Towing? - Page 2

http://www.ultrahitch.com/rapidhitch.html

I love this product, I've used it for a few years now towing my sleds around. I tow around 6K with it and have nothing but good things to say about it.


Jason

Thanks Jason...Great looking hitch

I love the hitch, but dam they are proud of it! I dont tow enough to spend that kind of money on a hitch. Thanks for the information though.

I paid $189.00 for mine, and it is just a little bit different. So far I have to say it's worth it. It's made of aluminum so it's light weight compared to a steel receiver.

I towed a smaller UHaul trailer this summer from Texas to North Carolina. I am not sure how much it weighed pretty light I figure because I got about 16 mpg.

Dave he is a question for you. Does the tow/haul mode still allow the trans to go into overdrive, just at a higher speed?

I ask because in my Dodge truck, Tow/Haul adjusts all the shift points, holding on to the gear for longer to keep the engine in the higher power range and allow for better tranny performance. Works great for racing, too. In the Tahoe I haven't noticed if it will do that.

Yes, the Tow/Haul mode holds each gear longer and also increases the pump pressure inside the transmission to reduce clutch pack slippage and friction induced heat.
It also reduces the amount of time it takes to shift from one gear to the next (firmer shift) and reduces shift busyness (shifting back and forth between gears on inclines) and lastly it will allow for overdrive engagement provided that the torque sensing system calculates that your load is not too great, the system uses fuzzy logic and is constantly learning and adjusting.

Chrysler attempted to copy GM’s system but failed to incorporate all the features.


Dave

I was wondering if any of you watch your transmission temperature when you are towing?? At what point is it too hot? The highest I've seen mine is 215.

Thanks,

Jason

One other cool thing about the tow/haul is that when changing lanes your turn signal blinks 6 times instead of 3.

Good eye Jason!

If the Trans over-temps it will sound and display a warning on the Driver Info Display, that happens at about 265F
If you reach 275F it will damage the trans, you need to pull over and idle to cool the tranny if you get a warning right now, but it will take a serious amount of abuse to get there even if the outside ambient temperature is over 120F and you are pulling a heavy trailer.

Dave:

Could you pass on my sincere appreciation to whoever got that feature in the new platform. My 2500 Burban had it, but I was absolutely stoked to see it in the Tahoe.

Jason

What is the most weight you should tow with a tahoe using a weight distributing hitch? I know the max listed is 12K, but I would assume you wouldn't want to max it out. The reason I ask is I'm looking to upgrade to an enclosed trailer which would put my gross weight, including trailer, car & equipment, at about 8200#. Thanks!

Bought the rapid hitch. Nice piece of work. Paid $190 for it. Looks good on the Black LTZ though.

04 Tahoe... You need to tell us more about your truck... 2X or 4X, what gears do you have?? What year??? 04

Jason

So I went from Detroit (Rock City) Michigan to just outside Knoxville, Tennessee over the weekend towing 6,500 lbs. with my 07 LTZ with 3:73's. Overall I was pretty darn happy, we averaged 8MPG which is a little better than I did with my '05 2500 Burban with the 8100. The highest my trans temp got was 220, all the guys in the car said the fluid was near it's max temp, Dave seemed to say I was good up till 265, I must say I take Dave's word as gold, but some of these guys are fairly mechanically inclined. Any input/facts on the trans fluid would be great.

Jason

Your friends are correct in regards that a few years ago the old Dexron III and IV fluids would start to break down rapidly and lose their lubricating properties at over 220F and be worthless and ruined at 300F.

The new Dexron VI that is used in the 07 Tahoe has a much higher thermal stability threshold. And remember that; heat kills the fluid and the ruined fluid kills the transmission.

One other little tidbit is that the Hydra-matic 4L60-E/4L70-E transmissions have a max tow capacity of 13,500lbs.
In other words; the tow rating on the Tahoe is not limited by the tranny, it's limited by the frame, brakes and axle(s).

Dave:

What is the max towing weight? I thought it was around 7K? Is it different with 3:73's vs. 4:10's? I'm sure this is in my owners manual... I should prolly look rather than take the easy way and ask you?

Jason

Your 4x4 with a 3.73 gear-set is rated at 7,200lbs max tow capacity.

The 4.10 is rate at 8,200lbs

Sorry guys. It's an 04 Tahoe 4x4 Z71 with stock 3:73 gears. It sounds like I'm limited to 7200# with what I've got, but my question now is if I upgrade to aftermarket 4:10's, will it boost me back up to 8200 or is it still a frame limitation? Thanks!

I have a 00' Yukon with 5.3 and 3:73 rear. I am thinking about trading it for an 07' Tahoe. I haven't been a big fan of the 5.3/3:73 combo becuase it tries to shift a ton when towing my approx. 4,000lb boat, forcing me to drive in 3rd unless it is pancake flat terrain. I've been thinking about getting the 4:10 rear in the new truck but that would force me to order to get it the way I want it. If I order, the current incentives may be gone when it delivers. I've read a few posts on various boards that indicated some with 4:10's are actually getting better mileage than the 3:73 units. This sounds very counter intuitive to me but I guess its possible considering it could enable the v4 mode more frequently and may reduce the need to lead foot to get off the line responsiveness. Can anyone comment before I decide to order and possibly watch the current incentives go away?

First off don't "order" if you want to take advantage of the "current incentives" just pick up one out of the dealers inventory or have them locate one with the options and color that you want.

Second, get the 4.10's and you hit on most of the reasoning for this.

I know we've been over this before, but I'm starting to think I really want 4:10's. I know you said it was cost prohibitive, but is it possible? How cost prohibitive are we talking?


Jason

quote:

ORIGINAL: ZX1100F1

Your friends are correct in regards that a few years ago the old Dexron III and IV fluids would start to break down rapidly and lose their lubricating properties at over 220F and be worthless and ruined at 300F.

The new Dexron VI that is used in the 07 Tahoe has a much higher thermal stability threshold. And remember that; heat kills the fluid and the ruined fluid kills the transmission.

Dave,

You mentioned "a few years ago". Exactly how many is a few? The reason I ask is that I am curious as to which of these categories I fit with an 04 Z71. Also, would a synthetic fulid work as well as the VI? Thanks!