Did S-10 towing change for 2003?

Compare the cited 2003 figures on this page with the 2002 record. They are stored separately.

What tongue weight should I plan for a 2003 S-10?

At the cited 5,900 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 590 lb of tongue weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. That load counts against payload and the rear axle rating.

Index · Chevrolet · S-10

2003 Chevrolet S-10

The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2003 Chevrolet S-10 is 5,900 lb, the top of 17 rows transcribed from General Motors’ 2003 GM Light Duty Truck Special Applications (Trailering Information section). That row is printed for the 4.3L V6 (automatic) gas, Regular Cab, 6 ft bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, GM model S10603. Most configurations are rated lower: 15 of the 17 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2003 are below 5,900 lb. Across 17 manufacturer chart rows for 2003, ratings run conventional 1,600 lb to 5,900 lb; the engine, cab, axle ratio and package on your truck decide its number.

conventional4.3L V6 (automatic) gas, Regular Cab, 6 ft bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, GM model S10603.5,900 lb

The build table for 2003 is not transcribed. This page will not multiply trims, cabs, and engines into trucks the order guide did not list.

Hitch	Cited maximum	Configuration	Source grade
Conventional	5,900 lb	4.3L V6 (automatic) gas, Regular Cab, 6 ft bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, GM model S10603.	OEM chart

Highest rows among 17 transcribed chart configurations. Most trucks of this model year are rated lower; find your exact configuration in the table below.

Source: General Motors, 2003 GM Light Duty Truck Special Applications (Trailering Information section), Trailering Information: 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings and 5th Wheel or Gooseneck Trailer Ratings tables (PDF pages 109-126); 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, PDF page 104 (printed TR-5). Ratings are by GM model code; each Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra table applies to both brands.

Spec sheet

5 of 25 fields cited; 1 estimate. Field index

Cited fields may cover selected trims or only part of a measurement. Read the configuration and source beside each value; a cited field does not mean every version is researched.

Towing

Conventional maximum: 5,900 lb. 4.3L V6 (automatic) gas, Regular Cab, 6 ft bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, GM model S10603.General Motors source
Gooseneck maximum: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fifth-wheel maximum: Not transcribed for this model year.
Tongue or pin load: 590 lb tongue at the 5,900 lb conventional maximum. Illustration at 10 percent conventional and 15 percent in-bed, not a measured load or recommendation. Follow the trailer and vehicle instructions; actual load may be higher.Estimate
Weight distribution: Not transcribed for this model year.
Trailer frontal area: Not transcribed for this model year.

Weights

Payload: Not transcribed for this model year.
GCWR: Not transcribed for this model year.
GVWR: Not transcribed for this model year.
Front GAWR: Not transcribed for this model year.
Rear GAWR: Not transcribed for this model year.
Curb weight: Not transcribed for this model year.

Body

Wheelbase: Not transcribed for this model year.
Bed length: 6 ft, Long Box, 4 1/2 ftGeneral Motors source
Bed width and depth: Not transcribed for this model year.
Cab-to-axle: Not transcribed for this model year.
Overall length, width, height: Not transcribed for this model year.
Ground clearance and angles: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fifth-wheel clearance: Not transcribed for this model year.

Power

Engine, horsepower, torque: Not transcribed for this model year.
Transmission: Not transcribed for this model year.
Fuel type and tank: Not transcribed for this model year.
Drivetrain: 2WD, 4WDGeneral Motors source
Axle ratio: 3.42, 3.73, 3.08, 4.10General Motors source
Tow package: GM model S10603; GM model S10803; GM model S10653; GM model T10653; GM model T10643; ZR2 package (T10653)General Motors source

Bed, tongue weight, and wheelbase

The trailer rating is one limit. The bed has to fit the load, the tongue or pin has to fit in payload, and the wheelbase is the column the chart uses.

An illustrative 10 percent of the 5,900 lb conventional maximum is 590 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.

Bed capacity · Tongue and pin weight · Wheelbase · GCWR, GVWR, and GAWR. Wheelbase is not transcribed for this year. GCWR is not transcribed for this year.

Estimate payload margin and bed volume · How these limits work together

Change from 2002

Conventional: 6,000 lb in 2002, 5,900 lb in 2003 (-100 lb).

Generation

Second generation

2003 is year 10 of this generation (1994–2004). Chevrolet's compact pickup before the Colorado. GM charts it with the 2.2L four-cylinder and 4.3L V6.

2003 towing by engine

Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 17 transcribed chart rows. A missing hitch means the chart did not print one for that engine, not that it is zero.

