Any ideas on how to get my TT from Wisconsin to Florida?

If you plan your route to Fl, you can get there without having any major hills to pull

dodge guy wrote:
Are you saying it`s only giving you issues on hills or inclines? how is it on flat highways?
Even with a 3.42 gear you should still not have any issue towing it!
When you had the tune up done did they replace the fuel filter? it could be partially plugged and not delivering enough fuel under load!
Are you letting the engine rev on the hills or are you backing off because your worried about it revving to high?!

On the flat I have the gas pedal all the way down and it will not get over 60 for a long time, going downhill I can get it going a little faster and the cruise will hold. Any kind of incline and in cruise it just slows down. So then I press the gas pedal to the floor but the engine does not even drop into a lower gear like it did before and on the day I dropped the transmission. On that day I could stomp the gas pedal and it would drop down and accelerate.
I asked the first mechanic to check all filters, belts, fluids and replace if needed. The second mechanic said he checked, they were all good. The only problem I seem to have is even tho the second one set the rpm to 800, but when cold the engine dies if I brake and coast when I start out. Once engine is hot it doesnt do this and not at higher speeds.

Are you saying it`s only giving you issues on hills or inclines? how is it on flat highways?
Even with a 3.42 gear you should still not have any issue towing it!
When you had the tune up done did they replace the fuel filter? it could be partially plugged and not delivering enough fuel under load!
Are you letting the engine rev on the hills or are you backing off because your worried about it reving to high?!

smkettner wrote:
That small wildwood should not be any issue for the van.
Get the van in the shop and find what is wrong. Bring the trailer for the mechanic to do a test drive. Could be the timing chain or converter mentioned above or something else.

I stopped by an RV place on the way out to have the service guy check my connections, the weight distribution setup, my electrical harness and chains. I told him my concerns and he said "well it is a heavy trailer". I am not sure where else to take it. The van really is zippy without the trailer.

travelnutz wrote:
Your 1992 2500 GMC van most likely has the 5.7 liter V8 and it has plenty of power to pull double the weight of your Wildwood trailer. A slim possibility your van has a smaller size V8 because few of them were ever sold in the 2500 model and usually only in the short wheel bsase version. The unknown is what rear end ratio your van has as that will make a huge difference in pulling ability. Most had the 342 or the 373 ratio as OEM. Yours, being a camper van conversion and the long body version, most likely has a 5.7 V8 with either the 342 or 373. You'd know if you purchased the van new but if bought used, who knows what may have been changed since new. The other power robber is an mostly plugged catalytic converter as your van is now 24 years old. OR the engine cylinders/rings are worn and losing compression.

We had a Chevy 2500 Deluxe Starcraft Van Conversion and had no problem pulling a 30' Nomad Century trailer loaded with options and full water plus all our food and stuff which is more than double your trailer's weight and it had the same front shape as yours which is far from aerodynamic in shape/wind bucking. I could pull the trailer at 70 anytime except up hills or long steep grades.

Have your van's engine checked and the catalytic converter also as it should pull your Wildwood at even 70 mph easily without flooring the go pedal. Something isn't right with your van and will need to be fixed anyway so you'll be paying double plus in the long run by having your Wildwood delivered since the van needs to be taken care of also.

However, remember that your trailer tires have a max speed of 65 mph even if they are 225/75/15 "D" range tires (8 ply rating and 65 psi max inflation) and less than 65 mph if they are smaller tires than those with 50 psi max.

My van is 1992 GMC G2500 vandura V-8 350 ci 4,482 lbs 3/4 ton van, max towing capacity of 6600lbs. I think it is 17' long. It was originally owned by a couple owned a garage, even stored indoors and used for camping themselves couldnt anymore due to poor health so they sold it. On my last trip to Florida I used 1 quart of oil. I have always been careful having checkups twice a year and right before trips. Now the last time I was in Florida my muffler went and I had a guy make a new one "on the spot" and he said the catalytic was in bad shape, did I need it to pass inspections and I told him I didnt anymore. Nobody has said anything about the catalytic converter since then. I use the van during the year around town, but I am retired so dont put much mileage on it. It now has 139k miles. The mechanics say it is in great shape. When we went over the mountains west 2 summers ago pulling the teardrop I did need to downshift to 2nd to get up and down some of those steeper grades. I only carry 4 gallons of water in the van, the trailer is empty. My van tires are new this year, the trailer tires are new and ST 205/75/R15. In any case I like to cruise at 60 mph which seems most comfortable speed for me and best gas mileage.
We went to the closest truck scales to get the van and trailer weighed and weighed both together. I know I should have separated the two, but it was cold, the scales were icy and I was slipping just getting onto the scales. I am not sure how this breaks down into van and trailer. Van is 4482, trailer is 3995 according to specs.
steer axle 2740
drive axle 4140
trailer axle 4100
total 10980

towhead wrote:
By "hard time" what do you mean? Your van should pull that little thing easily. Does the van need a tuneup and seem underpowered or was the trailer fishtailing or overloaded?

I have the pedal all the way down on slight hills and I cant get it over 55. My van has always seemed peppy even when pulling the other smaller trailers. I KNOW it should be able to pull this trailer, and I am not hearing straining sounds or it isnt downshifting like right before I dropped the transmission. Oh yes, I had a complete tuneup before I left, I had it checked over again by another well rated garage. I guess I am just not willing to face real hills if it cant make it up a slight incline. It does seem under powered but there is no fishtailing.

rjxj wrote:
That's a sweet little trailer. Could you take the back roads? It seems like your van should pull that. Were you on the expressway?

Yes, on the expressway. I drive alone, I need to stay on major highways and I am just really worried about the strain it seems to be putting on my RVan.

colliehauler wrote:
Your van should be able to pull a small trailer like that without any problems. I would have someone check your van.

The first time I pulled the trailer about an hour from the dealer to home, no problem. The second time I started out for Florida and dropped the transmission after 45 minutes of driving. That is fixed and I HAVE had the van checked out by two different places who say it is in great shape. I even had the service dept at a trailer place check my set up with the weight distribution system, etc and said everything was good to go.

I agree with all the above posters, something is not right. You should be able to tow that with ease. Even many V6 engines could tow it at 55 mph without a problem.

I hope it's something simple, like a clogged fuel filter or old, out-of-gap spark plugs.

That small wildwood should not be any issue for the van.
Get the van in the shop and find what is wrong. Bring the trailer for the mechanic to do a test drive. Could be the timing chain or converter mentioned above or something else.