Get Driving and Operating -> Trailer Towing Guide for Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Light Truck 2023

Driving and Operating

299

.

State laws may require the use of

extended side view mirrors. If your

visibility is limited or restricted while

towing, install extended side view mirrors

on your vehicle, even if not required.

Do not tow a trailer during the first

800 km (500 mi) of vehicle use to prevent

damage to the engine, axle, or other

parts.

Perform the first oil change before heavy

towing.

Do not drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and

do not make starts at full throttle during

the first 800 km (500 mi) of trailer

towing.

Tow in D (Drive). Tow/Haul Mode is

recommended for heavier trailers. See

Tow/Haul Mode 0 230. If the

transmission downshifts too often, a

lower gear may be selected using

Manual Mode. See Manual Mode

(Mechanical Shifter) 0 227 or

Trailer Towing

Warning (Continued)

covered by the vehicle warranty. Pull a

trailer only if all the steps in this section

have been followed. Ask your dealer for

advice and information about towing a

trailer with the vehicle.

General Towing Information

Only use towing equipment that has been

designed for the vehicle. Contact your dealer

or trailering dealer for assistance with

preparing the vehicle to tow a trailer. Read

the entire section before towing a trailer.

Driving with a Trailer

To tow a disabled vehicle, see Transporting

a Disabled Vehicle 0 402. To tow the vehicle

behind another vehicle such as a motor

home, see Recreational Vehicle Towing

0 403.

.

Trailering is different than just driving the

vehicle by itself. Trailering affects handling,

acceleration, braking, and durability.

Successful and safe trailering requires proper

use of the correct equipment.

Driving Characteristics and

Towing Tips

The following information has many

time-tested, important trailering tips and

safety rules. Many of these are important

for your safety and that of your passengers.

Read this section carefully before towing a

trailer.

.

Warning

{

You can lose control when towing a

trailer if the correct equipment is not

used or the vehicle is not driven properly.

For example, if the trailer is too heavy or

the trailer brakes are inadequate for the

load, the vehicle may not stop as

expected. You and others could be

seriously injured. The vehicle may also be

damaged, and the repairs would not be

(Continued)

When towing a trailer:

Manual Mode (Electronic Shifter) 0 229.

.

Become familiar with, and follow all state

and local laws that apply to trailer

towing. These requirements vary from

state to state.

If equipped, the following driver assistance

features should be turned off when towing

a trailer:

.

Park Assist

Automatic Parking Assist (APA)

.

300

Driving and Operating

.

Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB)

check that the cargo and trailer are secure

and that the lamps and any trailer brakes

are working.

Warning (Continued)

If equipped, the following driver assistance

features should be turned to alert or off

when towing a trailer, unless equipped with

Super Cruise:

.

Adjust the climate control system to a

setting that brings in only outside air.

See “Climate Control Systems” in the

Index.

Towing with a Stability Control System

When towing, the stability control system

might be heard. The system reacts to

vehicle movement caused by the trailer,

which mainly occurs during cornering. This is

normal when towing heavier trailers.

.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)

For more information about carbon

monoxide, see Engine Exhaust 0 220.

.

If equipped with Lane Change Alert (LCA),

the LCA detection zones that extend back

from the side of the vehicle do not move

further back when a trailer is towed. Use

caution while changing lanes when towing a

trailer.

Towing a trailer requires experience. The

combination of the vehicle and trailer is

longer and not as responsive as the vehicle

itself. Get used to the handling and braking

of the combination by driving on a level

road surface before driving on public roads.

Following Distance

Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle

ahead as you would when driving without a

trailer. This can help to avoid heavy braking

and sudden turns.

If equipped, the Rear Cross Traffic Alert

(RCTA) feature is automatically disabled

when a trailer is attached to the vehicle.

The trailer structure, the tires, and the

brakes must all be rated to carry the

intended cargo. Inadequate trailer

Passing

More passing distance is needed when

towing a trailer. The combination of the

vehicle and trailer will not accelerate as

quickly and is much longer than the vehicle

alone. It is necessary to go much farther

beyond the passed vehicle before returning

to the lane. Pass on level roadways. Avoid

passing on hills if possible.

Warning

{

equipment can cause the combination to

operate in an unexpected or unsafe manner.

Before driving, inspect all trailer hitch parts

and attachments, safety chains, electrical

connectors, lamps, tires, and mirrors. See

Towing Equipment 0 307. If the trailer has

electric brakes, start the combination

moving and then manually apply the trailer

brake controller to check that the trailer

brakes work. During the trip, occasionally

To prevent serious injury or death from

carbon monoxide (CO), when towing a

trailer:

.

Do not drive with the liftgate, trunk/

hatch, or rear-most window open.

.

Fully open the air outlets on or under

the instrument panel.

(Continued)

Driving and Operating

301

The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Shift the

transmission to a lower gear if the

transmission shifts too often under heavy

loads and/or hilly conditions.

When parking your vehicle and your trailer

on a hill:

Backing Up

Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with

one hand. To move the trailer to the left,

move that hand to the left. To move the

trailer to the right, move that hand to the

right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,

have someone guide you.

1. Press and hold the brake pedal, but do

not shift into P (Park). Turn the wheels

toward the curb if facing downhill or

into traffic if facing uphill.

When towing at higher altitudes, engine

coolant will boil at a lower temperature

than at lower altitudes. If the engine is

turned off immediately after towing at high

altitude on steep uphill grades, the vehicle

could show signs similar to engine

overheating. To avoid this, let the engine

run, preferably on level ground, with the

transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes

before turning the engine off. If the

overheat warning comes on, see Engine

Overheating 0 347.

2. Have someone place chocks under the

trailer wheels.

Making Turns

3. Gradually release the brake pedal to

allow the chocks to absorb the load of

the trailer.

Caution

Turn more slowly and make wider arcs

when towing a trailer to prevent damage

to your vehicle. Making very sharp turns

could cause the trailer to contact the

vehicle.

4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the

parking brake and shift into P (Park).

5. Release the brake pedal.

Leaving After Parking on a Hill

1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.

Viewing Systems

Make wider turns than normal when towing,

so the trailer will not go over soft shoulders,

over curbs, or strike road signs, trees,

or other objects. Always signal turns well in

advance. Do not steer or brake suddenly.

If equipped, the viewing systems on the

vehicle can improve visibility while hitching,

backing, and driving with a trailer. See

Driver Assistance Systems 0 272.

.

Start the vehicle.

Shift into the desired gear.

Release the parking brake.

2. Let up on the brake pedal.

Parking on Hills

Driving on Grades

3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of

the chocks.

Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear

before starting down a long or steep

downhill grade. If the transmission is not

shifted down, the brakes may overheat and

result in reduced braking efficiency.

Warning

{

4. Stop and have someone pick up and

store the chocks.

To prevent serious injury or death,

always park your vehicle and trailer on a

level surface when possible.

302

Driving and Operating

Disconnect the trailer wiring before backing

the trailer into the water to prevent damage

to the electrical circuits. Reconnect the

wiring to the trailer after removing the

trailer from the water. If the trailer has

electric brakes that can function when the

trailer is submerged, it might help to leave

the electrical trailer connector attached to

maintain trailer brake functionality while on

the boat ramp.

Pulling the Trailer from the Water

Launching and Retrieving a Boat

Backing the Trailer into the Water

To pull the trailer out of the water:

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.

2. Start the engine and shift into gear.

3. Release the parking brake.

Warning

{

.

Have all passengers get out of the

vehicle before backing onto the sloped

part of the ramp. Lower the driver and

passenger side windows before

backing onto the ramp. This will

provide a means of escape in the

unlikely event the vehicle slides into

the water.

4. Let up on the brake pedal.

5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of

the chocks.

6. Stop and have someone pick up and

store the chocks.

To back the trailer into the water:

1. If equipped, place the vehicle in

Four-Wheel Drive High or Automatic

Four-Wheel Drive.

