufacturers have dreams about the coveted status of “best towing capacity in class!” They’ll squeeze every pound possible out of their pickups (and their brochures). Their job depends on it.


So yes, some half-ton pickup trucks can tow 13,000 lbs.—with the right engine, axle ratio, bed length, cab style, hitch, tires, towing package, tongue weight, and a full harvest moon.

That’s a lot of assumptions. Here are some of the calculation assumptions typically made. (Check your manufacturer’s Towing & Trailering guide for the most up-to-date information.)

• Tow vehicle includes a 150-lb. driver and a 150-lb. passenger. (I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been 150 pounds since I was 16!)
• Tow vehicle includes the factory-installed heavy-duty towing package.
• No driving at high altitudes.
• No cargo besides operating fluids.
• No dealer-installed options or accessories.
• RV is towed with a weight-distribution hitch, not a weight-carrying hitch.
• RV has minimum allowable tongue weight (usually 10% for travel trailer or 15% for 5th wheel).

 

Just take your GCVWR minus your truck GVWR and that will equal what the max weight of your trailer can be when it’s loaded. Most people will have no problem loading up a 1500 to max payload either. I will use my 13 Silverado I had as an example. 15000 minus 7000 equals 8000 but truck had BS tow rating of 9500lbs. Payload was 1531 lbs.

 

A lot of what we discuss here is about the "feel", pulling 5K on a flat trailer vs a travel trailer and 90% vs 60%. Not sure about others but I could feel the difference and was much happier below the 90% number. I could also feel the difference with new shocks, and new springs. And my suggestions are based on what I feel is comfortable.