Recently, Chevrolet made an official video to show how to find the max towing capacity for a full-size pickup truck. Towing can be an intimidating task for many drivers. The Chevy towing video starts by explaining some towing terms, which are a key part of safe and effective towing. The best way to learn how to tow safely is to start at the beginning and find the proper towing capacity for your full-size pickup truck. 

What does GVWR mean?  

One of the terms we need to define is GVWR. This stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, meaning the maximum allowable weight of the vehicle, including passengers and cargo. Another term to know is Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), which is the maximum allowable weight of both the vehicle and the trailer it is towing. GM Authority also thinks GAWR or Gross Axle Weight Rating is another term to know. GAWR refers to the allowable max weights for the axles and the trailer hitch tongue. 

How much can a full-size pickup truck tow?

This is a tough question. Each truck model has its own towing capacity. To make things even more complicated, different configurations of the same truck can have different towing capacities. This is why Chevy wanted to make an official video showing full-size chevy pickup truck owners an accurate way to find their truck’s limit.

Despite the fact that Chevy made this video for Chevy truck owners, the same principles apply to other full-size pickup trucks. Chevy, like some other automakers, has a dedicated space online for towing information. If you have the GVWR and GCWR and your truck’s make and model, plugging those numbers into the site will provide all the trailering information you’re likely to need. 

In general, most modern full-size pickup trucks (non-HD) have a max towing capacity somewhere between 9,000-14,000 lbs. Since we are talking Chevy, the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 has a max towing capacity of 13,400 lbs. In the ½ ton group, the only full-size pickup truck to out tow the Silverado is the 2022 Ford F-150, topping out at 14,000 lbs. 

How do you find your GVWR? 

Pickup trucks have a small decal on the inside of the driver’s door jamb that indicates some key pieces of information. This label is specifically for providing all trailering information you might need. 

Lastly, as the Chevy video says, you can also consult the truck’s owner’s manual. It will most likely tell you all the same trailering information. But, if for some reason it doesn’t have that specific information, then it can tell you all the other information needed to consult online databases or brand-specific towing apps. 

This video is for full-size Chevy truck owners specifically, but there is tons of good information here useful for all truck owners looking for tips on how to the towing capacity of your full-size pickup truck.