2015 GM 1500s Trailering Capacity Now Based On New Industrywide SAE J2807 Calculations
It’s been a long-time coming, but GM has finally made the official adoption of the SAE J2807 towing standards with the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 (and 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500) pickups.
One model of the 2015 GMC/Chevrolet 1/2-tons maintains a 12,000-pound maximum trailering rating under SAE J2807 Recommended Practices – calculations being adopted throughout the industry – while other models see a slight reduction in towing capacity under the new standards.
The SAE J2807 standard is designed to put all the vehicle manufacturers under a unified test criteria for determining towing capacity.
“For 2015, the GMC Sierra 1500 builds on the strong foundation introduced with the redesigned 2014 model to offer uncompromising strength, capability and confidence,” said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer. “The implementation of SAE J2807 levels the playing field among all manufacturers, affirming the capability customers depend on from GMC.”
Sierra’s 12,000-pound maximum rating is for the Double Cab 2WD configuration equipped with the available 6.2L V-8 engine and available Max Trailering Package.
Trailering ratings for other configurations remain the same or are slightly lower, per the new SAE J2807 calculations.
Examples of popular configurations with revised ratings include:
|
Configuration |
2014 (Pre SAE J2807) |
2015 (SAE J2807) |
|
Double cab 4×4 5.3L V-8 6’ 6” box 3.42 axle |
9,600 lbs. |
9,200 lbs. |
|
Crew cab 4×4 5.3L V-8 5’ 8” box 3.73 axle |
11,200 lbs. |
10,800 lbs. |
While the calculations for trailering ratings may have changed, the Sierra 1500’s powertrain and chassis features that support serious towing have not:
- The available 6.2L EcoTec3 V-8 is the most powerful engine offered in the light-duty segment, with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Like other EcoTec3 engines, it combines proven performance with advanced fuel-saving technologies, seamlessly switching to four cylinders to improve efficiency in light-load driving
- The available Max Trailering Package includes a 9.76-inch rear axle, heavy-duty rear springs, revised shock tuning for increased control, enhanced cooling, and an integrated trailer brake controller. Also included is the G80 locking rear differential, a trailer hitch, and bumper-mounted four- and seven-pin connectors
- Sierra’s standard 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 and available 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8 also will offer significant towing capability for 2015, with maximum available trailer weight ratings of 7,600 pounds for the V-6 and 11,200 pounds for the 5.3L.
GM advises customers to follow the trailering guidelines in their owner’s manual, ask their GMC dealer for trailering advice, or contact GMC Customer Assistance for more information.
Additionally, the GMC Trailering Guide can be found in the Manuals & Videos section under the Ownership tab of the GMC.com Web site.
