Chevy Trailering Guide: Towing Capacity & Safety
âš“ Master the Haul: Your Guide to Trailering with a New Chevrolet Truck
When it comes to hauling your boat, camper, horse trailer, or equipment, you need a truck that offers both immense power and the cutting-edge technology to handle the load safely. **Ron Westphal Chevy has been helping local drivers tow with confidence since 1977.** We are the experts in getting you properly equipped for any tow job, whether you're loading up near **Plainfield**, heading out from **Naperville** or **Aurora**, or running cargo between **Yorkville and Chicago**.
2026 Chevrolet Trailering Capacity Quick Guide
| Chevrolet Truck Model | Max Available Towing (lbs) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| **Colorado** | Up to 7,700 lbs | Small campers, utility trailers, boats |
| **Silverado 1500** | Up to 13,300 lbs | Mid-size RVs, large boat trailers, construction gear |
| **Silverado 2500 HD** | Up to 20,000 lbs | Heavy RVs, large commercial trailers, livestock |
| **Silverado 3500 HD** | Up to 36,000 lbs | Fifth-wheel RVs, maximum commercial hauling (dually) |
Technology and Safety: Chevy’s Trailering Advantage
We've got you covered on the gear too! Not only can we get you set up with practical add-ons like **extended trailer mirrors** and help you install an **integrated trailer brake controller**, but the technology built right into a new Chevy is truly next-level.
Camera Magic: Chevy basically gives you a digital co-pilot with its **Advanced Camera System**. You get up to **14 different views** to make hitching, parking, and maneuvering a huge trailer easy. Ever wished you could see through your trailer? Their revolutionary **Transparent Trailer View** lets you do exactly that, and the **Hitch View** makes lining up the ball a perfect one-shot deal every time.
Smart Guidance: Plus, the **Advanced Trailering System App** is right on your screen. It’s a digital organizer that lets you set up custom profiles for different trailers, walks you through your pre-trip checklists, and even warns you with a **Jackknife Alert** if your angle gets dangerous while backing up.
📸 Up Close and All Around: Chevy's 14 Trailering Camera Views
For those driving a new Chevy equipped with a trailering package, you're in for a treat! Modern trucks offer up to 14 unique camera views to make hitching, driving, and parking with a trailer easier and safer than ever. These views come from a combination of truck-mounted and accessory cameras.
I. Views for Hitching and Cargo Management (Parking)
These views are your best friends for precision parking, aligning hitches, and checking on anything in the truck bed.
- Hitch View: A zoomed-in look right at your receiver hitch, perfect for lining up the ball with the trailer coupler.
- Bed View: See directly into the truck bed, super handy for monitoring cargo or connecting a Fifth-Wheel or Gooseneck trailer.
- Rear Top-Down View: Gives you a clear picture of clearance between the truck's rear and any objects, or for getting close to the trailer tongue.
- HD Surround View (Bird's-Eye): A stitched-together 360-degree top-down view of your truck's immediate area, making tight parking spots a breeze.
- Front Top-Down View: Helps you guide the front of your truck near curbs or obstacles, especially in close quarters.
- Front Side View: Shows you where your front tires are positioned, helping to avoid curb rash when parking or turning sharply.
II. Views for Driving and Visibility (Towing)
These views keep you aware of your trailer and surroundings while you're on the move, enhancing safety and confidence.
- Transparent Trailer View: An amazing feature that uses a trailer-mounted camera to virtually "see through" your trailer, giving you a view of traffic behind you.
- Rear Trailer View: Uses a camera on the back of your trailer to show what's directly behind it, complete with guidelines for your trailer's path.
- Inside Trailer View: (Requires an accessory camera) Keep an eye on your precious cargo, livestock, or equipment inside the trailer as you drive.
- Rear Camera View: Your standard rear view, often with handy dynamic guidelines, displayed on your screen.
- Rear Side View (Split Screen): A split display showing both sides of your truck and the length of your trailer, often with an indicator for trailer length.
- Rear Side View (Turn Signal Activated): Hit your turn signal, and your screen automatically shows a full-screen view down that side of your truck and trailer for safer lane changes.
- Pic-in-Pic Side View: Combines the regular Rear Side View with the Rear Trailer View in a picture-in-picture format, giving you maximum awareness of your sides and rear.
- Rear Camera Mirror: An available feature that turns your rearview mirror into a digital display, offering a much wider and unobstructed view behind you, especially useful with a loaded bed or attached trailer.
Good to know: While there are up to 14 views, you won't use them all at once! They're there to give you the perfect perspective for every specific towing challenge you face.
Safety First: The Dos and Don'ts of Trailering
Around Aurora and Naperville, we don't have to worry about the crazy inclines you find out in the Rockies or the Appalachians. But even though our hills are mild, the most important thing is still making absolutely sure your truck and trailer are tuned up and ready to handle the load safely. **Safety should always be your number one priority!**
A Chevrolet truck's strength is nothing without smart operation. Our certified team knows that safe trailering involves more than just a powerful engine—it requires preparation, the right equipment, and careful driving. Always consult your specific truck's Owner’s Manual for the definitive weight ratings and procedures for your exact configuration.
✅ Smart Preparation and Checks
- **Know Your Limits:** You absolutely must check your **Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)**, **Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)**, and the truck's maximum towing capacity in your owner's manual. This is the single most important rule for towing safely. Never exceed them!
- **Balance the Cargo:** Make sure you load the trailer correctly. A good rule of thumb is to put about **60% of the cargo weight in the front half** (closest to the hitch). Also, your **tongue weight** needs to be between **10–15%** of the total loaded trailer weight. Getting this right is critical for avoiding dangerous sway.
