Putting off changing vehicles for now

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Even though I'm in the business I still have to make decisions about what to do with a personal vehicle. I've had a Chevy Tahoe for over two years now that I have just been elated owning. It's a 1996 with the Vortec 350 and has been a great vehicle for me and most of my needs.

I have been doing more towing lately and on a couple of occasions while I have been within the listed ratings Tahoe I have had a problem with my personal trailering pucker factor. That's why I'd considered making a change to something larger like a 2500 series Suburban. Another thought was going to a four door short box class two pickup and buying or building a gooseneck trailer for it.

I'm putting off any change now because I just got a pair of air bags for the rear suspension on my Tahoe. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I think that'll make a noticeable difference and should know this Tuesday. They'll be on tomorrow and I'll be heading to Indianapolis Monday for a Tuesday auction there (I'm taking my little girl out for a birthday dinner Monday night then just staying over). If I get something bought there, towing it home will be my first chance to test this theory. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

The guy who's putting the air bags on for me suggested that if I'm still uncomfortable with a heavy load I should consider a load equalizing system and maybe even a stablilizer. I'm looking to upgrade my trailer from the current 3500 lb. axles to 5000 lb. axles just to increase my safety margin a little so if I do get in a situation of towing a couple extended cab 4x4's I'll avoid that pucker factor coming into play. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[pruntyc]

Hi Gary, of course I don't know just what you are doing, as its probably something I never have done. But I have pulled travel trailers, of about 20 and 23 foot. And I used the load equalizing hitch and stablilzer combo. And they really work great. It feels like it all one vehicle, and not a vehicle pulling a trailer. I think you would be very happy with that system.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Morning Gary,

The biggest difference between Lucy (19,500 GVW) and a dually one ton comes in when a load is put on the vehicle. That feeling of having a five hundred pound gorilla loose in the back isn't there.

Face it. Pulling and really even stopping if the trailer has good brakes isn't the difference between having a load under control and just being along for the ride. The difference is how the load handles.

Someone could take a Tundra with a V6. They could put one ton springs in the back. It could pull and with a good brake controller stop a ten to twelve thousand pound trailer. But if there was an emergency the trailer and it's load would be in command. (I used the Tundra because yesterday I saw one of the new stepsides in a parking lot. It looks like they dipped that puppy in the ugly tank and came up with everything the Aztek didn't. But any half ton pick up would suffer the same fate.)

I would discourage you from beefing up the Tahoe. It will pull and tow the trailer safely ninety point nine percent of the time. But that one tenth of one percent of the time there might be a life at risk.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I'm not adding air bags to allow me to overload my Tahoe. Rather, I'm adding them to level my load a bit. I figure if I'm not happy with it I can take them back off again. I don't have any money invested so it's a great opportunity to try them, anyhow.

I did get the air bags on my Tahoe, although not until last night due to some fabrication we needed to do to the brackets. The good news was I got to do a little welding, though. Anyhow, we got them installed last night and made a major mistake or two.

There were no mistakes made in the physical installation. Initially I just drilled a hole in the bumper for the air valve. I thought if I liked this system I'd go with an on board compressor and switch on the dash. The big mistake was adding some air while I was in the shop with no load on the rear end.

I pulled out and the thing rode like a log wagon. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I had to laugh at myself as I bounced along a paved city street like I was in a two ton truck. I thought I was going to wear out the seat springs before I got home. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If that wasn't bad enough (and, believe me, it was), when I got home and went to let out some air I got nowhere because I didn't have a load on to create enough pressure to force the air out. A neighbor came over and depressed the valve while I bounced up and down on the hitch and we got some out but not enough. I had a nice, bouncy ride to work this morning. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Needless to say, a dump valve is in order here.

I did find yet another use for my tractor through this experience, though. I'm going to loop a short length of chain around a tooth on my toothbar and my trailer hitch and lower the bucket far enough to lift the front end of my Deere and use that weight to help me force air out of my bags tonight. Now this is truly a tractor related topic. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Our 2002 Bravada has air ride. You can push down on the rear bumper with your hand and the compressor will come on and raise the bumper to ride height. It comes with an air hose for self filling of tires etc.

If you do decide to keep the air bags do go with the under hood compressor installation. It just makes things so much easier. Besides that, you're a hero at the lake when everyone needs air. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I was just online last night checking prices on those. It looks like the market is somewhere between $150-$200 for the "manual" ones and about double that for the automatics from what I found. I'm going to see how I like the air suspension before I decide to write that check. I need to do some towing with it to see how I like the setup first. I'll post something here after I decide which way to go. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[OkeeDon]

Gary, not sure if any of these will work with your system, but check out Camping World.

 

[jmc]

Gary,

I'm a believer in those load levelers. I towed my 1920 w/ bushhog from Bloomington to near Ft Wayne behind a Ford Explorer without a leveler. Had the tongue weight at as much as the Explorer could stand but couldn't go over 50 with any stability. Put on a load leveler before towing it back and it was fine.

John

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Don,

Thanks for the link. One of the products there was identical to one I'd seen on another site and liked. Here it was about $30.00 less even without the 'Member's Discount' in play. With the $1.00 shipping deal, I think I may well splurge and get the automatic system here.