7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.

.

If the boat launch surface is slippery,

have the driver remain in the vehicle

with the brake pedal applied while the

boat is being launched. The boat

launch can be especially slippery at

low tide when part of the ramp was

previously submerged at high tide. Do

not back onto the ramp to launch the

boat if you are not sure the vehicle

can maintain traction.

8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been

driven from the sloped part of the boat

ramp, the vehicle can be shifted from

four-wheel-drive high. Shift into the drive

mode that is appropriate for the road

conditions.

2. Slowly back down the boat ramp until

the boat is floating, but no further than

necessary.

3. Press and hold the brake pedal, but do

not shift into P (Park) yet.

4. Have someone place chocks under the

front wheels of the vehicle.

Caution

If the vehicle tires begin to spin and the

vehicle begins to slide toward the water,

remove your foot from the accelerator

pedal and apply the brake pedal. Seek

help to have the vehicle towed up

the ramp.

5. Gradually release the brake pedal to

allow the chocks to absorb the load of

the trailer.

.

Do not move the vehicle if someone is

in the path of the trailer. Some parts

of the trailer might be underwater and

not visible to people who are assisting

in launching the boat.

6. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the

parking brake and shift into P (Park).

7. Release the brake pedal.

Driving and Operating

Trailer Weight Ratings

303

Trailering is different than just driving the

vehicle by itself. Trailering affects the

handling, acceleration, braking, and

durability of your vehicle. Successful, safe

trailering takes correct equipment, and it

has to be used properly.

Maintenance when Trailer Towing

The vehicle needs service more often when

used to tow trailers. See Maintenance

Schedule 0 417. It is especially important to

check the engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,

cooling system, and brake system before

and during each trip.

When towing a trailer, the combined weight

of the vehicle, vehicle contents, trailer, and

trailer contents must be below all of the

maximum weight ratings for the vehicle,

including:

The following information has many

time-tested, important trailering tips and

safety rules. Many of these are important

for your safety and that of your passengers.

Read this section carefully before pulling a

trailer.

.

Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

Maximum Trailer Weight Rating

Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight Rating

Gross Axle Weight Rating-Rear (GAWR-RR)

Check periodically to see that all nuts and

bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.

Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing

The cooling system may temporarily

overheat during severe operating conditions.

See Engine Overheating 0 347.

See “Weight-Distributing Hitch and

Adjustment” under Towing Equipment 0 307

to determine if equalizer bars are required

to obtain the maximum trailer weight

rating.

Trailer Weight

Warning

{

Trailer Towing

If equipped with a diesel engine, see the

Duramax diesel supplement.

Never exceed the towing capacity for

your vehicle.

See “Trailer Brakes” under Towing

Equipment 0 307 to determine if brakes are

required based on the trailer weight.

Safe trailering requires monitoring the

weight, speed, altitude, road grades, outside

temperature, and how frequently the vehicle

is used to tow a trailer.

Caution

Towing a trailer improperly can damage

the vehicle and result in costly repairs

not covered by the vehicle warranty. To

tow a trailer correctly, follow the

The only way to be sure the weight is not

exceeding any of these ratings is to weigh

the tow vehicle and trailer combination,

fully loaded for the trip, getting individual

weights for each of these items.

directions in this section and see your

dealer for important information about

towing a trailer with the vehicle.

304

Driving and Operating

A trailering information label on the B-pillar

shows tow rating information for the

vehicle.

To check that the weight of the vehicle and

trailer are within the GCWR for the vehicle,

follow these steps:

1. Start with the "curb weight" from the

Trailering Information Label.

Warning

{

You and others could be seriously injured

or killed if the trailer is too heavy or the

trailer brakes are inadequate for the load.

The vehicle may be damaged, and the

repairs would not be covered by the

vehicle warranty.

2. Add the weight of the trailer loaded with

cargo and ready for the trip.

3. Add the weight of all passengers.

4. Add the weight of all cargo in the

vehicle.

5. Add the weight of hitch hardware such

as a draw bar, ball, load equalizer bars,

or sway bars.

Only tow a trailer if all the steps in this

section have been followed. Ask your

dealer for advice and information about

towing a trailer.

Gross Combined Weight (GCW) Alert

If equipped, the GCW Alert can display a

message in the Driver Information Center

(DIC), indicating that the estimated

combined weight of the vehicle and trailer

may exceed the vehicle’s GCWR, under

certain circumstances. See “Gross Combined

Weight Rating” above. The vehicle does not

actually measure the loaded weight of your

vehicle or trailer. It uses vehicle data to

estimate these weights after you begin

a trip.

6. Add the weight of any accessories or

aftermarket equipment added to the

vehicle.

Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)

The resulting weight cannot exceed the

GCWR value on the Trailering Information

Label.

GCWR is the total allowable weight of the

completely loaded vehicle and trailer

including any fuel, passengers, cargo,

equipment, and accessories. Do not exceed

the GCWR for your vehicle. The GCWR for

the vehicle is on the Trailering Information

Label.

The GCWR can also be confirmed by

weighing the truck and trailer on a public

scale. The truck and trailer should be loaded

for the trip with passengers and cargo.

Driving and Operating

Maximum Trailer Weight

The maximum trailer weight rating is

calculated assuming the tow vehicle has a

driver, a front seat passenger, and all

required trailering equipment. This value

represents the heaviest trailer the vehicle

can tow, but it may be necessary to reduce

the trailer weight to stay within the GCWR,

GVWR, maximum trailer tongue load,

or GAWR-RR for the vehicle.

305

The alert will not activate unless:

GCWR is only one of the maximum weight

ratings applicable to your vehicle and trailer.

The GCW Alert does not estimate whether

the vehicle alone exceeds the GVWR, the

rear-axle weight exceeds GAWR-RR, the

trailer exceeds the Maximum Trailer Weight

Rating or the trailer tongue weight exceeds

the Maximum Tongue Weight Rating.

Always verify that the weight of the vehicle,

vehicle contents, trailer, trailer contents and

trailer tongue are below all of these

.

The feature is turned on in the trailering

application. See Trailering App 0 319.

.

The vehicle-trailer combination have been

used enough together for the software to

estimate the combined vehicle and trailer

weight.

.

The estimated weight could exceed the

vehicle’s maximum GCWR.

If the GCW alert message is displayed, stop

the vehicle when it is safe and check the

vehicle and trailer weight using a scale. See

“Maximum Trailer Weight” below.

Use the Trailering Information Label to

determine how much the trailer can weigh.

maximum weight ratings. See “Maximum

Trailer Weight” below.

Weights listed apply for conventional trailers

and gooseneck/fifth-wheel trailers unless

otherwise noted.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

For information about the vehicle's

maximum load capacity, see Vehicle Load

Limits 0 204. When calculating the GVWR

with a trailer attached, the trailer tongue

weight must be included as part of the

weight the vehicle is carrying.

Warning

{

Always determine the actual weights of

the loaded vehicle and trailer using a

vehicle scale before beginning a trip.

Never use the GCW Alert to determine

whether the vehicle and trailer are

properly loaded or overloaded. Do not

drive with an overloaded vehicle or

trailer. Death, serious injury, or property

damage could occur.

A step bumper trailer hitch can only support

a total trailer weight up to 2 271 kg

(5,000 lb). If a trailer hitch ball is added to

the step bumper, check the hitch ball rating

to be sure it is higher than the total trailer

weight.

306

Driving and Operating

The trailer tongue weight contributes to the

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). GVW includes

the curb weight of your vehicle, any

passengers, cargo, equipment and the trailer

tongue weight. Vehicle options, passengers,

cargo, and equipment reduce the maximum

allowable tongue weight the vehicle can

carry, which also reduces the maximum

allowable trailer weight.

