Chevy express Towing U-haul flatbed w/ 4650LB trailblazer

[thebrain]

Chevy express Towing U-haul flatbed w/ 4650LB trailblazer

The 04 chevy express 2500 has 6500LB tow capacity weird that it’s the same as the 1500 express of same era. Or maybe I misread these specs. on the net.

Also weird conversion vans don’t lower this rating even w/ the increased payload of extra seats compared to the cargos.

Anyway I’m planning a few road trips to look one trip is a major city where I could easily get around w/out my own ride.

This current #1prospretect of a new express van is 5 hours away in the country, so I’d probably have to drive to look in the trailblazer.

Then expect to use the express w/ Uhaul flatbed to transport the AWD trailblazor.
Not sure what a UH flatbed weights?like you have to tell UH what youre towing right?

I’ve been informed in previous threads the express is to wide (even w/ GM dounut spare tires) to fit on a UH tow dolly.

Another option is to purchase either vehicle w/ stipulation of assistance in transporting then I take the person home after dropping off the van at my home.

What do you Guys think. and thanks for advice.

[colliehauler]

I found Texas to be a good area to purchase vehicle's specifically the DWF metroplex. It might be worth checking out and easy to fly into.

[thebrain]

Yeh the seller is a bit difficult his add is a joke of a discription conversion van ready to sell period.
He did check a few of the category titles.

Initially I email piliminary ?s and requesting images of underneath body for rust,engine/sticker of air filter for engine size and door panels storage some vans had storage others had a useless zipper.

his Posted images where a joke.van in shade not the usele front to back images, basically crummie images.

Called the guy the other day he said he bought it from I quote “ a old white Guy from N GA” didn’t interrupt as racist because he claims to be a musician.

I’m curious what the van was used for he say’s transporting instruments and clients to and from gigs. No towing of another vehicle.
Learyness starts here:
I ask what type of oil have you been using he says unknown he pays for oil changes so I assume jiffy lube conventional oil which I believe recycled used oil correct?isn’t a deal breaker like the 5.3 doe’snt require a synthetic like my car doe’s.

Anyone purchasing tires at walmart must need there head examined but he says fairly new. I always order decent tire online like Goodrich or compreable.

I ask about him transporting people he did admit they did smoke cigaretts however he states there is no order of smoke, I think you smoke one cig in a car it lasts forever musicians are usually smoking weed which stinks worst than cigs or cigars ,

he also states no animales where ever in the van like smelly cat or dog piss.

He claims there are no leaks and he will run engine for a while then inspect.

I have been on the lookout for a decent LS style 03+ conversion for over 4 years that’s reasonably close unbelievable that they are this hard to find.

I did receive images of the regular GM surface rust (I’ve been burned on a previous vehicle that was used in upstate new york which had major rust underneath.

Either this Guy is egnorant or he knows how to flip cars.

Yes the one way rentel is a good suggestion, a bus ride is around $25. to airport from there I can navigate the city w/ public transit.

The other van I’m considering is in norther Missippie in the middle of nowhere much harder to get around mite have to offer up some fuel $ for this purchase however his purchase price is kindof high.

Remember this is a tow vehicle for my main boating vessel exposed to salt water & parked at a public boat launch for 3-4 days at a time so I treat either of these vans as a disposable body for a few years then get another.

[ktosv]

A one way car rental might be arguably cheaper than all of the scenarios discussed and probably less stressful too not having to tow on the return trip.

[Grit_dog]

What's the bus ride cost, hadn't thought of that.

Buying a distance away, be persistent with the seller for any and all information you can get to make your decision easier. Including tons of pics. If the seller isn't willing to crawl around, and take pics of everything you request, up front, then they're hiding something. Although unsure what the overall expectation is on a 15+ 250kmi+ van.
Cleanliness? Leaks? Rust? component condition like tires brakes etc?

Alot of pics may tell you what you didn't want to see or confirm that it's in the shape you are expecting.

The TA would tow home a bit easier, but you still haven't said what engine and I don't see it making "that" much difference. One thing to consider is getting the TA onto a car hauler. May need a bunch of boards etc to ramp it up onto the trailer being low to the ground with a long nose.

[thebrain]

all you Guys make excellent points especially hooking up a trailer w/ a unknow van.

the other one trip option is to show up in my 99 pontiac trans am then place it on the flatbed.
trailer weight 3K + 3550LB for the car which is only 50Lbs over max tow capcity of the van. what do Guy's think.

I'd prefer to only make one trip to bring new van home.

last plan 2 trips cruise up from Montgomery,AL to atlanta purchase then bus ride back to pickup the new van. the only person that I could bother w/ this driving it back is a smoker and I don't want smoke in the new van.

[blt2ski]

Thinking on this a bit more. You do not say or show where you live. 5 hrs away can be a chore of a tow, to all things considering, pretty easy. Going from Seattle to Portland and back as I did today. Pretty easy.
BUT, if you are going 5 hrs across the Rockies somewhere.....That is a whole nuther animal!! The hills will stress either rig more than the fewer smaller less steep hills where I was.
Are you towing where it is at freezing or say below? vs 100F+ temps across death valley? Again, two complete different environments that one is easy vs the other.
So as Grit said, it might be better to take someone with you, have your friend drive one, you the other back home.

