Trailer towing advice needed

[loggskidder2]

Any thought on these mirrors listed on ebay.

eBay Motors: 07 08 CHEVY GMC TRUCK MANUAL TOW TOWING MIRROR PAIR R/L (item 130268996352 end time Jan-12-09 17:36:15 PST)

 

[Diamondpilot]

Says they are aftermarket and if the price Builder listed is still correct I would get the OEM mirrors from the dealer for the $20 more.

Chris

 

[Builder]

I like the 2.5" receiver, can handle up to 15K with the 2.5 draw bar and appropriate ball. You are limited usually to 12k with the 2" bar and sleeve. My Ford came with the sleeve and the long pin you need to use it. I am wondering if they tried to pull one over on you and not give them to you. Still funny it came with all the goodies except the tow mirrors.

I really like the color of that truck but GM needs to get bigger tire and wheel combo's to fill those big square wheel wells.

By the way its a 7 pin connector but we understood what you were saying.


Chris

It's the way GM does it. Trailer tow package is seperate from trailer tow mirrors package.

I could see some situations where a guy might tow a trailer but not want wide mirrors. Gives the customer more ways to customize a truck.

BTW: My receiver is a 2" made by Putnam rated at 15,000 lbs

 

[Builder]

Says they are aftermarket and if the price Builder listed is still correct I would get the OEM mirrors from the dealer for the $20 more.

Chris

That's what they cost as a package with a new truck. I'm sure they're more when ordered as a part from the parts department, that's the way it always is.

If you don't have an electric harness out to the mirrors, those ebay mirrors might be fine.

 

[Diamondpilot]

It's the way GM does it. Trailer tow package is seperate from trailer tow mirrors package.

I could see some situations where a guy might tow a trailer but not want wide mirrors. Gives the customer more ways to customize a truck.

BTW: My receiver is a 2" made by Putnam rated at 15,000 lbs

Yea, those Putnam hitches are top quality. I was talking about the factory ones. If I remember right GM did not have a 2.5" hitch when you got your truck so I guess that is why you upgraded your hitch. My 04 F-250 came with a 2" hitch also that I had to upgrade in less than a year after I bent it and cracked a few welds. I was way over on weight so that was my own fault.

Chris

 

[Builder]

Yea, those Putnam hitches are top quality. I was talking about the factory ones. If I remember right GM did not have a 2.5" hitch when you got your truck so I guess that is why you upgraded your hitch. My 04 F-250 came with a 2" hitch also that I had to upgrade in less than a year after I bent it and cracked a few welds. I was way over on weight so that was my own fault.

Chris

Mine was a pickup, then became a chassis to make room for my utility body. Reading gives you a 15K Putnam as standard equipment when they install your truck body.

 

[Diamondpilot]

That says a lot about the quality of Reading. I have always liked the boxes they make but have never had a use for one. Anyone that uses Putnam hitches is a class operation. We install a few hitches each year and I use the Putnam 5th Wheel Sliders for short bed trucks. For non slider 5th wheels and GN hitches I use B&W. For bumper pulls I usually go with the Titan 2.5" hitch. The reason I like the 2.5" hitch is for the bumper pull boats I am selling run 10K upto 25K but average about 15K and there is a good selection of bars and balls for these now on the market.

Off the subject but my local Ford Dealership has the best selection of 2.5" stuff and I have also gotten quite a few at the local RV dealership cheaper than I can get them off the net.

Chris

 

[em14]

When I ordered my new body style 2007 Chevolet 3500 dualie, I spec'd the tow mirrors but the bumper hitch came as a 2-1/2" with sleeve which works well.
Leo

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yea, I think he got taken for $30 or so for the sleeve and pin. It should have came with the truck. I know people who have new GM's and they all said it came with it and I know every Ford with the 2.5" hitch comes with it.

I am guessing some dealers snag them and then sale them for a few $$$$ to put in their pockets.

Chris

 

[Builder]

Yea, I think he got taken for $30 or so for the sleeve and pin. It should have came with the truck. I know people who have new GM's and they all said it came with it and I know every Ford with the 2.5" hitch comes with it.

I am guessing some dealers snag them and then sale them for a few $$$$ to put in their pockets.

Chris

Chris, I actually remember reading articles about quite a few mad Ford customers being sold trucks with 2.5" hitches and not given the inner sleeve. Lots of Ford guys were going back to their dealers demanding an explanation of what to do.

I think this happened because when they were first introduced as a factory 2.5" hitch, the "dumber" dealers probably didn't bother to give the customer the inner sleeve. They probably didn't even know what it was.

 

[loggskidder2]

Where is the sleeve and pin located in the truck?? I have checked under the rear seat.
The mirrors on the truck have the built in turn signal and are power in and out and also are auto diming. Kinda need a set quick,I have to pull the trailer the week of Jan 20th and I read that DOT regulations require towing mirrors. I will have DOT numbers on the truck. Just afraid vehicle enforcement may site me if I go thru the weigh station.