The trailer tongue weight (1) should be 10–

15% and fifth-wheel or gooseneck tongue

weight should be 15–25% of the total loaded

trailer weight (2). Some specific trailer types,

such as boat trailers, fall outside of this

range. Always refer to the trailer owner’s

manual for the recommended trailer tongue

weight for each trailer. Never exceed the

maximum loads for the vehicle, hitch, and

trailer.

Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight Rating

The Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight Rating

is the allowable trailer tongue weight that

the vehicle can support using a conventional

trailer hitch. It may be necessary to reduce

the overall trailer weight to stay within the

maximum trailer tongue weight rating while

still maintaining the correct trailer load

balance. A fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch

may support a higher tongue weight.

Trailer Load Balance

The trailer load balance percentage is

calculated as: weight (1) divided by

weight (2) times 100.

The correct trailer load balance must be

maintained to ensure trailer stability.

Incorrect load balance is a leading cause of

trailer sway.

After loading the trailer, separately weigh

the trailer and then the trailer tongue and

calculate the trailer load balance percentage

to see if the weights and distribution are

appropriate for your vehicle. If the trailer

weight is too high, it may be possible to

transfer some of the cargo into your vehicle.

If the trailer tongue weight is too high or

too low, it may be possible to rearrange

some of the cargo inside of the trailer.

The Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight Rating

for a conventional trailer hitch or a fifth

wheel/gooseneck hitch is shown on the

Trailering Information Label.

Driving and Operating

Towing Equipment

307

Do not exceed the maximum allowable

tongue weight for your vehicle. Use the

shortest hitch extension available to position

the hitch ball closer to your vehicle. This will

help reduce the effect of the trailer tongue

weight on the trailer hitch and the rear axle.

Hitches

Warning

{

In order to avoid serious injury or

If a cargo carrier is used in the trailer hitch

receiver, choose a carrier that positions the

load as close to the vehicle as possible.

Make sure the total weight, including the

carrier, is no more than half of the

maximum allowable tongue weight for the

vehicle or 227 kg (500 lb), whichever is less.

property damage, always follow the hitch

manufacturer's instructions when securing

your draw bar/coupling device to the

vehicle's hitch receiver.

Ensure that the draw bar/coupling device

is secured with a locking retainer pin or

other means such that rotation of the pin

or locking mechanism will not cause the

pin to back out or loosen during use.

Failure to correctly secure the draw bar/

coupling device to the receiver can result

in separation of the hitch/receiver while

towing.

The GAWR-RR for the vehicle is on the

Trailering Information Label.

Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating

(GAWR-RR)

Ask your dealer for trailering information or

assistance.

The GAWR-RR is the total weight that can be

supported by the rear axle of the vehicle. Do

not exceed the GAWR-RR for the vehicle,

with the tow vehicle and trailer fully loaded

for the trip including the weight of the

trailer tongue. If using a weight-distributing

hitch, do not exceed the GAWR-RR before

applying the weight distribution spring bars.

308

Driving and Operating

Conventional Hitch

Always use the correct hitch equipment for

your vehicle. Crosswinds, large trucks going

by, and rough roads can affect the trailer

and the hitch.

Avoid sharp turns when using a step-bumper

hitch to prevent damage. Make wider turns

to prevent contact between your trailer and

your bumper.

A conventional hitch is bolted to the frame

or cross member of the tow vehicle, and is

generally rated Class 2, 3, or 4.

Proper hitch equipment for your vehicle

helps maintain control of the vehicle-trailer

combination. Many trailers can be towed

using a weight-carrying hitch which has a

coupler latched to the hitch ball, or a tow

eye latched to a pintle hook. Other trailers

may require a weight-distributing hitch that

uses spring bars to distribute the trailer

tongue weight between your vehicle and

trailer axles. Fifth-wheel and gooseneck

hitches may also be used. See “Maximum

Trailer Tongue Weight” under Trailer Towing

0 303 for weight limits with various hitch

types.

Consider using mechanical sway controls

with any trailer. Ask a trailering professional

about sway controls or refer to the trailer

manufacturer's recommendations and

instructions.

Gooseneck Hitch

A gooseneck hitch is designed to be coupled

to a special hitch leveraging a hitch ball, and

is mounted over the rear axle in the

truck bed.

Weight-Distributing Hitch and

Adjustment

Fifth-Wheel Hitch

A fifth-wheel hitch is mounted over the rear

axle in the truck bed, and leverages a

hinged plate — the same type of hitch

leveraged by semi trucks. Generally,

fifth-wheel hitches accommodate large

trailers with as many as one, two, or three

axles.

A weight-distributing hitch may be useful

with some trailers. Use the following

guidelines to determine if a

weight-distributing hitch should be used.

Driving and Operating

309

Vehicle Series

Trailer Weight

Weight-Distributing Hitch Usage

Not Required

Hitch Distribution

1500

Up to 3 175 kg (7,000 lb)

Over 3 175 kg (7,000 lb)

50%

Required

Towing with Model 1500 Series Trucks

5. Install and adjust the tension in the

weight-distributing bars per the

manufacturer’s recommendations so that

the height of the front fender is

approximately H2−[(H2−H1)/2] (halfway

between the two measured ride heights).

1. Position the truck so that the trailer is

ready to connect (keep the trailer

detached).

2. Measure the height of the top of the

front wheel opening at the fender to the

ground (H1).

6. Visually inspect the trailer and

weight-distributing hitch to ensure that

the manufacturer’s recommendations

have been met.

3. Attach the vehicle to the trailer, do not

attach weight distribution bars at

this time.

4. Measure the height of the top of the

front wheel opening on the fender to

the ground (H2).

1. Front of Vehicle

2. H1/H2 Body to Ground Distance

310

Driving and Operating

Measurement

Height Example 1500 (mm)

H1

H2

1 000

1 050

50

H2−H1

(H2−H1)/2

H2−[(H2−H1)/2]

25

1 025

specified on the Trailering Information Label.

See “Trailer Weight" under Trailer Towing

0 303.

Tires

Safety Chains

.

Do not tow a trailer while using a

Always attach safety chains between the

vehicle and the trailer. Instructions about

safety chains may be provided by the hitch

manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer.

compact spare tire on the vehicle.

The hitch should be in the pickup bed so

that its centerline is over or near the rear

axle. Take care that it is not so far forward

that it will contact the back of the cab in

sharp turns. This is especially important for

short box pickups. Trailer pin box extensions

and sliding fifth-wheel hitch assemblies may

be used. There should be at least 15 cm

(6 in) of clearance between the top of the

pickup box and the bottom of the trailer

shelf that extends over the box.

.

Tires must be properly inflated to support

loads while towing a trailer. See Tires

0 369 for instructions on proper tire

inflation.

If the trailer being towed weighs up to

2 271 kg (5,000 lb) with a factory-installed

step bumper, safety chains may be attached

to the attaching points on the bumper;

otherwise, safety chains should be attached

to holes on the trailer hitch.

Fifth-Wheel and Gooseneck Trailering

Fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers can be

used with many pickup models. These

trailers place a larger percentage of the

weight (kingpin weight) on the tow vehicle

than conventional trailers. Make sure this

weight does not cause the vehicle to exceed

GAWR or GVWR. Fifth-wheel or gooseneck

kingpin weight should be 15–25% of the

trailer weight up to the maximum amount

Cross the safety chains under the tongue of

the trailer to help prevent the tongue from

contacting the road if it becomes separated

from the hitch. Always leave enough slack in

the safety chains to allow the combination

to turn. Never allow safety chains to drag

on the ground.

Make sure the hitch is attached to the tow

vehicle frame rails. Do not use the pickup

box for support.

Driving and Operating

311

Use only a round, seven-wire connector with

flat blade terminals meeting SAE J2863

specifications for proper electrical

connectivity.

Trailer Brakes

Auxiliary Battery

Loaded trailers over 900 kg (2,000 lb) must

be equipped with brake systems and with

brakes for each axle. Trailer braking

equipment conforming to Canadian

Standards Association (CSA) requirement

CAN3-D313, or its equivalent, is

If equipped, the vehicle's auxiliary battery

can be used to supply electrical power to

additional equipment that may be added,

such as a slide-in camper.

