Can I tow a Roo 23ss?

[Sheripoms]

Hi everyone,
I have a 2008 Chevy Tahoe 5.3 v8 flexfuel with basic tow package. Gonna put a tranny cooler and oil cooler on. Has a GVWR of 7100. Can tow 7100 also. Hitch rating is 600. It has the 3:42 gears.
Here's the utimate question? Can I tow a Rockwood Roo 23ss?

Specs on the Roo:
Dry Weight4108lbs GVWR5979lbs Cargo Capacity1833lbs Hitch Weight509lbs Axle Weight3599lbs Exterior Height9.33' Exterior Length24.50'

[bikendan]

Sheripoms, i looked at the 2009 Tahoe owner's manual, which i think has a 6 spd. trans.
it shows that there are two ratings for the Tahoe with the 3.42 rear end.
one has a 5900lbs. towing capacity.
the other, which has the K5L HD Cooling Pkg, has a towing capacity of 8400lbs.

the K5L package may be the factory tow package and would be listed on the window sticker of the Tahoe, if you still have it.
if not, the dealer can use your VIN to tell you if yours has it. not sure if this package was offered on the 2008 models. i think it was offered with the 6 spd. models that came out in 2009.

i did find the 2008 Avalanche owner's manual and it shows that the Avalanche with the 3.73 rear end, has a towing capacity of 7200lbs.
so, there's no way your Tahoe has a towing capacity of 7100lbs. with the 3.42 rear end. that's the rating with the 3.73 rear end.

i suggest you read the towing section in your Tahoe's owners manual.
should show a chart with towing amounts, with the rear end ratios.
i did find the Canadian 2008 Tahoe manual that said that the 3.42 tows 6500lbs.

[Sheripoms]

Well I have looked in every manual I have and online and it says the 2008 Chevy Tahoe LT v8 5.3 Flexfuel with the 3.42 gears is rated at towing 7100lbs. Now I dont know about the 2009 one , never checked on that.

So once again with that information,, Do you guys think I can tow a the Rockwood Roo.?

[bikendan]

that's what the chart says, in the Tahoe's owners manual towing section?

i would say that yes, it can tow the 23SS, since my Avy's has basically the same thing as your Tahoe, EXCEPT it has the better towing 3.73 rear end ratio.

the Canadian 2008 Tahoe manual says 6500lbs. for the 3.42, so that's still enough to tow the 23SS, if you don't overload it.

[ChooChooMan74]

I am looking here.

Tow Ratings Database - Tow Vehicle Ratings | Camping Life Magazine

With that said, I think with the proper setup, you should be able to tow it. I don't own a Tahoe/Yukon, so I don't know for sure. Just be careful and have fun.

[Sheripoms]

Thanks for the info,,
I think the difference is that this is the flex fuel hybrid one. The towing ratings for that one do not come in the owners manual.. It says to look it up elsewhere... You would think they would add it to the manual.

[DaGrinch]

For 5 years I towed a '08 Roo 23SS with a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/4.7HO engine with tow package. Used an Equal-I-zer WDH w/10K bars. Max on the Jeep was 6500lbs. I towed that Roo all over Western MD in the Appalachians and even to Myrtle Beach a couple of times. Upgraded last fall to a '12 Nissan Armada and '14 Flagstaff 27BESS. My son now has the '04 Jeep.

I wouldn't even think twice if I had a Tahoe w/5.3 liter. The two coolers you add on should just give you extra peace of mind.

[hockeytownmom]

How do I find out my rear end ratios? That little tool is very handy!

