The all-new 2019 Silverado 1500 will introduce four levels of towing features to provide customers more confidence, better visibility, easier hitching and improved connectivity between the truck and trailer.
While researching ways to improve its flagship pickup for the 2019 model year, Chevrolet says one of the major themes from its conversations with thousands of customers was how towing capability was a major piece to their purchasing decision.
In many cases that sentiment was followed by another from these customers: trailering is hard.
So, in an effort to address this feedback Chevy has packed the 2019 Silverado 1500 with loads of new technology and other features focused on the towing experience.
To start, Chevy has created what it calls “an industry-first” trailering label to help Silverado owners calculate their truck’s “exact capacities.”
Chevrolet has created an industry-first trailering label that provides customers with the information they need to calculate the exact capacities of their individual pickup.
The label will be located on the driver’s side door jamb starting with the 2019 Silverados. The information on the label includes the following and is tied to the VINs of the individual truck to ensure accuracy.
- Gross vehicle weight rating
- Gross combined weight rating
- Gross axle weight rating (rear)
- Maximum payload
- Maximum tongue weight
- Curb weight
Included with the purchase of all 2019 Silverado 1500s, the MyChevrolet app will have select trailering features available like pre-departure step-by-step towing checklists, “how-to” videos and a glossary of towing terms for compatible smart phones and data plans.
Chevy will also offer a few trailering guides, tips and checklists within its myChevrolet app, which can be accessed by all Silverado 1500 owners regardless of trim level. The app will also allow Silverado owners to confirm that a trailer is properly connected, all by themselves. The app will run a trailer light test that uses an automatic exterior light sequence to confirm proper connection, Chevy says.
Advanced Trailering System
For those Silverado customers who will be towing more often, Chevy is offering an Advanced Trailering System, which includes the following:
- Auto Parking Brake Assist: Customers who’ve dealt with the frustration of perfectly aligning their truck and trailer hitch only to see the truck roll when they put it in park will appreciate this industry-first technology. It sets automatically when the vehicle is put into Hitch View to help avoid vehicle movement after the customer lines up the truck with the trailer and then shifts to park.
- Hitch Guidance with Hitch View: This adds a dynamic backing guideline to the Rear Vision Camera system to help customers line up their hitch, adding some precision and a visual cue to reduce the difficulty of aligning a hitch to a trailer.
- Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System: When properly equipped, this optional feature can monitor the tire pressure of the trailer tires using the truck’s infotainment system. This system also allows customers to monitor the temperature of their trailer tires to help prevent blowouts from overheating. Requires optional equipment and dealer installation.
Part of the Advanced Trailering System, Hitch Guidance with Hitch View adds dynamic backing guidelines to the Rear Vision Camera system to help customers line up their hitch.
Part of the Advanced Trailering System, Hitch Guidance with Hitch View adds dynamic backing guidelines to the Rear Vision Camera system to help customers line up their hitch.
ATS also has a dedicated app within the truck’s in-dash display. This app allows owners to track mileage, fuel economy and transmission temperature of the truck while towing. You can even create up to five profiles for different trailer types, and set and save brake gain within each profile using the truck’s integrated trailer brake controller.
The industry-first brake gain memory works with the Integrated Trailer Brake Controller to let the customer set and save the brake gain setting of the Silverado’s integrated trailer brake controller for each trailer within their profile.
The system also includes trailer theft alerts, which activate the truck’s lights and horn if the harness of the trailer attached to the truck is disconnected. Wireless trailer tire pressure and temperature monitors are an available option and are integrated into the ATS.
Trailer cameras
The Trailer Camera Package enhances trailering views, using up to four available cameras to provide a 270-degree view.
Chevy will also be offering a new trailer camera package on the 2019 Silverados that gives the driver a better look at the trailer with a 270-degree view provided by the standard rear vision camera and two side-view cameras mounted in the side mirrors. A fourth camera is an available option for even more camera coverage.