Travis

 

[Builder]

Where is the sleeve and pin located in the truck?? I have checked under the rear seat.
The mirrors on the truck have the built in turn signal and are power in and out and also are auto diming. Kinda need a set quick,I have to pull the trailer the week of Jan 20th and I read that DOT regulations require towing mirrors. I will have DOT numbers on the truck. Just afraid vehicle enforcement may site me if I go thru the weigh station.

Travis

OK, so you have power mirrors. That's good. Usually you just pull the small mirrors off and the new TT mirrors just plug right in.

I'd just head over to the dealer and get a price. Maybe you know someone who has a commercial parts account. I have one an it saves me at least 20% on parts. Or keep an eye on Eb*y for a set.

The sleeve & pin should be included with the truck. Parts dept. should have them, too.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Builder is right. I broke a mirror off my 2004 F-250 tail gating at a Colts/Titans game and had to replace it. Got hit by a drunk playing football in the parking lot. I have also replace a 2 sets of mirrors for my sister -n- law because of her less than great driving. Very easy on the 2 Fords and 1 Mitsubishi I did it on.

As for the sleeve if you have not seen it they keep it. In my F-350 that came with a 2.5" hitch it was in the center counsel. The other thought is now that GM is hurting they may be cutting every corner they can. I read when they took the pto option off the Allison it save something like $3 per truck. It takes $1000 to put it back on. Kind of silly but I guess it adds up. I am sure the GM guys would have gladly paid the extra $3 to have that option.

Chris

 

[jake98]

The mirrors on the truck have the built in turn signal and are power in and out

Travis

I have an 04 with the trailering mirrors. They extend and retract under power, but they don't fold in under power. I still have the sticker (in the glovebox) but everything's covered with ice at the moment. I could check later but I'll bet they're pretty pricey.
I'd imagine with a 40footer you'd want lots of mirrors.

Jake

 

[Builder]

Builder is right. I broke a mirror off my 2004 F-250 tail gating at a Colts/Titans game and had to replace it. Got hit by a drunk playing football in the parking lot. I have also replace a 2 sets of mirrors for my sister -n- law because of her less than great driving. Very easy on the 2 Fords and 1 Mitsubishi I did it on.

As for the sleeve if you have not seen it they keep it. In my F-350 that came with a 2.5" hitch it was in the center counsel. The other thought is now that GM is hurting they may be cutting every corner they can. I read when they took the pto option off the Allison it save something like $3 per truck. It takes $1000 to put it back on. Kind of silly but I guess it adds up. I am sure the GM guys would have gladly paid the extra $3 to have that option.

Chris

Chris,

In every post you make, it seems to me you take some sort of shot at GM. Are you implying that Ford (or any other auto maker) don't also try to find ways to lower manufacturing costs? You don't think Ford won't find a way to save $3 per vehicle they wouldn't jump on it, too?

GM isn't the only company looking to cut costs right now. All companies, even your beloved Ford are, too.

We won't go into how long Ford left the old cheapo 4R100 in their Superduty while GM was putting a much better Allison trans in their trucks, will we? I spent at least $10,000 rebuilding lame Ford 4R100 transmissions from 1998-2005.

 

[Diamondpilot]

No, I was just making a point they may have omitted the sleeve to save a few dollars.

Chris

 

[loggskidder2]

Got my brake box installed over the weekend and my towing mirrors came in yesterday and got them on. Hooked the trailer up and headed over to the local pilot and weighed the truck and trailer (empty) last night. Here are the numbers:
Steer axle: 3860lb.
Drive axle: 4520lb.
Trailer axle: 7400lb.

Gross Weight: 15780lb.

Going to try and get a pic posted tonight of the truck and trailer.

 

[john_bud]

No, I was just making a point they may have omitted the sleeve to save a few dollars.

Chris

It's interesting the word "may". Several people I know were squawking about not getting winter fronts for their diesel trucks like I did. (They were in the back under or behind the rear seat.

Then too, saving $3 per vehicle is what bean counters live for. Coming from 30+ years of Ford/Mercury only to GM I can say that the GM's have all been higher quality than the fords with more stuff for the same buck. But that's just my personal experience based on 15 or so Fords/ Mercuries and only 3 GM's. And I still have 1 Ford and 2 Mercuries by the way, to go along with the 2 GM vehicles and the one boat with a GM 350 in it.

 

[John Deere 3520]

your chevy should do fine with 14,000lbs, my 2500 has pulled that before with no probs, but normaly i use my buddys 5500 ram or he does. if you do it all the time then dually is the way to go.

 

[wushaw]

Got my brake box installed over the weekend and my towing mirrors came in yesterday and got them on. Hooked the trailer up and headed over to the local pilot and weighed the truck and trailer (empty) last night. Here are the numbers:
Steer axle: 3860lb.
Drive axle: 4520lb.
Trailer axle: 7400lb.

Gross Weight: 15780lb.

Going to try and get a pic posted tonight of the truck and trailer.

You only got 820lbs left for pin weight before ya hit your GVWR 9200.

Load her up like you would want and hit the scales again to see what ya get and where you need/want to be.