To date, I've been going with 7000, but I'm always keeping an eye on the kids weights, what's going into the camper, very little is allowed to be in the truck.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Sheripoms

Thanks for the info,,
I think the difference is that this is the flex fuel hybrid one. The towing ratings for that one do not come in the owners manual.. It says to look it up elsewhere... You would think they would add it to the manual.

you never said it was the hybrid model.
so it runs on electric batteries also?

then it has a much lower towing capacity because of the weight of the batteries.
according to Edmunds, the max it can tow is 6200lbs.
2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Base 4dr SUV 6.0L V8 Hybrid 4-speed Automatic Features and Specs

and this is from Cars.com:
The Tahoe Hybrid's maximum towing capacity of 6,200 pounds for the two-wheel-drive model and 6,000 pounds for the four-wheel-drive version

there's NO WAY a hybrid Tahoe could tow 7100lbs.

so, loaded with family and cargo, you won't have much left before you reach your max.
the GVWR of the 233S is right at 6200lbs.

though i've never read of anyone towing this big of a hybrid trailer, with a hybrid Tahoe.

[HONDAMAN174]

If she has the 5.3l, she doesn't have the hybrid. She just has flex fuel. IMO-I wouldn't tow with the flex fuel just normal 87 or 89.

[hockeytownmom]

Looks like mine is 3.73, V8, 5.3L. If only it was a 6L, I'd have 7900lbs.

[hockeytownmom]

The hybrids are just flex fuel E85.

[hockeytownmom]

I just used this site Home : Free VIN Decoder - Vehicle Identification Number Check to decode my VIN and I found my "born on" paper from the original owner.

[bikendan]

that's right, the hybrid should have the 6.0 v-8, right?

so, what is it, a normal 5.3 or the hybrid with the 6.0?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by hockeytownmom

The hybrids are just flex fuel E85.

using flex fuel does NOT make it a hybrid. a hybrid vehicle is a combo of an gas engine and an electric motor.

flex fuel has nothing to do with it being a hybrid.

[hockeytownmom]

Originally Posted by bikendan

that's right, the hybrid should have the 6.0 v-8, right?

so, what is it, a normal 5.3 or the hybrid with the 6.0?

Nothing in my manual says anything as far as towing with a flex fuel.

[hockeytownmom]

Originally Posted by bikendan

using flex fuel does NOT make it a hybrid. a hybrid vehicle is a combo of an gas engine and an electric motor.

flex fuel has nothing to do with it being a hybrid.

Hey, that's what it says on my bumper, I didn't put the Hybrid logo there...

[Sheripoms]

I'm laughing so hard now I can't stop.. I'm so sorry for the confusion ,, we just got this Tahoe about a week ago and we are just learning everything about it..
I thought the flex fuel (it can go back and forth between ethenol gas and regular) meant it was a kinda hybrid,, but it is not.. Only the 6.0 is..

So that being said,, I have the flex fuel (gives it a little more power than the regular v8 engine) it is rated at towing 7100 .
Payload : 1569
Tongue weight rating: 600
GVWR 7100
Gears 3:42
So with towing the 23ss I'm a little worried about the length being 24/25.
With our short wheel base. We would be getting a equalizer or maybe even a hensley arrow.
I really liked the 21ss also but I see that even though it is shorter that the tongue weight is over 600. (Which could I handle that with getting a bigger hitch?),,
Oh boy so much to learn .. So sorry once again for the confusion, and yes I am blonde,,

[Sheripoms]

Hockeytownmom,, Are you sure you dont have the 6.0? I read online that only the 6.0 had the Hybrid engine but I could be wrong,,

Also how does your Suburban do pulling the 23ss?

[hockeytownmom]

Now I need to dig around some more. My VIN comes back with 5.3L. I'm going to have to see my mechanic about this.

I have a Suburban 1500 and I'm pulling a 233s. I have 5 kids, so I'm not a good person to ask. It does okay, but I wish I had a 3/4 ton. I really have to watch everything that's packed, what's necessity, what's not. When buying camping chairs, I watch the weight. I converted to light weight sleeping bags for the kids instead of comforters, I don't tow with water or waste, though I keep a gallon in the camper. I shop when we get to our location, except condiments, and things of that nature. If we go longer than a weekend, I take 4 sets of clothes and pj's for all us and do laundry with Tide Pods because they are lighter. lol. You learn, but being unsure if you're pulling more than you can handle can be nerve racking. I also empty the hot water tank before travel as well.