Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

[Impulsebuyer]

So, I am back, been gone boating for a while. Still have the same issue I had on previous post and now have new but conflicting information on the topic of the 02' Tahoe 5.3L, 3.73 with 7,600# Towing Rating (however the hitch sticker says 5,000# load carrying or 12,000# Weight Distributing) pulling my 27' Cobalt 262 with Dual Axel Dorsey Trailer with surge brakes that I conservatively estimate weigh about 7,200# with normal loading (boat dry weight is 4,700 and the trailer is 1650) so I added 850# for fuel toys etc.

I talked to a reputable hitch and trailering outfit in my area and was told that all I needed was a weight distributing hitch set-up on my Tahoe and trailer and that I would be fine pulling this much weight. Well everyone else that I have talked to says "weight distributing hitches affect the surge brakes on your trailer and will render the brakes much less or totally in-effective"

Also, I have been told that with the family in the Tahoe (wife and two girls along with my border collie) I would be stupid to pull a load this heavy. I am mostly worried about 1). Safety of the fam, 2). damage to the Tahoe, 3). damage to my wallet if I have to buy a new rig just to tow this boat!

Can anyone with experience of the above, reply with thoughts?

Thank you and please advise if I have left out any pertinent data that is needed to respond intelligently.

Impulsebuyer

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

You are at the maximum tow rating and in fact have exceeded the hitch capacity by a bunch. Why do you think they stamp those numbers on the hitch. If a weight distributing hitch is required, you need to use one. Yes, they do interfer with surge brakes. Yes that much dead weight (tongue weight) is one of the reasons for a weight distributing hitch. Continuing to do what you are doing will stress the rear axle. There is a sticker on the drivers door or the jam. It tells you what the maximum front and rear axle weight ratings are. Lets just say you loaded the Tahoe such that without the trailer the read axle was carrying the maximum load. The moment you connected the trailer, (at 10% tongue weight), you just added over 700 pounds which is 700 over the rating. That damages things. Yes -- there are ways around the brake issue. Electric/hydraulic kits available. Or convert the trailer to electric. The 5.3 motor and 3.73 gears are also poor selections for this load. The 6.0 and 4.10 would (or at least the 5.3 and 4.10) would have been a better choice.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

I pulled a car trailer with my Tahoe and At ~5500# is was too much for it to handle except for short trips. First of all they come with Passenger rated tires, not truck rated (at least my 96' did, there will be a P somewhere in the tire size on the sidewall). The Tahoe is too short IMO for a heavy load and suffers from sway too easy (same goes for my V8 mountaineer I have now).

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

I would get a new Hitch myself.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

There is no question whether or not a weight dist. hitch will affect surge brakes: There no way for the "surge" to occur with the transfer bars. IMO, towing that long and that heavy with such a short wheelbase is too white-knuckle for me...weight dist. hitch or not. If I was determined to set up a Tahoe, I'd go electric/hyd. on the trailer, and get a weight dist. hitch with an anti-sway setup (like this one - which, if you chose it, is even designed to work with surge brakes with no modification!).

 

[Impulsebuyer]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

Silvertip:

I appreciate your comments, but I have not yet towed the boat with my Tahoe as it is set up today. I also did not buy the Tahoe to tow this boat, I bought the Tahoe in 2002 and the Boat in 2007 so I have not been doing anything dangerous just yet! The boat I keep in the water, but want to trailer it to Eastern Washington/North Idaho (from Seattle) this summer for a family vacation.

My mistake has been that I bought the boat suddently (as my stage name implies) and then looked into whether or not I could tow it with my current truck.

I would be happy to buy a new beefier hitch and anything else to modify the Tahoe to handle the job, but if I do all of that and still end up with issues, I am going to be bummed. Wife does not want me to trade the Tahoe for a F250/350 diesel (which would be my first choice) since we use the Tahoe for many family trips, so I need to figure out if I just leave the boat in Lake Washington and rent a vessel when we vaca or find a way to tow the beast with my Tahoe with modifications.

Thanks to all that have weighed in (no pun intended).

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

First off, the receiver that comes with the Tahoe as well as all GM trucks is a very marginal receiver. I would replace it.

Second, I would go with weight disritributing hitch and convert to an electric/hydraulic controller. I have one of these units and love it.

Third, don't plan on towing that thing up any mountains...it won't make it.

 

[Wide Open]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

First off, the receiver that comes with the Tahoe as well as all GM trucks is a very marginal receiver. I would replace it.

Second, I would go with weight disritributing hitch and convert to an electric/hydraulic controller. I have one of these units and love it.

That is a nice setup. The controller can be found at http://www.championtrailers.com/catalog pdf/PAGE 35 BRAKERITE.pdf

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

Another option - don't trade the Tahoe, trade the boat.

 

[klicknative]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

He has mountains and a canyon between Seattle and Spokane on I-90. A 2500 Suburban with a Duramax and the heavy duty tow package would handle it. I don't think the transmisson in the Tahoe could make it over Snoqualmie pass pulling that load.

 

[Impulsebuyer]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

Boat Buoy: Not an option, love th boat too much and do not plan on getting a different one for many years! But you are right that would be another option, just not one I will exercise!

I just think I will get another truck or live without the boat on vacation. Garage barely fits the Tahoe with my wife's car in there, so I can't go to the Suburban or anything longer than the Tahoe unfortunately. Maybe I can buy an old beater 3/4 ton to pull the boat only and have the family in another vehicle chasing us?

If I do that, I am definitely going the way of Diesel. Anyone have any knowledge of a good diesel 3/4 that will not break the bank (i.e. what should I be looking for)?

Thanks again.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

If your keep the boat in the water 99% of the time and the only trailering time would be once a year............................

I would rent a boat at the destination.

Getting a different vehicle to use that little just don't make a lot of sense.

But than buying a diesel one ton four wheel drive crew cab and driving it 5000 miles a year on only paved roads in Florida don't make a lot of sense either.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

Another option - rent a truck for towing the few times that it's necessary.

 

[evilratgirl]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

Save your nerves and truck and rent something where you're going to vacation. You did mention that was one of your options. The cost of conversions will be more then renting something.

No matter what conversions you do, that Yukon isn't going to like the passes. Not to mention gas milage.

 

[d_saum]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

Hey, just curious... Where and what would you rent? I rent a LOT of cars from Avis for business, but I dont see anything that they carry that I'd really tow with.

 

[rndn]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

It's hard to find a rental company that will rent a vehicle capable of towing something this heavy. If you're really committed to towing the boat for your vacation you really only have one option, which is to buy a diesel truck with an automatic transmission. They are more expensive than a gas engine, but you will have a vehicle that will be capable of towing and stopping your boat and provide a safe and stable ride for you and your family.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

Actually, you can rent a 1 ton truck from enterprize. That would tow it just fine.
Here is on link.
http://aboutus.enterprise.com/what_we_do/rent_a_truck.html

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Ok, I have conflicting information, need help!

Have you actually brought the boat to a Scale to weigh it or are you just guesstimating?