Hello all,
Since this site is always the place for answers, and seem to be getting different answers from other sites, thought to get it straight from the horses mouth
I have a 2012 LT with the towing package. My friend has a Silverado 1500 and we were talking gear ratios and the like since he might be getting a TT.
reading a lot on the site, I see people saying some AVY's have the 4:10 ratio, while I have the 3:73 according to the dealer paper (although I may have to look again because some sites say the max is 3:42)
Is that the z-71 that have the option for the 4:10 option. Not that I am trading my truck in, just curious
Also, with the 3:73 ration, is the 8100 lb towing down to 7900 if its a 4 x 4 (which mine is)
Another question is towing and handling. Been towing an Outback 250RS which is 5900 lbs dry for the last four summers. This summer we are only camping close now becaue of the way my truck handles and my wife gets scared when the wind picks up and its like the trailer is driving you instead. And to be honest, long hauls are very tiring for me because its just hard towing. Semi drives by me on a double lane, and it feels like Im getting sucked towards him.
I have an equalizer bar and a sway control installed (just one side) and try and load the trailer correctly. When parked somewhere it looks level, and as far as I know truck payload isnt over the GVRW.
Getting it speed limit and staying at that limit are a problem to, just seems to be straining to keep it at 100 kmh. And steep hills of course shows its limitations
Is there anything a person can do to improve tow handling? I know there are others on here that tow the same trailer and say they dont have issues. Am I just over capacity?
Accorinding to Mr.Bill on his sticky above
Trailer Weight Rule of Thumb
Maximum trailer weight being towed...should only be 75% of the weight rating of your tow vehicle. (CGWR being taken into consideration). If factory rating is 5,000 lbs. trailer,... a 3750 lb. trailer weight is recommended, etc. If 7,000 lb. trailer is stated,...a 5250 lbs. trailer weight is recommended, etc.
If thats the rule, then if I have 7900 (4 x 4) my max should be 5925, 8100 (4 x 4) my max should be 6075 lbs. So dry I am almost at max already if I follow the 75% rule
We are considering downsizing trailers in the next 3 years when the kids are grown up and we wont need the room. Some sites I am on say that downsizing from a 28 ft trailer (bumper to tongue) to a 20 ft wouldnt make much of a difference. Which I dont see how shaving off 3000 lbs would not make a difference.
I also have it marked down that the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) = 14000 lbs Is that correct. And if not, how do you find that number
And also, maximum tongue weight rating. What is it. Every website I go to the answer is different. Is alot of this stuff in the actual manual?
Thanks
Edit. Never mind, this is right from Chevys mouth
http://www.gm.ca/media/owners/manuals/2012_Chevrolet_Avalanche_Manual_en_CA.pdf
Since this site is always the place for answers, and seem to be getting different answers from other sites, thought to get it straight from the horses mouth
I have a 2012 LT with the towing package. My friend has a Silverado 1500 and we were talking gear ratios and the like since he might be getting a TT.
reading a lot on the site, I see people saying some AVY's have the 4:10 ratio, while I have the 3:73 according to the dealer paper (although I may have to look again because some sites say the max is 3:42)
Is that the z-71 that have the option for the 4:10 option. Not that I am trading my truck in, just curious
Also, with the 3:73 ration, is the 8100 lb towing down to 7900 if its a 4 x 4 (which mine is)
Another question is towing and handling. Been towing an Outback 250RS which is 5900 lbs dry for the last four summers. This summer we are only camping close now becaue of the way my truck handles and my wife gets scared when the wind picks up and its like the trailer is driving you instead. And to be honest, long hauls are very tiring for me because its just hard towing. Semi drives by me on a double lane, and it feels like Im getting sucked towards him.
I have an equalizer bar and a sway control installed (just one side) and try and load the trailer correctly. When parked somewhere it looks level, and as far as I know truck payload isnt over the GVRW.
Getting it speed limit and staying at that limit are a problem to, just seems to be straining to keep it at 100 kmh. And steep hills of course shows its limitations
Is there anything a person can do to improve tow handling? I know there are others on here that tow the same trailer and say they dont have issues. Am I just over capacity?
Accorinding to Mr.Bill on his sticky above
Trailer Weight Rule of Thumb
Maximum trailer weight being towed...should only be 75% of the weight rating of your tow vehicle. (CGWR being taken into consideration). If factory rating is 5,000 lbs. trailer,... a 3750 lb. trailer weight is recommended, etc. If 7,000 lb. trailer is stated,...a 5250 lbs. trailer weight is recommended, etc.
If thats the rule, then if I have 7900 (4 x 4) my max should be 5925, 8100 (4 x 4) my max should be 6075 lbs. So dry I am almost at max already if I follow the 75% rule
We are considering downsizing trailers in the next 3 years when the kids are grown up and we wont need the room. Some sites I am on say that downsizing from a 28 ft trailer (bumper to tongue) to a 20 ft wouldnt make much of a difference. Which I dont see how shaving off 3000 lbs would not make a difference.
I also have it marked down that the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) = 14000 lbs Is that correct. And if not, how do you find that number
And also, maximum tongue weight rating. What is it. Every website I go to the answer is different. Is alot of this stuff in the actual manual?
Thanks
Edit. Never mind, this is right from Chevys mouth
http://www.gm.ca/media/owners/manuals/2012_Chevrolet_Avalanche_Manual_en_CA.pdf