The seven-wire harness contains the

following trailer circuits:

Locate the auxiliary battery connector under

the hood on the driver side of the vehicle,

next to the engine compartment fuse block.

Follow the proper installation instructions

included with any electrical equipment that

is installed.

Stop/Turn

Yellow/Blue

Signal Left

recommended.

State or local regulations may require

trailers to have their own braking system if

the loaded weight of the trailer exceeds

certain minimums that can vary from state

to state. Read and follow the instructions for

the trailer brakes so they are installed,

adjusted, and maintained properly.

Stop/Turn Signal

Green/Violet

Right

Tail/Parking Lamps Gray/Brown

Caution

Reverse Lamps

Battery Feed

Ground

White/Green

Red/Green

White

To prevent draining the auxiliary battery,

always turn off electrical equipment

when not in use and do not use any

equipment that may exceed the

Warning

{

Electric Trailer Brake Blue

maximum amperage rating of 30 amps.

Never attempt to tamper with the

hydraulic brake system for your trailer

brakes. Do not connect a trailer's

hydraulic brake system directly to your

vehicle's hydraulic brake system. If you

do, both the vehicle antilock brakes and

the trailer brakes may not function,

which could result in a crash.

If equipped, the trailer wiring harness, with

a seven-pin connector and a four-pin

connector, is mounted on the vehicle's rear

bumper.

Trailer Wiring Harness

Basic Trailer Wiring

If the vehicle is not equipped with a trailer

connector on the rear bumper, a seven-wire

trailering harness is tied to the vehicles

frame. The harness requires the installation

of a trailer connector, which is available

through your dealer.

312

Driving and Operating

3. Left Turn/Brake

4. Right Turn/Brake

on the top left hand side (A) and the rear

trailer auxiliary camera (B) should be

installed on the top right hand side.

The trailer connectors contain the following

circuits.

1. Left Turn/Brake

2. Tail Lamps

If equipped with the fifth-wheel/gooseneck

trailer package, the harness connector is

mounted on the inside of the pickup bed

behind the rear wheel.

3. Reverse Lamps

4. Battery Feed

5. Right Turn/Brake

6. Electric Brakes

7. Ground

If equipped, trailering camera connectors are

available in the bumper trailer receptacle in

place of the four-pin connector. The inside

trailer auxiliary camera should be installed

1. Ground

2. Tail Lamps

Driving and Operating

313

Pressing START LIGHT TEST in the Trailering

App automatically activates the trailer

lamps. The Trailering App is not a substitute

for manually inspecting your trailer lamps.

See Trailering App 0 319.

Reverse Lamps

Battery Feed

Ground

White/Green

Red/Green

White

Electric Trailer Brake Blue

Trailer Connection and Lamp Messages

If equipped with the heavy-duty trailering

option, see “Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring

Harness Package” earlier in this section.

When the camper-wiring harness is ordered

without the heavy-duty trailering package, a

seven-wire harness with a seven-pin

connector is at the rear of the vehicle and is

tied to the vehicle's frame.

When a trailer is properly connected and

working, no trailer connection or lamp

messages appear on the Driver Information

Center (DIC). However; if the vehicle detects

an issue with a trailer connection or lamp,

you may see the following DIC message(s):

Camper/Fifth-Wheel Trailer Wiring Package

.

TRAILER DISCONNECTED CHECK

CONNECTION appears when a connected

trailer is disconnected. It appears

immediately when the vehicle is on,

or upon the next startup if the trailer was

disconnected while the vehicle was off.

Check the trailer connection as

appropriate.

For vehicles without the fifth wheel/

gooseneck trailer package, the seven-wire

camper harness is under the rear bumper,

attached to the frame near the rear

crossmember. A connector must be added to

the wiring harness that connects to the

camper.

Trailer Lamps

Always check that all trailer lamps are

working at the beginning of each trip, and

periodically on longer trips.

If equipped, the Trailering App will monitor

the RH turn/brake lamp circuit, LH turn/

brake lamp circuit, running lamp circuit, and

reverse lamp circuits on the trailer. DIC

messages and Trailering App alerts may be

displayed if lighting circuit issues are

detected on the trailer.

.

CHECK TRAILER XXX LAMP appears when

there is a detected lamp or wiring fault

on the trailer. Check the trailer wiring and

lamps.

The harness contains the following camper/

trailer circuits:

Stop/Turn

Yellow/Blue

Signal Left

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer

Stop/Turn Signal

Green/Violet

Right

When properly connected, the trailer turn

signals will illuminate to indicate the vehicle

is turning, changing lanes, or stopping.

Tail/Parking Lamps Gray/Brown

314

Driving and Operating

When towing a trailer, the arrows on the

instrument cluster will illuminate even if the

trailer is not properly connected or the bulbs

are burned out.

engine and transmission driving

characteristics, heavy or light steering

efforts, and reduced fuel economy.

ESC systems to activate, power sent to the

trailer's brakes will be automatically

adjusted to minimize trailer wheel lock-up.

This does not imply that the trailer has

StabiliTrak/ESC.

Integrated Trailer Brake Control System

Tow/Haul Mode

The vehicle may have an Integrated Trailer

Brake Control (ITBC) system for use with

electric trailer brakes or most electric over

hydraulic trailer brake systems. These

instructions apply to both types of electric

trailer brakes.

If the vehicle brakes, ABS, or StabiliTrak/ESC

systems are not functioning properly, the

ITBC system may not function fully or at all.

Make sure all of these systems are fully

operational to allow the ITBC system to

function properly.

For instructions on how to enter Tow/Haul

Mode, see Driver Mode Control 0 240.

Tow/Haul assists when pulling a heavy

trailer or a large or heavy load. See Tow/

Haul Mode 0 230.

The ITBC system is powered through the

vehicle electrical system. Turning the vehicle

off will also turn off the ITBC system. The

ITBC system is fully functional only when

the vehicle is on.

Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be most

effective when the vehicle and trailer

combined weight is at least 75% of the

vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating

(GCWR). See “Trailer Weight” under Trailer

Towing 0 303.

Warning

{

This symbol is on the Trailer Brake Control

Panel on vehicles with an ITBC system. The

power output to the trailer brakes is

proportional to the amount of vehicle

braking. This available power output to the

trailer brakes can be adjusted to a wide

range of trailering situations.

Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when towing

a heavy trailer or carrying a large or

heavy load:

Connecting a trailer that has an air brake

system may result in reduced or

complete loss of trailer braking, including

increased stopping distance or trailer

instability which could result in serious

injury, death, or property damage. Only

use the ITBC system with electric or

electric over hydraulic trailer brake

systems.

.

Through rolling terrain.

In stop-and-go traffic.

In busy parking lots.

Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul Mode

when lightly loaded or not towing will not

cause damage; however, it is not

The ITBC system is integrated with the

vehicle brake system, antilock brake control

system (ABS), and StabiliTrak/Electronic

Stability Control (ESC) system. In trailering

conditions that cause the ABS or StabiliTrak/

recommended and may result in unpleasant

Driving and Operating

315

panel and the DIC trailer brake display page

to adjust and display power output to the

trailer brakes.

amount of vehicle braking present and

Trailer Brake Control Panel

relative to the Trailer Gain setting. Output is

displayed from 0 to 100% for each gain

setting.

Trailer Brake DIC Display Page

The Trailer Output will indicate “- - - - - -” on

the Trailer Brake Display Page whenever the

following occur:

The ITBC display page indicates:

.

Trailer Gain setting

Output to the trailer brakes

Trailer connection

.

No trailer is connected.

.

A trailer without electric brakes is

connected. No DIC message displays.

System operational status

.

A trailer with electric brakes has become

disconnected. A CHECK TRAILER WIRING

message displays on the DIC.

