In the discovery and due diligence stage. Former boater (I still have one) and now into touring with wife on our Harleys. We decided we are going to give a toy hauler a try next summer. We did a tour in the old Tahoe, rented bikes at different places. I really like the places a full size SUV can take us that a Class A nor a Harley could dream of going. So it seems a toy hauler I can pull with the Tahoe is the way to go. We're retired. Plan on leaving it in a campground on the west coast of Florida for the winter (we live on the east coast) to give us a get away location, I'll leave one of the Harleys in it. In the summer get on the road for 6-10 weeks, I like the west, both south and north, bring both our Harleys and both dogs.. Probably stay in 5 or 6 places for 6 to 10 days each. I have stayed in KOA campgrounds, rented their cabins... I like the camping atmosphere.My first comment as a newbie is; Damn there are a lot of trailers to choose from.My first question (I'm sure the most common one) Is with 8000lbs max tow, I will be right there with most of the 21-22' models... Should I worry or just be careful?

Find a toyhauler that doesn't go over your payload on the Tahoe with the tongue weight. Toyhauler's have substantially more tongue weight that typical trailers to offset the weight of the motorcycles in the back. It might be hard and might take a while but I'm sure there is something out there that will fit the bill. You might want to search this forum for TH tongue weight.. a lot of recent discussions about that exactly!

For safety and longevity of your Tahoe you want to stay way below the max tow. 25% or a maximum gross weight of 6000lbs for toy hauler.This will allow for better braking, fuel economy and overall performance. When you get close to the 8000lbs you lose those 3 attributes.

Suspension and soft walled passenger tires on the SUV with be a problem. Its not that it cant be done but I wouldnt do it. The trailer will feel like its pushing you around. We tried it once.

These might be some candidates: This floor plan looks like it is absolutley horrible but the weights might be inline with your Tahoe - maybe.http://www.forestriverinc.com/ToyHaulerTravelTrailers/HyperLite/default.aspx?model=hyperlite&page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=4371&RVType=THTThis one looks like the tongue weight would bust your payload as soon as you add any weight in front of the axles. If you can get this model balanced correctly with the two bikes on or behind the rear axle and still have 13-15% tongue weight and still be under your hitch raiting and payload for the Tahoe then this might work. It's a better floor plan. http://www.cruiserrv.com/fun-finder-xtra/xt_200/specifications.htmlHere is another one where I think the floorplan is horrible but it fits within your weight limitations on the Tahoe. http://www.kz-rv.com/mxt/MXT160.htmlPoint is they are out there. You might not like what you get with the Tahoe as a limiting factor. Some of these TH will have too much tongue weight "DRY" or unloaded for you to pull with the Tahoe. As soon as you add weight from your toys behind the rear axle than it will take some of that weight off the tongue. It is more complicated to get setup right with the TH than a traditonal TT but as long as you're going down the road within your payload, GCWR, GTWR and GVWR all while having 13-15% weight of the trailer riding on the ball and towing safely with no sway then you're good to go! GOOD LUCK

Interesting. Taken under advisement.. I will keep seeking opinions. I'm not buying yet another vehicle to do 6-8000 miles a year, I wouldn't be adverse to getting a set of tires just for the trip. At the most I will leave one scoot home and be well under the 8000... Need to hear more opinions... I know on the boating forum I frequent its common to see a guy post that has a 1 ton pickup and he wouldn't tow a canoe with anything less...Edit: Was typing the same time as mrkojeI won't do the 16-19' ones.. Too smallThe Tahoe claims 1000lb tongue wt max...These are my two favorites from my searches so far:http://www.rubicontoyhauler.com/floorplans/2100.aspx http://www.forestriverinc.com/ToyHaulerTravelTrailers/GreyWolf/default.aspx?model=greywolf&page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=4270&RVType=THT

Newbie wanting to pull a Toy Hauler with a Tahoe

dedmiston
Moderator
Aug 26, 2013
Glad you got your answer, even if it wasn't from all the helpful people who responded here. :R
Doughboy12
Explorer
Aug 26, 2013
afishinado wrote:

...and buying something much larger along with a quad cab 3/4 ton 4x4 and fifth wheel specifically for the task...

Most telling information I read on your posts...
You think a 250 Can pull a "much larger" fifth wheel...WRONG.
afishinado
Explorer II
Aug 26, 2013
lincster wrote:
So basically you won't listen to anything anyone here says since you "don't know us pretty well".
I for one was saying the same thing as your buddy......

Easy Pal... Don't take it personal.. If one believes everything he reads on forums they are not as smart as I am...

I already knew my Tahoe is marginal or I would have never posted in the first place. I already knew there would be posts from guys with one ton duallys telling me that's what I would have to have to tow a pop up because that's what THEY have.... See it all the time in all kinds of forums, so forgive me, but I read your post before you typed. I was hoping for someone to chime in that HAS towed a toy hauler with a Tahoe/Yukon, then I would PM them and seek some more details. Hard to believe someone hasn't with as popular as they are. I do appreciate your input.
lincster
Explorer
Aug 26, 2013
afishinado wrote:
One of my favorite sayings is: LIFE IS ALL ABOUT HOW YOU HANDLE PLAN B

Sunday afternoon the trucker (who also has become a friend) dropped off our bikes after hauling them from Sturgis to Jersey, then detailing them. Showed up in a F250 with a 20' enclosed trailer.. Needless to say where that conversation went.

