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GMC Sierra 1500 towing capacity is the most important aspect of any tow truck. If you tow a heavy car or trailer on a regular basis, the amount of horsepower you need from your vehicle will determine how well your vehicle can handle the extra weight. As a general rule, the larger your car or trailer, the more horsepower you need to get your vehicle going. There are several things that affect the amount of horsepower your vehicle needs, but all of them add up in the end.
As an example, how long will it take to pull a load? The weight of the load and its size will affect this calculation. To calculate your maximum towing capacity, simply add the weight of the load to the gross vehicle weight, or GV, of the truck. You'll find that your new capacity is the maximum weight your vehicle can safely pull.
What is the maximum speed your vehicle can reach? If you plan to travel at higher speeds, your Towing capacity will be greater. It's important that you know what your current speed is, so you don't have to guess when calculating. Your towing company should be able to help you calculate your current speed, as well as help you find out what you need to pull a certain weight.
What type of roads will you be pulling a trailer behind? Certain types of roads require more horsepower for towing, so if you're driving on a two-lane highway, your towing capacity will be based on the weight of the trailer alone. If you're traveling on a dirt road, you'll need to use a weight factor for your calculation.
What kind of terrain will you be pulling a trailer behind? GMC makes different-sized trailers for different types of hauling. You can get a small utility trailer or a big one for extra weight and cargo. The size of your vehicle will have an effect on the size of your towing capacity. If you plan on traveling on rough terrain, you might want to increase your towing capacity.
How many passengers do you want to carry with your Sierra 1500? Each passenger will need to understand the weight limit of the vehicle, as well as the overall weight limit of all of their gear. If you need an extra tow, it may not be worth it if every person is carrying excess weight.
How much extra weight will you be carrying? This will affect your towing capacity. If you have a vehicle that is rated for 18% of the combined gross weight of the passengers (dry weight), you'll need a higher maximum rating for your cargo, since it will weigh more. It also puts more stress on the vehicle. On the other hand, a smaller vehicle will be lighter, so it'll require less fuel to pull a load. Again, the amount of fuel used will depend on how much extra weight you'll be carrying with you.
You should make a list of your needs, including the amount of fuel you plan to use, the weight limit for passengers, and your towing and capacity requirements. You should also look up average gas prices in your area and add about ten miles to those figures for the annual cost of gas. Finally, don't forget to figure in the cost of the trailer or truck you'll be using, since these can vary widely.
Let's say you're hauling a ton of extra weight, in addition to your regular load. The MSRP for this trailer would be around three thousand dollars, and you should be able to tow at least five hundred pounds on the road. However, the trailer is rated for eighteen people, so if you have four adults and two teenagers, you'll need to know your GMC Sierra's capacity for extra weight. That number is around eight hundred and fifty pounds.
Now, when you add up all the figures, you find that you can't tote a ton of extra weight with your Sierra 1500 towing capacity. But don't panic! There are plenty of ways to increase your towing capacity without adding too much extra weight. Here are some things to think about.
The real trick is to make sure you know the true weight of the trailer you're hauling, not your estimated weight. You'll find that it'll be easier to tow more weight if you increase your GMSS rating, which will give you a better idea of how much extra you can haul. That'll keep you from overloading your GMC Sierra with too much extra weight and let you keep your towing budget low.
