Suitable tow vehicle?

[JulesMaximus]

Yea but cheaper then blowing up the Tahoe.

My truck I think has a 1700pound payload. I have the big motor, trans cooler, added helper springs, etc... and I never go over 1500pds NOW. I went to the max payload and that was still to much sway for me.

I saw a guy towing a medium sized camper (probably around 28') on the 15 freeway last weekend behind a suburban, the rear of the suburban was probably a foot lower than normal under the tongue weight of the trailer and something was hitting the pavement when he would go over bumps because I could see sparks every time it hit. Both vehicles would pitch left and right like a seesaw occasionally too. Must have been a white knuckle experience for the driver (who obviously had very little brains) and anyone with half a brain in either of those vehicles. I stayed far away from that guy.

 

[Meghan54]

Look again....the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight of a new Tahoe is 11,500.
The Tahoe itself, unloaded, weighs 5250, the trailer, unloaded, weighs 6800. It's overloaded before you ever load either one with people and gear.

You can't exceed ANY of the factory specs, which is why it's impossible for any SUV to tow what the commercials claim.

First, before I answer, I'd never tow a 6800# trailer without the biggest thing I could find to pull it.....and it isn't a Tahoe.

Now, as far as believing commericals, Pac you twit, I was quoting GM specs from GM...not some goddamn bloody commercial.

Didn't say it was smart, but GM plainly states that the 2010 Tahoe has the bare ability to tow up to 8500#......

Direct from GM:

Heavy-Duty Trailering Package

Tow up to 8,500 lbs. with Tahoe 2WD, up to 8,200 with Tahoe 4WD. (Maximum trailer weight ratings are calculated assuming a base vehicle, except for any option(s) necessary to achieve the rating, plus driver. The weight of other optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow.)

Trailering Package, heavy-duty, includes external transmission oil cooler and engine oil cooler, provides increased trailering capabilities. Requires Vortec 5.3L V8 SFI FlexFuel engine with Active Fuel Management, P265/70R17 all-season, blackwall tires, 17" x 7.5" aluminum, 5-spoke, wheels with smooth surface and rectangular pockets and includes 3.42 ratio rear axle.


That's what GM states....cannot help if it doesn't mesh with your views on the Tahoe's capabilities....it's fact from GM. And with the proper equipment, it can be done. Done well? Probably not and with horrible gas mileage and white knuckles. But it can be done.

And don't forget.....with the HD Towing package installed, the GCWR increases, obviously. You keep bandying about the 11,500# GCWR listed for the Tahoe. But remember, that's WITHOUT the trailering package being installed. Having it installed increases the GCWR. But I thought you knew that.

 

[squirrel dog]

I would see if I could rent a 1 ton truck , or van . This will be the worst vacation of your life otherwise . I have towed boats and trailers for 37 years , all the naysayers in your thread are dead on correct . You will boil the oil and transmission fluid right out of that tahoe,then seize the engine . Plus fry the brakes . On flat land/short distance(50 miles or less)yes you could do it,but 3k with mountains no way .

 

[Soapy Bones]

Another aspect besides all of the comments in here to consider is the wheelbase on a tahoo compared to a bigger tow vehicle. On flat land with no wind you can tow just about anything, the problem you're going to have is mountains and wind. The shorter wheelbase makes the wind and sway signficantly more noticeable and hazardous, even with a sway control.

If that is your tow vehicle you need to be considering large pop-ups or very small lightweight travel trailers, perhaps the hybrid style with beds that fold out of the ends to give you added sleeping capacity. A trailer that long and heavy with limited towing experience on those road conditions is really not going to be pleasant at all.

 

[Pacfanweb]

First, before I answer, I'd never tow a 6800# trailer without the biggest thing I could find to pull it.....and it isn't a Tahoe.

Now, as far as believing commericals, Pac you twit, I was quoting GM specs from GM...not some goddamn bloody commercial.

Didn't say it was smart, but GM plainly states that the 2010 Tahoe has the bare ability to tow up to 8500#......

