what gear for towing?

[98tsiawd]

Hey guys,I will be towing a flat deck tandem 19 ft trailer with my car on the back total weight about 4000lbs. I know to tow in 3rd, however I'm wondering is it best to just put the truck in 3rd and leave it there, or only switch it into 3rd when I get up to highway speeds? Accelerating in 3rd sucks, or would it be best to use 1st, 2nd and 3rd for accelerating? Sorry for the newbie question I've only ever used a 3/4 ton chevy to tow before that had the tow fuction, so not having the tow feature is new to me and I want to make sure I don't screw up my tranny.
Thanks for the help

 

[gmcman]

It won't matter if you use 1-3-D for starting as it only starts in 1st, 2 will start in 2nd so don't use that. Let the trans shift by itself as it needs to relearn lockup holding parameters for 3rd and 4th gear. You will notice early that it will come out of lockup fairly easy, then hold longer as you put on some miles.

What kind of car are you hauling? Keep in mind that trailer probably weighs 1300 lbs give or take a couple hundred.

How far are you towing it?

If you are pulling hills, depending on what gear ratio you have it will likely grab 3rd a lot. Just make sure when you load the trailer, you can watch the rear of the envoy sag a couple inches as you pull the car forward. Make sure you load the tongue a little so the tail doesn't wag the dog at speed.

Do you have a brake controller installed? There is a 4-wire harness behind the panel above your knees, right behind the hood latch.

Depending on how far you are driving, best to change the trans fluid beforehand.

 

[tbyoda]

The total weight of 4000 lb is that the TB, trailer and car or just car and trailer. If the later you are way beyond the max on what the TB can tow.

 

[gmcman]

The total weight of 4000 lb is that the TB, trailer and car or just car and trailer. If the later you are way beyond the max on what the TB can tow.

Based on his trim level, guaranteed when there's a driver it's right at 5000 lbs for the tow vehicle, that leaves 5500-6000 lbs for the trailer and what's on the trailer. GVWR for these platforms are 10,500&11,000 lbs based on axle ratio/engine, 02 was only the 4.2 in SWB trim.

 

[jonbo2002]

The total weight of 4000 lb is that the TB, trailer and car or just car and trailer. If the later you are way beyond the max on what the TB can tow.

Yea, we have a little bit higher tow raiting then that!

Look in the following chart to find the maximum trailer weight for your vehicle.
Vehicle Axle Ratio Max.Trailer Wt. *GCWR
2WD TrailBlazer (L6 Engine)
3.42 5,300 lbs (2 404 kg) 10,000 lbs. (4 536 kg)
3.73 5,700 lbs. (2 585 kg) 10,500 lbs (4 763 kg)
4.10 6,200 lbs. (2 812 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
4WD TrailBlazer (L6 Engine)
3.42 5,100 lbs.[/COLOR] (2 313 kg) 10,000 lbs. (4 536 kg)
3.73 5,500 lbs. (2 495 kg) 10,500 lbs. (4 763 kg)
4.10 6,100 lbs. (2 767 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
2WD TrailBlazer EXT (L6 Engine)
3.42 5,000 lbs. (2 268 kg) 10,000 lbs. (4 536 kg)
3.73 5,500 lbs. (2 495 kg) 10,500 lbs. (4 763 kg)
4.10 6,000 lbs. (2 722 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
4WD TrailBlazer EXT (L6 Engine)
3.42 4,800 lbs. (2 177 kg) 10,000 lbs. (4 536 kg)
3.73 5,300 lbs. (2 404 kg) 10,500 lbs. (4 763 kg)
4.10 5,800 lbs. (2 631 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
2WD TrailBlazer EXT (V8 Engine)
3.42 5,900 lbs. (2 676 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
3.73 6,800 lbs. (3 084 kg) 12,500 lbs. (5 670 kg)
4WD TrailBlazer EXT (V8 Engine)
3.42 5,700 lbs. (2 585 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
3.73 6,300 lbs. (2 858 kg) 12,500 lbs. (5 670 kg)
*The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversion. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
4

 

[98tsiawd]

Thanks for the help guys. my trailer weight should be around 1000 lbs, and my car is a 98 eagle talon tsi weighing in around 2800-3000 lbs, I've yet to weigh both and my envoy to confirm, I'm hoping to weigh all 3 this weekend providing i get my trailer back Friday from the trailer shop. (They’re making some adjustments to my ramp for me) I will be towing my car to autocross events which will be about 100-150 kms one way then back again the same day.
something’s I've done to get my envoy ready to tow have been, installed back up camera, removed air ride and installed coil springs with airlift 1000, airaid CAI with pcmforless tune, b&m tranny cooler, pulled the rad had it cleaned and installed new coolant, tranny fluid I flushed recently and replaced all fluids in all the casings. So I’m hoping to pull this with no problems.
also my truck has 3.73 gears, and I'm using the pordigy P2 brake controller for the trailer.

