towing advice please
 

never towed the playboy or other boat.. i just rack it!

question... what is the min required to tow it... 9500# plus trip axle trailer

could a hummer H2 pull it off.. probably not

then i need just atow vehicle... i wont drive it otherwise... maybe for some work stuff on the side but that would be it dont want to spen to much

Re: towing advice please
 

Used 2500 Avalanches are not that expensive. They are rated to tow 12,500 lbs with 4.10 gears. You can probably pick one up for less around $20K if you search a bit.

Re: towing advice please
 

Make sure it's four wheel drive. First time you try to pull it out of a slippery ramp, you'll know why you got a 4X4.

Go at least a "2500" series truck. A half ton would tow it, but it would be hard on the truck, also be sure the truck is rated to tow the weight you are hauling, otherwise more than likely your insurance won't be valid. Pay PARTICULAR attention to this issue.

Re: towing advice please
 

Buy a used dually 4x4. you can find one for under 10k in good shape. if you have unlimited pockets, buy new.

9500 + trailer is a lot of weight. i wouldnt do it with less than a 1 ton. its better to have MORE capacity than you need.

Re: towing advice please
 

Yes 2500 or bigger, if you use the H2 it's just going to be a big mess. And I would want a diesel.

Re: towing advice please
 

If you're looking for new, take a peek at the 2500HD Silverado, Duramax Diesel, Allison Transmission. The 2004 closeouts include nearly $6k in rebates, plus whatever you have to put down along with some nice finance options. Dealers are unloading to prepare for 2005 models which are on the way. Tow rating is 12,000, good on fuel mileage, running $1.69 per gallon.

Anything less and you're probably exceeding the limits of the vehicle. Hummer won't do it.

Re: towing advice please
 

hey dreamer, you need at least a 1 ton. i have a cafe racer and a 250 just does not cut it. if you really want to do it right get a diesel dually 4x4 f-350 or something in its class. by the way, love your rig post some pics of the dash and interior. dave

Re: towing advice please
 

avalanche and h2 are on the same platform isnt there a H2 tow package?

i guess not or youd see more prob just get a dually for under 10k when i start looking

Re: towing advice please
 

Forgot to mention, the 2500HD has a slightly higher towing capacity than the Silverado 3500 SRW package. If you go 3500, go dually with the Duramax/Ally combo. That's if you're looking for something new.

Re: towing advice please
 

so lets see some pics of that pig....

Re: towing advice please
 

I pull 7600lbs dry no trailer Warlock. Maybe 9500-10000 with trailer, fuel, etc. 2500 Cummins Dodge 4x4 pulls it pretty well. (Better than I thought it would!) Make sure you get a class 5 hitch (rated to 1200lbs tongue and 10000lbs total). They ususually sell most trucks with a class 3 (500lbs tongue and 5000lbs total) even with a tow package. Make sure and check this no matter what truck you get!

Re: towing advice please
 

Ya can't compare an H2 to a 2500 Avalanche. Yes, they share some parts, but the 2500 is beefier from frame to axles to brakes to tranny to factory tires to engine.

Well, I guess you can compare the gas mileage.

Drive one, or the very similar 2500 Suburban (w/ 8.1L). All of the 2500 Avalanches have 8.1L engines. Some 2500 Suburbans have the 6.0L similar to the H2. The torque curve of the 6.0 is very steep, meaning to tow you have to have that thing revved high. The torque curve on the 8.1L is much more suited for towing, making a max of 455 lb ft. The HP on most of the 6.0L GMs is around 345. The HP on all of the 8.1L GMs is 340.

Make sure to check the option codes for these two figures:

GT4 = 3.73 rear end
GT5 = 4.10 rear end

You want 4.10 no matter what for the towing/frequency you are describing.

Definately buy a 4wd, whatever you purchase.

Re: towing advice please
 

nice barn, is that where your baby sleeps?

Re: towing advice please
 

Take it from me, I know from expirience. An Avalanche/Hummer are NOT trucks. The coil rear suspention makes them nothing more than glorified cars. I would not tow that boat with anything less than a one ton, preferably dually.