There is a fault present in the wiring to

the trailer brakes. A CHECK TRAILER

WIRING message displays on the DIC.

The ITBC system is not working due to a

fault. A SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM

message displays in the DIC.

To display:

.

Scroll through the DIC menu pages

Press a Trailer Gain (+) or (−) button

Activate the Manual Trailer Brake Apply

Lever

1. Manual Trailer Brake Apply Lever

2. Trailer Symbol

3. Trailer Gain Adjustment Buttons

TRAILER GAIN: Press a Trailer Gain button to

recall the current Trailer Gain setting. Each

press and release of the gain buttons will

then change the Trailer Gain setting. Press

the Trailer Gain (+) or (-) to adjust. Press and

hold to continuously adjust the Trailer Gain.

To turn the output to the trailer off, adjust

the Trailer Gain setting to 0.0. This setting

can be adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0 with a

trailer connected or disconnected.

The trailer symbol on the control panel will

light amber when a trailer with electric

brakes is connected.

Manual Trailer Brake Apply Lever

The ITBC control panel is on the center stack

or center console. See Instrument Panel

Overview 0 5. The control panel allows

adjustment to the amount of output,

referred to as Trailer Gain, available to the

trailer brakes and allows manual application

of the trailer brakes. Use the ITBC control

Slide this lever to apply the trailer's electric

brakes independent of the vehicle brakes.

Use this lever to adjust Trailer Gain to

achieve the proper power output to the

trailer brakes. This lever may also be used

to request additional trailer braking at any

time. The trailer and the vehicle brake lamps

TRAILER OUTPUT: This displays anytime a

trailer with electric brakes is connected.

Output to the trailer brakes is based on the

316

Driving and Operating

.

The disconnect occurs while the vehicle is

stationary, this message will

automatically turn off in about

30 seconds. This message will also turn

off if it is acknowledged or if the trailer

harness is reconnected.

The disconnect occurs while the vehicle is

moving, this message will continue until

the vehicle is turned off. This message

will also turn off if it is acknowledged or

if the trailer harness is reconnected.

There is an electrical fault in the wiring to

the trailer brakes. This message will

continue as long as there is an electrical

fault in the trailer wiring. This message

will also turn off if it is acknowledged.

will come on when either vehicle brakes or

manual trailer brakes are applied and

properly connected.

2. Adjust the Trailer Gain, using the Trailer

Gain (+) or (−) adjustment buttons, to

just below the point of trailer wheel

lock-up, indicated by trailer wheel squeal

or tire smoke when a trailer wheel locks.

Trailer Gain Adjustment Procedure

Trailer Gain should be set for a specific

trailering condition and it must be

readjusted anytime vehicle loading, trailer

loading, or road surface conditions change.

Trailer wheel lock-up may not occur if

towing a heavily loaded trailer. Adjust

the Trailer Gain to the highest allowable

setting for the towing condition.

.

3. Readjust Trailer Gain anytime vehicle

loading, trailer loading, or road surface

conditions change or if trailer wheel

lock-up is noticed at any time while

towing.

Warning

{

Trailer brakes that are over-gained or

under-gained may not stop the vehicle

and the trailer as intended and can result

in a crash. Always follow the instructions

to set the Trailer Gain for the proper

trailer stopping performance.

Other ITBC-Related DIC Messages

TRAILER BRAKES CONNECTED: This message

will briefly display when a trailer with

electric brakes is first connected to the

vehicle. This message will automatically turn

off in about 10 seconds. This message can

be acknowledged before it automatically

turns off.

To determine whether the electrical fault is

on the vehicle side or trailer side of the

trailer wiring harness connection:

To adjust Trailer Gain for each towing

condition:

1. Disconnect the trailer wiring harness

from the vehicle.

1. Drive the vehicle with the trailer

attached on a level road surface

representative of the towing condition

and free of traffic at about 32–40 km/h

(20–25 mph) and fully apply the Manual

Trailer Brake Apply Lever.

2. Turn the vehicle off.

3. Wait 10 seconds, then turn the vehicle

back to RUN.

CHECK TRAILER WIRING: This message will

display if:

4. If the CHECK TRAILER WIRING message

reappears, the electrical fault is on the

vehicle side.

.

The ITBC system first determines

connection to a trailer with electric brakes

and then the trailer harness becomes

disconnected from the vehicle.

Adjusting Trailer Gain at speeds lower

than 32–40 km/h (20–25 mph) may result

in an incorrect gain setting.

Driving and Operating

317

5. If the CHECK TRAILER WIRING message

only reappears when connecting the

trailer wiring harness to the vehicle, the

electrical fault is on the trailer side.

side of the road and turn the vehicle off.

Check the wiring connection to the trailer

and turn the vehicle back on. If either of

these messages continue, either the vehicle

or trailer needs service.

SERVICE TRAILER BRAKES or REDUCED

TRAILER BRAKING: This message will display

if the electric trailer brake performance is

either reduced or non-functional.

A GM dealer may be able to diagnose and

repair problems with the trailer. However,

any diagnosis and repair of the trailer is not

covered under the vehicle warranty. Contact

your trailer dealer for assistance with trailer

repairs and trailer warranty information.

HOLD LAST KNOWN GAIN: This message will

display if it is no longer possible to adjust

the trailer brake gain. Trailer brakes may or

may not still be functional, and it is not

possible to adjust brake gain based on road

conditions. The trailer brakes may remain

functional until the next time the vehicle is

turned off.

Trailer Sway Control (TSC)

If TSC is enabled, the Traction Control

Vehicles with StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability

Control (ESC) have a Trailer Sway Control

(TSC) feature. Trailer sway is unintended

side-to-side motion of a trailer while towing.

If the vehicle is towing a trailer and the TSC

detects that sway is increasing, the vehicle

brakes are selectively applied at each wheel,

to help reduce excessive trailer sway.

If equipped with the Integrated Trailer Brake

Control (ITBC) system, and the trailer has an

electric brake system, StabiliTrak/ESC may

also apply the trailer brakes.

System (TCS)/StabiliTrak/ESC warning light

will flash on the instrument cluster. Reduce

vehicle speed by gradually removing your

foot from the accelerator. If trailer sway

continues, StabiliTrak/ESC can reduce engine

torque to help slow the vehicle. TSC will not

function if StabiliTrak/ESC is turned off. See

Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control

0 237.

TRAILER BRAKES DISABLED SERVICE

REQUIRED: This message will display when

there is a problem with the ITBC system.

If this message continues over multiple

restarts, have the vehicle serviced.

If either the CHECK TRAILER WIRING, TRAILER

BRAKES DISABLED SERVICE REQUIRED,

SERVICE TRAILER BRAKES, HOLD LAST KNOWN

GAIN, or REDUCED TRAILER BRAKING

Warning

{

Trailer sway can result in a crash and in

serious injury or death, even if the

vehicle is equipped with TSC.

(Continued)

message displays while driving, the ITBC

system may not be fully functional or may

not function at all. When traffic conditions

allow, carefully pull the vehicle over to the

318

Driving and Operating

Warning (Continued)

aftermarket devices may have on vehicle

handling or trailer brake performance is not

known.

Warning (Continued)

.

If the trailer brakes are not operating

properly at any time, or if a DIC

message indicates problems with the

trailer connections or trailer brakes,

carefully pull the vehicle over to the

side of the road when traffic

If the trailer begins to sway, reduce

vehicle speed by gradually removing your

foot from the accelerator. Then pull over

to check the trailer and vehicle to help

correct possible causes, including an

improperly or overloaded trailer,

unrestrained cargo, improper trailer hitch

configuration, or improperly inflated or

incorrect vehicle or trailer tires. See

Towing Equipment 0 307 for trailer

ratings and hitch setup recommendations.

Warning

{

Use of aftermarket electronic trailer sway

control devices could result in reduced

trailer brake performance, loss of trailer

brakes, or other malfunctions, and result

in a crash. You or others could be

seriously injured or killed. Before using

one of these devices:

conditions allow.