Direct from GM:

Heavy-Duty Trailering Package

Tow up to 8,500 lbs. with Tahoe 2WD, up to 8,200 with Tahoe 4WD. (Maximum trailer weight ratings are calculated assuming a base vehicle, except for any option(s) necessary to achieve the rating, plus driver. The weight of other optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow.)

Trailering Package, heavy-duty, includes external transmission oil cooler and engine oil cooler, provides increased trailering capabilities. Requires Vortec 5.3L V8 SFI FlexFuel engine with Active Fuel Management, P265/70R17 all-season, blackwall tires, 17" x 7.5" aluminum, 5-spoke, wheels with smooth surface and rectangular pockets and includes 3.42 ratio rear axle.


That's what GM states....cannot help if it doesn't mesh with your views on the Tahoe's capabilities....it's fact from GM. And with the proper equipment, it can be done. Done well? Probably not and with horrible gas mileage and white knuckles. But it can be done.

And don't forget.....with the HD Towing package installed, the GCWR increases, obviously. You keep bandying about the 11,500# GCWR listed for the Tahoe. But remember, that's WITHOUT the trailering package being installed. Having it installed increases the GCWR. But I thought you knew that.

I do know all of that.

A quick search for a 2010 Tahoe owner's manual finds this for towing specs:

5.3LV8 K5L HD Cooling Pkg 3.42
Trailer weight: 8,400 lbs (3 810 kg)
GCVWR: 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)

So, I stand by my original position, if this is the Tahoe they are going to use (and it isn't, the one they have is not this new): They'll be beyond the specs if they try this in the real world.
Do the math, and they'll find out. And even if they somehow WERE within specs....a 28' trailer behind a truck as short as a Tahoe would be......exciting, to say the least. Any trailer that long needs at least a 3/4 ton vehicle.

A Tahoe is going to be pushing 6500lbs. gassed up and loaded with 4 adults and luggage. Curb weight is already..what, 5250, did we say earlier? And that's on a base Tahoe...it'll be more on the loaded HD cooling version. Trailer weighs 6800lbs with nothing in it. Yeah, they'll never keep it under 14k combined, and this is ASSuming they had the HD version, which I'll just about guarantee they don't. Plus, we're talking the 2010, adn

The manual also says the tongue weight should be 10-15% of the LOADED trailer weight, UP TO 600lbs, or 1000lbs if they have a weight-distributing hitch, which they won't if they're renting a trailer....so there's no way they'll be within spec there, either.

And expecting it to get 18mpg while towing? Laughable. Be lucky to get 11mpg. Really, they'll be lucky to get THERE, much less worry about the mileage.

 

[alkemyst]

this will be you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ru1l2gn88

phoking awesome!

 

[KDOG]

A good rule of thumb on tow capacities is to automatically take off 1,000lbs to compensate for tow vehicles internal load. In your case with all the people/luggage you're hauling I'd go with 1400. THEN what you have left is your MAX towing capacity. Make sure you also deduct the propane in the tanks, the weight distributing hitch as well - those are not included in the trailers list weight. I'm still interested in what trailer you will be towing that weighs 6800 pounds. My in-laws just bought a 25ft trailer with a large bump out and it weighs 4550 dry. Also that tow capacity is when the vehicle is NEW. I would also make sure the trailers brakes are working properly and you have the gain control set to match up with the vehicles braking force. Test it out on a back road or something.

As has been said, it may very well be possible, but you are taking a terrible risk if you tow out of specs. I would really consider re-examining your plan.

 

[yh125d]

This specific tahoe is a 5050 curb weight and 7400 max trailer weight for only 12.500 GCWR

 

[Pliablemoose]

Put it this way: I've never heard anyone complain that they bought too big a tow vehicle.

When in doubt, get the bigger truck.

This case isn't even debatable. It's comical to see that the people claim they've done their research and wouldn't be buying the Tahoe if it wasn't big enough. There's no way you can work the math to make this one work out. It's flat-out unsafe. That doesn't mean they won't make it, but it still won't be safe. Glad I won't be on the road near them.

How'd you like to have that rig trying to stop quickly behind you and your kids?

This.