Hello all. Second post and thinking about getting either a pop up or hybrid (which I prefer). Total newbie to all this. I have read and re read many pages and Im still confused on the towing part. Here is what are on my stickers in the door and the back by the hitch.
My book says that both trailer and vehicle total weight can be up to 10000 lbs. Sticker says I have a towing pkg. Forgot to mention it is a GMC Envoy 2008 Vortec 4.2L SFI I6, rear axle 3.42 ratio 4x4. Im thinking a hybrid is out of the qeustion. From my first post. For other weight issues. It will be 2 or 3 people with no kids and the typical camping gear. I guess I should say the total weight with most trips would be around 1000lbs? That includes my weight and passenger. Does this sound right? And I think if I did the math right the GVWR of the trailer can only be 4000lbs. I know most of you have to be getting tired of answering the same queations. Thanks.
Door-GVWR 5750
GAWR FRT- 2950
GAWR RR 3200
Hitch-(hope this is right)
Hitch type V-5 Martin REA
Max trailer weight-weight carrying 4000
weight distributing 7600
Max tongue weight-weight carrying 400
weight distributing 912
Thanks in advance for any information you can provide. I really appreciate it.
Blake
* This post was
edited 09/21/08 09:01am by Blake10 *
HI try posting in towing section you'll probullay get a better response. & Welcome to the forum
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Thanks for the response. I did post in the towing forum. Was kind of told to post here or the hybrid forum. I guess I should have added more. This is what I have been looking at. I would like a Roo or shamrock but dont think I can pull them with my set up. My question is can I pull the following? I like the floorplans of these models. Thanks for any info in advance.
Blake, in my response to your first post, I suggested that you consider a Trailmanor TT. Since that is evidently not an option, I will agree with most of the other forum members that if you choose to tow an HTT, you are going to be getting close to GMC's recommended limits in one way or another. Not an impossible tow, but not likely to be a comfortable or relaxing one, either.
If you look on your RPO (regular production option) sticker in the glove compartment, and you see RPO code Z82 listed there, you have the HD towing option, and your vehicle should be equipped from the factory with a reciever, 7-wire trailer wiring harness and trailer connector, underhood and underdash wiring and plug-in receptacles for trailer brake controller and +12v trailer battery feed wire, HD shocks and springs, and engine oil and HD towing trans fluid coolers, so you would not need an auxiliary trans cooler installed. RPO code GU6 means that you have a 3:42 axle ratio. Code GT4 is a 3:73 ratio, and code GT5 is a 4:10 ratio. Code G80 means that you have a locking rear differential.
It's not impossible for you to tow an HTT with a standard-length Envoy, with 3:42 rear, if you watch your weights closely. But many HTTs are going to bring you close to GMC's stated limits, in one way or another. The following information is from the GMC trailering guide for the standard-length two-wheel-drive Envoy, 4.2L inline 6
Max weight carrying hitch weights:
tongue, 400 lbs.
trailer, 4000 lbs.
(A weight distributing hitch AND sway control is required for trailer weights greater than 4000 lbs.)
Max trailer weight with weight-distributing hitch and sway control:
3:42 axle, 5400 lbs.
3:73 axle, 5900 lbs.
4:10 axle, 6400 lbs.
(Tongue weight should be 10-15% of trailer weight, up to 750 lbs. Max)
If you do decide on an HTT, get either a Reese Strait-Line Hitch with included Dual-Cam HP sway control, or an Equal-I-Zer brand hitch/sway control. I wouldn't attempt towing with an Envoy/HTT combination without one of these two hitches/sway controls. I say this not only for safety considerations, but for your comfort and your ability to resist fatigue while you are traveling to your destination. You will be very busy while towing with an Envoy/HTT combination, and if hills or mountains are plentiful, your right leg may ache and tremble when you get there, from holding the accelerator pedal to the floor. It's much more comfortable and relaxing to tow a trailer with a vehicle that has a ton or more towing capacity in reserve than it is to tow with one that has almost reached it's maximum limits, and is being strained in more ways than one.
2003 GMC Sierra Crew HD; 6.0L; Prodigy
2006 Thor Tundra 30RL-DSL; Reese Strait-Line & Dual-cam HP
2001 Honda Elite Scooter
Jim & Gayle Bryant
Murphy's Law: "Anything that CAN happen, WILL."
Bryant's Law: "31 years of RVing? Probably already HAS."
Blake10 wrote: Thanks for the response. I did post in the towing forum. Was kind of told to post here or the hybrid forum. I guess I should have added more. This is what I have been looking at. I would like a Roo or shamrock but dont think I can pull them with my set up. My question is can I pull the following? I like the floorplans of these models. Thanks for any info in advance.
The Envoy/Trailblazer only has a total payload of 1100 - 1200 lbs. Payload is calculated by Vehicle weight subtract from GVWR. Payload is Pasengers, gear, and tongue weight. Best case is 200 for tongue weight, worst case is 100 lbs.
If you plan on taking 1000 lbs in the vehicle, you'll have to go up to a 3/4 ton just so you can have your 1000 lbs of people and gear, plus your tongue weight. A midsize TT/hybrid will have 500 lbs to 700 lbs of tongue weight.
Most 1/2 ton Crew Cab trucks only have 1300 - 1600 lbs of payload 'after' they are option with bed and side step accessories.
You can set up this folding trailer in only about 90 seconds, and take it down in the rain without it getting wet inside. With a typical canvas sidewall, everything will get wet when you put it away in the rain, and then have to set it up and dry it out someplace before mold can start to grow.
Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche or Country Coach!
Your 'Voy is easily capable of towing most smaller hybrids under 5k lbs GVWR. Due to wheelbase, I would stick with something no longer than 21' or 22', but there are lots of people towing 23 & 24 foot TTs with the GMT360 platform and the I6 also. I'm not saying that's a good idea, just that people are. FYI, all GMT360s come with the "towing package", including the wiring for the brake controller. Not all come with the 7 pin plug though, which I think is very strange.
The rear suspension of these trucks is soft, so if you choose a hybird, you will need a W/D hitch. I have towed my trailer through mountains and my right leg does not "ache and tremble". You won't win any races towing through mountains, but then again, that's not your purpose. On a 6% grade I do about 50mph in 2nd gear. I could do 55 or 60 but I like to keep the RPMs below 3500. Keep in mind that you're not going to be towing a 30 ft trailer. As long as you keep it within limits, leave some reserve, and set it up properly, your towing experience will be a pleasure. Then again, thats what you should do with ANY tow vehicle. I only have a standard W/D hitch with a friction bar type sway control and I have never experienced sway. But I do agree, if you get a larger trailer than mine, a Reese Dual Cam or Eqaulizer would be a good chioce.
If you really prefer a hybrid, then start looking at them. To learn more about your truck you might enjoy http://trailvoy.com/
Chuck D.
'03 Jayco Kiwi 17a, '03 Chevy Trailblazer EXT, Garmin Nuvi 200 GPS
Photography is my obsession: http://coldwater.smugmug.com/
“Adventure is just bad planning.” - Roald Amundsen
Thanks for all the help. I really do appreciate it. I added the wieght of the passengers as well as my self in that 1000lb total. As we wont be in the trailer when I pull it it wont weight that much.( sometimes Im an idiot).
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