Diesel Place banner

Towing Rating 1500 "S"

17K views 48 replies 16 participants last post by  VanBoy 
#1 ·
Since i can't find my manuals i'm hoping one of you guys can help me out with the max tow ratings for a 96 1500 "S" SB with the auto. I know i can make it tow more by doing some cooling mods etc but what i'm after is what it can tow stock for the time being. I'm looking at purchasing another p/u and will use it right away until i can get mods done to tow a 7500 lb 5th wheel and hope this isn't to much for it in stock form. Hitch weight in the box is around 800 lbs.

Yes i will be getting rid of the Cummins truck and the Blazer.

Thanks for the help guys!
 
#2 ·
C.R. The 97 manual lists 6000 lb &7000 for 2wd 3.08 & 3.42 rear end..4wd is6500 &7500 3.42 & 3.73 rear ends
 
#3 ·
Yeah sorry i forgot to mention its a 4x4 and has 3.73's according to the codes. Sounds like its at its limit at 7500 lbs.

How is it listed at 6500 & 7500? Is that 1500 to 2500 or is it the gears?
 
#5 ·
K1500 - 3.73 - 7,500 - 3,405 kg



K2500 - 3.73 - 6,000 - 2,724 kg

K1500 greater than K2500 @ same gear ratio????:eek:
 
#7 ·
Thanks so very much guys! Why the heck is the 2500 rated less? Cause the truck already weighs more? Just plain weird :cool: .
 
#8 ·
mudbath;1938702; said:
K1500 - 3.73 - 7,500 - 3,405 kg



K2500 - 3.73 - 6,000 - 2,724 kg

K1500 greater than K2500 @ same gear ratio????:eek:
My bad
K2500 - 3.42 - 6,000 - 2724 kg
K2500 - 3.73 - 7,000 - 3178 kg
K2500 - 4.10 - 8,000 - 3632 kg
all AT

K2500 - 3.73 - 6,000 - 2,724 kg MT
 
#9 ·
sticker on my door 3:73s is rated for 6600# part of the limits have to do with tires & brakes, 6 bolt lug, there are also some "california" 2500s 8 lug with S engines and S rating may have something to do with lowered towing rating vs a 2500 F engined truck even though frame & rest of running gear is exactly same as the F 2500

IIRC my factory wheels/tires were range C 265/75s with 1870# aluminum wheels, now I have all doo-dads in signature 3300# wheels & load range E tires
 
#10 · (Edited)
So is the 1500 rated to tow a trailer thats 7500lbs or not? Please...

TD that door weight is just what your truck can have on the axles, not towing. Combinde weight. Your door should also have it split up for front and rear weights.
 
#11 ·
Those towing ratings look like conventional towing, not 5th wheel.

Depending on your engine/ drive ratio, you are clost to the limit. Slightly over or under depending on your equipment.

If you intend to pull with this truck, make sure your elect brakes are working and adjusted. Your truck brakes are in top shape, and your cooling system is serviced and clean inside and out.

You can do a google search "towing rating 1500 gmc" and see what the RVers and boat folks say.
 
#12 ·
x2 on what TD said....my truck sticker says 6600 lb...
 
#13 ·
airwrench;1939138; said:
.

You can do a google search "towing rating 1500 gmc" and see what the RVers and boat folks say.
Not an RVer but I do haul with a GN, properly set up a 6.5 can manage 18K for a short wile with some small grades, but Rigger I think wants stock rating, stock or limited mods 6600# is about right depending on what grades you encounter 7500# mite be a challenge, open down, 3.5 or 4" pipes, & retuned fan clutch with spotless everything else in cooling system, bypassed EGR with F PCM would make it a much better hauler for 7500#
 
#14 ·
Yes, i want stock towing rating for a 5th wheel. I can mod the hell outta it later. I did a search for the towing as above, can find info for new stuff, not the old 6.5 though in a 1500, just 2500. And i hate to disagree with you TD & Chris, but those door stickers are whats allowed on your axles, not how much you can pull.

Pulling info should be in a manual but i've lost mine!
 
#15 ·
CanadianRigger;1938984; said:
So is the 1500 rated to tow a trailer thats 7500lbs or not? Please...

TD that door weight is just what your truck can have on the axles, not towing. Combinde weight. Your door should also have it split up for front and rear weights.
3925 front axle 3750 rear axle per sticker for a 7675# combined, but from experience hauling the GN trailer empty before maxxing out my mods the 5680# empty GN trailer was a challenge, so if trailer you plan to pull is 7500# you are in for some work especially if any grades are involved, and not accounting for wind drag as well.
 
#17 ·
Okay CR per my 98 owners manual 3:73 K1500 6.5 max trailer weight is 7000#
 
#18 ·
FYI all interested parties

K1500 3:42 6000
3:73 7000
C2500 3:42 6500
3:73 7500
4:10 8500
K2500 3:73 6000
4:10 8000
C3500 4:10 8000
K3500 4:10 7500
C3500 4:10 8000 (crew cab)
K3500 4:10 7500 (crew cab)
C3500 4.63 9000 (chasis cab)
C3500 5:13 10000 (chasis cab)
 
#19 ·
Jifaire, hope you told em to take a hike, lol.

TD, thanks, its a 98 but most likely close to what i'm planning. The truck has the HD towing pkg and Z-71 pkg, i hope not to tow to long with it anyways before mods, i guess OD will be out for awhile. I'm fairly sure i'll pick it up tomorrow but was just confirming some details here. And just to be fair i'll probably try some heath programing on this one too.
 
#20 ·
another FYI as explained in the owners manual GVW is curb weight of vehicle plus cargo-people-and if towing tongue weight of what is being towed.

10% tongue weight is recommended for bumper pull, & 12% for weight distributing hitch
 
#21 ·
K1500 3:42 6000
3:73 7000
C2500 3:42 6500
3:73 7500
4:10 8500
K2500 3:73 6000
4:10 8000
C3500 4:10 8000
K3500 4:10 7500
C3500 4:10 8000 (crew cab)
K3500 4:10 7500 (crew cab)
C3500 4.63 9000 (chasis cab)
C3500 5:13 10000 (chasis cab)
__________________
Once again it shows the K1500 3.73 with greater tow capacity than the K2500 3.73 WTF????
 
#22 ·
CR you still got your scanner rite ??? keep a close eye on things with it, once you get rolling OD should be fine, I always tow in OD, but I've tweaked the tranny some also. did you save the EGT & boost from the others even if youy have to temp install them I would do that also keep you out of too much trouble anyway, if vac system is working a boost fooler would be handy
 
#23 ·
Its completely stock from what i see TD, i still have my scanner and it will be hooked up. Gauges may have to wait, depends when i leave for work. Intake and DP is #1 on the list. I'd like gauges first to see EGT's while towing but don't think i'll be able to do it that way.
 
#24 ·
mudbath;1939288; said:
__________________
Once again it shows the K1500 3.73 with greater tow capacity than the K2500 3.73 WTF????

Overall vehicle weight is less on a 1500 than a 2500 maybe ??? as it has a lighter frame, same power plant so maybe more towing ability other than that I don't know, no error in what I read, I had to 2x check cause I knew I was going to be asked about it
 
#25 ·
That's freakin' strange, TD... my 2500 2wd 6.5 has the full-floater, 8-bolt, HD rear end. How can a 1500 have a higher towing rating than that?

Up here, the highway cops in British Columbia just sit around waiting for chances to impound your truck/trailer for being overweight. It's just not cool that some of these little rice-burner trucks have more (rated) towing capacity than my 3/4-ton diesel.

They sure as heck aren't gonna handle my 5th wheel!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top