Question Towing experience question with SUV

[jrburlone]

Hi - We have an older chevy trailbalzer with a 5.3, 350, V8 transmission that we've used almost exclusively to tow a 3100 dry weight travel trailer. The towing capacity for the chevy is listed as 6500 to 6800 lbs and we are thinking of a new trailer with dry weight of 4500 lbs. Is the trailblazer still an OK option?

 

[Holdmybeer]

You'd likely need a WDH w/ sway bar. Watch your tow vehicle payload and load distribution in the trailer. Probably need to step up from a class III to IV receiver hitch.

 

[Porterhouse]

The question is not that the engine and transmission can pull it, but whether the rig will be stable enough to tow it safely. You can tow anything safely if you go slow enough, but you probably want to get on the interstate and do the speed limit. I think you will be limited by the size and weight of the tow vehicle. A good rule of thumb for conventional trailer towing is that your tow vehicle should weigh more than your trailer, so I think you will come up a little short by that measure.

 

[RobertE]

I've done a fair bit of towing and in my mind there were 4 factors to focus on when we were deciding on an RV trailer: 1. Rolling weight (trailer + cargo), 2. Hitch weight, 3. engine/transmission, 4) vehicle.

1. Towing capacity. The mfg'er always exaggerate the numbers. After talking to several very knowledgeable people, I divide the suggested towing capacity by 2.

2. Hitch weight/suspension. For and RV trailer a rule of thumb is hitch weight = 10% of empty trailer weight, so even that is an underestimate when you consider propane tanks, batteries, etc. In addition, you have to consider the weight of cargo in the SUV, which I find can be significant (BBQ grills, smokers, supplies, etc.) For us I estimate 3-400#. Suspension issues can be addressed with helper springs and air bags.

3. Power. Obviously you need torque but the transmission is also key. Your SUV should have a transmission cooler if you're towing in hot weather.

4. Vehicle. You have a short wheel base SUV (see Porterhouse's post). While full sized, it’s still a consideration for stability on the road.

Bottom line, my answer is "no" for your vehicle. For a perspective, my tow vehicle is a 2023 F150 3.5 Ecoboost with max tow package. It has a rated hitch capacity of 850# (no way Jose!) and a tow rating of 11000# (ain’t gonna happen!) The trailer we chose, which is a perfect match for this truck is 4500#. It does great and I wouldn't want to pull anything heavier. We have not been out west or in the mountains yet - that test is yet to come. Fortunately the truck as a transmission temperature gauge.

I looked at a couple trailers before deciding on ours and asked to hitch the trailer to my truck to see how it sat. This was very helpful in the decision. Once you're in motion on the road, things are much different, but it will give you an idea of the real life towing capacity.

Good luck, hope this helps.

 

[Porterhouse]

Ford has an F-150 that they advertise can tow 14,000 lbs. Are they kidding? Yes, you can do it, but they don't tell you how fast you can go with it. I'm thinking 35 MPH max. I have also seen a video of a VW Toureg towing a Boeing 747 at 5 MPH. Works fine, but don't try to go around a turn with it, The 747 will continue to go straight while pulling the Toureg backwards along with it.

 

[Holdmybeer]

Ford has an F-150 that they advertise can tow 14,000 lbs. Are they kidding? Yes, you can do it, but they don't tell you how fast you can go with it. I'm thinking 35 MPH max. I have also seen a video of a VW Toureg towing a Boeing 747 at 5 MPH. Works fine, but don't try to go around a turn with it, The 747 will continue to go straight while pulling the Toureg backwards along with it.

That's similar in principle to Archimedes Lever which he said if it was long enough he could lift the earth. Only that is Newtonian, "objects in motion" and meaningless. Not entirely unlike the TV ad featuring a 4 wheel drive vehicle actually going uphill on a highway.