Newbie wanting to pull a Toy Hauler with a Tahoe

[afishinado]

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?

[afishinado]

lincster wrote:

64thunderbolt wrote:
I think the wheelbase of the Tahoe is so short the trailer will wag it all over the road. I wouldn't do it. But that's just my opinion.

Ditto this.
I have tried towing just a travel trailer with a Tahoe I owned. Anything over 55mph and the trailer was pushing me all over the place. Sounds like the OP has made up his mind and is going to do it anyway.

Can't imagine how it's going to be any different than 7000lbs of boat and trailer.

[lincster]

64thunderbolt wrote:
I think the wheelbase of the Tahoe is so short the trailer will wag it all over the road. I wouldn't do it. But that's just my opinion.

Ditto this.
I have tried towing just a travel trailer with a Tahoe I owned. Anything over 55mph and the trailer was pushing me all over the place. Sounds like the OP has made up his mind and is going to do it anyway.

[Lowsuv]

I've been a trailer sailor for 52 years .
Towing boats are exponentially easier than towing ToyHaulers , travel trailers , or fifth wheels .
Boats are considerably more aerodynamic than the 8' x 8 ' square wall of a TH.
Plus the toyhauler is not always balanced for tongue weight due to the variable payload behind the axles .
Towing a 6500 # boat is not unlike towing a 4500# toy hauler .

[afishinado]

I have towed the old boat that weighed 6500lbs twice a year between NJ & FL with my old Tahoe (this one is new).. I dunno why I'm even concerned.

[64thunderbolt]

I think the wheelbase of the Tahoe is so short the trailer will wag it all over the road. I wouldn't do it. But that's just my opinion.

[KD4UPL]

Your problem will be payload on the Tahoe.
The other issues can be cured by installing: at least D rated tires, Es if you want. Definitely not P tires.
Good shocks, possible air bags, maybe upgrade the hitch to one that will handle the tongue weight if the one you have isn't enough.

[tomkaren13]

My vote is for the Foerst River Gray Wolf.Like Forest River products. Of course I would hate to make the bed in any that does not have a walk around. Just my thought.

[afishinado]

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 mrkoje
I won't do the 16-19' ones.. Too small

The 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

[mrkoje]

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=fl...

This 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.html

Here 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.html



Point 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

[BigJon05]

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.

[the_bear_II]

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.

[mrkoje]

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!