Index · Chevrolet · Silverado 3500HD
2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
The highest fifth-wheel-hitch rating for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is 23,000 lb, the top of 39 rows transcribed from Chevrolet’s 2012 Chevrolet Trailering Guide. That row is printed for the 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax), Regular Cab, Long Box bed, 4WD, 3.73 axle, DRW, Automatic transmission. Most configurations are rated lower: 38 of the 39 transcribed fifth-wheel-hitch chart rows for 2012 are below 23,000 lb. The other cited maximum for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is 18,000 lb on a conventional hitch. Across 78 manufacturer chart rows for 2012, ratings run conventional 8,700 lb to 18,000 lb; fifth-wheel 8,700 lb to 23,000 lb; the engine, cab, axle ratio and package on your truck decide its number.
The build table for 2012 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 | 18,000 lb | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax), Extended Cab, Long Box bed, 4WD, 3.73 axle, DRW; Automatic transmission. | OEM chart |
| Fifth-wheel | 23,000 lb | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax), Regular Cab, Long Box bed, 4WD, 3.73 axle, DRW; Automatic transmission. | OEM chart |
Highest rows among 78 transcribed chart configurations. Most trucks of this model year are rated lower; find your exact configuration in the table below.
Source: Chevrolet, 2012 Chevrolet Trailering Guide, Trailer weight ratings pages 08-12 (Silverado, Silverado HD, Avalanche, Colorado).
Spec sheet
6 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
- 18,000 lb. 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax), Extended Cab, Long Box bed, 4WD, 3.73 axle, DRW; Automatic transmission.Chevrolet source
- Gooseneck maximum
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Fifth-wheel maximum
- 23,000 lb. 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax), Regular Cab, Long Box bed, 4WD, 3.73 axle, DRW; Automatic transmission.Chevrolet source
- Tongue or pin load
- 1,800 lb tongue at the 18,000 lb conventional maximum. 3,450 lb pin at the 23,000 lb fifth-wheel 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
- Long Box, Standard BoxChevrolet 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
- 4WD, 2WDChevrolet source
- Axle ratio
- 3.73, 4.10Chevrolet source
- Tow package
- DRW; Automatic transmission; SRW; Automatic transmissionChevrolet 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 18,000 lb conventional maximum is 1,800 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
- An illustrative 15 percent of the 23,000 lb fifth-wheel maximum is 3,450 lb of pin 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 2011
- Conventional: 17,000 lb in 2011, 18,000 lb in 2012 (+1,000 lb).
- Fifth-wheel: 21,700 lb in 2011, 23,000 lb in 2012 (+1,300 lb).
Generation
GMT900 HD
2012 is year 5 of this generation (2008–2014). Redesigned 3500HD for 2008, including dual-rear-wheel pickups.
2012 towing by engine
Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 78 transcribed chart rows. A missing hitch means the chart did not print one for that engine, not that it is zero.