Engine	Conventional	Chart rows
4.3L V6 (automatic) gas	4,700–5,900 lb	8
4.3L V6 (manual) gas	3,800–4,200 lb	5
2.2L L4 (automatic) gas	3,000–3,100 lb	2
2.2L L4 (manual) gas	1,600–2,000 lb	2

Highest-rated configurations

Trailer	Engine	Cab / bed	Drive	Axle / package	GCWR	Evidence
5,900 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (automatic) gas	Regular Cab, 6 ft	2WD	3.42 · GM model S10603^{note 1}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model S10603, 4.3L V6 (automatic), axle 3.42
5,900 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (automatic) gas	Regular Cab, Long Box	2WD	3.42 · GM model S10803^{note 2}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model S10803, 4.3L V6 (automatic), axle 3.42
5,600 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (automatic) gas	Extended Cab, 6 ft	2WD	3.42 · GM model S10653^{note 1}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model S10653, 4.3L V6 (automatic), axle 3.42
5,500 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (automatic) gas	Extended Cab, 6 ft	4WD	3.42 · GM model T10653^{note 3}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model T10653, 4.3L V6 (automatic), axle 3.42
5,500 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (automatic) gas	Extended Cab, 6 ft	4WD	3.73 · GM model T10653^{note 3}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model T10653, 4.3L V6 (automatic), axle 3.73
5,200 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (automatic) gas	Crew Cab, 4 1/2 ft	4WD	3.42 · GM model T10643^{note 4}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model T10643, 4.3L V6 (automatic), axle 3.42
5,200 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (automatic) gas	Crew Cab, 4 1/2 ft	4WD	3.73 · GM model T10643^{note 4}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model T10643, 4.3L V6 (automatic), axle 3.73
4,700 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (automatic) gas	Extended Cab, 6 ft	4WD	3.73 · ZR2 package (T10653)^{note 3}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model T10653 & ZR2, 4.3L V6 (automatic), axle 3.73
4,200 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (manual) gas	Extended Cab, 6 ft	4WD	3.73 · ZR2 package (T10653)^{note 3}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model T10653 & ZR2, 4.3L V6 (manual), axle 3.73
4,000 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (manual) gas	Extended Cab, 6 ft	4WD	3.42 · GM model T10653^{note 3}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model T10653, 4.3L V6 (manual), axle 3.42
3,900 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (manual) gas	Regular Cab, 6 ft	2WD	3.08 · GM model S10603^{note 1}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model S10603, 4.3L V6 (manual), axle 3.08
3,900 lb Conventional	4.3L V6 (manual) gas	Regular Cab, Long Box	2WD	3.08 · GM model S10803^{note 2}	—	PDF page 104, 2003 Maximum Trailer Ratings, S/T (GMT325) Pickup Models, model S10803, 4.3L V6 (manual), axle 3.08

S prefix = 2WD, T prefix = 4x4 per the same document ("S-10/Sonoma (2WD)", "T-10/Sonoma (4x4)"). Table is shared by Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma (GM S/T pickup). Weight carrying hitch limit 3,500 lbs / 350-lb tongue; weight distributing hitch and sway control required over 3,500 lbs. "V4A Xtreme pickup is neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer."
Cab/box for S10803 per the same document ("Long Box (Model S-10/Sonoma 10803)", "S10803 - Regular Cab"). Table is shared by Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma (GM S/T pickup). Weight carrying hitch limit 3,500 lbs / 350-lb tongue; weight distributing hitch and sway control required over 3,500 lbs. "V4A Xtreme pickup is neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer."
Chart lists GM model code T10653 only; cab/box decoded by matching the 2002 Chevrolet Trailering Guide S-10 table (same ratings printed for 4WD Extended Cab 6 ft box). S prefix = 2WD, T prefix = 4x4 per the same document ("S-10/Sonoma (2WD)", "T-10/Sonoma (4x4)"). Table is shared by Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma (GM S/T pickup). Weight carrying hitch limit 3,500 lbs / 350-lb tongue; weight distributing hitch and sway control required over 3,500 lbs. "V4A Xtreme pickup is neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer."
Chart lists GM model code T10643 only; cab/box decoded by matching the 2002 Chevrolet Trailering Guide S-10 table (same ratings printed for 4WD Crew Cab 4 1/2 ft box). S prefix = 2WD, T prefix = 4x4 per the same document ("S-10/Sonoma (2WD)", "T-10/Sonoma (4x4)"). Table is shared by Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma (GM S/T pickup). Weight carrying hitch limit 3,500 lbs / 350-lb tongue; weight distributing hitch and sway control required over 3,500 lbs. "V4A Xtreme pickup is neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer."

Chart source: General Motors, 2003 GM Light Duty Truck Special Applications (Trailering Information section). The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.

Find your exact configuration (17 rows) →Download 2003 rows as CSV ↓

What changes the number

Engine and transmission
Cab, bed, and wheelbase
Two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive
Axle ratio and tow package
Conventional hitch versus fifth-wheel versus gooseneck
People, options, and cargo, which spend payload the chart assumed was empty

Questions

How much can a 2003 Chevrolet S-10 tow?: The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2003 Chevrolet S-10 is 5,900 lb, the top of 17 rows transcribed from General Motors’ 2003 GM Light Duty Truck Special Applications (Trailering Information section). That row is printed for the 4.3L V6 (automatic) gas, Regular Cab, 6 ft bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, GM model S10603. Most configurations are rated lower: 15 of the 17 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2003 are below 5,900 lb.
Did S-10 towing change for 2003?: Compare the cited 2003 figures on this page with the 2002 record. They are stored separately.
Which configuration hits the maximum?: The 5,900 lb conventional maximum is printed for the 4.3L V6 (automatic) gas, Regular Cab, 6 ft bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, GM model S10603.
What tongue weight should I plan for a 2003 S-10?: At the cited 5,900 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 590 lb of tongue weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. That load counts against payload and the rear axle rating.

Compare with

Compare the 2003 S-10 with any truck and year →

2001 · 2002 · 2004 · All S-10 years