Trailer Tires

Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from vehicle

tires. Trailer tires are designed with stiff

sidewalls to help prevent sway and to

support heavy loads. These features can

make it difficult to determine if the trailer

tire pressures are low only based on a visual

inspection.

.

Ask the device or trailer manufacturer

if the device has been thoroughly

tested for compatibility with the

make, model, and year of your vehicle

and any optional equipment installed

on your vehicle.

Aftermarket Electronic Trailer Sway

Control Devices

Some trailers may come equipped with an

electronic device designed to reduce or

control trailer sway. Aftermarket equipment

manufacturers also offer similar devices that

connect to the wiring between the trailer

and the vehicle. These devices may interfere

with the vehicle’s trailer brake or other

systems, including integrated anti-sway

systems, if equipped. Messages related to

trailer connections or trailer brakes could

appear on the DIC. The effects of these

Always check all trailer tire pressures before

each trip when the tires are cool. Low trailer

tire pressure is a leading cause of trailer tire

blow-outs.

.

Before driving, check the trailer brakes

are working properly, if equipped.

Drive the vehicle with the trailer

attached on a level road surface that

is free of traffic at about 32-40 km/h

(20-25 mph) and fully apply the

manual trailer brake apply lever. Also,

check the trailer brake lamps and

other lamps are functioning correctly.

(Continued)

Trailer tires deteriorate over time. The trailer

tire sidewall will show the week and year

the tire was manufactured. Many trailer tire

manufacturers recommend replacing tires

more than six years old.

Driving and Operating

319

Overloading is another leading cause of

trailer tire blow-outs. Never load your trailer

with more weight than the tires are

designed to support. The load rating is

located on the trailer tire sidewall.

4. The right turn signal light flashes three

times.

The Trailering App welcome page appears

when the Trailering App is opened for the

first time from the infotainment home

screen.

5. The reverse lights turn on for about

two seconds.

When a trailer is electrically connected and

a trailer profile has not been created, there

will be an option to create a profile, use a

guest profile, or select Accessory/No trailer.

6. Steps 2–5 repeat for approximately

one minute and 45 seconds, or until the

test deactivates.

Always know the maximum speed rating for

the trailer tires before driving. This may be

significantly lower than the vehicle tire

speed rating. The speed rating may be on

the trailer tire sidewall. If the speed rating is

not shown, the default trailer tire speed

rating is 105 km/h (65 mph).

Touch Stop to stop the test. The test

automatically ends after one minute and

45 seconds.

When a trailer is electrically connected and

after a Trailer Profile has been created, the

trailer detection pop-up appears with a list

of all of the custom Trailer Profiles made on

the vehicle. To load an existing Trailer

Profile, select one of the Trailer Profiles

listed, or load the Guest Trailer Profile by

selecting GUEST TRAILER. Touching

Accessory/No trailer will select Accessory/No

trailer as the active Trailer Profile and will

dismiss the pop- up. Shifting the vehicle

from P (Park) will select Guest Trailer as the

active Trailer Profile and will dismiss the

pop-up.

The sequence also deactivates when any of

the following occur:

Trailering App

.

The vehicle is turned off.

The transmission is shifted out of P (Park).

The brake pedal is pressed.

The turn signal is activated.

The hazard warning lights are activated.

Trailer Lights App

If equipped, the Trailer Lights App is on the

infotainment home screen.

Touch Start to cycle the trailer lamps on and

off to determine if they are working. The

test follows this sequence:

Trailering App

If equipped, the Trailering App is on the

infotainment home screen.

1. The running lights turn on first and

remain on throughout the sequence.

Create a Trailer Profile

If equipped this feature allows profiles for

connected trailers to be created to view

status, to store and track trailer usage

information, and to set up towing assist

features.

2. The brake lights turn on for about

two seconds.

Touch Add Trailer on the trailer detection

pop-up or touch + Add Trailer in the

Trailering App.

3. The left turn signal light flashes three

times.

Follow on-screen instructions to set up

profile.

320

Driving and Operating

After a profile is created, set up for

The trailer tire pressure sensors can transmit

up to 7 m (23 feet) from the hitch receiver of

the vehicle.

see a tire or trailer dealer for service. The

learning process must be repeated when the

trailer tires are rotated or replaced.

additional features may become available,

such as Tow/Haul Mode reminder, Trailer

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TTPMS),

maintenance reminders, or towing assist.

A trailer must be electrically connected to

the vehicle before starting the

sensor-to-vehicle learn process.

Tool Method: A TTPMS activation tool can

be purchased separately to learn the sensor

locations.

Import a Trailer Profile

Touch Import on the trailer detection pop-up

or touch Import in the Trailering App.

After selecting Start from the Learn Sensors

screen, use the Tool Method or the Manual

Method (described below) to learn each tire

sensor, during which the current tire number

will be highlighted.

Manual Method: Without the tool, the air

pressure can be increased or decreased in

each tire for 10 seconds. Do not exceed the

maximum inflation pressure found on the

tire sidewalls. Make sure to readjust tire

pressure to the recommended level when

the process is complete.

Follow on-screen instructions to import a

profile.

After a profile is imported, it can be selected

from the trailer list. The Tow/Haul Mode

reminder, Brake Gain Setting and Trailer Tire

Pressure sensor learning, if equipped, do not

import.

Each sensor has a maximum of two minutes

to learn. After a sensor is learned, a

checkmark appears next to the tire, the

vehicle horn sounds, the vehicle brake lamps

flash, and all working trailer lamps flash.

It then moves to the next sensor.

Sensor Learning Steps

To complete the sensor-to-vehicle learn

process:

Trailer Feature Setup

1. Touch Start on the Learn Sensors screen.

The horn chirps twice and the Learning

Active screen appears on the

Touch Stop to cancel the process.

Tow/Haul Mode Reminder

The recommended tire pressure must be

entered for the trailer tires. This allows the

vehicle to alert when the tire pressure is

high or low.

To turn the Tow/Haul Mode Reminder

setting on, touch Yes. To turn it off,

touch No.

infotainment screen.

2. Start with the driver side front

trailer tire.

Trailer Tire Pressure Setup

TTPMS must learn the location of the

installed tire sensors to show correct air

pressure and temperature for each tire. To

set up, use one of the following options or

3. Activate the tool near the valve stem or

adjust the air pressure of this tire until

the horn chirps and all working vehicle

and trailer lights flash.

If the Trailer TTPMS is detected, touch the

Tire Pressure Monitoring icon to set up tire

pressure monitoring.

Driving and Operating

321

.

Trailer Tongue Length: 50 cm (19.6 in) –

220 cm (86.6 in). Measure from center of

coupler to trailer front wall.

Vehicle Hitch Height: 10 cm (3.9 in) –

100 cm (39.3 in). Measure from ground to

top of coupler.

Vehicle Hitch Length: 10 cm (3.9 in) –

100 cm (39.3 in). Measure from hitch

receiver to center of ball.

The process stops without saving the

sensor locations if this step takes more

than two minutes.

Transparent Trailer Setup

If equipped, a rear trailer camera must be

mounted on the trailer and electrically

connected to the vehicle before transparent

trailer feature can be used. See Assistance

Systems for Parking or Backing 0 274.

4. Move to the next tire and repeat Step 3

for each sensor. The horn chirps twice

when all sensors are completed.

5. Return to the vehicle to complete the

setup.

Trailer dimensions must be in range and

transparent trailer must be calibrated prior

to use:

Maintenance Reminders

Rear Trailer Guidance Setup

1. If trailer dimensions are out of range,

this feature will be unavailable.

To set up maintenance reminders, touch the

Trailer Maintenance icon. Follow the

onscreen prompts. The maximum number of

reminders is 50.

If equipped, a rear trailer camera must be

mounted on the trailer and electrically

connected to the vehicle before rear trailer

guidance feature can be used. See Assistance

Systems for Parking or Backing 0 274.

