4500 GVWR TT; looking to tow with new Enclave

Camper G wrote:
I have no experience with the enclave, in fact I didn't even know what one looked like until I googled it! (HAHA).

At any rate, I know looks can be decieving, but from it's apparance it does not seem like it could handle much weight. I wouild assume it's uni-body construction?

As a refernce, my Layton is 23' ball to bumper and per the title is 3500lb "Unladen" and has a 6K GVWR.
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I took the family out camping with it last month for the first time and loaded for just a weekend it sure felt heavy behind my 2000 Expy EB. I wouldn't dream of ever hitching my loaded layton up to an Enclave, but that's just me.

In the hills of Central PA, heading toward Gifford Pinchot State park, it worked the Expy and I have the 5.4 and body on frame construciton as well.

I would think the Enclave could possibly handle a 17' Casita or something along those lines? But I think that would be the most I'd want to pull with one. It reminds me of my Mom's Honda CRV, but with a V-6.

Good luck in whatever you decide. I know how reaching compromise with the "better half" can be......CHALLENGING at times is putting it mildly. HAHA.

-Greg

It is uni-body

6000 lbs is a lot for it (rated at 4500 lbs)

Can easily handle up to about 4000 lbs even without brakes on the trailer

Very lacking torque in reverse, forward is a non issue (almost 300 hp)

My parents have a CRV, there is a huge size difference. It is more closely sized to a Pilot (it is actually a little bigger then a pilot)

The Enclave seats 7 or 8 depending on middle row configuration, and the CRV seats 4.5

I have no experience with the enclave, in fact I didn't even know what one looked like until I googled it! (HAHA).

At any rate, I know looks can be decieving, but from it's apparance it does not seem like it could handle much weight. I wouild assume it's uni-body construction?

As a refernce, my Layton is 23' ball to bumper and per the title is 3500lb "Unladen" and has a 6K GVWR.
.
I took the family out camping with it last month for the first time and loaded for just a weekend it sure felt heavy behind my 2000 Expy EB. I wouldn't dream of ever hitching my loaded layton up to an Enclave, but that's just me.

In the hills of Central PA, heading toward Gifford Pinchot State park, it worked the Expy and I have the 5.4 and body on frame construciton as well.

I would think the Enclave could possibly handle a 17' Casita or something along those lines? But I think that would be the most I'd want to pull with one. It reminds me of my Mom's Honda CRV, but with a V-6.

Good luck in whatever you decide. I know how reaching compromise with the "better half" can be......CHALLENGING at times is putting it mildly. HAHA.

-Greg

soren wrote:
JMHO, but I wore out two Tahoes in the last fifteen years. Great tow vehicles. I typically pulled an old school, heavy sticks and tin trailers in the 25' length range, and put tens of thousands of towing miles on both of them. Can't imagine that you would be unhappy with one, and it certainly will be a much less stressful experience, as compared to the Buick. Good luck.

+1

Also the Tahoe is body-on-frame where the Enclave is unibody... the frame is much better for towing.

PAThwacker wrote:
That 4500lb rating will struggle big time with 12ft 3500lb pup.

what?

That engine didn't struggle with my 30 foot travel trailer (which is too big for an Acadia / Outlook / Traverse / Enclave)

It EASILY pulls my boat (2700 lbs), my enclosed utility trailer (4000 lbs) and my old 18 foot travel trailer (4000 lbs) and even stops them without a problem. All three of these trailers have no WDH and have no trailer brakes and the Acadia handled them just fine. Once I moved up to the bigger, heavier trailer... it was too much for the Acadia.

She loves the Buick styling, but not practical for our needs. Absolutely hated the GC (she had an older Cherokee, and can't quite get past the fact Jeep had to move into the 21st century. Don't get her started on leather and nav in a Wrangler, either). I like the Tahoe/Yukon, but (again :( )she doesn't. Looking at a Forrest River R-Pod, which a smaller vehicle would tow. R-Pod. However, good to know about the Enclave/Acadia not having enough butt to push a trailer in reverse. May also look at another V6 midsize, such as Durango. Initially, the truck will have to suffice until we can decide on a smaller rig.

