xlman Posted May 3, 2003 Report Share Posted May 3, 2003 I will be towing a 30' travel trailer with my SS - - but I have seen maximum towing capacities ranging from 7300 lbs to 10,500 lbs on various websites. This is NOT a standard 1/2 Ton - with its larger engine and some of its suspension qualities, I would think it would safely tow more than the 7500 lbs quoted for standard K10 extendeds. Has anyone seen something OFFICIAL ? ? ? I have e-mailed to GM looking for an answer - but nothing so far. Any help would be appreciated. My Black Beauty is due before the end of the month, and I'm getting a little nervous about towing with it. Thanks for any help - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcswain Posted May 3, 2003 Report Share Posted May 3, 2003 I will be towing a 30' travel trailer with my SS - - but I have seen maximum towing capacities ranging from 7300 lbs to 10,500 lbs on various websites. This is NOT a standard 1/2 Ton - with its larger engine and some of its suspension qualities, I would think it would safely tow more than the 7500 lbs quoted for standard K10 extendeds. Has anyone seen something OFFICIAL ? ? ? I have e-mailed to GM looking for an answer - but nothing so far. Any help would be appreciated. My Black Beauty is due before the end of the month, and I'm getting a little nervous about towing with it. Thanks for any help - SS is rated at 7500 lbs. towing capacity, I believe this is a reliable number from Chevrolet and in the specs for the SS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcswain Posted May 3, 2003 Report Share Posted May 3, 2003 Here are the SS Specifications Chevrolet Silverado SS OVERVIEW Model: Chevrolet Silverado SS Trim level: LT Body style / driveline: Extended Cab / AWD Manufacturing location: Oshawa Ontario, Canada ENGINE AWD Vortec H.O. 6000V8 Type: 6.0-liter OHV V8 with cast-iron block Displacement (cu in / cc): 364 / 5967 Bore x stroke (in/mm): 4 x 3.62 / 101.6 x 92 Cylinder head material: Cast aluminum Valvetrain: Overhead valve with two valves per cylinder Ignition system: Coil near plug, platinum-tipped spark plugs, low resistance spark plug wires Fuel delivery: sequential central-port fuel injection Compression ratio: 10.0:1 Horsepower (hp / kw @ rpm): 345 / 257 @ 5200 Torque (lb-ft Nm @ rpm): 380 / 516 @ 4000 Recommended fuel: 91 octane minimum, premium fuel only Maximum engine speed: 5600 Estimated fuel economy (mpg city / hwy / combined): 12 / 16 / 13 TRANSMISSION AWD 4L65-E Type: Four-speed heavy-duty Electronic automatic Gear ratios (:1): First: 3.06 Second: 1.63 Third: 1.00 Fourth: 0.70 Reverse: 2.29 Final drive ratio: 4.10:1 CHASSIS / SUSPENSION Front: Independent with computer selected torsion bars, 32mm stabilizer bar, gas-pressurized monotube shocks Rear: Solid axle with semi-elliptic, variable-rate, two-stage multileaf springs, gas-pressurized monotube shocks Traction Control System: All-speed traction control Steering type: Power recirculating ball Ratio: 14.0:1 Steering wheel turns, Lock-to-lock: 3.4 BRAKES Type: (All) vacuum booster, power, four-wheel disc, four-wheel ABS, DRP Rotor diameter x thickness (mm x mm): front: 304.7 x 29; rear: 325 x 20 WHEELS / TIRES Wheel size & type: 20 x 8.5-inch five-spoke polished aluminum Tire size & type: P275/55R-20 Goodyear Eagle radials DIMENSIONS Exterior Short Box Extended Cab Wheelbase (in / mm): 143.5 / 3644 Overall length (in / mm): 227.6 / 5781 Overall width (in / mm): Mirrors folded 81.5 / 2070 Mirrors extended 93.1 / 2363 Overall height (in / mm): 72.2 / 1834 Track (in / mm): Front: 65.0 / 1651 Rear: 66.0 / 1676 Ground to top of load floor (in / mm): 30.7 / 780 Step-in height: Front door: 21.2 / 538 Access door: 21.5 / 546 Approach angle: 28.8 degrees Breakover angle: 20.5 degrees Departure angle @ step bumper: 25.8 degrees Base curb weight (lbs): 5298 Interior Front Rear Head room (in / mm): 41.0 / 1041 38.4 / 975 Leg room (in / mm): 41.3 / 1049 33.7 / 856 Shoulder room (in / mm): 65.2 / 1656 66.3 / 1684 Hip room (in / mm): 61.4 / 1560 61.5 / 1562 Cargo Box Cargo volume (cu ft / liters): 56.9 / 1611.2 Length at floor (in / mm): 78.7 / 1998 Width at floor (in / mm): 60.2 / 1529 Width at top (in / mm): 61.9 / 1572 Width between wheelhousing (in / mm): 50.0 / 1270 Tailgate width (in / mm): 60.0 / 1539 Inside height (in / mm): 19.5 / 495 Capacities GVWR (lbs / kg): 6400 / 2903 Payload (lbs / kg): 1490 / 676 Trailer towing (lbs / kg): 7500 / 3405 Fuel tank (gal / liters): 26 / 98.4 Engine oil (qts / liters): 6 / 5.6 Cooling system (qts / liters): 14.8 / 14.0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy Posted May 3, 2003 Report Share