Chevy Standard Receiver Question

[Mark]

While hooking up my trailer this weekend, I noticed a small sticker on the my V5 receiver, which came with the std Chevy towing package.

I believe it indicated a max trailer weight of 5000 pounds? What gives with that rating?

Does that mean I should upgrade my receiver to tow my 2553?

[henryj]

It's too dark to go look at mine now with my bifocals. But... there should be two columns of fine print. Weight carrying is 5000 lb. with 600 lb. tw, I believe; wd should be 10,000 lb. with 1000 lb. tw. Depends also on your model of Silverado and the year. GM changed the stickers quite regularly--not sure if they also changed the hitches . I can't remember if my 1500HD is 10 or 12,000 lb., but it is 1200 lb. tw.

Henry

[JohnB]

Mark

Do not know if you have a 1500 or a 2500 truck.

Assuming you have a 1500, in 2002 this is most likely the sticker that is on your Chevy Receiver. This one is off my 2003, K2500 Suburban SUV however my 2002 Tahoe SUV had the same sticker as well as some 1500 PU's



If you have a 2500 PU truck, this is the one mostly on it. This is off my brothers 2005 Chevy 2500HD. The 3/4 ton PU's had higher ratings due the the heavier suspension


Check and see which it is and if it is different.

The ratings change from “weight carrying” and “weight distributing” Both in tongue weight and pull rating when used in those modes of operation.

I am assuming you are using a weight distributing hitch with the spring bars on your TT in which case those numbers (weight distrubuting) are of the rating of the receiver which are a lot higher then “weight carrying”. Are you?

The ratings on the sticker are only what the receiver is rated for. The engine/transmission and rear end ratio dictate the actually pull rating of the drive train. It was very common in the early 2000 period GM put on receivers larger then the truck could pull or hold up and not trip an axle or tow rating. This was not a bad thing, just to understand it’s meaning.

The V5 stands for a manufacturing standard of hitches. It is NOT a weight class rating. It is sort of like an electrical UL sticker rating of the towing world. To meet V5 standards the hitch manufactures have to meet certain standards. Do not confuse this with a Class V (5) receiver.

If you are looking at the bumper step, some had a 5000#/500# tongue rating that can be used on the bumper pull, however I do not recommend ever using that bumper hitch for towing anything near that rating.

So which place did you see this 5,000# sticker on and does yours look like any of the 2 pics I have posted?

Hope this helps

John

[Mark]

Thanks it was the first tag alright, 12K.

I think the heat of changing a tire midway on my trip caused me to only see the top row .

[JohnB]

Glad your tag worked out

John