 

[jonbo2002]

you will be fine I have an I6 with 342 gears and have no problem towing my 4900lbs trailer just connected a brake controller and weight distribution hitch

 

[djthumper]

Yea, we have a little bit higher tow raiting then that!

Look in the following chart to find the maximum trailer weight for your vehicle.
Vehicle Axle Ratio Max.Trailer Wt. *GCWR
2WD TrailBlazer (L6 Engine)
3.42 5,300 lbs (2 404 kg) 10,000 lbs. (4 536 kg)
3.73 5,700 lbs. (2 585 kg) 10,500 lbs (4 763 kg)
4.10 6,200 lbs. (2 812 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
4WD TrailBlazer (L6 Engine)
3.42 5,100 lbs.[/COLOR] (2 313 kg) 10,000 lbs. (4 536 kg)
3.73 5,500 lbs. (2 495 kg) 10,500 lbs. (4 763 kg)
4.10 6,100 lbs. (2 767 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
2WD TrailBlazer EXT (L6 Engine)
3.42 5,000 lbs. (2 268 kg) 10,000 lbs. (4 536 kg)
3.73 5,500 lbs. (2 495 kg) 10,500 lbs. (4 763 kg)
4.10 6,000 lbs. (2 722 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
4WD TrailBlazer EXT (L6 Engine)
3.42 4,800 lbs. (2 177 kg) 10,000 lbs. (4 536 kg)
3.73 5,300 lbs. (2 404 kg) 10,500 lbs. (4 763 kg)
4.10 5,800 lbs. (2 631 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
2WD TrailBlazer EXT (V8 Engine)
3.42 5,900 lbs. (2 676 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
3.73 6,800 lbs. (3 084 kg) 12,500 lbs. (5 670 kg)
4WD TrailBlazer EXT (V8 Engine)
3.42 5,700 lbs. (2 585 kg) 11,000 lbs. (4 990 kg)
3.73 6,300 lbs. (2 858 kg) 12,500 lbs. (5 670 kg)
*The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversion. The GCWR for your vehicle should not be
exceeded.
4

I believe this is only for 02-05s. IIRC it changed with the 06.

 

[denvern]

Thanks for the help guys. my trailer weight should be around 1000 lbs, and my car is a 98 eagle talon tsi weighing in around 2800-3000 lbs, I've yet to weigh both and my envoy to confirm, I'm hoping to weigh all 3 this weekend providing i get my trailer back Friday from the trailer shop. (They’re making some adjustments to my ramp for me) I will be towing my car to autocross events which will be about 100-150 kms one way then back again the same day.
something’s I've done to get my envoy ready to tow have been, installed back up camera, removed air ride and installed coil springs with airlift 1000, airaid CAI with pcmforless tune, b&m tranny cooler, pulled the rad had it cleaned and installed new coolant, tranny fluid I flushed recently and replaced all fluids in all the casings. So I’m hoping to pull this with no problems.
also my truck has 3.73 gears, and I'm using the pordigy P2 brake controller for the trailer.

Nice!! I had 1st gen DSM Turbo FWD years back. My buddy had a matching AWD. Just yesterday we were talking about getting Talon's again.

 

[98tsiawd]

Here's some motivation to buy another one

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5452/9386740805_4f7a48d3c9.jpg

[URL="http://m.flickr.com/photos/76301897@N08/9386758229/]"http://m.flickr.com/photos/76301897@N08/9386758229/[/URL]

 

[sawicksted]

Add a weight distribution kit to your list and it sounds like you are all set. Tires make a big difference too. 10ply or tires with stiffer side walls will help too.

 

[denvern]

Here's some motivation to buy another one

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5452/9386740805_4f7a48d3c9.jpg

[URL="http://m.flickr.com/photos/76301897@N08/9386758229/]"http://m.flickr.com/photos/76301897@N08/9386758229/[/URL]

LOL you're not helping.