Re: Pulling with 8.1L Avalanche
 

True & that is good food for thought..

BTW:
I use a 05 Duramax HD4x4 SRW for my tow rig & have towed up to 35' with it so far & NO Issues & plenty of stopping power. But no matter what you drive it should always obviuously be with caution & care..

I just towed out to Ohio this week to get my new boat. I pulled my other one out to trade at about 70-75, but the the conditions (rain & fog) only safley allowed for about 60-65mph on the way back.. If you have a Hd truck thats great, just always know your limits.. :) Happy holidays everyone.. :) Jamie

Re: Pulling with 8.1L Avalanche
 

The problem around here is the guys with the smaller tow vehicles are doing 70......not 50 and under......they are right in the mix cause they have to be....most of you guys must live in no population zones........everytime i get with a oso brother srw....it is a death ride after 100 miles...something goes wrong with the other people....and of course nobody is doing 45.....pleeeeze.......these reets think they know limits....but miles later there is always a issue :evilb:

Re: Pulling with 8.1L Avalanche
 

My thoughts also. This conversation reminds me of outdrives. IF IT DON"T HAVE A NUMBER 6 ITS GONNA BREAK!! Please! Its all in the way you drive it. I know guys that pull 8000 lbs pounds with half tons and I know guys with over 1000 hp with bravo drives. If you know how to pay attention and are careful when driving a boat or car, you can get away with things that other drivers can't. If you like talking on your cell phone while pulling your boat or hammering the throttle all the way down every time you leave the no wake zone than stick with a 100K tow rig and number 6 drives.

Re: Pulling with 8.1L Avalanche
 

:D :)

Re: Pulling with 8.1L Avalanche
 

Well put Cattitude. I have a 01' 3500 dually (love the 8.1 w/ Allison Trans.) and would not trailer without it. I had a hitchball snap off while trailering my 29' Kryptonite on the Parkway @ 60 mph and I am convinced that if I didn't have the dually I would have wrecked. The boat stayed on the chains but hooked to the left and pulled the back end of my truck with it. I was able to catch the tongue under the rear axle and guide it to the shoulder. Only damage was a busted trailer jack and missing ball on hitch. The trailer ball was completely cracked off and the stem of it was still bolted to the drop hitch! :eek:
That being said about me personally kind of contradicts this, however both sides are valid. I have a friend who towed his 36' cat w/ a 2500 Avalanche and he was as stable as could be. He would long haul with us from NJ to 1000 Islands w/ no problems. I did find just as Cattitude said that us guys in the duallys would always plow ahead and then let our friend catch up at the fuel/rest stops.
I guess what I am trying to say it is really a balance between safety, confidence, and overall usage of the vehicle. 75% of the time I use my dually, I don't need a truck that big and could be driving something much smaller..........but what fun would that be! :evilb: :evilb:

Re: Pulling with 8.1L Avalanche
 

All you guys talk smack about paying attention to your surroundings and it will be ok....this is what I am saying.....no matter how much you pay attention....something always gets you....you same guys are the ones all over the road....like tantrum.....I was real happy about getting in with him and his excursion towing that 32 amt cat......pleeeeeze....typical smack talk that is in here....after almost 3 close calls....one looking for side of road......NONE of which were his fault or could have been helped due to other people....we were on a 6 hour trip....and to say watch what your doing.....how about getting that dually with more breaks and less sway......he is not pulling a 24 baja....how about if he can afford the boat....afford a better truck...a avalanche....mommies school bus...period!

Re: Pulling with 8.1L Avalanche
 

Sweet Boat warparty!! I have 1995 36' Apache and was shocked to see that you pull it with the Suburban. Did you beef up the back end or anything? I pull mine with 3500 Dodge/cummins with the SRW and even then I know it's behind me. Have you ever scaled yours? With low Fuel I am right at 13,500 Boat and trailer.

As far as the original thread, Before seeing Warparty's rig I would have said that the 8.1 would be scary as hell. Especially if wet roads are encountered!

Re: Pulling with 8.1L Avalanche
 

Driving 6 hour trips with marginal tow rigs is no fun, neither is running with a larger group that includes marginal tow rigs, inexperienced tow rig drivers, poor setups on good tow rigs that make them handle like chit or the optomistic/lazy dude that never checks his tires for dry rot, heat or does bearing maintenance. I've done a lot of trips like this going cross country on Jeepin trips, moab, chile challenge- stuff like that. turns an easy trip to a headache for everyone- donn't be that guy.

Aside from having a combo within its limits, preferably with margin- setup is crucial. I see trailers every day (all types) that have the hitch weight way off (in either direction) and this will screw your handling no matter what the tow rig. Perf boats on trailers are one of the easier loads on the planet to haul. The tongues are long and the tow rig has a lot of leverage on the trailer axles so it can tell the trailer what to do. If you have a quirky handling perf boat setup- something is WAY off and if you're not smart enough to figure it out take it to a shop that is before you kill yourself or others because your mess got away from you.

That said- the whole boating world does not need duallies to have a safe setup. IMHO.....

1) within GCWR limits, with margins, fully loaded
2) AND (not or) setup with enough brakes, decent balance, correct distribution to tow rig axles verified on a truckers scale (you can afford the $20 to scale twice right?) within axle ratings, tire ratings, wheel ratings, tires are at max sidewall rated pressure
3) that said, more tow rig capacity and an extra set of drive tires give more margin- usually both come with a dually. An old school mid 80's single cab dually may not have much if any more weight rating than todays SRW one ton trucks and it definately has way less brakes. A moron with a dually who knows nothing about setup can be more dangerous than a well setup, in capacity, with margin SRW truck.

Byrdman, I'm not baggin on you, agree with a lot you say, but there is no one word (Like "dually") solution to towing issues that perf boaters face.

Side note- Having a 12,500 GVWR/23000 GCWR dually does not excuse you from checking setup. A well intended optimist could eyeball his hitch weight- put on 2500 lbs (assuming he jacks with his own trailer or sets up his own trailer- a good dually can still "look right" with this load) and then get a surprise when his reciever hitch either cracks and falls off or he fails the bolts holding it to the chassis- I've seen both happen, and the safety chains usually attach to the receiver too:(

Re: Pulling with 8.1L Avalanche
 

Thank You:drink: 525 SC's and Bravo Ones.

I have not scaled it, but it is a heavy mo'. I only towed a couple of times, but didn't have any problems.

Re: Pulling with 8.1L Avalanche
 

I'm going to change the class #3 hitch to a class #5 next week on my 2003 8.1L Avalanche, but the hitch guys sure are pitching a weight distribution system and what they are saying makes alot of sence. I'm thinking that for about $200 more it would be a whole alot better than air bags. Can anybody share their experinces with this system on a boat trailer?