| Engine | Conventional | Fifth-wheel | Chart rows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | 13,000–18,000 lb | 16,800–23,000 lb | 24 |
| 6.0L V8 | 8,700–14,100 lb | 8,700–14,500 lb | 54 |
Highest-rated configurations
| Trailer | Engine | Cab / bed | Drive | Axle / package | GCWR | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23,000 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Regular Cab, Long Box | 4WD | 3.73 · DRW; Automatic transmissionnote 1 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD fifth-wheel trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Regular Cab Long Box DRW 4x4', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 22,800 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Extended Cab, Long Box | 2WD | 3.73 · DRW; Automatic transmissionnote 2 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD fifth-wheel trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Extended Cab Long Box DRW 2WD', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 22,800 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Crew Cab, Long Box | 2WD | 3.73 · DRW; Automatic transmissionnote 3 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD fifth-wheel trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Crew Cab Long Box DRW 2WD', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 22,600 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Extended Cab, Long Box | 4WD | 3.73 · DRW; Automatic transmissionnote 4 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD fifth-wheel trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Extended Cab Long Box DRW 4x4', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 22,400 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Crew Cab, Long Box | 4WD | 3.73 · DRW; Automatic transmissionnote 5 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD fifth-wheel trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Crew Cab Long Box DRW 4x4 y Duty models. Where available, . An eight-wire ith an engine oil cooler (KC4) weight should be 15% to 25% of The addition of trailer kingpin', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 18,000 lb Conventional | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Extended Cab, Long Box | 4WD | 3.73 · DRW; Automatic transmissionnote 4 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD conventional trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Extended Cab Long Box DRW 4x4', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 18,000 lb Conventional | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Crew Cab, Long Box | 4WD | 3.73 · DRW; Automatic transmissionnote 6 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD conventional trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Crew Cab Long Box DRW 4x4', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 17,400 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Regular Cab, Long Box | 4WD | 3.73 · SRW; Automatic transmissionnote 7 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD fifth-wheel trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Regular Cab Long Box SRW 4x4', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 17,300 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Extended Cab, Long Box | 2WD | 3.73 · SRW; Automatic transmissionnote 8 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD fifth-wheel trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Extended Cab Long Box SRW 2WD', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 17,300 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Crew Cab, Long Box | 2WD | 3.73 · SRW; Automatic transmissionnote 9 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD fifth-wheel trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Crew Cab Long Box SRW 2WD', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 17,200 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Crew Cab, Standard Box | 2WD | 3.73 · SRW; Automatic transmissionnote 10 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD fifth-wheel trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Crew Cab Standard Box SRW 2WD', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
| 17,000 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax) | Crew Cab, Standard Box | 4WD | 3.73 · SRW; Automatic transmissionnote 11 | — | Page 10, Silverado HD fifth-wheel trailering ratings, row '3500HD Series Crew Cab Standard Box SRW 4x4', column 6.6l, axle 3.73 |
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Regular Cab Long Box DRW 4x4'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Extended Cab Long Box DRW 2WD'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Crew Cab Long Box DRW 2WD'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Extended Cab Long Box DRW 4x4'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Crew Cab Long Box DRW 4x4 y Duty models. Where available, . An eight-wire ith an engine oil cooler (KC4) weight should be 15% to 25% of The addition of trailer kingpin'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Crew Cab Long Box DRW 4x4'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Regular Cab Long Box SRW 4x4'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Extended Cab Long Box SRW 2WD'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Crew Cab Long Box SRW 2WD'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Crew Cab Standard Box SRW 2WD'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
- Chart row label: '3500HD Series Crew Cab Standard Box SRW 4x4'. Chart engine column: 6.6l.
Chart source: Chevrolet, 2012 Chevrolet Trailering Guide. The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.
Find your exact configuration (78 rows) →Download 2012 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 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD tow?
- The highest fifth-wheel-hitch rating for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is 23,000 lb, the top of 39 rows transcribed from Chevrolet’s 2012 Chevrolet Trailering Guide. That row is printed for the 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax), Regular Cab, Long Box bed, 4WD, 3.73 axle, DRW, Automatic transmission. Most configurations are rated lower: 38 of the 39 transcribed fifth-wheel-hitch chart rows for 2012 are below 23,000 lb. The other cited maximum for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is 18,000 lb on a conventional hitch.
- Did Silverado 3500HD towing change for 2012?
- Compare the cited 2012 figures on this page with the 2011 record. They are stored separately.
- Which configuration hits the maximum?
- The 23,000 lb fifth-wheel maximum is printed for the 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel (Duramax), Regular Cab, Long Box bed, 4WD, 3.73 axle, DRW, Automatic transmission.
- What tongue weight should I plan for a 2012 Silverado 3500HD?
- At the cited 18,000 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 1,800 lb of tongue weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. At the cited 23,000 lb fifth-wheel maximum, an illustrative 15% assumption produces 3,450 lb of pin 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
2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · All Silverado 3500HD years