263BHXL Towing with Tahoe?

[PopUpPop]

Hi, curious if anyone is towing a 263BHXL or similar with a Tahoe? Curious what your experience is. Tahoe max is 8300 so plenty there but more interested in the cars performance and any other thoughts around towing experience.

Thanks!

[WanderMore]

I was towing a 2021 Mini Light 2205S with my 2018 Tahoe (aka Tow Hoe) LS. The Tow Hoe has the factory tow package. The hitch was the Recurve R3 with built in anti-sway and adjustable load leveler bars. Fuel economy was about 11mpg. I had set up the instrument cluster to also monitor the transmission temp. I never had a problem with it but did usually run no higher than 60mph as we also had the TSP tire pressure & temp monitor with non USA tires. Since then we’ve switched to a small class A.

[tomkatb]

Owned the first Tahoe in 96.

I did not know. It was a lightweight pickup with a ton of glass in the back that affected towing.

Your rv is near the limits on weight, hitch and length. Due to the frontal area SAE testing is meaningless. Don’t know what power plant they are using today

So I would be careful that the vehicle when hooked up is properly level. Same goes for the trailer. Check tires for max pressure. Do not drive fast.

We towed a 25’ sail boat back then. Short trips were ok. We were at #7000 lbs. Less issues with wind. Good frontal area.

Drove my buddies 2500 Suburban on a long trip. It was much better for the boat.

[moose074]

Originally Posted by tomkatb

Owned the first Tahoe in 96.

I did not know. It was a lightweight pickup with a ton of glass in the back that affected towing.

Your rv is near the limits on weight, hitch and length. Due to the frontal area SAE testing is meaningless. Don’t know what power plant they are using today

So I would be careful that the vehicle when hooked up is properly level. Same goes for the trailer. Check tires for max pressure. Do not drive fast.

We towed a 25’ sail boat back then. Short trips were ok. We were at #7000 lbs. Less issues with wind. Good frontal area.

Drove my buddies 2500 Suburban on a long trip. It was much better for the boat.

My F350 and just about every 1 ton I know of has the frontal area warning saying it effects performance it’s a true statement. As for SAE for towing standards I hope you read the standard before dogging the standard. I would think that number would be as relevant as the other numbers unless you like to pick what fits your narrative SAE requires larger frontal areas the heavier the trailer

[moose074]

Here is chart

[tomkatb]

I was a mechanical Engineer one semester only. Went structural. I read the document several times several years ago.

It takes training to understand the SAE documents. Getting a copy of the book is hard.

But SAE rule #1 is you must comply 100%. Most half ton trucks specifically state that manufacturing testing is with 60 sq.ft. That shocked me. Thus the manufacturers are the ones that say big frontal areas were not tested. Perhaps it has changed recently. Maybe Chevrolet tested them. Also they did not test 300 sq. Ft sails that the rv becomes. Our fifth wheel is ok in crosswinds but we are talking a 400 sq ft sail with a #24,000 lb setup.

My point was the Tahoe pulling a load over #7000 30’ long is kind of pushing the envelope.

Hd trucks also have restrictions as I remember. The front of our Ram is huge that would sort of negate that wind resistance thing. As I remember it was 70 sq.ft. That also surprised me.

I doubt it’s a big deal in HD trucks. Smaller vehicles with today’s smaller engines who knows. I know our truck has way more pulling power than the SAE test requires. We did the Eisenhower tunnel. Over 55 on cruise. We never entered the max cooling mode the truck engine has. All fans on. It is really noisy. Only heard it once in Missouri. Thought something was wrong.

Our Tahoe was kind of underpowered. I drive 60-65 while towing now. DW hates it when I am not at the speed limit.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by PopUpPop

Hi, curious if anyone is towing a 263BHXL or similar with a Tahoe? Curious what your experience is. Tahoe max is 8300 so plenty there but more interested in the cars performance and any other thoughts around towing experience.

Thanks!

NO way would I tow a 32ft TT with a short wheelbase Tahoe. Also expect a real world loaded tongue weight of 900lbs.
Subtract that 900lbs+100lbs for the WDH+total weight of everyone in the Tahoe+total weight of cargo in the Tahoe, from the Tahoe's payload capacity. It's on the driver's door sticker. You probably won't have anything left over.
Forget Towing Capacity, nearly all 1/2 tow vehicles will run out of payload WAY before reaching the max towing capacity.
https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/x-lite/263BHXL/7941

[moose074]

Tahoe wheel base is 6” shorter than regular cab Silverado

[PopUpPop]

Thank you for the feedback! It's a 2025 Tahoe and not sure of the tow package, etc. right now but sounds as if the wheel base is a concern. Will look into that more. Is there a good ratio for trailer length to wheel base?