tow capacity?

[jwkoehn]

I am thinking of towing a 24 ft pocket cruiser aprox 7000# w/ a 03 tahoe 4x4 on a trip of 700 mi. it does have a tranny cooler . It does seem to handle short trips well. I am concerned about long distance towing w/ it any thoughts ?
Part of the trip is mountain grade.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: tow capacity?

2003 Tahoe, from Edmunds
Base Number of Cylinders: 8 Base Engine Size: 4.8 liters
Base Engine Type: V8 Horsepower: 275 hp
Max Horsepower: 5200 rpm Torque: 290 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4000 rpm Maximum Payload: 1750 lbs.
Maximum Towing Capacity: 8700 lbs. Drive Type: 4WD

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: tow capacity?

I am thinking of towing a 24 ft pocket cruiser aprox 7000# w/ a 03 tahoe 4x4 on a trip of 700 mi. it does have a tranny cooler . It does seem to handle short trips well. I am concerned about long distance towing w/ it any thoughts ?
Part of the trip is mountain grade.

That's a real close one with a 1/2 ton SUV. I would be certain that the trailer brakes are in tip top shape and the Tahoe brakes have been checked out.

 

[dingbat]

Re: tow capacity?

Is your weight accurate or a guess? How much of a mountain are we talking? If your weight is accurate and not climbing the Rockies you should be all right.

My boat weighs not quite #6400 and I have no problems at all pulling it with a 2001 Tahoe with a heavy tow package (3.73 rear, Auto Ride etc.) I regularly make 200-600 mile trips up and down the coast during the season and have never had a problem.

The truck has 4 wheel disc so braking isn?t a problem. On the two occasions I lost the trailer brakes I had no problem at all braking the load. I have 105K miles on the truck and it still has the original brakes pads on it if that tells you anything.

You will not be a speed demon in the mountains but it will work. Turn on tow haul mode and go at it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: tow capacity?

Most Tahoes of that vintage had the optional 5.3 so power would not be an issue but it does put you up near the top of the tow limit. As long as you don't have the boat and Tahoe loaded down with an extra 500# of stuff in each you should be fine.

 

[45Auto]

Re: tow capacity?

If the manufacturers ratings mean anything to you, your Tahoe is only rated at 5000 pounds with a straight hitch. Over 5000 pounds requires a weight distributing hitch and sway control bars. Max weight with an equalizer hitch will be between 5,700 and 7,700 pounds depending on your engine and rear axle ratio.

Tahoe/Yukon 1500 4.8L V-8 5,700 c
Tahoe/Yukon 1500 4.8L V-8 6,700 d
Tahoe/Yukon 1500 5.3L V-8 6,700 c
Tahoe/Yukon 1500 5.3L V-8 7,700 d
Tahoe/Yukon 1500 4WD 4.8L V-8 6,400 d
Tahoe/Yukon 1500 4WD 4.8L V-8 7,400 e
Tahoe/Yukon 1500 4WD 5.3L V-8 7,400 d-e

That being said, it wouldn't bother me a bit to do what you're proposing. Of course I also towed a 6000 pound Crownline (straight hitch) with a Cherokee rated at 2000 pounds/straight hitch, 5000/equalizer for over a year. Destroyed the u-joints. Replaced it last summer with a 3/4 ton Suburban.

 

[Begester]

Re: tow capacity?

I've got a 2007 Tahoe w/ a 5.3 liter and was going to tow my 24 foot cruiser "over the mountains" to eastern WA from Seattle but decided not to because I wasn't 100% sure on the braking ability going through mountains, especially downhill. One thing I've also noticed with my boat is that being a pocket cruiser like yours, it can sometimes get affected by winds more so than a bowrider, which also factored into my decision to not do it. Nothing scientific here, just my own observation.

It seems like these Tahoe's (at least mine) have no problem towing, just stopping when you've got a lot of weight behind you. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: tow capacity?

Stopping should not be a problem either if the trailer has functioning brakes. without them, yes, you have a handfull.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: tow capacity?

flat land towing is better with hydrolic brakes, mountain towing is better with electric or electric hydrolic brakes, as you have an activator in the cab of the tow vehicle, if the trailer starts to get squirrelly.

 

[DJ]

Re: tow capacity?

No trailer brakes-No Go-No questions. Vehicle actuated are best, in mountains.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: tow capacity?

I don't think the truck would have any problems towing that weight equipment wise, but it may not be the best handling rig in the world. It will suffer a bit on hills but should get the job done just fine. Make sure the trans is serviced and in good order and all brakes are working.
On flat land, I'd consider it just another haul. A lot has to do with driver experience and driver habit. Take it easy, move along at a pace that feels right for the vehicle, don't push it too hard and all should be just fine.

 

[captharv]

Re: tow capacity?

