Tow Rigs, What do you have/use?
I just picked up a 2000 Chevy Tahoe with the 5.3l V8 for a tow vehicle/winter DD. I'm new to the truck game, but I'm sure it'll haul the X just fine... anyone here have experience with that combo, good or bad?
I don't have a trailer yet, but hoping to get an enclosed one early next year.
I don't have a trailer yet, but hoping to get an enclosed one early next year.
My truck was rated at 8500lbs with the 3.73 rear diff and it towed around 6000 lbs with my open trailer and supplies and tools.
Im unsure if you have rear leaf springs but if you do add a set of Hellwig helper springs because the rear end will squat, also your tires which are passenger tires will squat.
Id look into LT (light truck tires ) which can be pumped up to 80 PSI.
The last two things would be a transmission cooler and an electronic brake controller.
The 2002 Tahoe is rated at 7100lbs with the 3.42 diff and 8100 with the 3.73. That also requires the tow package as well.
Enclosed trailers weigh anywhere from 2500-3000 pounds plus. With an Evo in it your at 6-6500lbs not including tools, extra supplies, extra people etc.
Whereas you can get an open trailer weighing in at 2k or less and and you'll be ok.
If yours tahoe didn't come with the tow package id install a trans cooler for sure.
I recently got a new 22' enclosed with 5200lbs axles. My previous set up was an 18' open trailer. I am pulling with a 07 5.7 tundra (tow package with helper springs in rear). Next will be a diesel for sure, but the Tundra really doesnt tow to bad though.
Last edited by Kidloco51; Aug 30, 2014 at 04:56 PM.
I towed with a 2008 Tundra V8 one time and I never want to tow with a gas truck EVER again 
I just did a DPF and EGR delete on my 6.7 cummins a few months ago and unloaded i'm doing 24mpg at 70mph with all highway driving (hand calculated). Haven't had the chance to tow anything heavy a long enough distance to see what my towing MPG is now unfortunately.
I just did a DPF and EGR delete on my 6.7 cummins a few months ago and unloaded i'm doing 24mpg at 70mph with all highway driving (hand calculated). Haven't had the chance to tow anything heavy a long enough distance to see what my towing MPG is now unfortunately.
Last edited by L888Apex; Sep 1, 2014 at 05:37 PM.
Ditto, just picked this up to pair with my Duramax. Funny to watch how everyone "Evolves" in the sport haha.
24' Bravo Star, full interior with the straight cab's up front. Already got my winch installed and stockpiles loaded over the weekend. Using a forged 17k# hitch with a 10k# ball. The old man is giving me his WD hitch but I'm just going to use it for the sway attachments, don't really need the WD stuff. 3995# dry, car is ~3150, figure 1000 in tires, fuel, and gear. Gotta find another 6k to get to my towing capacity
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24' Bravo Star, full interior with the straight cab's up front. Already got my winch installed and stockpiles loaded over the weekend. Using a forged 17k# hitch with a 10k# ball. The old man is giving me his WD hitch but I'm just going to use it for the sway attachments, don't really need the WD stuff. 3995# dry, car is ~3150, figure 1000 in tires, fuel, and gear. Gotta find another 6k to get to my towing capacity
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^ nice rig. it'll be a long time till i get to that point. just now started towing with open trailer. it's so nice to tow. no more sitting in hot, loud and uncomfortable seats for long periods. i just towed my friends car to Road Atlanta over the weekend for nasa national. 13 hours drive, stopped 3 times for gas and a little break. i wasn't tired at all. that's the longest i've ever driven.
So I just got back from Solo Nationals in Lincoln, NE about a week ago. It's about a 1700 mile drive each way. I was towing my ~3000lb evo w/ big rear wing (top element removed) on a ~1500lb open trailer with probably ~500lb in tools, parts, etc.
The truck: 2004 LLY Chevy 2500HD Duramax Ext Cab; 6" lift, 35" tires, Airlift rear towing bags, PPE Stage 2 tune (+90/160), full turboback (3" direct pipe, 4" front pipe, 5" catback, no cat) and full intake up to the turbo.
We averaged about 14.5mpg there and back, which isn't bad considering the ~70-75mph speed limit outside of CA and the fact that my truck is lifted w/ big tires. There were actually parts of CA where we were around 17-18mpg.
The truck: 2004 LLY Chevy 2500HD Duramax Ext Cab; 6" lift, 35" tires, Airlift rear towing bags, PPE Stage 2 tune (+90/160), full turboback (3" direct pipe, 4" front pipe, 5" catback, no cat) and full intake up to the turbo.
We averaged about 14.5mpg there and back, which isn't bad considering the ~70-75mph speed limit outside of CA and the fact that my truck is lifted w/ big tires. There were actually parts of CA where we were around 17-18mpg.
got my 30' Charmac last spring. great trailer so far. can easily fit 2 rzr's with tons of room for pit bike, spares etc. we fit 3 rzr's in there but it was tight. it'll also hold 6 snowmobiles. the evo and my rzr should fit but i havent tried it yet. extra height (7') on door helps with loading over my old 6'6" trailer
my cousins f150 to see if it would pull it. it did, but not nearly as well as my f250
stacking 3 rzr's inside
my cousins f150 to see if it would pull it. it did, but not nearly as well as my f250
stacking 3 rzr's inside
Just looking at the car position on the trailer, and knowing the evo is 60% front heavy, that car is way too far forward of the axle. You need to weigh the tongue.
Or a simple dirty way to guess is to measure the hitch, stand on it and measure how much it moves. Easy math to your rate and to how much it should move with 12-15% tongue weight.
Or a simple dirty way to guess is to measure the hitch, stand on it and measure how much it moves. Easy math to your rate and to how much it should move with 12-15% tongue weight.