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What is my best Avalanche for towing 6500 # w/ horses?

M

moiety5

GUEST
Hello all,

I am trying to get convinced that an Avalanche is the thing to get. I haul horses and am looking for another towing vehicle that can be, when not pulling a horse trailer, a nice zip around vehicle for hauling feed, groceries, pets, lumber, hay, etc. . .

I've figured what the maximum towing weight would be with my trailer fully loaded and I'm looking at around 6,500 pounds. My question is what are my options? What kind of configuration would suit my needs best. I absolutely hate to go up a steep hill and loose power, and I think having a vehicle without proper acceleration is dangerous. So what I'm hoping for from you guys are suggestions on different packages and models. Some testimonials from horse people would be great as well, especially horse people who change their Avalanche often.


My ideal scenario would be to buy a used 2002, low milage Avalanche, but don't have the faintest clue if I can ever hope to find one. Did I mention that I'm looking to get one within the next week or so? Am I hoplessly optimistic looking at this scenario for under $18k?

Thanks alot.
 
I would suggest you get a 2500 AV - depends upon how steep the hills are where you live - In CO a steep hill can go for miles and you need the 2500 - if you are in IN a steep hill is much shorter and maybe a 1500 would work.

I am not a horse person, but people in CO with 2500's (Chevy, Ford's or Dodge's) who haul horses do great on the hills - 1500's seem to crawl up a lot more.

 
moiety5 said:
Hello all,

I am trying to get convinced that an Avalanche is the thing to get. I haul horses and am looking for another towing vehicle that can be, when not pulling a trailer, a nice zip around vehicle for hauling feed, groceries, pets, lumber, hay, etc. . .

I've figured what the maximum towing weight would be with my trailer fully loaded and I'm looking at around 6,500 pounds. My question is what are my options? What kind of configuration would suit my needs best. I absolutely hate to go up a steep hill and loose power, and I think having a vehicle without proper acceleration is dangerous. So what I'm hoping for from you guys are suggestions on different packages and models. Some testimonials from horse people would be great as well, especially horse people who change their Avalanche often.


My ideal scenario would be to buy a used 2002, low milage Avalanche, but don't have the faintest clue if I can ever hope to find one. Did I mention that I'm looking to get one within the next week or so?

Thanks alot.
Click to expand...


Welcome to the club. You're going to like the Avalanche IF you'd like to have a vehicle that can perform like a truck but ride like a Suburban because that's about the best way to describe this thing. It's based on the Suburban chassis so the ride is much better than a pickup truck. But it can haul about as much as a pickup and it can carry five (or six with a front bench seat).

As for towing 6500 pounds and not wanting the truck to be panting going up hills, the decision is easy. Get a 2500 with 4.10 gears and you'll be able to tow to your heart's content. It's what I've got (mine's a 4WD and I've lifted it) and it'll pull your house off its foundation if you ask it to.

It's an all around great vehicle that can work like a truck and drive like a Suburban. And do it all with style. Enjoy your shopping but I don't think you'll find many 2500s on the dealers' lots. You'll probably be better off reading about the option list and ordering your own.
 
Here is my $0.02 worth...
I have a 2003 8.1L 2500 4x4 with trailer package and tow in several type of conditions.
1st family camping 8600lb 26' camper mostly summer towing.

2nd family snowmobile trips, 7000lb 28' enclosed trailer with 5 sleds in Michigan winter driving.

All I can say is, Awesome... Not a bit of regret or "I wish it had,did,or didn't...."

Before the Avalance I had a 1997 Dodge 1500 v8 4x4, Then a 2000 3/4ton Ford Excursion V10.
:D: Dodge 1500 I trashed the trans/engine at about 70k
:E: Ford Excursion V10 Lots of trailer sway (even with sway control) very poor gas mileage 6-8mpg towing. Always seems to want to shift into lower grear between 60-65mph and run at 3500-4k rpm (The speed I like to tow)
:love: 2003 Av 18k - 2000rpm @ 65mph no sway problem. Lots of power/torque any @ speed.
I did not even use my sway bar last trip... I love the enclosed bed area for dirty loose stuff maybe feed/hay in your case, and still have the side compartments for drinks or small stuff not to bounce around. Still able to fit the wife and 3 children (age 14,12,10) without complaints from any of them...
P.S. I still have the Excursion "wifes" but we only use the Av to tow with.

Well there is my $12 worth of $0.02...
 
The 2500 is a must for that load. Especially with LIVE ANIMALS. Go for the 4.10 axle as it is the much stronger, full floater. That feature alone makes it more desirable than the 3.73s. It will also give you better performance. 4x4 would be nice for dragging the loaded trailer out of a muddy (whatever) barnyard.
 
We have horses here! We have a gooseneck trailer that hauls up to 5 horses, however my husband uses his CHEVY 3500 to pull it! (By the way it pulls great!)

We just purchased a 2002 Avalanche 2500 for me to drive as a family vehicle and to use for the horses. I am looking to buy a trailer as soon as I can find one. However I have already pulled two horses with a friends four horse stock trailer up to the mountains. I am not sure on the trailer weight itself, but the horses alone were around 2300-2400 pounds together. We also had a lot of gear loaded too in the trailer and the truck. I will have to say that it pulled GREAT!! I was very impressed. I could feel it back there going up the mountain, but the AV had no problem what so ever pulling them up. I would feel safe pulling four horses next time up the mountain!

I do recommend this vehicle for pulling horses and even to do all your horsey run-arounds! However the only bad thing I have found was the gas. It does suck a lot of gas with the load, but not too much more than without a load. I did have a smaller car before getting my Avalanche, so maybe that has something to do with my gas figures.

Hope this helps you some with your question!
Oh yeah, I did have to pay a BIT more than 19k for my 2500 AV. Sometimes it's best to get a new one and use the Chevy rebates!
SHAY :B:
 
4 mos. ago, I was lucky enough to find a fully loaded 2002 2500 w/only 4,800 miles on it in a chevy dealer lot. It has the 4.10s and pulls my 26' 8000lb t/t and all my camping gear thru the the ozark mountains here in missouri w/ease and comfort. I'm so happy drivin it you practically have to pull my hands off the wheel, lots of power under the pedal. I did pay almost 10grand more than your hopin but i figure i got a "new" rig for probably 15 thou less than "brand new".,.good luck
 
i think the masses have spoken. i was going to tell you to get a 2500 as well. it just seems redundant now. ;)
 
You'll be in HOG HORSE HEAVEN with the 2500!!!
 
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