Another towing question

DnDS · May 3, 2004

HI

I have a 03 Tahoe with the tow package. We plan on towing a 28ft travel trailer wich weighs about 8500 lbs. When I turn on the tow/haul mode do I need to leave the trans in D or put it in 3rd?!?! Thanks

silverado man · May 3, 2004

If it is hilly or your transmission is shifting alot than I would run in 3rd but if it is nice and flat just stick it in D.

Shaners · May 3, 2004

With a trailer that weighs 8500 lbs and a 4L60E tranny, I would leave it in third. That will keep the RPMS up and the pump turning faster, this should in turn keep your tranny cooler.

QUIKAG · May 3, 2004

I'd leave it in D. The transmission will downshift when it needs to. However, if it's cycling between 3rd and OD too much, just pop it in 3rd.

Also, don't be afraid of revs. The motor can take it.

intruder217 · May 3, 2004

8500lbs seems heavy for a tahoe? Have you checked the tow capacity for your truck?

DnDS · May 3, 2004

The 8500 lbs is a rough estimate a little on the high side. According to the little book in the glove box the max for a 4.10 rear end is about 8100 lbs. Thanks for the info.

Kevin zellweger · May 5, 2004

Hi

I just thought I would remind you that the dealership will know the weight that you pulled, in the event that the tranny goes in for work under warrenty. If you pull over and the tranny blows or something else with the powertrain no warrenty for you. if it is just a couple hundred pounds over i would go for it, and if it breaks and they decline go to another dealership.

happened to a friend of mine but he towed 2000lbs over though.

Taaaaaaahoe? · May 5, 2004

Hi
I just thought I would remind you that the dealership will know the weight that you pulled, in the event that the tranny goes in for work under warrenty. If you pull over and the tranny blows or something else with the powertrain no warrenty for you. if it is just a couple hundred pounds over i would go for it, and if it breaks and they decline go to another dealership.

happened to a friend of mine but he towed 2000lbs over though.

How will they know??

Mike

JamesB · May 5, 2004

A '28 ft TT is pretty long for a short wheel based vehicle such as a Tahoe. Be safe!

James.

Kevin zellweger · May 5, 2004

How will they know??

Mike

it is through a torque meter of some sort it measures the stress apllied to the tranny and how long the stress was there. with this measurement they can calculate how much weight the truck towed. they will always have a way to get you

also they know how the truck has been driven, all through there plug in computer.

AlanW · May 5, 2004

If the manufactor's maximum tow rating on your vehicle is 8,100 lbs., you can bet that is a very optimistic figure. For safe towing, the general rule of thumb is not to go over 85%-90% of the max figure. For your max rating of 8,100 lbs, 90% of that would be around 7290lbs.

And the short wheelbase of the Tahoe with a 28' trailer is also a concern as pointed out.

If you only take one or 2 easy trips a year in relatively flat land, you might get by OK. But if you travel with this trailer a lot & especially in hilly or mountainous areas, you will wish you had a 3/4 truck of some type, or even larger.

DnDS · May 5, 2004

The traile was for the inlaws who sold there house and are now buying some land to build on, and the trailer is going to be temp. So I should only have to tow it 1 or maybe 2 more time about 20 miles or so on flat ground. Thank you for all of the help and info!!!!

Ben · May 5, 2004

Add to already very good comments.

The ratings are marketing/sales brochure. Real numbers, but bogus.

Reason bogus is that it's skewed for "King of the hill" marketing/bragging rights over others, but since they all do it, nothing really other than to confuse consumers.

Truth in advertising laws would have some fined and even jail, but for the fine print. That fine print is drafted, reviewed and approved by corporate lawyers. Why fine print is called "weseal words".

All based on stripper models. Both TV (tow vehicle) and TT (travel trailer). Stripper model, as in no options (AC, upgrade interior, stereo, auto tranny, 4x4, etc). "CURB" is a stripper truck weight, some times includes one 150 lb driver, this applies to the TV. "DRY" is the stripper trailer weight and has not options (propane tanks, TV, Microwave, rugs, liquids, spare, etc).

GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, applies to both TV and TT

GAWR = Gross Axle Weight Rating, front and rear each.

GCWR = Gross Combined Weight Rating. TV, hitch, TT and anything carried (cargo, luggage, food, water, people, pets, ice chest, toolbox, etc).

Max trailer = Brochure listed max trailer weight a TV can tow. Bogus because they used a "curb" TV. My 96 3/4 ton Sub has brochure listed "curb" of just under 6,000 lbs, but when weighed at local garden scales (county weights and measure stickered), it weighs in at 7,400 lbs (me, 180 lbs, +250lb toolbox and misc). So the "10,000 lb max trailer" is bogus unless my Sub is a "stripper", which it isn't (SLT, highest option and everything orderable ordered).

Use this formula to figure true weights: GCWR = TV GVWR + TT GVWR TV GVWR should include hitch and tongue weight.

Best to actually load up both TV and TT ready to tow and weigh the whole thing and axle by axle.

Most SUV's will reach their GVWR way before GCWR and/or their rear GAWR. Reason is that they can hold soooooo much stuff over a pickup.

Here's links to 2001 GM Towing and Trailering Guide. Got a copy before GM pulled the site. They have not put the current Towing brochure on the internet. Your's should be a bit higher in ratings, as they always increase/improve the newer trucks. Hot links because picture is pretty big (has to becuase any smaller would be unreadable) and many have complained too big...

2001 GM GCWR chart HOW2 figure engine/tranny/diff ratios

Silverado hitch/ball ratings

Silverado fiver ratings

Silverado HD, Blazer, Astro hitch/ball ratings

Silverado HD fiver & Suburban hitch/ball ratings

PS....lose the GM OEM receiver. POS and recommend after market Class V. Picture is of Burbman's failed and many others have reported similar. Plain stupid penny wise, pound foolish on GM's part. Mechanical engineering 101 stuff they failed.

Ben · May 5, 2004

Forgot....

Too long and too heavy. Why posted above for you to figure yourself, as too many accuse being weight police. No skin off my nose, it's your $$$$ and stuck in the boonies potential.

Known weak components in any GM 1500 are auto tranny and diff when hauling/towing heavy.

Suggest reducing TT size.

Min flush tranny fluid (all 12 quarts) and diff fluid (2.5 quarts). Consider synthetics.

Assume yours has tow package and if not, put in the components to make a tow package.

Red2500HD · May 6, 2004

Well, I hope you have heard from enough to realize that your trailer is too long and too heavy to tow "SAFELY". Will it tow it?? Yes, but not safely and not without possibly causing dammage to your truck. If you insist, and it sounds like you will not heed good advice.....at the very least install a tranny temp gauge so you don't toast your tranny. Be sure to have good trailer brakes with a functioning brake controller....not those cheap surge brakes. Lastly, let me know when and where you will be towing this beast so I can stay away from the area.