Posted May 3, 2003 the tow capacity is that partially due to the awd and to the 20 inch wheel combo. there would be absolutely no reason to pull 7500lbs or more with an ss. if you needed to pull anything near that weight, a 2500 series is what you needed, not a 1500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcswain Posted May 3, 2003 Report Share Posted May 3, 2003 the tow capacity is that partially due to the awd and to the 20 inch wheel combo. there would be absolutely no reason to pull 7500lbs or more with an ss. if you needed to pull anything near that weight, a 2500 series is what you needed, not a 1500. I agree with zip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlman Posted May 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 Thanks for the replies ................ I've been on websites for MONTHS looking for more SPECIFIC details concerning the SS model. I believe they have yet to be posted - and may never be, because of the intended "limited" production for this model. The specs that are posted are pretty much identical to the ones for standard K10's. Between 1970 an 1990, my company leased THOUSANDS of vehicles to customers across the country - 50% of them were trucks. My guys and I became quite expert at working with truck specs - especially for commercial use. GM has ALWAYS been "conservative" with their numbers - and for pretty good reasons. I have been communicating directly with people at GM Marketing, and am trying to wedge my way in to the "technical" guys. (By the way . . . . . the "official" response from the Marketing people is only 7400 lbs - go figure that!). I will send out a new post if I can get some authentic feedback from the manufacturers. In fact, I am meeting with several higher-ups from the Fleet department of GM, in Detroit, next month. I'll ask for their help if nothing comes down the pike before then. I have towed my 7500 lb trailer for 10 years - and am looking at a newer one - - - - that's why my interest in towing specifics. Thanks again, my friends - I'll let you know what else I come across! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlman Posted May 6, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2003 One more post to my prior posts - - - - I spent a considerable amount of time on the telephone with people at GM and Chevrolet, discussing this issue. They were very understanding, and dug into my inquiry. In the end things got a little worse (?). I am pretty convinced that they found the answers - and here they are: The SS has LESS towing capacity than a standard K10 4X4 with a 5300 Vortec and 4.10 r.a. That (standard) 1/2T extended cab posts a max trailer weight of 8,800 pounds. The SS model is apparently handicapped by its suspension, tires, and wheel capacities. The SS is rated to pull no more than 7,400 lbs - and that is with a weight-distributing hitch (5,000 lbs w/dead weight hitch). The maximum tongue load (with a weight distributing hitch) is: 740 lbs. The people who helped me were great, but they have access to information on their "intranet" that is NOT available to the public - that's why we cannot find this information ourselves. I still would like to see more tech-specs posted by Chevrolet engineering . BE VERY CAREFUL ACCEPTING THE INFORMATION OFFERED BY MANY DEALERS ON THE WEB - SOME OF THEM ARE POSTING A 10,000 LB TOWING CAPACITY FOR THE SS ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy Posted May 6, 2003 Report Share Posted May 6, 2003 all the info you just for the most part is in the trailering specs on the website and in the brochure with the exception of ss only specs and they are as i recall in the autobook available to all gm dealers.... i thought the towing reasons should be painfully obvious. it's just like the lightning. the drivetrain in the lightning has more than enough durability to tow alot, but suspension and tire reasons keep it from doing so. you don't buy a super sport as your trailer towing vehicle plain and simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlman Posted May 6, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2003 Gee Zippy - - - you have all the answers - - and give free lectures, too ! "Painfully obvious" to you .............. ? Perhaps we each have our own ideas of how to use our toys. The info I posted is NOT available on the GM website (specific to the SS) - - nor is this published in some kind of "dealer autobook" as you refer to it. The readers of this site know more about the SS than 99.9% of the Chevy dealers out there. Sorry if we riled you up ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy Posted May 6, 2003 Report