anyone tow with a tahoe?

sijc · 04-15-2008, 10:39 AM

Hi... yes i am new to the site and yes i have a lot of questions, but for now im only going to ask one. is there anyone here that is using a tahoe to pull their camper? if so, what model camper do you have? i have a 2003 tahoe, 5.3, 4x4, tow package (7400# max tow capacity), and no im not sure about the gears (im almost positive they are 3:73 or 4:10) but i am looking to buy a camper soon. ive actually been leaning towards the 2701ss (4900# dry, 6400# max), and yes i know most ppl here will think i should use a suburban for this (due to the length of camper vs wheelbase) but buying a different tv right now is out of the question. just thought i would see what other ppl with a tahoe are actually pulling before i bite the bullet and buy one. thanks for any input! ah, and i already have the reese dual cam wd system + prodigy brake controller.

08flagvlite · 04-15-2008, 01:18 PM

You should not have any problems with that. I have the reese dual cam set up AND a friction brake sway controller on the side, with a shortbed ram quadcab hemi 2 wd, and I'm pulling a 30 foot 5700 lb. dry avg. 6500 lb. loaded camper,and the swaying is no problem, but I need a helper spring set up on the truck. 750 lb. hitch/tongue weight Your Tahoe's axle is closer to the hitch/tongue area, and should be better than my set- up. I also have problems with bucking (excessive bounce from bumps) that I'm hoping the helper springs take care of. Good luck, and happy camping !!

dezolen · 04-15-2008, 08:14 PM

LT 4x4 Reese dual cam with 800# bars. Prodogy brake control,20"wheels
Have the auto ride suspension which may not be a good thing as it sometimes defeats load distr'n bars purpose. If set up properly should work fine. We travelled approx 5000 miles last year. Only problem days were with major crosswind days. One day drove thu blowing rain storm and never felt trailer, another day bad crosswinds and a white knuckle day.

NDJollyMon · 04-15-2008, 09:55 PM

I towed a 26' er (5-6K) with an 01 Tahoe Z71 4x4. I used an Equal-i-zer brand hitch (built in sway control) and a Prodigy. It towed pretty well. I did upgrade the tow vehicle, because I was too close to the limits. (and the rear diff disentigrated...factory defect I was told) The same trailer with the same hitch towed MUCH nicer with my Nissan Titan. That longer wheelbase, taller gears, and more powerful engine really improved the tow.

My advice:
Tow with black/gray/fresh tanks empty.
Load light as possible, with weight distributed correctly.
Tow at a slower speed than you'd like to.
Use the best hitch you can afford. (and the Prodigy is sweet!)
Drive defensively, and be careful in bad weather/winds.
If you have any sway issues...solve them. Don't risk a nasty wreck!
Oh...and have fun!

hunt4240dw · 04-16-2008, 09:33 AM

As you see in my sig, I tow with a 99 Tahoe. The Vlite has a brochure weight of 5700#. It has a dealer lot weight of 6215#. And it will weigh about 6700# when camping. I am having a little prolem with sway but that is a prolem with set up only. I have an Equal-i-zer hitch and Odessy brake controller. On our first trip ( 300 mi round trip) we got 11 mpg. I have to tow in 3rd. I do not have tow haul mode. I next trip will be the weekend of the 4/25. I hope I can tow at 65 mph.

David

bricole1973 · 04-16-2008, 12:26 PM

I have a 2701ss and we originally planning on using our 04' Expedition (5.4L 3.73 gears) to tow with. The trip home from the dealer was using the Expy and it was not bad. I also have the Reese DC setup and the trailer did not have a sway issue. The shorter wheel base on the Expy, 119", was noticable especially when you hit bumps in the road around curves or when I was in between 2 lanes. I could feel the trailer trying to move the rear end around a little. Wasn't horrible, but noticable.

Hope that helps a little.

Brian

Rockinwood · 04-16-2008, 01:07 PM

We use to tow a 31 foot Keystone Outback with an 03 expy, 5.4l, with dual cam and had no problems, just take your time and have fun.

In regards to the Surburban, this group of people here are down to earth and dont act like the weight police, and they are honest about what they use for their tow vehicle, Good luck to your decision and Happy Camping!!!

aintgotnun · 04-16-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockinwood

In regards to the Surburban, this group of people here are down to earth and dont act like the weight police, and they are honest about what they use for their tow vehicle, Good luck to your decision and Happy Camping!!!

Weight police ARE NOT welcome here. There are other places for them to chime in. FRF isn't the place.

jmyers · 04-16-2008, 06:43 PM

When we bought our Sandpiper I planned to pull it with our '99 Tahoe. I pulled it 30 miles from the dealer to home and never hooked the Tahoe to it again. It was not a pretty scene. I have the Reese Strait-Line system and, at the time, a Voyager brake controller. Although my WD may not have been set up exactly perfectly, I don't think that was my problem. The 3.42 rear end and the short wheelbase were my problem. (Not to mention the worry of burning up the tranny.) With a 30' trailer weighing 7K# dry, the Tahoe just didn't do what I wanted. Maybe others have had better experiences than mine, but my Tahoe will never pull my Sandpiper on the road again.

rockwood06 · 04-17-2008, 05:35 AM

I don't know how true it is but from what I understand, if you tow a TT over 25' with a short wheel base vehicle you end up with more sway. I tow with a Suburban and my rig is approx 34', my total length is approx 55'.

ReedMan · 04-17-2008, 07:03 AM

My neighbor pulls his Layton 26' with his Tahoe and has no problems.

Check your tires. Most of the tires on Tahoe's are NOT LT rated tires (They are passenger car tires for a softer ride). He said that when he upgraded to the stiffer sidewall LT tire, the truck didn't "wallow" (his words) any more.

Bones

rockwood06 · 04-17-2008, 07:56 AM

Question? If the Tahoe has a factory tow pakage, should it come with the proper tires? My Suburban has 10 ply tires on it ( load rated "E" ) for up to 10,000 lbs.

sijc · 04-17-2008, 08:06 AM

i appreciate all of the input, hopefully when it comes down to it i will make the right choice on what camper i get. if not ill be making REALLY short trips, which most of our trips will be under 500 miles anyways. im going to look at a new 2701ss next weekend, maybe they will let me try pulling it down the road before i actually buy it. im not too concerned with the tahoe actually pulling it though... my main concern is the sway. seeing how ive NEVER pulled a camper before i dont need the added stress of a camper swaying all over the road. tires are something i need to look into since the tahoe has some really cheap passenger "hankook dynapro" tires at the moment. anyone have any suggestions for good tires on a tv? im also planning to swap out the intake + exhaust to get a lil extra horsepower (im hoping). i was going to to one of the performance chips but ive hear a lot of ppl say it doesnt help much on gas engines... plus the tahoe already has the tow/haul button on the steering column, which from my understanding does about the same thing a chip will do while towing?

dezolen · 04-17-2008, 04:57 PM

I have no issues pulling our trailer as long as you are reasonable, stay within the limit (no more than 60 MPH) and not drive as if you are driving a sports car. I am amazed at the idots flying by me on the highways pulling all sorts of rigs. Sooner rather than latter they will be in an accident.

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