Re: towing advice please
 

I will never own a truck without Air Bags helping the rear suspension. Changed my Tahoe into a totally new truck, and I installed them on my Avalanche when only towing 7K lbs, no where near full towing capacity. Now towing 12K lbs, they are really nice to have. When I upgrade to a dually, I will have them installed again.

Re: towing advice please
 

Forget the H2
The Max towed load weight is only 6700 lbs.

I have a 2004 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 single rear axle with the 8.1 gas and Allison transmission.
It has the same towing capacities as the diesel engine.
It is my daily driver and I am more then happy with the towing performance.
I am towing over 10k.

I live about an hour from Cleveland and would be willing to come up and we could hitch up your boat and see what you think.

My last tow vehicle was a 99 1 ton with the 7.4 (454) and the new truck does a much better job.

Cordell

Re: towing advice please
 

LOL, another reason why H2's are useless.
Sierra or silverado 2500 HD would do it. My dad just picked up a sierra 2500 LT with the 8.1L V8 and 4.10's. Awesome truck, tons of power.

Re: towing advice please
 

no question get a ford or chevy one ton with a diesel engine. Their made to tow and they hold their resale value, a lot of other truck/engine combos will work but the diesels are the best!

Re: towing advice please
 

Second the motion!!! 238k miles and going strong!

Re: towing advice please
 

remember...the GM 2500 HD is the same as a Ford 1 Ton single rear wheel. GM doesnt make a 1 ton srw. I have a Chevy 2500 HD Duramax/Allison that pulls much better then my old ford 3500 srw. The Duramax is awsome and the Allison transmision is the ONLY way to go. I loved my ford but I love the chevy even more.

Re: towing advice please
 

You want the longest wheelbase you can get. That's why a four door pick up with an 8' bed is the prefered vehical. Short wheelbase can get squirrly under hard braking.

Re: towing advice please
 

The 2500 Avalanche DOES NOT have coil rear suspensions, it has leaf spring suspension. The 1500 has coil springs. The Avalanche 2500 shares the same chassis and suspension as a 2500 Silverado, 2500 Sierra, 2500 Suburban or 2500 Yukon XL, etc.

I pull a 35' Cigarette Mistress on a steel tri-axle trailer with my '04 Avalanche 2500/8.1/4.10, total tow weight is right under 12000 lbs (weighed it at a weigh station fully loaded with full tank and normal gear) and it pulls it extremely well.

Re: towing advice please
 

Couldn't agree more, we just put a 2500HD Diesel in front of her and it handles great.

The hitch is not rated for the #11,500 I am towing, will need to upgrade to a cat 5 hitch for ins. Also get the solid head for your receiver. I could see the stress on the hollow first time we used it (ball would drop oh so slight) and the solid doesn't budge, they are around $80 but well worth it for hauling.

Good luck in the hunt.

P.S. We had a 1500 Burb for the first tow from storage to ramp (about .5 mile), I had to be a six inch rise solid just to keep her level. I am now using a 2 inch rise on the HD. Anybody needing a solid 6 inch rise $50.00 plus shipping (she ain't light) and she is yours.

Re: towing advice please
 

Depends on how much you plan on towing. My boat is only 4000 lbs but my travel trailer is 10k. I tow 100 miles every weekend min and sometimes as much as 700 on a weekend. With a Chev 3500 Dooley 4x4 Duramax I can run 70mph and never worry about ending up on my head. I have towed with a single rear wheel truck also, it is not nearly as stable, like around curves at highway speeds. If you are going to tow short distances only once in a while then something less would be fine. I wouldn't consider using anything less as much as I tow and yes I drive the same truck for my daily driver.

Re: towing advice please
 

Chevy started shipping 1-ton SRW's a few months ago. Just noticed they're even coming out with a 1/2 hybrid, interesting.

http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/

Re: towing advice please
 

Not sure what your needs are exactly- are you towing for hours or a few miles from storage to the water? Hills?

for a third vehicle, just for towing local, an older truck, gas engine, even a small block will do just fine. As stated, go for 2500+ preferrably dually, with wheelbase. If you're spending a lot of time/covering a lot of distance it's easier to justify a newer diesel, exhaust brakes yada yada, unless you have the disposable income and just plain want one.