JMHO, but I wore out two Tahoes in the last fifteen years. Great tow vehicles. I typically pulled an old school, heavy sticks and tin trailers in the 25' length range, and put tens of thousands of towing miles on both of them. Can't imagine that you would be unhappy with one, and it certainly will be a much less stressful experience, as compared to the Buick. Good luck.

That 4500lb rating will struggle big time with 12ft 3500lb pup.

kaydeejay wrote:

norfla71 wrote:
We currently have a 3500 Ram and Salem 32 Sport TH; while great for the family, the wife and I are talking about the future, and current rig will be way too much. What we are considering is an Enclave (4500 tow capacity) and TT that we can full time in (for no more than a couple of months at a time). Only asking to narrow down a sizeable field....

You will HATE towing anything over 3000# with the Enclave! That 3.6L V6 motor is a greyhound, not a shire horse.
IOW it has minimal torque until you rev the **** out of it. It will not pull your socks off at low rpm and needs at LEAST 3000 rpm to come alive.
Now when it hits 5000 rpm it goes like a rocket, but that is NOT what you want for towing.
FWIW I drive the Enclave's sister vehicle - a GMC Acadia, so I know quite a bit of which I speak. It never knows what gear to be in and shifts up and down constantly.
It is worse than it's predecessor - the Chevy Trailblazer, which had a 4.2L in-line 6.
And let's not even talk fuel economy!t
I suggest you should be looking at a Tahoe or similar if you want to tow a unit such as you describe. You are probably going to be in the 6000-8000# range loaded.

I agree with the need to rev the Acadia engine to get power, but I have not found it hunts for gears at all. When I tow with mine I limit it to four or five gears and it is better on fuel then allowing sixth gear. It is horrible on fuel when towing but wonderful on fuel for daily driving. I get mixed around 14 mpg with the Acadia and when in a freeway trip I get 22 - 24 mpg when driving at 65 mph average . Don't attempt to reverse a trailer with the Acadia since it has zero torque in reverse.

I've had three Acadias now and love them, but heavy towing (over 4000 lbs) is best left to a bigger truck as you stated

martinto wrote:
Towed a Crossroads Slingshot with a Enclave for two years in Texas. Dry weight at 3700lbs, and figured another 1200lbs of gear just to be safe. Set up with a Ezlift WDH and used the tow mode when pulling. Never a problem, but she had to work in the Texas Hill Country. Had the front struts replaced on the Enclave under warranty at 40,000 miles. Not sure if that was the result of the towing or not.

Retired and relocated to the Upstate of South Carolina. As we planned to camp frequently in the NC mountains, upgraded to a GMC Yukon Denali, rated at 7900lbs tow rating. Tows with little effort. Good move for our intended use.

Btw, the GMC Acadia is rated at 5200lbs vs the Enclave at 4500lbs tow capacity.

Not all Acadias are rated at 5200 lbs. With the factory installed towing package some are rated at 5200, some lower (depending on year) and without the factory installed towing package they are all rated at 2000 lbs. Even if you add the towing package components later, it is still only rated to 2000 lbs

The Buick is down rated to 4500 because of reduced air flow for cooling due to the design of the front end if the Buick.

When I towed heavy with my Acadia it was difficult on the cooling system, otherwise it towed great

Again, edited to fix typo's

I towed my R-Vision 30QBSS with my GMC Acadia that has a tow and payload limit of 5200 lbs combined. The trailer weighs 6006 lbs over the scale (5870 GVWR) and I have a little insight into towing with the same drivetrain as the Buick. My trailer dry weight is listed at 4370 lbs so I thought it would be fine. I did not understand tongue weight and payload ratings at the time. I have since switched to a pickup truck.

1) The 3.6 offers more then enough power for the weight
2) Even with the factory tow package the transmission cooler and radiator can not keep up during even mild ascents and temps rise quickly to worrisome levels
3) wheelbase is way too short and you will have great difficulty in regaining control if you start to sway
4) anything above 4000 lbs is difficult on that vehicle

I still use my Acadia to tow several other trailers but when above 4000 lbs it is just not ideal. You run out of payload really quickly with 500 lbs and over of tongue weight


Edited to fix spelling mistakes (it is hard to type on an iphone LOL)