The weight of your truck is an important piece of information to have handy. The curb weight and payload capacity all factor into the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating, which you'll need to know if you ever want to tow with it. Should you be wondering what the Chevy Silverado 3500 weighs, we can help you. We researched the 3500 to provide you with an answer.
The 2022 Chevy Silverado 3500 will weigh between 6,329 pounds and 7,162 pounds. The exact curb weight will depend on the cab type, bed length, and drive configuration.
Now that we know the range of weight for the Chevy Silverado 3500, we'll take a look at why the curb weight has such a broad range. You might also be curious what 3500 truck can tow the most or what would happen if you exceeded the truck's towing capacity. Keep reading to get the answers to all of these questions and more.
Breaking Down The Weight Of The Chevy Silverado 3500
As we pointed out earlier in this post, the exact curb weight of the 2022 Chevy Silverado 3500 will vary based on several factors. Here, we'll take a look at each way the 2022 model can be configured. The trim level, drive configuration, cab style, and other options are all represented below:
- 2-wheel drive regular cab 142-inch bed Work Truck weighs 6,329 pounds.
- 2-wheel drive double cab 162-inch bed Work Truck weighs 6,786 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive regular cab 142-inch bed Work Truck weighs 6,626 pounds.
- 2-wheel drive regular cab 142-inch bed LT weighs 6,376 pounds.
- 2-wheel drive crew cab 159-inch bed Work Truck weighs 6,456 pounds.
- 2-wheel drive crew cab 172-inch bed Work Truck weighs 6,877 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive double cab 162-inch bed Work Truck weighs 7,069 pounds.
- 2-wheel drive double cab 162-inch bed LT weighs 6,876 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive regular cab 142-inch bed LT weighs 6,626 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive crew cab 159-inch bed Work Truck weighs 6,757 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive crew cab 172-inch bed Work Truck weighs 7,162 pounds.
- 2-wheel drive crew cab 159-inch bed LT weighs 6,456 pounds.
- 2-wheel drive crew cab 172-inch bed LT weighs 6,877 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive double cab 162-inch bed LT weighs 7,069 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive crew cab 159-inch bed LT weighs 6,757 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive crew cab 172-inch bed LT weighs 7,162 pounds.
- 2-wheel drive crew cab 159-inch bed LTZ weighs 6,546 pounds.
- 2-wheel drive crew cab 172-inch bed LTZ weighs 6,877 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive crew cab 159-inch bed LTZ weighs 6,757 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive crew cab 172-inch bed LTZ weighs 7,162 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive crew cab 159-inch bed High Country weighs 6,757 pounds.
- 4-wheel drive crew cab 172-inch bed High Country weighs 7,162 pounds.
What Can A Chevy Silverado 3500 Tow?
The Chevy Silverado 3500 is a powerful machine that is capable of towing a lot more behind it than its other Silverado counterparts. But just how much you can pull behind it will depend a great deal on several important factors.
The type of engine you have under the hood of the model you are towing with is relevant to how much it can tow. The difference in what the 6.6-liter engine can tow versus the turbo-diesel option can be nearly a quarter of a ton, with the turbo-diesel engine winning out.
Whether or not you use a ball hitch or a gooseneck hitch is also deciding factor, as gooseneck hitches will allow for a greater towing capacity.
Of course, the trim level and drive configuration also impact what your truck can tow. If properly equipped, your Silverado 3500 will tow up to 20,000 pounds with a ball hitch and up to 36,000 pounds with a gooseneck hitch. Consult your owner's manual before attaching any trailer to your truck.
What 3500 Truck Can Tow The Most?
The full-ton class of pickup trucks each have great towing power. The massive engines, structural designs, and optional equipment can give the driver a lot of options when it comes to towing larger fifth wheels. Though each model is a towing beast, only one has the distinction of being the strongest.
Motor Trend reports that the Ram 3500 is capable of towing the most weight behind it. With a tow rating of 37,100 pounds, it outdoes the GMC and Chevy Silverado 3500s by 1,100 pounds and the Ford F-450 by 100 pounds.
Getting your Ram 3500 to tow this amount means that the proper trim level, engine, and other options must be selected. For the exact amount, any model Ram 3500 is rated to safely tow, consult the owner's manual.
What Happens If You Exceed A Truck's Towing Capacity?
The towing capacity of any vehicle is carefully rated for safety reasons. Exceeding the amount your truck or SUV can safely tow will not only put you and others at serious risk but will also do extensive damage to your towing vehicle and its tow load.
While this isn't an all-encompassing list, it will give you a general idea of what you are risking if you choose to tow more than your vehicle is rated for. Before you attach anything to the hitch or your vehicle, read the owner's manual so you will know exactly how much you can safely pull behind it.
Transmission Damage
The transmission, like the engine, needs to be cooled to avoid overheating. But no matter how massive the transmission cooler is, there is such a thing as more tow weight than it can handle.
The more weight your truck or SUV pulls, the harder the transmission has to work to keep up. If the transmission is having too much strain from the weight, it will overheat. This heat will cause great amounts of damage to this vital part of your drivetrain.
Transmission failure can also occur, but at the very least you will have a transmission that will wear out much sooner than it was engineered to last.
Tire Damage
Your tires will also suffer great damage if they are pulling more weight than the truck was engineered for. The more weight is pulled, the greater the amount of friction. This friction causes heat, exposing your tires to damage if they are not rated for it.
Pulling too much weight can cause blowouts on the road. Blowouts can lead to some pretty serious accidents, putting you and others at great risk. It can also increase the chances of damage to what you are towing.
Frame Damage
Though the 3500 trucks are massive beasts, they have their limits. The strong and sturdy frame of any towing vehicle can only withstand so much strain. Pulling too much weight behind it can expose the frame to premature wear, bends, and other irreversible damage.
Tow Vehicle Is Harder To Control
Pulling massive amounts of weight behind any vehicle significantly changes how you drive it. Seemingly routine items like turning and braking become movements that require more thought and a bit more foresight.
Knowing that, imagine what pulling too much weight can do to these processes. Overloading will make these vital functions even harder to execute. This can lead to jackknifing, leading to an accident. And since braking is more difficult, collisions are much more likely to occur.
Look at your vehicle as having the potential to be a weapon. To protect the safety of its load and to ensure that you and those you share the road with are kept out of harm's way, having total control of this massive weapon at all times is paramount.
How Long Will A Chevy 3500 Last?
The Chevy 3500 is a workhorse, engineered to last you much longer than many trucks on the road. With a life expectancy that will take the engine to 300,000 miles and beyond, you can be sure that the 3500 will keep you on the road for 20 years or better.
Be sure to keep your 3500 maintained to the standards outlined in the owner's manual. Routine oil changes, mechanical inspections, and filter replacements are part of what will keep your truck on the road to meet and exceed these milestones.
Not overloading your 3500 with payload or pulling too much weight behind it are also important factors in getting the most out of your pickup truck.
Final thoughts
How much the Chevy Silverado 3500 weighs depends on several factors. This truck is capable of towing a great amount of weight behind it, but not as much as the Ram 3500. Be aware of how much your vehicle is rated to tow and never exceed any vehicle's maximum towing capacity. Drive safe!
Made it this far? For more helpful information on popular Chevy pickup trucks, check out the following posts:
How Many Miles Left When Gas Light Comes On In A Chevy Silverado?
Chevy Silverado High Country Vs. Ford King Ranch – Which Is Right For You?
Chevy Silverado High Country Vs. Trail Boss – Which Is Right For You?