He has of course a tractor and a couple trailers, one for moving (Mayflower) one enclosed double decker for cars and or motorcycles, and one plain enclosed (that I know of).. Also has a 30' 5th wheel enclosed and a 20' bumper hitch (the one he showed up with here) that he pulls with the F250. Told me he had a toy hauler, about the same size I was looking at, planned on using it to stay at events he towed to... He told me a story of his last tow with it. He ran over something at speed from an accident, thing disintegrated, while hooked to his truck at 50mph (didn't flip or roll it either).. When someone I know pretty well, that's been driving trucks for over 40 years listens to my plan and the very first thing he says is "Forget it Mike" and the last thing he says in his story is "I won't tow one ever again, period"
So: Pull out a fresh sheet of paper... Start looking at 5th wheel trailers and 3/4 ton pick up trucks. I'm a 62 year old motorhead, never had a 5th wheel trailer so his oughta be fun.

So basically you won't listen to anything anyone here says since you "don't know us pretty well".
I for one was saying the same thing as your buddy......
SolidAxleDurang
Explorer
Aug 26, 2013
afishinado wrote:
One of my favorite sayings is: LIFE IS ALL ABOUT HOW YOU HANDLE PLAN B

Sunday afternoon the trucker (who also has become a friend) dropped off our bikes after hauling them from Sturgis to Jersey, then detailing them. Showed up in a F250 with a 20' enclosed trailer.. Needless to say where that conversation went.

He has of course a tractor and a couple trailers, one for moving (Mayflower) one enclosed double decker for cars and or motorcycles, and one plain enclosed (that I know of).. Also has a 30' 5th wheel enclosed and a 20' bumper hitch (the one he showed up with here) that he pulls with the F250. Told me he had a toy hauler, about the same size I was looking at, planned on using it to stay at events he towed to... He told me a story of his last tow with it. He ran over something at speed from an accident, thing disintegrated, while hooked to his truck at 50mph (didn't flip or roll it either).. When someone I know pretty well, that's been driving trucks for over 40 years listens to my plan and the very first thing he says is "Forget it Mike" and the last thing he says in his story is "I won't tow one ever again, period"
So: Pull out a fresh sheet of paper... Start looking at 5th wheel trailers and 3/4 ton pick up trucks. I'm a 62 year old motorhead, never had a 5th wheel trailer so his oughta be fun.

You will a lot happier with this plan. :)
afishinado
Explorer II
Aug 26, 2013
One of my favorite sayings is: LIFE IS ALL ABOUT HOW YOU HANDLE PLAN B

Sunday afternoon the trucker (who also has become a friend) dropped off our bikes after hauling them from Sturgis to Jersey, then detailing them. Showed up in a F250 with a 20' enclosed trailer.. Needless to say where that conversation went.

He has of course a tractor and a couple trailers, one for moving (Mayflower) one enclosed double decker for cars and or motorcycles, and one plain enclosed (that I know of).. Also has a 30' 5th wheel enclosed and a 20' bumper hitch (the one he showed up with here) that he pulls with the F250. Told me he had a toy hauler, about the same size I was looking at, planned on using it to stay at events he towed to... He told me a story of his last tow with it. He ran over something at speed from an accident, thing disintegrated, while hooked to his truck at 50mph (didn't flip or roll it either).. When someone I know pretty well, that's been driving trucks for over 40 years listens to my plan and the very first thing he says is "Forget it Mike" and the last thing he says in his story is "I won't tow one ever again, period"
So: Pull out a fresh sheet of paper... Start looking at 5th wheel trailers and 3/4 ton pick up trucks. I'm a 62 year old motorhead, never had a 5th wheel trailer so his oughta be fun.
stsmark
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
A long time neighbor bought a new 27 ft Airstream in Feb and pulls it with a 01 Tahoe. We had a chat the other day about towing with the combo. With his Dual Cam setup properly he was really happy with both stance and stability specifically saying passing trucks were much less an issue than he expected. He puts about 400 lbs of people and pups in the Tahoe.
They have been out about 6 times around Northern Ca and the Sierras. He's going to start looking for a 3/4 ton for longer trips in the mountains. FWIW talking about boats I used to tow my 76 Ski Tique with no brakes on the trailer behind my CJ-5, in another lifetime of course.
SolidAxleDurang
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
Weight for weight, boats are the easiest things to pull.

Bumper pull toy haulers are the WORST towable out there when it comes to balance.

Your Tahoe is not suited for one regardless of TH size.

Please feel free to ignore this post :)
afishinado
Explorer II
Aug 25, 2013
Thanks for the comments guys, I am listening.
I have also posted this elsewhere ie: Tahoe/Yukon forum

1. I plan on pulling it loaded to keep the tongue weight down...
2. If I discover my Tahoe just doesn't have what it takes to do the job, I'll go on line and find something that will, do my trip and dump it when the trip is over. Again I only plan on using it as intended for 2 months a year.

64thunderbolt wrote:
He's gonna need it. Wait till he's tooling down the interstate @ 60 And a semi passes him doing 80. The wash from that big rig is gonna kick his butt.

I'll wear my Depends on the first couple pulls:). No biggy
64thunderbolt
Explorer II
Aug 25, 2013
He's gonna need it. Wait till he's tooling down the interstate @ 60 And a semi passes him doing 80. The wash from that big rig is gonna kick his butt.