Towing options now?

BenK wrote:
Agree with Barney (that tongue weight is way over that receivers dead-weight rating...plus it's WD rating and add a correction...

intheburbs has a current gen Suburban, albeit the 2500 has been discontinued for a few years.

Starting in 2007 (current gen) had a much better receiver than the previous gen's (GMT800 & GMT900)...but it is still integrated into the bumper...more so than GMT800/GMT900 so that it now has crash crumple zone duties...which has GM rate the max WD tongue weight at 1,000 lbs

Not exactly sure what you mean by current generation vs GMT800/900.

My truck is not "current generation," it's a GMT900 platform. The current generation is K2XX.
GMT900 was 2007-2013. GMT800 was 2000-2006. K2XX is 2014 and up.

BarneyS wrote:
Did you really tow it all that way on the ball, as shown in your picture, without using any weight distribution? If so, consider yourself very lucky. I don't blame you for wearing your flame suit.

If I am not mistaken, your year Suburban was only rated to carry about 500lbs on the ball with no WD. I would not be a bit surprised if your tongue weight is around 1300lb when you are loaded and ready to go camping. In addition, GM is not known for making sturdy hitches in those years.

I am very glad you had a successful trip but sure hope you will consider getting a WD hitch before your next one.
Barney

Correct, no WD or sway control. I have several friends that are GM engineers that worked on that platform, and they allayed my fears and concerns. Among other things, I ran the transmission as high as 241° climbing towards Powder River Pass.

This was our third trip with the trailer. First was a short trip (a "test tow"), second was a trip to the UP (1,000 miles).

Hit the scales on this trip:
Tongue is 1120. Over by 120.
GCW is 16,340. Over by 340.
GVW is 8640. Over by 40
RAW is 5650. Over by 150.

But the rear axle is a perfect example. It's the AA 10.5" full floater that AA rates to 10,000 lbs. My E-load tires are rated to over 3000 lbs each, so why the 5500 axle rating? You can tell from the pic that she's not even squatting.

This is the fifth trailer I've taken on a cross-country trip. It was easily the least stressful trip. No sway, no push-pull from semis. Towed better than any of the others, which ranged from 4500-7000 lbs.

But if it makes you feel any better, you don't have to lock up your kids and dogs. DW said she's done with trailer trips for family vacations. Hotels only from now on. So we won't be pulling this trailer any more.