Share Posted May 6, 2003 your dealer may not have been able to find that info, but i've had all this info for quite a while. as for specific to the ss, most of the usual half ton info applies with the exception of the tow rating which isn't listed in that chart. in a few minutes of searching online i found more than a few websites including this one and chevrolet.com listing it's trailering capacity along with the chevrolet site listing the trailering capacity and how much tongue load is allowed. i can't believe that aside from the info at the dealer you couldn't find it even on the chevrolet web site. that's embarrassing to you, not me. i'm sure i can even get around to scanning the multiples of info the dealer has on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSilverado60 Posted May 6, 2003 Report Share Posted May 6, 2003 The only difference would be in the tires and wheels, if you get a set of different wheels and/or tires (whatever is holding back on the load capacity) then you could tow the factory rating for a 4x4 ECSB truck. They use the same rear springs, so the suspension is not the problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlman Posted May 6, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2003 Zippy - what's embarrassing is the fact that you didn't insert the hyperlink to these terrific SS spec-sheet websites that you've found, so that the rest of us could benefit from them also. We're waiting ........................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extreme4x4 Posted May 7, 2003 Report Share Posted May 7, 2003 The only difference would be in the tires and wheels, if you get a set of different wheels and/or tires (whatever is holding back on the load capacity) then you could tow the factory rating for a 4x4 ECSB truck. They use the same rear springs, so the suspension is not the problem Hmmmm, when I have said similar things about my Lightnings towing ability on some sites (not this one), I have been ridiculed about the fact that my L is not really a truck......... just a Mustang with a bed. Some people cannot get over the fact that with different wheels and tires (we use Expedition 16" wheels and tires to tow), and a weight distribution hitch (to overcome the lowering of the truck), along with a trailer brake controller........... that we have as much trailer towing capacity as any other 3.73 geared 5.4 engined 1/2 ton 2wd standard cab Ford truck. I get so annoyed when people tell me that my truck can't tow anything....... or haul anything. I guess they need to tell that to all of the heavy vehicles we have towed over long distances (you know, so they don't suffer from dillusions or something)........ or all the steel / washers and dryers / and all other forms of in the bed truck stuff that we have hauled. GRRRRRRR End rant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy Posted May 7, 2003 Report Share Posted May 7, 2003 why would i post that stuff, if it was that easy for me to find you can find it too. hell, as far as i've seen your the first to question whether or not you can tow more than it's rated for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSilverado60 Posted May 7, 2003 Report Share Posted May 7, 2003 The only difference would be in the tires and wheels, if you get a set of different wheels and/or tires (whatever is holding back on the load capacity) then you could tow the factory rating for a 4x4 ECSB truck. They use the same rear springs, so the suspension is not the problem Hmmmm, when I have said similar things about my Lightnings towing ability on some sites (not this one), I have been ridiculed about the fact that my L is not really a truck......... just a Mustang with a bed. Some people cannot get over the fact that with different wheels and tires (we use Expedition 16" wheels and tires to tow), and a weight distribution hitch (to overcome the lowering of the truck), along with a trailer brake controller........... that we have as much trailer towing capacity as any other 3.73 geared 5.4 engined 1/2 ton 2wd standard cab Ford truck. I get so annoyed when people tell me that my truck can't tow anything....... or haul anything. I guess they need to tell that to all of the heavy vehicles we have towed over long distances (you know, so they don't suffer from dillusions or something)........ or all the steel / washers and dryers / and all other forms of in the bed truck stuff that we have hauled. GRRRRRRR End rant. dont lightnings have different rear springs than the regular F-150??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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