- Jul 22, 2015
- 2,724
Ok. Finally, after fixing up the Voy during the last couple of years, I pulled the trigger and purchased a travel trailer.
Trailer:
Approx 3950 lbs dry, 25ft, coupler to bumper. Tongue weight is listed at 430-ish.
Double Axle; leaf springs. Each axle rated @ 3750
Dealer installed a WD / anti-sway hitch (overhead load bars; no chains). I did like the way it performed; trailer was solid & 'moved as one' with the Envoy.
GVWR on the trailer is about 7200, so I have room for cargo, etc.
I did not take the rig to a weigh station (no CAT scales nearby at either end of the trip)
2003 Envoy XL:
Rated for 7000 lb towing (5.3L, 4WD, 3.73). Also has a built trans, for reference (but really not a factor here)
Pulled very well - I knew I had 4000lb behind me, but no problems towing 80mi or so back home over mostly flat interstate. Kept trans in 3rd almost all the way home. The only issue was watching the iFCD appear 'stuck' in the single digits, and the fuel gauge move a bit faster than usual. But that was expected.
Last summer, I replaced the following in the front end:
OEM Shocks (w/ Bilstein HD, all 4 corners - and I really like the ride with them). New mounts, h/w, etc.
(Kept the OEM springs, which are the 'orange' (2nd stiffest), per RPO / research). A prime factor in not swapping out to 'quick struts', btw.
New upper ball joints & sway bar links (Moog, fwiw)
All suspension is stock; I'm not lifted, stock 17" wheels / tires, etc.
I did not replace the LBJ (still OK; I do have the replacement LCA assemblies, but skipped putting them in)
AFAIK, the inner / outer tie rods are still OEM. Total mileage on this 2003 is just shy of 150K.
So here's what I noticed...
- The front end felt a tiny bit light (but still very controllable). I expect to toy with the hitch adjustments a bit to adjust that, but I had no discernable sag in the rear while hooked up. Even the salesperson noticed that it sat very well. If it weren't for detecting that slight change in the front end from a driver's standpoint, I'd leave the hitch alone.
(note: I did not have house batteries (2 x 6V) loaded on the tongue (they were in the back of the Envoy, not on the trailer.)
The issue:
- When I started underway, I heard a groan (only once, and I didn't place it at the front end).
- When I dropped the trailer and drove home - after a couple of miles, I heard essentially that same groan as I was going on a slight downhill. This time, I definitely placed it at the front end, and for lack of a better analysis, figured that the front end settled back down on the springs.
Each time, I only heard that groan once. No other 'new' noises or ride degradation, suspension-wise, since last week when I towed the trailer.
I'd like to get rid of the groan, but I'd also like to not get stiffer ride than what I have now, when not towing. But I'll do what's best / needed to have optimal control, especially on the steering axle.
Thoughts? I did look on e-trailer at some helper / replacement springs, but not sure if I need them / what I need. So I figured I'd check w/ the experienced towers here.
Trailer:
Approx 3950 lbs dry, 25ft, coupler to bumper. Tongue weight is listed at 430-ish.
Double Axle; leaf springs. Each axle rated @ 3750
Dealer installed a WD / anti-sway hitch (overhead load bars; no chains). I did like the way it performed; trailer was solid & 'moved as one' with the Envoy.
GVWR on the trailer is about 7200, so I have room for cargo, etc.
I did not take the rig to a weigh station (no CAT scales nearby at either end of the trip)
2003 Envoy XL:
Rated for 7000 lb towing (5.3L, 4WD, 3.73). Also has a built trans, for reference (but really not a factor here)
Pulled very well - I knew I had 4000lb behind me, but no problems towing 80mi or so back home over mostly flat interstate. Kept trans in 3rd almost all the way home. The only issue was watching the iFCD appear 'stuck' in the single digits, and the fuel gauge move a bit faster than usual. But that was expected.
Last summer, I replaced the following in the front end:
OEM Shocks (w/ Bilstein HD, all 4 corners - and I really like the ride with them). New mounts, h/w, etc.
(Kept the OEM springs, which are the 'orange' (2nd stiffest), per RPO / research). A prime factor in not swapping out to 'quick struts', btw.
New upper ball joints & sway bar links (Moog, fwiw)
All suspension is stock; I'm not lifted, stock 17" wheels / tires, etc.
I did not replace the LBJ (still OK; I do have the replacement LCA assemblies, but skipped putting them in)
AFAIK, the inner / outer tie rods are still OEM. Total mileage on this 2003 is just shy of 150K.
So here's what I noticed...
- The front end felt a tiny bit light (but still very controllable). I expect to toy with the hitch adjustments a bit to adjust that, but I had no discernable sag in the rear while hooked up. Even the salesperson noticed that it sat very well. If it weren't for detecting that slight change in the front end from a driver's standpoint, I'd leave the hitch alone.
(note: I did not have house batteries (2 x 6V) loaded on the tongue (they were in the back of the Envoy, not on the trailer.)
The issue:
- When I started underway, I heard a groan (only once, and I didn't place it at the front end).
- When I dropped the trailer and drove home - after a couple of miles, I heard essentially that same groan as I was going on a slight downhill. This time, I definitely placed it at the front end, and for lack of a better analysis, figured that the front end settled back down on the springs.
Each time, I only heard that groan once. No other 'new' noises or ride degradation, suspension-wise, since last week when I towed the trailer.
I'd like to get rid of the groan, but I'd also like to not get stiffer ride than what I have now, when not towing. But I'll do what's best / needed to have optimal control, especially on the steering axle.
Thoughts? I did look on e-trailer at some helper / replacement springs, but not sure if I need them / what I need. So I figured I'd check w/ the experienced towers here.