Re: towing advice please
 

Isn't the H2 the same basic frame as the tahoe 1/2 and the avalanche 1/2ton not the avalanche 3/4??

Re: towing advice please
 

Sounds that way. I belive the H2 has rear coils.

Re: towing advice please
 

Ex

Re: towing advice please
 

7.3 PSD Excursion. 70hp Edge Module, 100lbs of torque (added to the 560 stock :eek: ) There is ONLY ONE DIESEL SUV IN THE WORLD THAT IS STILL PRODUCED THAT CAN DO THE JOB.

Re: towing advice please
 

OK Boys: All of you miss the most important point when setting up your truck for towing. The truck is not suppose to carry the boat. You should only have the max of about 200lbs tongue weight on the ball. The trailer is suppose to carry all of the boats weight.
Here are the spec on my truck: 04 GMC Serria 2500HD with the duromax and allison trans 373 gears averaging 13.4 mpg pulling a 38ft Powerquest on a tri-axle trailer.(13000 lbs gvw) Capable of pulling down the road over 65mph or better(have pulled up to 80 with no swaying at all)
Chevy and GMC both now have 3500 in single axle if you want them but the gvw is only 400 lbs better then the 2500hd
My old 02 Chevy had the 8.1 and 373 gears avg only 7 mph and when you got out in the passing lane you ran out of motor. Hate that feelingOne other thing the wider the tires on the trailer the better it is. It will make the trailer pull straighter with less swaying. I had narrower ones on the trailer when I first got it then I change them out to the wider ones. Setting up the truck and trailer is no different then setting up a 18 wheeler. You have to do your home work. That is why you see guys in trouble all the time they don't spend the time to do things properly.

Re: towing advice please
 

like this

Re: towing advice please
 

Dan B: I have a townhouse In Cape Coral. I want to know where all the big power is down there when I bring my 38 down. Where does everyone hang out at and where does everyone go and party. The wife talk me into to buying on the West coast I want to buy in Ft Lauderdale so I could go to Shooter's all the time. Had a hard time finding boating people to hang out with when we we down in Feburary and March. We found the VIP club down on 41 and it was a pretty good place to hang out at night. I sure would like to find where all the boating people are.

Re: towing advice please
 

All due respect- but you're kind of all wet- except for the doing your homework part. 10%+ tongue weight on a tag trailer has been the industry standard for years, well published. too little tongue weight will quickly have the tail wagging the dog. I suspect, if your towing has been ok, you have way more than 200lbs tongue weight (unless you're towing a pair of waterbikes or doing short/slow/local trips). You may want to hit the scales with your tongue weight, you can do it at a truck stop or use race car scales like I do. 200 lbs hitch weight on a 10k boat trailer is asking for trouble handling wise, go into a corner a little hot and the trailer will be driving you. Just trying to save someone the grief- but don't take my word, look it up- happy safe trailering!

Re: towing advice please
 

All well said, specially about the tongue weight... 200 pounds!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Re: towing advice please
 

depending on what you go with if something that you can park and just use to tow the boat and not need to haul a lot of people I would look at the regular cab chevy gmc gas duallys plentyful and cheap enough. I would also add a set of tow bags along with a class 5 hitch aka titan, solid receiver ball mount along with a one piece machined ball rated for overkill mines at 30k for the ball. tongue rate is roughly around 10 to 15 percent depending on amout of axles and ballance of trailer. Just some thought about truck and set up for towing hope they help.

Re: towing advice please
 

Why doesn't the Dodge get any respect?

Re: towing advice please
 

Says who? I had an 01 black sport SB just like it and it was rated for 20k gross. My 03 3500 srw sb is rated for 23k gross. And I like your Warlock too :)

Re: towing advice please
 

200 lbs tongue weight no matter what? What are you smoking?

10% is the standard rule.

Re: towing advice please
 

I have an '04 Burban 2500 with 4.10 and tow about 9600lbs. (trailer included) + all the baggage and friends that a family can stuff in an SUV. I use a weight-distributing hitch, would I gain much by installing the air shocks? and if so, which do you recommend?