I'm trying to decide if a tahoe would pull my 30' bullet. It weighs in at 5030 dry. I'm guessing we add another 1500 to 2000 pounds loaded up. The hitch weight lists at 540. The tahoe supposedly pulls 8200 with the 5.3. And has a max tongue weight of 1000lbSeems like all should be fine but would love to hear your opinions. Especially if you have one or know someone who does. I currently use a durango with the hemi and the 3.55 rear end and the aid of dual cam sway/weight distribution bars. It does fine for all the towing we do. Only difference I can see moving to a tahoe is a couple of inches less wheel base. Would that make a significant difference?Thanks much for all the help so far. I know I've been going around in circles a bit trying to figure out what to get. You've all been very patient. This is a post I found on another site that seems helpful"My wife pulled a 30' 6k# (scaled loaded to travel) TT several tens of thousands of miles over several years with an 05 Tahoe. Never had a problem with it and she doesn't like to tow unless she has too. If it was any kind of issue I can promise you I would have never heard the end of that and that combination would have been history quick."Now if he could keep his wife happy with the older tahoe surly the newer one with a 6 speed should keep even my wife happy ;)?

I'd do it with the right equipment and the right load. That being, right gears, transmission cooler, brake controller, WD hitch with some sort of sway control. (I don't care what you use, just use some kind of wd and sway control). And really good tires (P plus or LT)I did it with an old 97 f150.

How many people and how much stuff in the tahoe? What year tahoe?Just plane insufficient information to make any sort of educated guess. BTW dry weight numbers are a useless sales gimmick designed to sell you more trailer than your vehicle can handle. You will never see that trailer anywhere close to that number ever.

Thanks. 2 adults 2 teenagers in the tahoe all the stuff in the trailer. I don't have a specific tahoe in mind but I would want the 5.3 and get one new enough to have the 6 speed transmission with all the towing necessities. Guess I would need to weigh my trailer to know for sure what it weighs for sure.

A 2009+ Tahoe with 5.3L/6-spd/3.42 axle will outperform your current TV. More payload, better chassis, better gearing will all contribute.

If you have the option to go with the suburban then do it for the longer wheel base. It makes a huge differance.

What can a tahoe really tow? | Good Sam Community

25 Replies

krobbe
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
My 2500 Burb 8.1L with 3.73 rear pulls my 33' Bullet with no problem averaging 9.5 mpg at 62mph at 2000-2200rpm. A very relaxing, quiet ride. Couldn't be happier! The small block 6.0L with 6speed should perform well but at a higher RPM. When I kick, I wanna be buried in my Burb...
danojeno
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
For a 30' trailer weighing over 7k, I would get a 2500 Suburban. I towed a little more than that with my previous gen Tahoe, with 4:10s, and I upgraded quickly. Do it right the first time and get something designed for that weight and size.
gschindel
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
Thanks. My brother-in-law has a Denali I'll check it out when I go there over Christmas. I did hear some of the top end Tahoes have the bigger motors. Be nice not to need it but nice to know they are out there.

How would a jeep with a hemi compare? Too many choices.
hmknightnc
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
gschindel wrote:
I'm trying to decide if a tahoe would pull my 30' bullet. It weighs in at 5030 dry. I'm guessing we add another 1500 to 2000 pounds loaded up. The hitch weight lists at 540.

The tahoe supposedly pulls 8200 with the 5.3. And has a max tongue weight of 1000lb

Seems like all should be fine but would love to hear your opinions. Especially if you have one or know someone who does. I currently use a durango with the hemi and the 3.55 rear end and the aid of dual cam sway/weight distribution bars. It does fine for all the towing we do. Only difference I can see moving to a tahoe is a couple of inches less wheel base. Would that make a significant difference?

Thanks much for all the help so far. I know I've been going around in circles a bit trying to figure out what to get. You've all been very patient.

This is a post I found on another site that seems helpful

"My wife pulled a 30' 6k# (scaled loaded to travel) TT several tens of thousands of miles over several years with an 05 Tahoe. Never had a problem with it and she doesn't like to tow unless she has too. If it was any kind of issue I can promise you I would have never heard the end of that and that combination would have been history quick."