2. Ensure rear trailer camera is connected.

3. Follow instructions to drive forward to

complete calibration.

Towing Assist

.

Trailer Length: 300 cm (118.1 in) – 970 cm

(381.8 in). Measure from center of coupler

to furthest rear point on the trailer.

Trailer Width: 120 cm (47.2 in) – 260 cm

(102.3 in). Measure from left edge of

trailer to right edge.

Trailer Height: 1 cm (0.39 in) – 450 cm

(177.1 in). Measure from ground to tallest

point of the trailer.

Hitching Point Length: 180 cm (70.8 in) –

970 cm (381.8 in). Measure from center of

coupler to middle of tires.

To set up towing assist features,

if equipped, touch the towing assist icon.

Trailer dimensions must be in range to

enable this feature.

.

1. Select the number of axles on the trailer.

2. Enter trailer dimensions as prompted.

Trailer Length: 300 cm (118.1 in) –

1300 cm (511.8 in). Measure from center

of coupler to furthest rear point on the

trailer.

Follow the onscreen instructions to complete

setup for available features.

1. If trailer dimensions are out of range,

this feature will be unavailable.

Certain trailer features require a compatible

trailer profile be configured and selected.

A compatible trailer is a box type trailer

(cargo, camper, etc.) with a conventional

hitch.

2. Ensure rear trailer camera is connected.

3. Follow instructions to drive forward to

complete calibration.

322

Driving and Operating

If a trailer is connected, the Status view

shows status information for the active

trailer profile.

Jack-Knife Alert Setup

Lights

If equipped, follow the instructions to drive

forward to complete calibration.

If no trailer is connected, the Status view

shows the last trailer profile with a status of

Not Connected.

Trailer Length Indicator Setup

If equipped, follow the instructions to drive

forward to complete calibration.

The Status view shows:

.

Lights

Tires

Maintenance

Cameras

Checklists

Weight

Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert Setup

If equipped, trailer dimensions must be in

range to enable this feature.

This view displays the names of the trailer

connector pins, a graphic of the trailer

connector, and a graphic of the back of the

trailer.

.

Trailer Length: 300 cm (118.1 in) –

1200 cm (472.4 in). Measure from center

of coupler to furthest rear point on the

trailer.

Towing Assist

Any connector pin that failed will be amber

color, and the location of the corresponding

connection will be highlighted on the

graphic of the back of the trailer.

If trailer dimensions are out of range, this

feature will be unavailable.

Scroll right or left to see more options.

Each section shows high level status

information for the feature. Selecting a

section will open up a new screen with

additional information and/or options.

Selecting a camera view will open up a new

screen to preview the camera image. The

status view displays mileage and fuel

economy information.

Status View

If a trailer connection is detected without

any faults, the view will display No Issues

Found.

When a trailer is connected, the Trailering

App System detects the trailer connection

using the Stop/Turn Signal lighting circuits

and alerts the driver by requesting a trailer

profile setup through the Trailering App

System on the infotainment screen. If a

default trailer profile is selected, the

Driving and Operating

323

Trailering App System will not display a

Trailer Detection Alert to the user when a

trailer is connected.

Connection Problem

3. The left turn signal light flashes three

times.

If any of the trailer connections are lost, a

message about the connection issue appears

on the DIC. The infotainment screen will also

show the connection issue in the Lights

Status view.

4. The right turn signal light flashes three

times.

When a trailer is connected and the vehicle

is off, the Trailering App System will

periodically pulse the lighting circuits of the

trailer to verify it is still connected. The

trailer lights may periodically flash as a

result of this trailer connection detection.

These flashes may be more visible in dark

ambient light environments. The flashing or

flickering lights are a normal condition and

the Trailering App System has built-in

protections to prevent the battery from

draining. When Theft Alert is enabled, the

frequency and pattern of this flashing will

change.

5. The reverse lights turn on for about

two seconds.

Connection Trailer Lighting Faults Detected

6. Steps 2-5 repeat for approximately on

minute and 45 seconds, or until the test

deactivates.

The Trailering App System monitors for

electrical faults on the trailer lights.

A message about the lighting issue appears

on the DIC. The infotainment screen will also

show the lighting issue in the Lights Status

view. Repair your trailer lights if needed.

A trailer lighting issue is not covered by

your GM warranty.

Touch Stop to stop the test. The test will

automatically end after one minute and

45 seconds.

The sequence also deactivates when any of

the following occur:

.

The vehicle is turned off.

The transmission is shifted out of

P (Park).

The Running Lights connection may not

detect partial outages. Activate the light test

to check all trailer lamps. See “Light Test”

following.

If a connected trailer becomes disconnected,

a message about the trailer disconnect will

appear on the Driver Information Center

(DIC) immediately (if vehicle is on) or the

next time the vehicle is turned on (if trailer

was disconnected while vehicle is off). Check

your trailer connection if needed.

.

The brake pedal is pressed.

The turn signal is activated.

The hazard warning lights are activated.

Light Test

Touch Start Light Test to cycle the trailer

lights on and off to determine if they are

working. The test follows this sequence:

1. The running lights turn on first and

remain on throughout the sequence.

2. The brake lights turn on for about

two seconds.

324

Driving and Operating

relearn the tire sensors and their locations.

See “Trailer Tire Pressure Setup” previously

in this section.

The progress bar turns red when the

maintenance item reaches 100% complete.

Tires

Touch New Reminder to add a new

maintenance reminder.

Touch Edit Target Pressure to change the

recommended tire pressure for the trailer

tires. This will change the number at which

the vehicle displays alerts related to trailer

tire pressure.

Suggested reminders that were previously

set will not appear. Suggested reminders

that have not been set have empty boxes

next to them. The maximum number of

reminders is 50.

Maintenance

Maintenance Notifications

Tire Pressure and Temperature

Touch Reset to reset time and mileage

values for the reminder.

If the TTPMS sensor-to-vehicle learn process

was completed, the status view will display

the current tire pressure and temperature of

the trailer tires related to the active Trailer

Profile. If a tire’s pressure is low or high, the

color of the pressure value will be amber.

If a sensor malfunctions, the values are

dashed lines. If the screen displays “Service

Tire Pressure Monitoring System,” the

vehicle needs to be taken to a dealer for

service.

Touch Remind Me Later to delay the

reminder.

If an Upcoming Alert (90%) is dismissed, it

will not appear again.

If a Maintenance Due Alert (100%) is

dismissed, it will appear when the vehicle is

turned off and back on again.

Touch to view a list of maintenance

reminders for the Trailer Profile.

The Maintenance Status view displays

reminders for the Trailer Profile. Touch a

reminder to view, reset, delete, or edit it.

Always follow all of the maintenance

instructions that came with your trailer.

Touch to set up the TTPMS for the Trailer

Profile. See “Trailer Tire Pressure Setup”

previously in this section for details on the

setup. Also, touch Sensor Setup if the trailer

tires were rotated or if the tire pressure

sensors in the tires were replaced for this

Trailer Profile. The vehicle will need to

Resetting a reminder will reset the time and

mileage values for the reminder. The

progress bar turns yellow when the

maintenance item reaches 90% complete.

Driving and Operating

325

Touch the box next to each item if that step

has been completed.

Cameras

Weight

Touch 4 to access a detailed view of each

step. Within each detailed view, touch Next

and Previous to navigate between steps.

Touch Clear All to clear the completed

statuses from all items in the current

checklist.

Custom Checklist Items

For each of the Trailer Profile checklists,

there is an option to create custom items to

view in the checklist. The custom item will

appear at the bottom of the checklist.

This view shows a preview of the selected

camera view. Touch X to exit the preview.

Touch the camera icon to open the

camera app.

Touch to turn on or off the GCW Alert.

Touch 4 to learn more about the GCW Alert.

