Towing with a 4.2

[Peacekeeper]

I am looking to get a TT this fall. What weight and length are you pulling with yours???
I know my '05 w/4:10 will pull 5800 lbs and am looking at a 26' TT @ 4200 dry wgt.
I am looking for some real world expirience.:undecided

[ShaoX]

Hey Peacekeeper...ive got a gmc envoy with 4.2 I6 and pull a 20' enclosed trailer with a weight of 3400 with it loaded its around 4200. I put a weight distributing hitch on it and it does just fine. Almost cant tell its behind you except when going up hills. Expect a significant drop in MPG. My average for the 5 years I have owned it is 17 mpg. When pulling it is around 10 -12 for instant mpg. It does make the little I6 work. I added an aftermarket tranny cooler and also added electric brake module. So far so good :yes:

[kickme00]

We have pulled our 22' Wellcraft boat that has a 454 inboard and 30 gallons of gas in it and it seemed to do just fine. I think the dry weight of the boat is about 3600lbs.

[rcam81]

I have a 16 foot Four Winns boat that fully loaded weighs around 3700 lbs fully loaded with gas and gear. I pull in 3rd gear and get around 11-12 mpg.

[ScarabEpic22]

We have pulled our 22' Wellcraft boat that has a 454 inboard and 30 gallons of gas in it and it seemed to do just fine. I think the dry weight of the boat is about 3600lbs.
What Wellcraft do you have? I have an 87 Scarab 1 O/B that is 21ft long and weighs about the same as your 22 footer because I have a 60gal gas tank. Talk about expensive at the pump!!:eek: :eek:

And, yes, my TB tows it perfectly even before I installed a trans cooler earlier this year.

(BTW, yours is an inboard/outboard.;) My 99 Epic 22 is an inboard.)

[kickme00]

What Wellcraft do you have? I have an 87 Scarab 1 O/B that is 21ft long and weighs about the same as your 22 footer because I have a 60gal gas tank. Talk about expensive at the pump!!:eek: :eek:

And, yes, my TB tows it perfectly even before I installed a trans cooler earlier this year.

(BTW, yours is an inboard/outboard.;) My 99 Epic 22 is an inboard.)


Its a 1989 Wellcraft Elite 220 with a rebuilt 454. I got a few crappy pics I will try and post.

[kickme00]

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4494/11010455rb.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11010455rb.jpg)

[Gary UT]

We tow a 20' Trailer with our Trailblazer.

3900 pounds "brochure weight", 4300 ready to camp.

We have 3.42 gears, wish I had 4.10's.

A 26' trailer is too long for the short wheelbase, you have the long wheelbase you should be OK. http://www.rvtowingtips.com/

I don't live in a flat state, expect to go up hills in second gear. You will need a weight distributing hitch with sway control, and a transmission cooler.

I get 9MPG towing.

http://www.aros.net/~gary3985/misc/trailer.jpg

Gary

[Spong]

The TB is a tough SUV. As was already mentioned, add a brake controller and tranny cooler and you should be good to go. When I worked at the dealership I heard about people towing boats that were way more than the TB was rated for and it pulled them fine.

You already have 4.10s which rock for towing. :cool:

[dh4645]

The TB is a tough SUV. As was already mentioned, add a brake controller and tranny cooler and you should be good to go. When I worked at the dealership I heard about people towing boats that were way more than the TB was rated for and it pulled them fine.

You already have 4.10s which rock for towing. :cool:

what does 4.10s mean?
what others to tbs have?

[Dacomputernerd]

I dont know about your TT, but the 26 footer we have is pretty damn heavy. Loaded with fluids and all our supplies, it sits just around 7000#. The 5.3L V8 struggles trying to merge onto highways, with 4 people in the EXT. If your leaving with a full tank of water, it weighs more then you think, so calculate it out like we did. Also those big propane tanks are not light either.

Last year the V8 did fine, but for our longer trip this year (3 days travel time one way, 7 hours per day) we have invested in a tranny cooler, tranny gauge, and a K&N FIPK to improve power. Also our trailer place is putting on a second sway control.

Now with 1 sway control, with the EXT, and @ 60MPH, the big rigs would make some sway, enough to make you compensate for it if you are driving. Im thinking the SWB would be hard to handle in that situation even if you are within your towing limits as far as weight goes.


Travel Fuel economy... We dont even figure it out. Lets just say not good :D

[Spong]

what does 4.10s mean?
what others to tbs have?

4.10 is his gear ratio. The higher the number the lower the ratio. For towing, lower ratios are better. Most TBs come stock with 3.42s which are decent for daily driving but not so great for towing. The next lowest is 3.73s which are a pretty good all around ratio, good for towing yet not too hard on gas mileage. For towing, 4.10s are probably the best because they'll put the engine's power to best use. The downside of low gears is they spin the engine faster and hurt gas mileage.

[Peacekeeper]

I do have the XL for the wheel base, evem though my truck is 'set up' for towing, I am still alittle scared to overload the Voy. I am thinking about just trading in my 300M and getting a 'burban as my tow vehicle. (I traded in my 97 Burban for the Voy:cry: )

[whitetiger05]

I towed my brothers car from LA to Vegas thats 4:30 hours. TB had no problems, cruised all the way there at 70 MPH. :thumbsup:

[dh4645]

4.10 is his gear ratio. The higher the number the lower the ratio. For towing, lower ratios are better. Most TBs come stock with 3.42s which are decent for daily driving but not so great for towing. The next lowest is 3.73s which are a pretty good all around ratio, good for towing yet not too hard on gas mileage. For towing, 4.10s are probably the best because they'll put the engine's power to best use. The downside of low gears is they spin the engine faster and hurt gas mileage.

thanks...i'm pretty sure mine in the 3.42 one

[Spong]

thanks...i'm pretty sure mine in the 3.42 one

To know for sure, check the RPO sticker in your glovebox.

GU6= 3.42
GT4= 3.73
GT5= 4.10

[ScarabEpic22]

To know for sure, check the RPO sticker in your glovebox.

GU6= 3.42
GT4= 3.73
GT5= 4.10
Yep, dont forget the infamous G80 for the locking rear differential.:yes:

[Spong]

Yep, dont forget the infamous G80 for the locking rear differential.:yes:

:thumbsup:

GT4 & G80 are always the first things I get when ordering!! :yes: