2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

[blue77]

I'm not sure if there is any 'recommended' list of towing vechicals for boats, and this might sound a bit silly, but hey I'm new and silly.

I'm looking at a 1995 27' 4,500 lbs Cyclone Sunrunner, it comes with the 'origional' trailer (no real information on it), and I'm wondering if I will have any issues towing with my Tahoe.

The 'tow weight' is ~5,300 lbs (some sites say ~4,800) on the Tahoe, but I know that is just one part of the equation.

Any experience/suggestions/thoughts about the pairing?

 

[tommays]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

you really need to know the total weight of the package of boat + stuff + trailer + people in the car

Unless it is some really light 27' boat 7000# as a WAG


Tommays

 

[blue77]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

Well it is the open bow version of this http://www.iboats.com/boats/marine-...--100/high_performance_boats--1020/87379.html

It claims ~4,500 displacement, so I was guessing about 5,700 lbs total weight... but that is a gross guess. I'm not worried about the GVWR more the towing. I guess short of taking the whole thing to a scale (which would more or less have to be done AFTER buying and towing it) how would I know if it is too much boat for my truck?

 

[tommays]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

It is pretty normal for a 20' boat to hit a 4000# tow weight all gased up and ready to hit the water


That 7' is a whole lot more boat


Tommays

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

Figure 4300# for the boat and another 550# for fuel if it has a 90 gallon tank. Add another #300 punds for water and gear and you are up to 5150#. Add 1500# for a trailer and you are going to be at 6650#.

I would not want to tow this boat very far with a Tahoe...maybe short local trips.

My brother has a very similar boat(27' Formula) that that he owns with a partner that tows with a Tahoe. It is really too big a load for that vehicle so he only tows locally with it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

The Tahoe would be fine if you used a weight distributing hitch but I would assume the trailer has surge brakes so you would need a hitch setup that allows the surge brake system to work. At 6000 - 7000 pounds that means you have 600 to 700 pounds on a dead weight hitch. And just so you know, GM recommends 10 - 15% tongue weight. As for the power of the Tahoe, the rear axle ratio will determine what you can tow and how well it tows. The vast majority of vehicles are sold with the standard axle ratio which generally is not sufficient when approaching the maximum tow rating for the vehicle. Axle ratios of 3.42, 3.73 and 4.1:1 are available. Which one is standard depends on 2WD or 4WD. 2WD gets a 3.42 standard which is hardly suitable for towing. 3.73 is standard on the 4WD with a 4.10 optional.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

GM rates their vehicles base on GCVW for various engine, axle ratio and transmission combinations. Because the Tahoe weighs less than a Suburban, the Tahoe may actually be rated to tow more than a Suburban with the same engine and axle ratio! That doesn't mean it is safer to use the Tahoe over a Suburban however. To me. the Tahoe has too short of a wheelbase vehicle to tow that large of a boat.

If you do decide to tow with the Tahoe, ditch the stock receiver...it has a know record of failing. Use a weight distributing hitch and install an electric/hydraulic brake unit because a surge coupler will not work properly with a weight distributing hitch.

 

[blue77]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

It has a 4.1 ratio, and the 'towing' package (actually the towing part was from the 'trim') which includes the transmission cooler, etc.

Ok let's talk specifics, what reciever should I get? and what kind of 'tow upgrade'? Should any of this effect how I use the 'tow mode' for the truck (the push buttont that changes the shift points)

The Tahoe is too short a wheelbase for the boat? The onlything longer wheelbase would be 'extra large' SUV's or a 350 (3500) 1 ton truck (it has the same wheelbase as the extended cab 250 (2500) 3/4 ton trucks).

 

[tommays]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

While people do tow BIGGER boats and F550 painted to match the boat are common around here


Your pretty much at the MAX size that most people would tow which puts the truck in the marginal area


if it is within the legal weight and your going short trips VS over hill and dale would also be a big factor




Tommays

 

[blue77]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

Ah so the issue is the boat is too darn big... gotcha

Thank you all for your help, now I just need to figure out what I need to do to make my Tohoe tow it as safely as possible

That said, I'll prob be towing it 2 hours or so 2x per year (basically either down to the shore and back (for the seasons) or to the river (delaware) which is only about an hour each way

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

U-Haul or any of a dozen or more manufactures make frame mounted receivers that can handle 10,000 pounds. Your Tahoe will handle the load but you will be crowding the maximum. You definitely need the weight distributing hitch with sway control however. Tow/Haul merely raises the shift points when towing. It does not give the truck more power. Instead of shifting from 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4 at 25, 40, and 50 MPH (just grabbed those numbers) the tranny will shift at 30, 45, and 55 MPH in Haul mode. You won't be using overdrive with that load 3-4 shift is not important. Even when not towing, use of the Haul mode in the mountains would be beneficial. The 4.10 axle will work to your advantage as well.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

The Tahoe is too short a wheelbase for the boat? The onlything longer wheelbase would be 'extra large' SUV's or a 350 (3500) 1 ton truck (it has the same wheelbase as the extended cab 250 (2500) 3/4 ton trucks).

Even a 1/2 Ton truck will have a longer wheelbase than the Tahoe...over a foot longer.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

The Tahoe wheelbase is listed as 116 inches. My S10 crewcab is 8 inches longer than that. That said, although wheelbase plays a factor in handling, rear overhang (the distance from the axle to ball mount) also is a factor. Semi Tractors have a short wheelbase, but the fifth wheel is ahead of the axle so I still contend, properly "hitched" the Tahoe will work ok for the few trips that this vehicle will be used. I put 60,000 miles on a Chevy van with a 305 V8 towing a 6000# travel trailer and was never in anyones way and it was an excellent handling rig. A boat is a heck of a lot more aerodynamic than a travel trailer so power will not be an issue even with the extra weight. If this combination was trailered long distances regularly I would certainly look for a different vehicle.

 

[blue77]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

S10 Crew cab has 6 inches on the extended cab according to the site I was looking at, it also listed my Tahoe as having 118" which would be the same as the extended cab (though I it is the internet, and god knows what is 'real' )

Thank you all for the help!!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

Not sure why an S10 is even being discussed in regard to pulling your boat. A full size pickup is going to have a 135" wheel base, or in that neigborhood, depending on what bed and cab you pick.

A full sized van will also have a similar wheel base which is why Silvertip wouldn't have a problem pulling a 6000# load.

 

[freeone]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

I have the 04 tahoe 5.3, 22' larson cabin cruiser tank half full with no other gear in the boat, I load up the vehicle. handles great, has a hard time with braking and going up hills(not very steep ones) the 2 hour trip could run you 2.5- maybe 3 I'm almost always in third gears even with the tow button. the 22' with the traile sits almost 3-4' longer than the truck itself. I'm also in the market to upgrade to bigger but when i see the puckups at the launch ramp spinning tires or a sofa in the truck bed due to no weight on the rear axel makes me think twice about pick ups. the next largest suv would be either the suburban with 5.7 or the excursion 6.8 v10 or 6.0 v8 deisel.

 

[muskie hunter]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

I'm not sure if there is any 'recommended' list of towing vechicals for boats, and this might sound a bit silly, but hey I'm new and silly.

I'm looking at a 1995 27' 4,500 lbs Cyclone Sunrunner, it comes with the 'origional' trailer (no real information on it), and I'm wondering if I will have any issues towing with my Tahoe.

The 'tow weight' is ~5,300 lbs (some sites say ~4,800) on the Tahoe, but I know that is just one part of the equation.

Any experience/suggestions/thoughts about the pairing?

I just bought a wellcraft 26 SE. It weighs 5000 lbs, the aluminum trailer weighs 1100 lbs. Currantly it has apx 40 gal of fuel in it. I pull the boat with a 1997 GMC yukon 2 door 4x4 with the 5.7 engine. Here is what I did.

The truck has the tow package with oil cooler and trans cooler I have always heard that the transmissions were the week link so...

I changed the fluid,and filter on the transmission. I then added a secondary transmission cooler. The fluid goes into the radiator then into the 1st cooler then into the second cooler and back to the transmission. I also added a transmission temp gauge. After doing this I have noticed that the trans temp without towing runs about 125. While towing up and down hills the temp runs at a maximum of 177. This is plenty cool to keep the transmission alive. The boat is a heavy load but it does not seem to squat the truck much. The engine labors some with this load, but the spedometer does not drop below 50 mph while holding the accelerator steady on a long intermediate hill. I think it is doable, but I wouldnt want to pull much more. Hope this helps.

Thanks Steve

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

Shortish trips only in my opinion.

Anyone else use 2 tranny coolers ???

 

[dingbat]

Re: 2006 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3L engine

I?m not sure that I believe you weight ?guesstimate?. I would certainly get a good weight before doing anything. I've got a 22' Walkaround that weighs almost 5600 lbs fueled and that?s without the trailer.

I'm pulling with a 2001 Tahoe with the 5.3L and Chevy's "heavy tow" package (3.73 rear) plus Auto ride suspension. Typical pull is 60 miles each way down the I-95 corridor and across to the shore. I live on the Piedmont (elev. @ 600?) so my tow is basically down hill heading out and up hill coming home.

Truck handles it well although you definitely know its back there. Braking isn?t an issue as I have 4 wheel disk brakes on the trailer however I don?t think I?d want another 2K lbs following behind me on a regular basis.

Longer wheel base does not necessarily translate into a better ride. It depends on the overhang and suspension as Silvertip eluded too earlier.

We?ve pulled my boat with my BIL 2001 Silverdo extended cab a few times and it certainly doesn?t do as well as the Tahoe. The difference in the rearend ratios certainly plays into it however I attribute a good bit of it to the Autoride suspension on the Tahoe