How To Tell If Silverado Has Tow Package? [ Answered ]

In case you own a Chevrolet Silverado or are willing to purchase one, it’s worth knowing what the tow package is. Also, owners should be able to identify whether one of these trucks comes with this tow package.

In the first place, we are going to explain what this tow package means for your Chevrolet Silverado. Accordingly, you will be able to decide when you need this package. We have also discussed the inclusions that you would get along with this package.

What does Silverado tow package mean?

The tow package for your Silverado is an additional feature that strengthens these trucks to carry heavier loads.

The manufacturer has come up with this package for the Chevrolet trucks, considering the safety of the vehicles when they haul heavy loads. In a nutshell, the function of the tow package is to secure the truck’s transmission when it tows heavy goods.

However, the tow package goes beyond the tow hitch. It encompasses some other parts as well. This hitch can be a receiver or a ball that remains connected to the frame members.

A receiver hitch refers to a tube, squarish in shape that you need to hold in place using a hitch pin. The load that you need to carry determines the hitch and ball size. The tow package includes electric wires. Using these wires, one can connect the lighting system in the vehicle to the trailer.

The system also comes with a connector capable of translating the turn signaling or braking information to the lighting system in the trailer. Mostly, you will come across these components in heavy trucks.

So, when you integrate your Chevrolet Silverado with this package, you would actually be upgrading the vehicle’s brakes and suspension system. As a result, these components would be ready to take the additional strain from the truck.

Besides, the transmission undergoes a lot of hauling. When you run the truck in automatic transmission, this case becomes even more evident.

The truck tends to have heating issues under these conditions. However, trucks that come with the tow package benefit from the coolness that the transmission fluid delivers to them.

It has a different attachment passing through the engine’s radiator. This cools the system and reduces the number of issues with the transmission. It also delivers a better towing experience to the owners.

When your Chevy Silverado truck carries more load, the wheels would need additional force. The package ensures that the transmission gearing undergoes some modifications to make them suitable for heavier hauls down the road.

Therefore, with a higher gearing ratio, the driving wheels will have more torque. This would reduce the wear and tear on the transmission and engine.

So, it integrates a tow package into your Chevrolet Silverado truck to make it suitable to carry heavier loads. Besides, it would leverage the truck’s fuel economy significantly. It would also leverage the reliability and lifeline of the vehicle.

How to tell if Silverado has tow package?

If you want to know whether or not your Chevrolet Silverado truck comes with a tow package or not, look below the window sticker. You will come across certain options there.

Check for the words ‘maximum trailering package’ in this part of the truck. In case you have these words embedded below the sticker, it indicates that your truck already has the tow package.

Alternatively, drivers need to check the glovebox for the RPO code NHT. Now, if you have purchased a used Silverado and these components are not there, you need to get a VIN copy. Once you scrutinize the build sheet, you can detect whether or not the truck comes with the tow package.

What is included in the Silverado tow package?

The Chevrolet Silverado tow package comes with the following elements.

• The electrical connection
• Upgraded drive train
• The tow hitch
• Better suspension
• Upgraded brakes
• Adapted or modified transmission cooling

With these powerful integrations, the truck would have a better towing capacity. For instance, if you look at the Chevrolet Silverado truck 1500 that the manufacturer launched in 2021, you would notice a whopping towing capacity of 13,330 pounds. This particular vehicle comes with a great towing package that empowers it to haul such heavy loads. The package includes:

• Revised shock tuning
• 4-pin connector
• Better rear springs
• 2-inch receiver and towing hitch platform
• Locking rear differential (locking)
• Trailering or handling suspension package
• 7-way sealed connector
• 7-wire harness

Is a towing package the same as a trailering package?

The function of the towing package in your Chevrolet Silverado is to enable the truck to haul anything. On the other hand, the role of a trailering package is to allow the truck tow only a trailer.

Therefore, the towing package comes with some additional features that make it a more comprehensive integration as compared to the trailering package. In a towing package, the improvements include better electrical systems and engines for the truck.

Silverado owners should note that these trucks come with an option mentioning that they can carry maximum trailering packages. However, this does not imply that your trick would be capable of pulling the same capacity of load when you are towing something else.

Should you take the Silverado tow package?

Whether or not you need to go for the Chevrolet Silverado tow package largely depends on the amount of load you would be hauling. Now, the very function of the tow package is to increase the towing capacity of the truck.

Firstly, you need to determine how you would be using the vehicle. While some owners simply use these trucks to travel around the city, others purchase them for the purpose of carrying heavy loads.

If you are willing to purchase a Chevrolet Silverado to do this sort of heavy lifting for you, it would be logical to go for a tow package for your truck.

However, if you don’t want to use the truck for carrying heavy loads or hauling excessive weight, there’s no point in integrating the vehicle with this package.

So, you need to use your discretion before you make your purchase. Accordingly, you need to look out for a vehicle with the right integrations. Now, if you are purchasing a used Chevrolet truck, it may or may not have this feature. Follow the process we have recommended earlier in this article.

Conclusion

To sum up, have a look at the build sheet and the VIN to know whether or not your Chevrolet Silverado comes with the tow package. Besides, you need to check the glovebox for the RPO codes.

As we have mentioned, the trailering package is different from the towing one. Once you decide the load that your Chevy truck needs to tow, you can get a suitable package to make the rides safer and easier.

With the Chevy Silverado, you have several trims that would be compatible with tow packages. You simply need to decide this package based on the load you want to haul. Make sure that it suits your needs and helps your truck carry the desired load effortlessly.