Could you please help me with my tow ratings on Tahoe?

rockhillmanor wrote:
There is NO long wheelbase "Tahoe".
There IS a "Suburban" which has a longer wheel base.

Thanks for the correction.

I went to the "Tahoe Owners Manual" and didn't realize the specifications were for both the Tahoe and the Suburban.

Ron

the tow rating for your Tahoe, will be in the towing section of your owner's manual.
since i have an '07 Avalanche, based on the same GM900 chassis, since you don't have the HD tow package(due to the 3.42 rear end ratio), i'm guessing its towing capacity is around 6500lbs.

you didn't mention if it has the 4 spd. trans or 6 spd. trans.
if it has the 6 spd trans, it'll have a higher towing capacity.
if it has the 4 spd trans, it'll have a lower towing capacity.

funny thing is that Trailer Life's towing guide for 2008, doesn't show a 3.42 rear end ratio for a 2WD Tahoe with the 5.3 v-8.

and the numbers stamped on the hitch receiver are the ratings for the receiver only and NOT necessarily what your vehicle is capable of.
GM uses the same receiver on a variety of vehicles, all with different towing capacities.

My Tahoe was set up about the same as the OPs. I pulled at 5500 TT plus cargo, two kids and two dogs. I did it for 5 years. I knew my limitations and the Tahoe's limitations, how to load, where to load it, how to set up the WDH. I also saw Tahoes pulling 26-28' TT into campgrounds with their headlights pointing into the trees. Jonboats on the roof, 6-7 adults inside, etc. I was happy with my setup. It does not compare to my 2500 but that doesn't mean the Tahoe did a poor job, just that my 2500 is much better.

Ron Gratz wrote:
Three additional pieces of information would be helpful:

2)Do you have the short wheelbase or long wheelbase Tahoe?

There is NO long wheelbase "Tahoe".
There IS a "Suburban" which has a longer wheel base.

The first CG I pulled into after using my Tahoe for a tow vehicle I was spent fighting the winds and semi's pushing me all over. The 'tail-wagging the dog'.

A fellow camper said if I had bought the Suburban and changed out the tires it would have worked.

Just saying,... you can PULL anything within the specs of a vehicle. BUT can you 'drive' it SAFELY down the road is the question.

Sadly many RV'ers just don't care.

Not really related to your ratings but you should know. I have an 01 suburban with 5.3. I tow a 30 ft with empty weight of 4400 lbs. Its OK. I wouldn't pull much more but here's the thing. 5.3 gets winded going up hills here in eastern Ohio. Flat grounds no problem. I was a little put off for a while then I just decided to drop speed to 55 through the hills and not sweat it.

sheripoms wrote:
Ok,, so let me see if I got this straight?

Say my Tahoe weighs 5500 lbs. The Gvwr is 7100. So I have a 1600 lbs to play with as far as everything/everybody that goes into the tahoe and the hitch weight itself plus the tongue weight (10% of TT) Right?

Few TTs will be 10% in the real world, bank on 12-13%. But the rest of what you're saying in correct in theory. Step one is load the Tahoe up with a full tank of gas, the family and if possible the gear you'll carry (or close estimate) go to a CAT scale and get the real deal.

Ron we have the third row seats. Which I would probably take out before traveling.

Three additional pieces of information would be helpful:

1) On the TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION sticker on the driver's door edge: What is the value for Maximum Weight of Occupants and Cargo?

2) Do you have the short wheelbase or long wheelbase Tahoe?

3) Do you have the third-row seats?

Ron

sheripoms wrote:
Rockhillmanor , What kind of TT where towing with your Tahoe?

Thanks so much for the info Therink,, I was guesstimating about the same . No more than 6000 wet and not more than 23/24 length. Really would like to keep it at 20 in length.

No problem. Sounds like you are being realistic. Have fun and travel safe.

lanerd wrote:

therink wrote:
Weigh your truck as if loaded for camping. Subtract the scale weight from your 7100 payload. The difference will be how much hitch weight you can safely accomodate.

Not quite.... should read:

Weigh your truck as if loaded from camping. Subtract the scale weight from your GVWR. The difference will be how much PAYLOAD you can safely accommodate.

For the OP... tow ratings are a sales gimmick. You're main concern with the Tahoe will be it's "payload" rating.....as you will max this out long before you max out the tow rating.

Keep in mind, the "payload limit" will include any and every thing you put in or on the Tahoe....all occupants, equipment, tools, misc gear...AND the tongue weight (including the WD hitch) of the trailer.

Hope this helps..

Ron

Sorry, yes gvwr. I wrote this during my kids Orchestra concert at school... LOL