32 Trailering
03-26-2019 | 01:14 PM
#11
Registered
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,407
Likes: 797
From: Central IL
This was a mid-2000's Chevy Z-71 with a 5.3L/3.73's. Joe asked me to tow it to Metro as a favor for one of the Sunny rallies. Had no idea I'd be towing a boat that weekend. I think the newer 1/2 tons setup properly would do a way better job but still I like to have the better suspension and brakes of the 3/4-ton/1-ton trucks. I lost the brakes on an 8,000lb boat/trailer once towing with a 1/2-ton 6.0L Yukon Denali XL coming down the ramp/hill off of 72 to get onto 61 at Hannibal on my way to LOTO. Boat/trailer damn near pushed me thru the light at the bottom of the hill and the rotors were toast afterwards.
03-26-2019 | 01:37 PM
#12
Registered
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,309
Likes: 1,815
From: Merritt Island, FL
This was a mid-2000's Chevy Z-71 with a 5.3L/3.73's. Joe asked me to tow it to Metro as a favor for one of the Sunny rallies. Had no idea I'd be towing a boat that weekend. I think the newer 1/2 tons setup properly would do a way better job but still I like to have the better suspension and brakes of the 3/4-ton/1-ton trucks. I lost the brakes on an 8,000lb boat/trailer once towing with a 1/2-ton 6.0L Yukon Denali XL coming down the ramp/hill off of 72 to get onto 61 at Hannibal on my way to LOTO. Boat/trailer damn near pushed me thru the light at the bottom of the hill and the rotors were toast afterwards.
03-26-2019 | 02:25 PM
#13
Registered
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,888
Likes: 148
From: SF Bay Area
The tow rating on my Z71 half ton is 8500lb and I only occasionally tow my 25 single Baja about 30 miles or so. It gets it done but I wouldnt say its super comfortable. My next truck will be bigger.
03-26-2019 | 05:58 PM
#15
Registered
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,820
Likes: 376
From: IL
03-26-2019 | 09:27 PM
#16
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
32 Trailering continued
Wanted to say thank you to each of you for your responses, this has really been helpful. You are all awesome to take time out to respond, and some great experiences / education youve passed along.
So what Ive gathered from this in a nutshell, is there are things I can do to help improve stability using my Escalade, although a larger truck is likely a complete cure for my issue. Since the towing distance from storage to water is under 5 miles, Im not sure it justifies the shiney new truck just yet. That said Im thinking of a type of towing equipment called a weight distribution/sway control hitch (WD/SC) that can do a lot to improve towing safety when you're pulling a heavy trailer, especially one that weighs more than half of the weight of the vehicle towing it (the base weight of the Escalade is 5500-lbs). In addition to that adding the load stabilizer airbag set up to the Escalade, suggested by Bajaholic previously in this thread. (Thank you by the way) Im not only concerned about just the pure weight, in towing her down the road. But concerned about that weight on the launch ramp...dont want to drop a transmission or jack the drivetrain trying to get her out of the water..? Or turn the Escalade into a sub...
Any additional thoughts on my suspension fixes or a suggestion not mentioned helpful...thanks everyone !
So what Ive gathered from this in a nutshell, is there are things I can do to help improve stability using my Escalade, although a larger truck is likely a complete cure for my issue. Since the towing distance from storage to water is under 5 miles, Im not sure it justifies the shiney new truck just yet. That said Im thinking of a type of towing equipment called a weight distribution/sway control hitch (WD/SC) that can do a lot to improve towing safety when you're pulling a heavy trailer, especially one that weighs more than half of the weight of the vehicle towing it (the base weight of the Escalade is 5500-lbs). In addition to that adding the load stabilizer airbag set up to the Escalade, suggested by Bajaholic previously in this thread. (Thank you by the way) Im not only concerned about just the pure weight, in towing her down the road. But concerned about that weight on the launch ramp...dont want to drop a transmission or jack the drivetrain trying to get her out of the water..? Or turn the Escalade into a sub...
Any additional thoughts on my suspension fixes or a suggestion not mentioned helpful...thanks everyone !
03-26-2019 | 10:25 PM
#17
Registered
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,032
Likes: 365
From: 20.5 mm LOTO
An equalizer hitch is a waste of money. For a couple of reasons, boat trailers need length and angles to load and unload a boat. Many times due to ramp angles will have a drop off and then a angle down.The equalizer hitch will bind, then possibly bend the trailer and likely your hitch. But most likely it will just come apart and the chains will drop off. (Seen it happen a few times) and they are designed for excessive tongue weight. A boat trailer rarely has this issue. The biggest problem when hauling a larger boat is the "Pogo Stick" (Flex) and you really just need to balance it out. Remember, boat trailers for anything over 29 ft generally have triple axle trailer. This too minimizes the bounce.
IMHO, The airbags will do everything you will need. Like I stated above, the tongue wait is minimal, I would guess you would only need to inflate the airbags to 20lbs or less to bring all the support you need.
