Under each vehicle brand, you will find three headings: Vehicle, Engine and Tow Limit (lb)
Trailer Life, February 2008
Under each vehicle brand, you will find three headings: Vehicle, Engine and Tow Limit (lb). The vehicle heading describes the vehicle model and/or configuration, and indicates whether the vehicle is 2WD (either front or rear), 4WD or AWD. The engine heading shows the engine size expressed in liters, followed by the configuration (I = Inline, V as in V-6 or V-8, etc.) and the number of cylinders. Under "tow limit," you'll find the manufacturer’s stated maximum tow capacity for that vehicle. In many cases, you may note a letter(s) and/or symbol(s) after the model or tow rating, which indicates a footnote listing specific requirements for that rating, such as a certain drive-axle gear ratio. When letters or symbols are separated by a comma, this indicates that more than one footnote applies; when separated by a forward slash (/) either/or can apply.
A slash may also be used to separate two different transmission types (manual/automatic); and/or two hitch types (conventional and fifth-wheel or gooseneck); and models, if the ratings differ depending on how the vehicle is equipped. In all of these instances, ratings relative to the model or its equipment will be listed in respective order under the tow limit heading.
Example:
Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (lb) Man/Auto
Colorado/Canyon CC 2WD 2.9L I-4 2,100 (g)/3,000 (g)
OR
Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (lb)
Trailblazer/Envoy 2WD 4.2L I-6 5,400 (e)b/5,300 (e)
Moreover, the ratings are listed in a similar manner to the manufacturers. For example, Ford lists conventional and fifth-wheel ratings separately, while GM lists them together. Likewise, some manufacturers list automatic and manual-transmission-equipped models under separate headings, others under the same headings with a separate column that denotes the transmission type.
In previous guides, we've listed footnotes relating to gear ratio, bed type, etc. underneath each brand or vehicle family. This year, we've consolidated most of these notes in a "key to charts" that provides quick reference to the footnotes and what they mean. In cases where there are footnotes specific to a brand or model, they are listed immediately under that section. These are divided into two types: "Notes" which clue you into specific limitations (differences in ratings in the same model, etc.), and "manufacturer's notes" which are directly from the manufacturer's literature. If there is no footnote or no indication whether the rating is a 2WD or 4WD model, for example, then there is only one configuration that can tow that amount, or all configurations tow the same amount.
When considering a certain vehicle for purchase based on its tow rating, make sure to consult with the dealer and/or manufacturer's towing guide to get specifics on what that tow rating is based on. For example, many tow ratings are based on an unloaded vehicle with one occupant; if you normally travel with your family and equipment, you must deduct passenger/equipment weight accordingly to arrive at that vehicle's actual towing capacity in your application. Most trailer weights are based on the assumption that you will be using a weight-distributing hitch (and rightfully so), and have drastically reduced ratings for the same application using a weight-carrying hitch.
Finally, remember that every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this guide, but many of the ratings contained in it were considered "preliminary" by the manufacturer at the time of this writing (which is before "official" ratings have been released in many cases). Most of the time, the numbers don't change when the official ratings are released, but in some instances, they do. As such, it's important to remember that the final word as to towing limit should come from the manufacturer of the vehicle you are considering.