- **Inspect Every Connection:** Double-check that your hitch ball and coupler match up perfectly. Always ensure the safety chains are **crossed** beneath the tongue (so they cradle the hitch if it fails), and confirm the electrical plug is firmly seated for all your lights and brakes.
- **Use the Tech:** Take full advantage of the features your Chevy offers, like the **Advanced Trailering System App** and those available **14 camera views**. These tools make it much easier to monitor your trailer and blind spots while maneuvering on highways near **Montgomery** and **Wheaton**.
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- **Don't Skimp on Brakes:** If your trailer weighs over 2,000 lbs, you need an integrated or add-on **trailer brake controller**. Relying only on the truck's brakes is dangerous—using trailer brakes helps stabilize the load and prevents your truck's brakes from overheating.
- **Slow Down:** You must maintain a reduced speed compared to your normal pace. Too much speed makes sway worse and leaves you less time to react. When driving through traffic near **Warrenville** or **Bristol**, give yourself a significantly longer following distance.
- **Never Slam the Truck Brakes During Sway:** If the trailer starts to wobble badly, **do NOT hit the main brake pedal!** Instead, gently **ease off the accelerator** and use the manual lever on your trailer brake controller to pull the trailer back into a straight line.
🚗 Towing on the Road: Driving with a Trailer
Towing a load completely changes how your truck drives, how quickly it speeds up, and especially how long it takes to stop. The key is to **always think ahead** and adjust your normal driving habits to stay safe:
- Braking Distance is Longer: Never forget that a loaded trailer needs *significantly* more time and distance to come to a full stop. It's smart practice to increase your following distance to at least double what you normally allow when you're driving without a load.
- Mastering the Hills: When you hit an incline, always use your truck's **Tow/Haul** mode. This automatically helps manage your transmission and is your best friend for maintaining control, especially when going downhill.
- Wider Turns: Take corners wider than normal to ensure the trailer wheels clear the curb or shoulder. This is especially important for bumper-pull trailers which "cut" the corner more sharply.
🔧 Keeping Your Rig Road-Ready
Remember, the truck is only half the team! Taking a few minutes to check on your trailer prevents huge headaches down the road:
- **Wheel Bearings:** After you've towed for a few miles, feel the hubs on your trailer. If they feel excessively hot, that could mean the bearings are failing. Make sure you get them inspected and greased up regularly!
- **Tire Health:** Trailer tires can trick you! They might look fine, but they actually wear out from age faster than from tread (look up the four-digit DOT code if you're curious about the birthday). Always swap out tires that are cracked or more than six years old, regardless of tread.
- **Underneath Check:** Give the trailer frame a good look. Make sure the springs, axles, and frame components are clear of major rust, cracks, or damage before you hook up.
🚚 Picking Your Trailer: Gooseneck vs. Pull-Behind (Bumper Hitch)
Choosing the right trailer really boils down to what you’re hauling, and how much of it you’re hauling. It’s a choice between the heavy-duty workhorse (Gooseneck) and the versatile, everyday option (Pull-Behind).
| Gooseneck (The Heavy-Duty Workhorse) | Key Advantage | Pull-Behind / Bumper Hitch (The Versatile Option) |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ You need to haul **massive loads** (over 15,000 lbs). The hitch over the axle handles the heaviest loads safely. | Capacity and Stability | ✅ Your loads are **lighter or occasional** (like campers, single cars, or utility needs). |
| ✅ You require **superior stability** and minimal sway, especially at highway speeds or in windy conditions. | Safety and Control | ✅ You need the **easiest and quickest setup** for connecting and disconnecting the trailer. |
| ✅ You frequently navigate **tight turning spaces** (like job sites or farmyards) where better articulation is needed. | Maneuverability | ✅ You want to use a **variety of tow vehicles** (SUV, light truck) or keep your truck bed completely open for cargo. |
| ✅ You have (or plan to buy) a **heavy-duty 3/4-ton or 1-ton truck** ready for an in-bed hitch installation. | Cost and Compatibility | ✅ You want the **lowest initial cost** for both the trailer and the hitch installation. |
Bottom Line: Choose a **Gooseneck** for high-capacity, frequent, and stable hauling. Choose a **Pull-Behind** for versatility, ease of use, and lighter, occasional loads.
✅ Before You Roll: The Essential Pre-Trip Checklist
Before you hit the road—whether it's for ten miles or a thousand—take ten minutes to run through this list. This quick check is your best insurance against a bad day on the side of the highway!
Connecting the Trailer
- [ ] Hitch Connection: Double-check that the coupler is completely locked down on the ball or that your gooseneck pin is secured. Give it a good wiggle test!
- [ ] Safety Chains: Are they criss-crossed beneath the tongue (to catch the tongue if it fails)?
- [ ] Breakaway Cable: Make sure this is clipped to the TOW VEHICLE'S FRAME—not the safety chain—so the trailer brakes engage if the whole hitch assembly breaks away.
Tires and Axles
- [ ] Air Pressure: Check the trailer tire pressure when they are COLD. Trailer tires need higher pressure than you might think—check the rating on the tire sidewall!
- [ ] Lug Nuts: Give them a quick check. If you have any doubt, use a torque wrench, especially on new wheels or after maintenance.
- [ ] Spare Tire: Do you have one? Is it inflated? Don't forget the jack and the wrench for the trailer!
Power and Brakes
- [ ] Lights: Have a helper stand behind you (or use a reflective surface) to check your running lights, turn signals, and brake lights. A burned-out bulb is a ticket waiting to happen.
- [ ] Trailer Brakes: If your trailer has brakes, manually engage them using the lever on your brake controller while driving slowly. You should feel the trailer slow down firmly. Adjust the gain if needed.