Two other suggestions for your Escalade, add a transmission cooler and MAKE SURE you have good brakes on the trailer. Personally for the trailer, I would add the electric over hydraulic rather than surge.... I know this is a few dollars, to convert, but believe me, that is a change you would never look back on! If you use your head and pull out slow, the truck should never have an issue of pulling out of the ramp. (I am taking into consideration you have 4wheel drive of course!) The issue will ALWAYS be stopping and ride down the road.
It is all about the cost, but you asked what is the best, short of a new truck...
IMHO, The airbags will do everything you will need. Like I stated above, the tongue wait is minimal, I would guess you would only need to inflate the airbags to 20lbs or less to bring all the support you need.
Two other suggestions for your Escalade, add a transmission cooler and MAKE SURE you have good brakes on the trailer. Personally for the trailer, I would add the electric over hydraulic rather than surge.... I know this is a few dollars, to convert, but believe me, that is a change you would never look back on! If you use your head and pull out slow, the truck should never have an issue of pulling out of the ramp. (I am taking into consideration you have 4wheel drive of course!) The issue will ALWAYS be stopping and ride down the road.
It is all about the cost, but you asked what is the best, short of a new truck...
Last edited by bajaholic; 03-26-2019 at 10:28 PM.
03-26-2019 | 11:33 PM
#18
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Makes perfect sense...I did check out the test done on you tube regarding weight distribution vs air stabilizer. If you havent Id like to get your feed back. Im no expert, which is why Im here in search of answers. So I do appreciate it immensely. So I have the auto air leveling on the Escalade now, is that scratched when installing the air system you mention, or on conjunction with it ?
03-27-2019 | 09:12 AM
#20
Were doomed!
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,095
Likes: 1,389
From: Chicago, IL
Not sure what year your Escalade but i have a 2010 Avalanche (basically the same truck made into a pickup) i installed the airlift 1000 bags in my rear springs to help with my autoride system https://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/60769/
I actually blew up my compressor and both shocks once when i overloaded the bed of my truck with some Honey my dad got shipped to him from Arizona! Im not sure how much weight it actually was but the truck was a low rider! Compressor kept going and couldn't level off (this was before the bags) stopped working on the ride home cause it overheated and locked up...the shocks had pinhole leaks all over the place.
very expensive lesson! 
Anyway the airlift bags do help. But if you have them inflated then the autoride wont work right if you don't have a load on the truck...i keep mine at around 10psi when not towing and pump them up after i hitch up and before i start the truck up. Granted I'm only towing a 22' boat on a dual axle trailer but it does help quite a bit. With proper brakes on the trailer i don't think i would have an issue going short distances towing a "PROPERLY" setup boat/trailer....long hauls or sketch twisty roads...no way!
And I've had one personal experience in the past when i had my 1999 crew-cab dually towing a 30' scarab on a 3 axle trailer in LOTO. I lost the entire hub/spindle/brake/tire assembly on one axle (which took out the entire brake system on the trailer since they were surge brakes) coming out of a gas station after topping the boat off with about 200gallons of fuel....had to go downhill down a tree lined twisty road to get to the ramp......needless to say by the time i got down to the bottom of the hill i think i was pale white...my legs hurt from literally standing on the brake pedal trying to slow the rig down and my front rotors were glowing cherry red and billowing smoke like the truck was on fire! Took me a few minutes to compose myself and i think the only thing that saved my rotors from warping into garbage was the fact i just installed carbon pads and cryogenic treated disks the weekend before!
I actually blew up my compressor and both shocks once when i overloaded the bed of my truck with some Honey my dad got shipped to him from Arizona! Im not sure how much weight it actually was but the truck was a low rider! Compressor kept going and couldn't level off (this was before the bags) stopped working on the ride home cause it overheated and locked up...the shocks had pinhole leaks all over the place.
very expensive lesson! Anyway the airlift bags do help. But if you have them inflated then the autoride wont work right if you don't have a load on the truck...i keep mine at around 10psi when not towing and pump them up after i hitch up and before i start the truck up. Granted I'm only towing a 22' boat on a dual axle trailer but it does help quite a bit. With proper brakes on the trailer i don't think i would have an issue going short distances towing a "PROPERLY" setup boat/trailer....long hauls or sketch twisty roads...no way!
And I've had one personal experience in the past when i had my 1999 crew-cab dually towing a 30' scarab on a 3 axle trailer in LOTO. I lost the entire hub/spindle/brake/tire assembly on one axle (which took out the entire brake system on the trailer since they were surge brakes) coming out of a gas station after topping the boat off with about 200gallons of fuel....had to go downhill down a tree lined twisty road to get to the ramp......needless to say by the time i got down to the bottom of the hill i think i was pale white...my legs hurt from literally standing on the brake pedal trying to slow the rig down and my front rotors were glowing cherry red and billowing smoke like the truck was on fire! Took me a few minutes to compose myself and i think the only thing that saved my rotors from warping into garbage was the fact i just installed carbon pads and cryogenic treated disks the weekend before!
__________________
-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
