2005 envoy

[b75]

I'm looking at buying a 2006 K-Z frontier 2405 it has dry weight 5300lb.
I have a 2005 Gmc Envoy with 5.3 engine 3.73gears with transmission cooler.Will the envoy handle that much weight

[b75]

i Went ahead and bought it been towing for a about a 7 month now camper handles great envoy plenty of power. I do live in Arkansas where we go no big mountains. Don't think i would try it in the Rocky's.

[shfd739]

So we have the identical truck but the Chevy version-Trailblazer EXT LS. 5.3 motor and 3.73 rear end. Book says tow cap of 7200 or 7500 lbs. I can't remember which.

Labor Day weekend was our maiden voyage with a 2017 Shadow Cruiser 240BHS. Door yellow sticker says 5,040lbs as built. Based on the gear we moved over from our pup plus what we added I'm figuring around 5700-5800lbs as it sits now.

I've added XL load tires, an auxiliary trans cooler and air bags to the Trailblazer. Hitch is a Blue Ox Sway Pro.

We did 300miles each way thru Texas Hill Country. Once I got the hitch dialed in it towed pretty well. Pulling the bigger hills I slowed to 50-55mph but ran 60-65mph on flat sections with no problems. Mileage was 7-8mpg going out. Coming home we had a nasty head wind so I ran closer to 50-55mph to keep the truck in 3rd gear. That dropped mileage to 6.5mpg.

Is it perfect? Not quite, but seeing as that's our longest trip of the year I was happy with how it performed. I don't feel the need to run out and buy a larger vehicle before the next trip. Anyplace else we'll go in the next year is less than 100 miles away and no hills. It'll be fine for that.

We're already planning to replace the Trailblazer with an Expedition next summer and knew the Trailblazer would only be used for less than a year towing but I may run it longer now. We only have 119k miles and it looks new inside with a little exterior wear. It does so well I kinda hate to replace it.

[dodge_guy]

OK, the XL has the longer wheel base. your trailer will likely weigh in around 6000lbs loaded. I don`t know the exact weight the Envoy can tow, I believe it is somewhere around 6500lbs. If your open to maybe getting a newer vehicle I would try it and see how you like it. what is bad for one person may be perfectly fine to another. just remember you will notice you have a 6000lb house behind you, this goes with any vehicle. so the truck will need more gas pedal to get moving and it will also need to rev up more when going up a hill as any vehicle would!

[b75]

Its an XL with 5.3

[ktosv]

Envoy or Envoy XL?

[bikendan]

b75 wrote:
I have weight distribution and installed a bigger transmission cooler would that help

NO, still too much trailer.
You'd still need a WDH and trans cooler with a smaller trailer.

[GaryUT]

b75 wrote:
I have weight distribution and installed a bigger transmission cooler would that help

We towed our 21 foot hybrid with our 2003 Trailblazer for 5 years. Our Trailblazer has a 5000 pound towing limit.

Our trailer has a brochure weight of 2886 pounds, the brochure weight does not include any options like A/C propane tanks or battery. Ready to camp our trailer is 4300 pounds.

I installed an extra transmission cooler, and had the transmission serviced every year when we were towing. At that time there were no LT tires in the odd size this platform uses, so I went with the highest load rated P series tires I could get. I also installed heavy duty shocks on the rear.

I was NEVER comfortable towing the trailer with the Trailblazer. The vehicle is too narrow and the wheelbase is too short, anything passing you will cause excessive movement, read SWAY. I only got 7-8 MPG towing, the small tank means frequent fuel stops.

I would say get a larger tow vehicle. But if you decide to do it anyway NEVER tow in overdrive. The OD clutch in the transmission will fail. There are no towing mirrors for the GM 360, we were using the universal strap on mirrors.

Gary

[b75]

I have weight distribution and installed a bigger transmission cooler would that help

[Grit_dog]

Not waaay to much trailer, but maybe waaay to much for you to tow with a short wheelbase lighter rig like the Envoy.
Drivetrain is same as a half ton or Yukon/Suburban so you're golden there.
Suspension is another story. Will need some help there no question.
I wouldn't prefer to pull a 24-26' trailer behind a midsize, but pretty sure I've done more with less. At least you got the big V8 to stretch the whole thing straight if the trailer starts driving the truck. And if you don't know what I mean by that, prolly not a good idea to tow something that long.

[bikendan]

wayy too much trailer.

[Me_Again]

We have a 2004 Buick Rainier sister with 5.3 and 3.73's, which is rated to tow 6500. No way would I want to tow that much or length of the trailer you noted. The 360 wheel base is to short. It does turn on a dime and give 9 cents change. Chris

[Labman7]

Had a 2003 Envoy pulling a 16' Haulmark enclosed with 1 Harley and 2 ATV's. Weight was right at 5,800# by scale. Trans went out at 35,000 while towing through the Smokey's. GM replaced it under warranty. Drove it for another 5 years pulling the trailer many times through mountains. Gave it to our grandson with 148,000 miles. He still drives it, somewhere over the 200k mark now.

[mbopp]

As a former Envoy owner towing a 21' hybrid TT, the Envoy wouldn't be up to the task. The soft suspension and 4-speed 4L60E transmission are big drawbacks. You see the replacement tow vehicle in my sig.

[Campfire_Time]

First things first, welcome! Lots of knowledge here and lots of helpful folks.

You'll have no issues with power and general ability to tow.

To ChooChooMan's point, you have other limitations. I had an '03 Trailblazer. I believe the hitch is rated for 950# with a WD hitch. What concerns me is your payload. Look at the yellow weight sticker in your driver side door jamb. It will list your payload. It might be 1200# or 1300#. That sounds good until you subtract the tongue weight and the weight of the WDH, likely you're looking at close to 900#, which gets subtracted from the payload. Now you have 300# left for your spouse, kids, dog, and "stuff". You can see that you'll most likely exceed your payload rating.

Moreover, that trailer is a bit large for a GMT360 platform. I had an EXT (GMT370) and I would not have towed anything longer than 20/21 foot. If you have the SWB, that KZ is too much trailer for that truck.