Not enough info on the vehicle to make a determination.
What engine/tranny/axle, etc? Does it have a FACTORY heavy duty tow package? What is the rating the manufacturer made for YOUR truck?
Reasons I ask are:
The above ratings apply to a truck with the factory tow package, axle ratio indicated in the footnotes, yada, yada
Example: I tow with a ford expedition. This is an example, not a "my truck is better than yours", as I have data for it at hand.
My truck is rated at 8900# in 2WD, and 8600 in 4X4,, however this rating is contigent on: factory H/D tow package (yes, there is a light duty), with the 5.4L engine, H/D tranny, 3.75 axle(s), limited slip rear, etc.
With the 4.6 engine, which does not have the H/D package offered, 5000#, with a 5.4 and the L/D package, 5000#.
Now, another thing. I am paraphrasing the book:
"the above rating of 8900, and 900# tongue weight is using an equalizing hitch, and without 5000#/500#."
You see, a general question as asked is very difficult to answer.
I did this homework last year when I purchased my present vehicle. The question should have been "is my vehicle RATED to tow this boat?"
Also, I think yout 7000# estimate is a bit low. My boat is a 24' (brand not inportant) on an aluminum Magic Tilt trailer, which was 825# at their scale ( they measure thheir trailers for registration weights).
A public scale (calibrated) showed 7800 for the boat/trailer combo. This was about 60 gal gas, 20 water, and the normal stuff I carry. Boat weights are usually specked by the builder as smallest engine offered, and the "usual" accessories installed at the factory. We boaters add a lot of stuff after purchase.
This post is not to degrade anyones info, however, the exact info for his vehicle is needed.
Captharv

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: tow capacity?

I am thinking of towing a 24 ft pocket cruiser aprox 7000# w/ a 03 tahoe 4x4 on a trip of 700 mi. it does have a tranny cooler . It does seem to handle short trips well. I am concerned about long distance towing w/ it any thoughts ?
Part of the trip is mountain grade.

i have now towed my 230 weekender on quite a few long trips with my yukon XL. last trip 850 miles one way. my boat and trailer wiighted 7000# the first time i weighed it and 6600# the second.
my trailer only has brakes on one axle and i havent had any trouble. check your bearings and tires every 100 miles or so and keep in mind you boat out weights your truck and you'll be fine.
i am going to install brakes on my other axle. more for a safty conisideration as i tow over mountain passes every time i move to other lakes.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: tow capacity?

I don't know you, your truck, your boat, your trailer, or your ability, but if I owned that SUV I would pull that boat 700miles without any worries. But I would service everything first and know for sure what I've got.

 

[JB25VIP]

Re: tow capacity?

I think you'll be taxing the Tahoe pretty hard especially with moutain grades. With 7000+ behind me my first concern, as others have said, is the brakes. BUT IT SOUNDS DO-ABLE. after all It's a CHEVY, if a chevy can't do it nothing can!

make sure and check the trailer bearings............i burned a set out on a long trip once and had a heckuva time trying to find some replacements out in the middle of the oklahoma plains.........needless to say I now carry two extra sets with me at all times!

 

[jwkoehn]

Re: tow capacity?

TRAILER EZ loader tandem 3500 # axles 15in. tires surge brakes on one axle drum brakes -- adequate?

 

[45Auto]

Re: tow capacity?

It'll work fine. It would be a good idea to make SURE the trailer brakes are working before you leave.

 

[captharv]

Re: tow capacity?

TRAILER EZ loader tandem 3500 # axles 15in. tires surge brakes on one axle drum brakes -- adequate?

NO!
Subtract out the trailer weight of 1400# from 7000#, and you can carry 5600# of boat, and equipment on it.
I have a 24' cruiser, and it weighed out at about 6600# The trailer was an additional 1400. The trailer is rated at 6600# GVW ( not carrying wt.) So, I was about 1400# Had problems caused by overloading it.
The E-Z-Loaders are great trailers ,however, they are rated differently than most other manufacturers, who rate them in carrying weight.
Bought a new trailer to replace it last year with a 8200# capacity. Rides like a dream.
Brakes. I would stongly suggest brakes on both axles. The E-Z- loader had front axle only, and it was a bear to stop. Dangerous on a wet road. i added the second axle brakes and it made a night and day difference.
Look at it this way: Cars and trucks have 4 tires and 4 brakes. You boat trailer combo weighs twice as much. Get the picture?

 

[kyle f]

Re: tow capacity?

Car and Trucks have brakes on all 4 corners to blance the braking force and not pitch the front end down.

In a FWD Car 80% od braking is done by the front brakes, in a RWD car its 60%. This is approximate, but industry rule of thumb.

I wodner what an AWD does.

To chime in on your situation. Surge brakes are good, but not great. Just remember hwo they work. The trailer has to be pushing on the truck to actuate them.

You can take it easy and stuff the tranny in 2nd gear and let the engine do some of the speed controlling for you and alieviate your brake concerns on steep grades. However, the tranny is going to suffer pulling hills. You might want to definately stick a Tranny temp gage in the vehicle for this. I had my brothers 5.3L Silverrado suffer from heat issues hauling a U-haul trailer (Whatever the largest size is without an engine) going down I75 in KY. Everytime it tried to go into OD, it would blow fluid out the seals. Luckly I was behind him catching it on my windshield, so I knew it was happening. Otherwise I think he woul dhav ebeen clueless until too late.

So plan on most of your pullign to be done with the O/D off, and consider upgrading your cooler, or adding a second in, before your trip.

Oh 210*F is usually the beginning of the danger zone, and when the truck isn't moving, it takes a long time to cool.

With all that being said, I wouldn't do that for such a long trip.