GM patents towing assist device to increase towing capacity.

Automakers are always looking to one-up each other by improving the towing capabilities of their pickup trucks.

GM recently filed a patent application for a towing assist device that increases a vehicle's towing capacity. Published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on March 21, 2023, but originally filed on October 21, 2019, the application is for a "towing assist system" centered on a wheeled booster unit that couples between a tow vehicle and a trailer.

The unit would have up to four wheels and hardware to allow coupling of the hitch to the vehicle and trailer. The patent drawings also show a five-wheel attachment for towing such a type of trailer. By turning the wheels, the unit would supplement the tow vehicle and use on-board sensors to determine how much power to apply. It can also apply its own brakes to assist in braking the trailer, according to the patent application.

Electric motors drive the tow assist unit's wheels, possibly using one motor per wheel to simulate differentials by varying the amount of power to each wheel. in its patent application, GM states that the unit would carry most of the trailer's tongue weight. traction should not be an issue since the unit will carry most of the trailer's tongue weight. The motor is powered by an on-board battery pack, which could be configured to power the trailer or help recharge the tow vehicle through the two-way charging that GM is beginning to deploy with electric trucks like the GMC Hummer EV. GM has not yet determined how much horsepower or torque this unit could GM did not mention how much horsepower or torque the unit might generate.

Tow-assist devices could also facilitate connection to a trailer. The trailer could be moved by itself or guided by a steering wheel; GM has not revealed production plans, but this would give it an answer to rival Ford's driver-assist feature in trailer connections.

Such an external unit would give drivers more flexibility, GM claims, and GM envisions customers using the device to tow loads that are too heavy for their own vehicles. This would eliminate the need to purchase a specific vehicle just for occasional towing applications, but assumes that drivers are aware of what they are towing. If the towing capacity is increased too much, the cargo may fall within the weight range required by the CDL, regardless of the vehicle the driver is towing.