When on, an alert may be presented when

the combined weight of the vehicle and

trailer may exceed the vehicle’s Gross

Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). For more

information on the Gross Combined Weight

(GCW) Alert, see Trailer Towing 0 303.

Guest Trailer and No Trailer Connected

Checklist View

If a Guest Trailer Profile is active, or if no

trailer is connected, the checklist will show

all of the checklists associated with Custom

Trailer Profiles in addition to default

checklist.

Towing Assist

A trailer should be connected to complete

this portion of profile setup.

Touch to set up towing assist features for

the Trailer Profile. See "Towing Assist" for

details on the setup.

This view shows the recommended steps to

take before towing a trailer.

326

Driving and Operating

The Custom Trailer Profiles and Guest Trailer

are in order of the most frequently used.

The Accessory/No Trailer profile is shown

below the Custom Trailer Profiles and Guest

Trailer Profile.

set up for the Accessory/No Trailer Profile.

The Accessory/No Trailer profile cannot be

edited.

Guest Trailer Status View

If the Guest Trailer Profile is active, the

Status view shows:

No Trailer Connected

.

Lights

When there is no trailer connected, Trailer

Profiles cannot be activated but most

options can be edited.

Cameras

Checklist

Weight

All personalization features are based on the

settings for each driver in vehicle

personalization. The list of Trailer Profiles is

based on vehicle personalization settings.

Trailer Brake Gain Memory

Scroll right or left to see more options.

The system can store the brake gain setting

of a Trailer Profile or a Guest Trailer Profile.

When a Trailer Profile or Guest Trailer Profile

is selected, and a brake gain setting is set

for that Trailer Profile, a quick notice will

appear to indicate that the system has

recalled that profile's brake gain setting.

Guest Trailer

The Trailer Status view displays mileage and

fuel economy information. Mileage and fuel

economy will reset after the trailer

disconnects.

If the Guest Trailer Profile is the active

Trailer Profile, trailer detection, lights/

connections status, theft, and the Tow/Haul

reminder alerts can be sent. The system will

not track total mileage or fuel economy, but

the system will track trip mileage and fuel

economy if the Guest Trailer Profile is active.

The TTPMS or maintenance reminders

Accessory/No Trailer Status View

If the Accessory/No Trailer profile is active,

trailer status information is not available.

If a Trailer Profile is already active and the

brake gain setting had been set for that

Trailer Profile, the quick notice will trigger

whenever the vehicle is turned on.

Trailers View

cannot be set up for a Guest Trailer Profile.

The Guest Trailer Profile cannot be edited.

Touch the trailer profile icon/name in the

Status View to view, activate, create, edit,

or delete Trailer Profiles.

If there was an error in setting the brake

gain for a Trailer Profile, there will be a

notification. This pop-up will not appear if

the Guest Trailer Profile is active or if there

is no trailer connected.

Touch 4 to learn more about the Guest

Trailer option.

If a trailer is connected, touch the Trailer

Profile name to activate a Trailer Profile.

Accessory/No Trailer

If the Accessory/No Trailer Profile is active,

alerts will not be sent and the system will

not track mileage or fuel economy. The

TTPMS or maintenance reminders cannot be

There can be up to five Custom Trailer

Profiles on the vehicle.

Driving and Operating

327

Trailer brake gain should be set for a specific

trailering condition and must be adjusted

anytime vehicle loading, trailer loading,

or road surface conditions change.

Trailer Name

profile from the vehicle but the profile will

still be associated with the user account.

However, if there is not a connected OnStar

plan, then the remove button will read

DELETE and the profile will be deleted

permanently.

Touch to edit the Trailer Profile’s name. Use

at least one character and no spaces.

Total Mileage

Editing a Trailer Profile

Touch to edit the Trailer Profile’s mileage.

Touch Reset to reset trailer mileage to zero,

or enter a new value and touch Save.

Set as Default Trailer

Touch Set as Default Trailer to select the

current profile as default.

Effect on Maintenance Reminders

If the mileage is reset or changed, and

mileage has already accumulated, any

maintenance reminders that have been set

up will be adjusted accordingly.

The default Trailer profile will be

automatically selected each time a new

connection is detected. The Trailer Detection

Alert will no longer appear.

Average Fuel Economy

If this setting is turned off, the current

trailer profile is not the default trailer.

Touch the trailer profile icon/name in the

Status View to access the Trailer

Profile view:

Touch to reset the average fuel economy for

the trailer profile. Touch Reset to reset fuel

economy.

GCW Alerts

Touch GCW Alert to turn on/off the GCW

Alert for the selected profile. These alerts

are based on the Trailer Profile, so the

settings for each Trailer Profile must be

turned on or off.

.

Trailer Name

Total Mileage

Delete/Remove Trailer

Touch to remove the Trailer Profile and all

of its settings.

Average Fuel Economy

Set as Default Trailer

GCW Alert

Tow/Haul Mode Reminder Alert

Theft Alert

On the pop-up, touch Remove to remove the

Trailer Profile from the vehicle. Touch Cancel

to dismiss the pop-up and return to the

previous view.

The setting will be on by default for each

profile.

Turn this setting off to not receive GCW

Alerts when that Trailer Profile is active.

Maintenance Alert

Delete/Remove Trailer

Remove is displayed if there is a connected

OnStar plan active with the vehicle.

Removing a trailer profile will remove the

328

Driving and Operating

Maintenance Alerts

if the setting is on for the active Trailer

Profile, the vehicle has an OnStar or

connected service plan and the smartphone

number has been added to the account for

this notification.

If Tow/Haul Mode is on and this setting is

on for a Trailer Profile, the reminder will not

appear when the Trailer Profile is active.

Touch Maintenance Alert to turn on/off

Maintenance Alerts for the selected profile.

These alerts are based on the Trailer Profile,

so the settings for each Trailer Profile must

be turned on or off.

Conversions and Add-Ons

If the setting is turned off for a given Trailer

Profile, the smartphone will not receive this

security notification even if the Trailer

Profile is active.

Add-On Electrical Equipment

The setting is on by default for each profile.

All Maintenance Alerts for that active Trailer

Profile will be received.

Warning

{

Tow/Haul Mode Reminder

The Data Link Connector (DLC) is used for

vehicle service and Emission Inspection/

Maintenance testing. See Malfunction

Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0 117.

A device connected to the DLC — such as

an aftermarket fleet or driver-behavior

tracking device — may interfere with

vehicle systems. This could affect vehicle

operation and cause a crash. Such devices

may also access information stored in the

vehicle’s systems.

Turn this setting off to dismiss Maintenance

Alerts when that Trailer Profile is active.

This is a reminder to turn on the Tow/Haul

Mode when towing a trailer. See Driver

Mode Control 0 240.

Theft Alert

Theft alert can be set if a trailer is

connected and the alert is enabled. When

the trailer is disconnected and the vehicle is

off, an alarm will sound.

Touch Tow/Haul Mode Reminder to turn on/

off Tow/Haul Mode reminders for the

selected profile. These alerts are based on

the Trailer Profile, so the settings for each

Trailer Profile must be turned on or off.

Touch Theft Alert to turn on/off Theft Alerts

for the selected profile. These alerts are

based on the Trailer Profile, so the settings

for each Trailer Profile must be turned on

or off.

This setting will default to OFF for each

Trailer Profile, including the Guest Trailer

Profile.

Caution

If Tow/Haul Mode is off and this setting is

on for a Trailer Profile, each time the vehicle

is turned on, a reminder will appear to turn

on Tow/Haul Mode when the Trailer Profile

is active.

This setting will be off by default for each

Trailer Profile, including the Guest Trailer

Profile.

Some electrical equipment can damage

the vehicle or cause components to not

work and would not be covered by the

vehicle warranty. Always check with your

dealer before adding electrical equipment.

A smartphone will receive a notification that

the trailer related to the selected Trailer

Profile is disconnected from the vehicle,

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Driving and Operating -> Trailer Towing for Your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Light Truck 2023

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