General Motors Towing Technologies Explained
July 11 2023,
General Motors (GM), one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers, has made significant strides in truck and towing technologies over the years. Their continual drive for innovation has revolutionized the towing experience, making it easier, safer, and more intuitive than ever before. Three technologies that exemplify these strides are the ProGrade Trailering System, the Trailering App, and the advanced camera views provided on popular GM trucks such as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 as well as GM heavy duty pickups like the 2024 GMC Sierra HD and 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD.
ProGrade Trailering System
Launched as an innovative solution to simplify the towing process, GM's ProGrade Trailering System was designed to enhance the towing capability and safety for drivers. This system incorporates a series of advanced features designed to make hitching trailers easier, assist in managing trailer sway, and monitor important variables such as trailer tire pressure and temperature.
It also includes Hitch Guidance with Hitch View, which uses the rear vision camera to provide dynamic single-line guidance for easy hitch alignment. Additionally, it offers an innovative Trailer Theft Alert that can set off the truck's alarm if the harness of the trailer is disconnected without your knowledge.
Trailering App
An essential element of GM's towing technologies is the trailering app. This app, available on the vehicle's infotainment system and compatible smartphones, provides the driver with a centralized hub for managing all aspects of the towing process.
The trailering app includes a pre-departure checklist to ensure a safe and efficient towing experience. It provides diagnostic capabilities, allowing you to monitor the health of both your vehicle and your trailer. Additionally, the trailering app integrates with other technologies in the vehicle to provide advanced features such as custom trailer profiles, which allow the driver to save the specific settings for different trailers, and trailer light test that enables one-person setup by cycling through brake, reverse, and turn signal lights.
Advanced Camera Systems
GM's trucks, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, feature industry-leading camera technology designed to enhance visibility and safety. Offering up to 15 unique camera views, these systems make navigating tight spaces, aligning hitches, and managing trailers much simpler.
One of the key features of this system is the Transparent Trailer View, which uses the tailgate camera and an available accessory camera mounted on the rear of the trailer. This combination stitches together a view that virtually makes the trailer disappear, providing a clear sightline of what's behind the vehicle. Other notable views include the Rear Side View, which adjusts the camera angle with the vehicle's speed to provide optimal views of the trailer during driving, and the Rear Trailer View, which includes guidelines to assist in reversing.
General Motors has brought significant innovation to the world of towing technologies with the ProGrade Trailering System, the Trailering App, and their advanced camera systems. Available on models like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, these technologies make towing safer, more efficient, and more intuitive, providing drivers with unprecedented control and visibility. It's clear that GM's commitment to improving the towing experience is helping set new industry standards in safety, usability, and driver comfort.