Marty

[blt2ski]

Iirc, a 2500 GM van is a 6 lug 7200 GVWR. I could be wrong. If as the birdie in my brain is going off, you would probably have the 4.8 or 5.3 in it. If it is an 8 lug 2500, you have a 6.0 V8.
Reality, ANY of those motors will move that trailer etc. My sons 1500 pickup with a 4.8/4L60 trans/3.42 gears moved my 5400 lb C2500 with his car hauler at a bit over 2000 lbs just fine. Yes some of the 3% freeway grades had him in the low 50mph relm in 2nd gear. Frankly to be expected, as one would need the 200-250hp that motor is producing at the rpm it was running in 2nd.
A 5.3 or 6.0 would be a bit faster, but still turning 4000+ rpm in 2nd gear. No overheating etc.

My 02 in this.

Marty

[Grit_dog]

Didn't catch the 5 hours away part. Only 5 hours, the most economical, safest and easiest solution is to bring someone along to drive one of the rigs back home, if you can swing that.

[carringb]

thebrain wrote:
I didn't know a AWD can be towed on a dolly how is the the transfer case switched to neutral.
this traiblazor is my first AWD vehicle so I need to learn this stuff.are you saying I can switch the Transfer case to a neutral gear.
and tow the blazer on a dolley.

not sure what a toad is
Thanks

Toad = Towed Vehicle.

Unfortunately the AWD Trailblazer cannot be dolly towed like the 4x4 Trailblazer could be. The 4x4 version has a 4x4 mode selector switch, which includes a Neutral mode. The AWD version instead uses a silicone-fluid-coupling that's always engaged.

[thebrain]

I didn't know a AWD can be towed on a dolly how is the the transfer case switched to neutral.
this traiblazor is my first AWD vehicle so I need to learn this stuff.are you saying I can switch the Transfer case to a neutral gear.
and tow the blazer on a dolley.

not sure what a toad is
Thanks

[GaryUT]

thebrain wrote:
Chevy express Towing U-haul flatbed w/ 4650LB trailblazer



What do you Guys think. and thanks for advice.

If you cant get another driver tow the Trailblazer on a dolly, they have a neutral position on the transfer case for using as a toad.

Gary

[carringb]

I would plug your combination into U-Haul's selector, and if it rejects it, it's probably best to find another plan. Besides assuming all the liability in the event something goes wrong, there is some merit to ensuring the tow-vehicle weighs more than the the auto-trailer once its loaded, since you can't use weight distribution.

Plus, it's unlikely the current owner of the van has installed a Class-5 hitch. It just doesn't make sense to put one on a van with a small motor. And that loaded auto-hauler will be well over the 5k rating of the stock hitch receiver (that's the non-weight-distributing limit).

[theoldwizard1]

thebrain wrote:
Chevy express Towing U-haul flatbed w/ 4650LB trailblazer

U-Haul flatbed weigh a LOT. You will likely be over your 6500 lb limit.

I would never tow ANYTHING over 5,000 lbs WITHOUT a weight distribution hitch AND good well maintained and properly adjust trailer brakes (except maybe locally and then my top speed would be under 40 MPH).

[thebrain]

I'm waiting to hear back from the seller non engine size. I'm waiting on a image of the air intake sticker it revelves engine size, I'd like to verify engine size

remember this is a 03 express I'm considering for my new tow vehicle so far it's being advertised as a 2500 which is high mileage at over 250K miles.

if this is actuelly a 6.0 the 250K miles is less of a concern compared to the 5.3. or4.8

what about explaining to U haul what I'm towing Like do I legalley have to tell them what I'm towing to be covered by scumbag insurance co.

[Grit_dog]

A 2500 Express chassis will handle it.
If it's the 4.8, it'll work hard at it.
My concern would be more hooking a 6000lb + trailer to an older vehicle I had no history or experience with and hoping to make it.

Idk if uhaul dollies are the same, been years since I used one, but last one was too narrow to haul a 1999 Ram 1500, but a 1990s Chevy 1500 fit on it tightly. Based on that, your guess that the track width of the van being too wide is likely accurate.
And uhaul is sometimes sticky on what they'll allow you to use as a tow vehicle and in my experience they won't rent to you if your trailer light hookup doesn't work. (I showed up with Chevy K2500 454, 4x4 once to rent a dolly to tow a 4 runner and they turned me away. Came back with a F350 dually cab n chassis from my construction site and they then "allowed" it.
Also got snubbed pulling in with a K1500 GMC, told them I was towing a civic (was planning on towing the GMC or the Ram 1500) and had to go borrow a buddies 3/4 ton to get it off their lot.
So check that before you make the trip.

As far as tow ratings etc, there's rvnet and there's the real world and lots of things get towed just fine that don't pass muster on this discerning site.