Now if he could keep his wife happy with the older tahoe surly the newer one with a 6 speed should keep even my wife happy ;)?

Well now. I'm the author of the little quote you have there about the wife towing. Your talking about towing a little more than she was but like somebody else said if you get the right Tahoe (3.73 rear end and factory tow equiped meaning engine and transmission cooler with a new 6 speed) you will be fine. Don't be afraid to let that little 5.3 run at high rpms either, it will do 3k+ all day long no problem. BTW, that '05 Tahoe no does towing duty as the daughter now uses it but it has 170k miles today, engine/transmission has never been touched mechanically except routine maintence and still runs like new. Got a side bet going with some buddys that it will go 250k miles before breaking down.
jbres
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
My experience towing with my Tahoe wasn't pleasant when trying to tow my current TT (which could be slightly heavier than yours). Take it for what its worth, but I own a 2003 Tahoe with 3.73 rear end and the 5.3 V8. Tow capacity per manual is 7,400#s. Empty weight of my trailer was listed as 5,880 and when I had it on scale ready to camp, I was at 6,700#s. Model is a 26tbss so was little longer than 26'.
When I was trying to tow this much weight with my Tahoe it was not enjoyable at highway speeds. Transmission wouldn't hold a steady gear and would do lots of jumping around. Felt I couldn't keep up to speed with traffic while on highway. Also, I felt the Tahoe was not in control of towing my TT. The TT pushed my Tahoe around to much, so for the first season I wouldn't take it anywhere but local campgrounds. I was using an old style Weight Dis. system and double friction type anti sway bars. I ending up buying a heavier duty truck which I now have control over my trailer.
BUT I will say, I did not trade in my Tahoe and kept it. I love my Tahoe as it runs like a dream at 120,000 miles. Tows my 4,500# boat/trailer combo around perfect.
My advice is get your trailer weighed ready to go before you make any decisions.
calamus
Explorer
Dec 10, 2013
Seymore wrote:
If you have the option to go with the suburban then do it for the longer wheel base. It makes a huge differance.

We have a 2008 suburban Z71 5.3 the salesman talked me out of the 3/4 ton(would of had to order one)said the 1/2 ton spec were about the same. it tows ok we pull the pontoon boat and I pull the 5th wheel with the truck, but I would of liked to be able to tow the tractor. and I think the bigger motor would of been nicer.BTW we traded a 04 tohoe on the suburban for the 3rd row seat and storage it will fill up fast even with just 2 kids and 2 dogs.
MO_Trout_Bum
Explorer
Dec 10, 2013
It used to be that the shorter wheelbase GM SUV's (Tahoe/Yukon) had a bit of a payload advantage on the longer wheelbase (Suburban) vehicles dues to a lower curb rate. So, that could be one reason to stay with the Tahoe-class vehicle as long as you can control sway. Over the years, we towed with a 2004 Tahoe (4.8L/3.73), 2006 Yukon (5.3L/4.10), and 2007 Suburban (6.0/4.10), and found all three to be very capable. Our TT at the time was a Four Winds 28G/DSL which weighed 5600Lb dry/6600Lb loaded.
catfishmontana
Explorer
Dec 10, 2013
We had a 2010 Tahoe that was barely able to tow itself around.
APT
Explorer
Dec 10, 2013
Denali has 6.2L with about 20% more power. It's a trim level for the Yukon and Yukon XL. Yukon = GMC Tahoe. Yukon XL = GMC Suburban. The 6.2L is not available (or extremely limited) in the Chevy SUVs. The 6.2L should use a bit less fuel than your Hemi, and 5.3L a little bit less than 6.2L.
Mvander
Explorer
Dec 10, 2013
If your happy with your durango then the tahoe will keep you happy. The durango is based off the smaller dakota.

Forum Discussion

What can a tahoe really tow?

25 Replies

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Lake Tahoe

Truck or Tahoe

Tahoe vs Suburban

2007 Tahoe Tow/Haul mode

Towing with a Tahoe