Towing

[blizz]

whats the most you have towed with your stock 2dr? What's the most you can conceivably tow? I have a '96 2dr with towing pkg and I have been eyeballing a travel trailer that has a dry weight of 4700lbs.

 

[moviewithnotitle]

4700 lbs is fine. I think they top out around 6000 lbs. It's not the towing as much as braking, adjust your distance accordingly. I tow a 5500 lbs boat/trailer 160mi each way 2-3 times a year. It's not a real problem. Mileage is horrible, and it's slow going, but I do just fine. With the short wheelbase of the 2dr, expect to get pushed around a little depending on the length of your trailer. My trailer setup is about 8 feet longer than they truck itself...ugh! Do yourself a favor and adjust the load so the tongue weight is 150-250(There is a ratio for this perfect weight, but I found this has always worked for me). It can get bouncy above 250. I also only tow in Drive "D". No O/D (Overdrive). If you drive in O/D, that amount of weight will cook the tranny fluid in short order on the highway, even with a tranny cooler.

 

[blizz]

Would a weight distribution hitch and electric brakes solve some of those issues? It will probably be more like 6000lbs once it's all said and done.

 

[gbsharon]

I tow a 2200lb car trailer with a ~3300lb load so 5500lb total. Trailer is equipped with surge brakes. Never felt like I had any issue towing 100+ miles on Mass Pike (really hilly). Only issue was a front- end vibration but thats a car specific issue that I believed I solved.

 

[blizz]

It's looking more like the dry weight will be about 5500. I read somewhere that 2dr tahoes can pull more because they're 1000lbs lighter than the 4 doors. If that's the case I should be fine with the towing pkg, electric brakes and weight distribution hitch.

 

[blizz]

Ok so I'm about to buy this trailer and am now worried about towing it. I'm hearing that it's a bad idea with the short wheel base. It's a 24ft 27 total with bumper and tongue and a dry weight of 5300 lbs. they are including electric brake control and weight dist hitch. I'm about to go sign for this thing and now I'm worried about this. Why oh why did I go reading the interwebs?!?!?!

 

[drakon543]

With electric brakes and a weight distribution hitch you will be fine. The weight distribution hitch will help contol some of that bounce that was mentioned if its setup correctly. And as braking you want the dial on the brake controller turned up so it feels like there is nothing behind you when you brake. If its too high you will hear the tires.on the trailer lock up and if its too low you will feel the trailer try to push you. 5-6k i would suggest adding an aux trans cooler. Nothing big or it will run too cold just a small basic one from local parts store.

 

[gbsharon]

i believe tow package trucks came with an aux transmission cooler. Mine has the tow package and has one that looks to be factory.

 

[drakon543]

Ive seen some that didnt have it on anymore. It should be there if it has the tow package but if its not it should have one put on.

 

[blizz]

I have the towing pkg how can I tell for sure if it has one?

 

[drakon543]

You will see a small cooler mounted infront of the radiator. Looks kinda like a mini radiator. You should be able to see it right through the grill.

 

[drakon543]

 

[drakon543]

Just got home when i was responding when i remembered mine still has its cooler. They are right out front and they are pretty durable coolers but a stick, animal or whatever can damage them. Not uncommon in various makes and models to just remove damaged auxiliary equipment instead of replacing it. Best to check and make sure its there and hooked up rather than assume it is.

 

[blizz]

Yeah I have one. So I should be ok. It's funny, on the way back from closing on the travel trailer, I saw a big travel trailer merge onto the highway in front of me. As I got closer I saw that it was being towed by a 2 dr Tahoe as well. Made me feel better instantly and took it as a bit of a sign. I hardly ever see any 2dr tahoes on the road much anymore and I don't think I've ever seen one tow anything significant and there was both in one shot as I was feeling nervous about towing.

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

i tell people when there towing something thats approaching the max towing capacity of the vehicle when yer going on a trip or camping or whatever pay attention to how much stuff is being loaded into the cargo area of the vehicle most poeple hook up the trailer then cram the cargo area with tons of stuff then you add in the weight of the passengers and your easily carrying 1000 to 1200lbs of weight in the vehicle and then they wonder why stuff keeps breaking on the vehicle

 

[drakon543]

^
If you find your having trouble keeping the vehicle feeling safe while your driving it, shifting around whatever your bringing with you can actually help if you have enough stuff.
Not so much on a 2 dr but alot of stuff behind the rear wheels on the tahoe can be like having extra tongue weight. Also having alot of stuff loaded into the front of the trailer can do the same thing. You can try shifting some of the weight to the rear of the trailer. If you have enough stuff with you it can actually reduce your tongue weight as the extra weight is shifting the balance of the trailer. A small tip for pulling a trailer. While you pulling the trailer until you get comfortable how the vehicle will act. If your coming up to a sudden dip/bump (a bridge for example. Let off on the gas as your about to hit it keep a firm grip on the wheel and dont hit the brakes. Just that alone can shift some ot the weight back to the front of the truck and keep it more stable as you cross. Any extra precautions to keep the front wheels planted firmly will keep you safe and more comfortable.

 

[EzSkAnKeN]

I highly suggest air bags. I personally have AirLifts 5000 kit. So easy to install, and will help you out tremendously. Well besides gearing up.

 

[blizz]

Thank you all and thank you for your service ccape. I'll see how it does next week when I bring the trailer home.

 

[swathdiver]

Thank you all and thank you for your service ccape. I'll see how it does next week when I bring the trailer home.

So how's it been?