Advice? Towing with a 2/3 drop

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vjr021

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I am planning a track day next week, and I haven't tried my 10,000 lb enclosed trailer with my 2/3 drop...

Anyone have any ideas what I am in for?

Should i scramble and get helper bags in there ASAP?
 

Max

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Helper bags are a must with anything over 3000. Keep an eye on those trans temps too.
 

Eagle

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wow, it's only rated for 7700(including passengers) for a 2wd smoothride with towing package.

what have you done to facilitate 10,000lb towing?
 

Racie

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I gotta brand new set of airlift helper bags if needed...
 

Z-56 Hoe

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I wouldnt even with helper springs or Bags couse unless You have a 4L80E tranny and or a lower gear ratio you are going to damage stuff.

I am running 4.10's with a full-Posi, a Built 4L80E and My 5.3L is bored out to a 350CI. with stage II Heads from CTG Performance and a wicked Cam set up, with a Tune from Thunder Racing to Boot I have a 2"/3" drop and still wouldnt. Thats Me tho.
 

05Yukon

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I have you towed that before the drop? That is a lot of weight for these trucks. I believe you truck is rated at 8200. I hope your not going very far or up any hills. Is your autoride setup still fully functional? I would not do it very often but watch the tranny and make sure you have good brakes on the trailer.
 
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vjr021

vjr021

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I haven't tried it yet, might try it today... The guy who owns it towed it from Minnesota with his 5.7 2005 Suburban... Should I skip it, then?
 

WoldD90

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Some of the Suburban and Yukon XL 6.0 1500 series trucks do have the ability to tow up to 10K, but only with a weight distribution hitch.

I would skip it. If you decide to do it anyways, make sure that the load is balanced correctly, make sure that you have a brake controller and a weight distribution hitch. You may have to reverse the WD Drop hitch, since you have dropped your truck.

Another option would be to put your car on another trailer, even renting a uhaul trailer. Since your car probably doesn't weigh that much, combined with the trailer, you will be well within the tow rating.
 
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vjr021

vjr021

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Just picked the trailer up... I might be doing my math wrong on the weight... I plugged in my Superchips flashpaq, changed it from Performance to TOW... and was on my way... The air ride didn't even kick on...

the trailer is empty right now... I have about 2500 lbs to put in it.

Seemed good on the highway, transmission didn't get hot, brakes were good... Got thrown around with some wind, which is my only concern...

What do you guys think??

4379705550_07faf5fd6e_b.jpg
 

WoldD90

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Looks pretty level... push the tow button and keep an eye on your temps. If the trailer weighs 2500 and the car weighs 2500, you will be fine. Be careful of the idiots on the road though, they do not pay any attention.

I had a guy do a U turn right in front of me with my truck and trailer fully loaded... He was in a Saturn and I came within 2 feet of killing him.
 

fatnlowtahoe504

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Looks pretty level... push the tow button and keep an eye on your temps. If the trailer weighs 2500 and the car weighs 2500, you will be fine. Be careful of the idiots on the road though, they do not pay any attention.

I had a guy do a U turn right in front of me with my truck and trailer fully loaded... He was in a Saturn and I came within 2 feet of killing him.

yea like he said with the weight, you should be fine, it doesnt seem to have much weight at all on it now and i dont think towing a car in their is going to be too bad, just be careful tho, its always a pain to be pulling a big trailor...
 

Eagle

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That is still a bit scary for me.

1: you are already tail down, and you haven't added a load yet.

2 your proportions are all out of whack, the trailer is driving the tahoe (assuming a 4500 lb trailer)

A 10,000 lb trailer means two 5200 lb axles, not the weight of the trailer. Thats a max combined wieght rating. An open deck 10k GVWR trailer is usually about 3500 lbs unladen, enclosed is a little more. A 25 foot race trailer from haulmark for example is about 3700, 28 = 4200 and a 33 = 4700 lb...

assuming that is a 33 and your weight estimate of 2500 is correct (small 60s british roadster, small tubeframe car, honda) you are going to wind up with roughly an 8000 lb load, if there are no spares & no extra bodies, nothing but you and the car and trailer.
That is doable.

Most people grossly underestimate the actual 'WET' weight of a vehicle. A muscle car is closer to 4000 lbs, not 3200, for example. add fuel, tools, jacks, and passengers/crew and you can be looking at a 5000-5500 lb load + trailer = 9500-10000 lbs.
That's why you need a 10000 lb trailer to carry a single car to the races.

Trailers like that were honestly never meant to be hauled by close coupled ultra SWB SUVs. Those are meant for 3/4 ton LWB pickups, or 1 ton LWB pickups, even better if it is a crew cab longbed. IE trucks with full floating axles, and heavier duty transmissions, and a longer moment arm to better control sway and keep the trailer from driving the tow vehicle down grades, under braking, or in windy conditions. A suburban is about the same wheelbase as a LWB single cab, while a Tahoe is even shorter than a swb single cab pickup.

Doesn't mean you can't get away with it occasionally, but if this is going to be frequent (every weekend) or very long distance (over an hour or two), you'll want a real tow vehicle. 3/4 ton turbodiesel or a 1 ton turbodiesel slick.


Personally, I would weigh the trailer, both before and after you load it. You can easily figure out your your hitch weight (10%), and you'll want a weight distributing hitch and DEFINITELY an Anti sway device and an aggressive setting on the brake controller.


Sucker sure needs the ass aired up about 2 inches higher in the air. I also hope you have LT rated tires on the Denali.


Anyway, good luck whatever you decide to do.
 
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FLHOE

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My father in-law towed a 10k boat with the older 90's Tahoe. The trick was not going fast and gunning it at the lights. If you are doing a long trip on the highway you need a 3/4 ton.

With that kind of weight and no sway bars I would tow short distances keeping the speed at 55 or under.
 
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vjr021

vjr021

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I got it back to my warehouse, but I think I'll skip towing it with my Nali... Just too close for comfort on the numbers... It felt strong, but I'd rather not damage my DD... I think I can borrow a dualie from a buddy for the weekend...

thanks everyone for the input...
 
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vjr021

vjr021

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So, what kind of car were you going to tow with your truck?

That would be this:

4120017729_e1191fd9f1.jpg


I work for Spyker... We are going to be at Palm Beach international Race way Wed-Fri for the Palm Beach Supercar Experience... Saturday on Flagler Ave will be the show...
 

Eagle

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any spyker f1 gear in your closet? Be glad to accept donations to help you unclutter.
 

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