BenK wrote: Think about your physical ratings to lift and carry a bar bell, say your
limit rating is 250 lbs. Sure you can lift and carry that, but how
well and how long? Run without it and stop just short of the edge of
the curb. Then ditto that with the 250 lb load, then what? Sure some
will say the trailer has brakes, which do help, but 'you' still have
to handle that load. Would you do better with a smaller load? Bigger load?
Comparing a truck (or any other machine) to humans is a terrible analogy. When you max out on a dead lift, 250 is the most you can move. A Tahoe's tow rating is nowhere near it's max pull.
To the OP..."Recreational" towing is all about compromises. You're trying to find a vehicle that will take the kids to school, be easy to maneuver in traffic, get realively decent MPG, and tow a trailer.
A Suburban hauls kids well
A Corvette maneuvers well in traffic
A Corolla gets great mileage
A F-450 tows trailers great.
However, the Tahoe should be able to get the job done. It won't tow as well as the F-450, but it'll get better mileage and haul more people, ride better, and be more maneuverable at the multi-level parking garage.
HERE
is one more towing calculator site and it will keep you out of trouble.
Ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
Ag Teacher wrote: snip.....
Comparing a truck (or any other machine) to humans is a terrible analogy. When you max out on a dead lift, 250 is the most you can move. A Tahoe's tow rating is nowhere near it's max pull.
That is my whole point that you miss...
That 250 lb is the 'rating', not the maximum it 'can' carry.
Rating as in GVWR, GVWR, MTWR, etc, etc
Rating is NOT the point of failure, but the maximum
loading that the 'thing' can do for the warranty period, plus some
margin so that they don't fail the instant it reaches the warranty
limit (time and/or milage).....and.....perform to the specifications.
That means performance. Like rate of change (acceleration and deceleration),
handling that load on a curve, at altitude (both highest and lowest),
at max temp (both ambient and internal), etc, etc, etc...
This is why the analogy works so well with the people I've used it on.
Once they understand that the 'rating' isn't the gut busting maximum,
but the max where they can do it for a long period of time. Then they
understand that going over that 'rating' won't have the wheels instantly
fall off, just that they will sooner. They can make the association
with themselves and the in-animate object...aka...their vehicle. Just
like going over the rating limit won't instantly have them drop onto
their knees, just that they will sooner...
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
Ag Teacher wrote: snip.....
Comparing a truck (or any other machine) to humans is a terrible analogy. When you max out on a dead lift, 250 is the most you can move. A Tahoe's tow rating is nowhere near it's max pull.
That is my whole point that you miss...
That 250 lb is the 'rating', not the maximum it 'can' carry.
Rating as in GVWR, GVWR, MTWR, etc, etc
Rating is NOT the point of failure, but the maximum
loading that the 'thing' can do for the warranty period, plus some
margin so that they don't fail the instant it reaches the warranty
limit (time and/or milage).....and.....perform to the specifications.
That means performance. Like rate of change (acceleration and deceleration),
handling that load on a curve, at altitude (both highest and lowest),
at max temp (both ambient and internal), etc, etc, etc...
This is why the analogy works so well with the people I've used it on.
Once they understand that the 'rating' isn't the gut busting maximum,
but the max where they can do it for a long period of time. Then they
understand that going over that 'rating' won't have the wheels instantly
fall off, just that they will sooner. They can make the association
with themselves and the in-animate object...aka...their vehicle. Just
like going over the rating limit won't instantly have them drop onto
their knees, just that they will sooner...
Well - if lifting 250 is no problem for you and not your max, I will no longer argue with you. You are apparently a much larger man than me.
Ag Teacher wrote: snip....snip.....
Well - if lifting 250 is no problem for you and not your max, I will no
longer argue with you. You are apparently a much larger man than me.
I'd have a problem with 250 lbs as my "Rating", and is just a number
I pulled out of the air.
What you are saying smack on top of another towing issue....the
proverbial half ton vs bigger TV.
For a 'bigger man', sure a 250 lb 'Rating' is just fine, but for a
smaller man, over their 'rating' and into their ultimate limit.
My whole point is that there is a difference between a 'Rating' and
the 'ultimate limit' that most confuse GVWR/GCWR/MTWR...
The 255 comes in at 4,317 "dry", which is unloaded before you stuff pots and pans and "your" stuff.
I've got a 1/2 ton suburban and I test towed a 6,000 lb outback last week and it was "awful". I'm looking at a 235 or 255 from Forest River as they are around 4,000 lbs, which I think I can handle even up hill and into the wind.
I just have to find one now.
We too need the quad bunk (or space for 4 kids), and the Surveyor looks like a good option.
Let me know if you find anything!
CampinHappy
2000 Suburban 4x4
2007 K-Z Spree 240 BH with triple bunks for my 3 amigos
Formerly a 99 Coleman Niagara PUP
wife version 1.0 (so far ) 3 boys (5,7,11), The former "Rig" at Mueller State Park, Colorado
My last gasser was a 2002 Tahoe pulling an Arctic Fox 19B. Small by todays standards for a TT, and in real world I would not want to pull any more with a Tahoe. Just not enough truck to pull up and down hills with any sort of comfort level on a day to day basis. A 2500 Suburban with the bigger motor would be a much better choice for pulling a TT much over 5000 pounds IMHO.
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