What can a tahoe really tow?

APT wrote:
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.

+1


The limiting factor of all 1/2 ton SUVs and trucks is payload. Most have between 1400 to 1600 lbs for passengers and cargo, which gets eaten up fast with people and stuff. Check the tire and loading sticker inside the driver's door for any potential purchase, it will tell you exactly what that specific vehicle equipment package can carry. For example, my 07 Expedition EL XLT 4x4 with leather,rear air, and sunroof has a maximum of 1675lbs. You will see the number goes down a lot for the premium packages, sometimes by several hundred pounds for a top of the line! Add up the weight of your family and stuff you want to carry in the SUV and and subtract it from this number, what is left is what you have available for tongue weight.

Running numbers for multiple 1/2 ton SUVs multiple times, it seems the maximum loaded travel trailer tends to be around 6000-6500lbs, putting dry weight generally in the 5000lb range. Your TT is about the largest trailer most people would feel comfortable towing with a 1/2 ton.

The heaviest SAFE TT is ALWAYS less than the maximum tow rating, because the maximum tow rating is based on a boat or flat deck cargo trailer. These trailers have low center of gravity, low wind resistance, and are thus more stable requiring a tongue weight of only 10%. Look at the brochures and commercials, this is what you most often see behind the SUV, and this is how they test them. So the max tow rating is usually derived like this: Max tongue weight for my Expy is 900lbs / 0.10 = 9000lbs! = Max tow rating. Remember, that 900 comes off the payload so 1675 - 900 = 775lbs for people and stuff. Guess I better not try to carry 8 people while towing this trailer, but they don't tell you that!

TT behaves NOTHING LIKE a boat or cargo trailer. They have a higher center of gravity, the weight is all around the perimiter, and they have the air resistance of a barn door, which all leads to a tongue weight of 13-15% to keep them stable. So 900 / 0.14 = 6428lbs, NOT 9200lbs!! And you still only have 775lbs for people.

The Expy is the 1/2 ton SUV payload king at 1600-1700lbs for XLT. Most all others will be less, some A LOT less, which means given the same tongue weight, less available for people.

Good luck in your search!