Trailblazer

[michele]

Ok, so after being told by two people that our truck is rated for 6600, I find out today by looking in the trailvoy forum that this is not the case.

We purchased a X20E and will take delivery in early May.

My truck only has a 3.42 axle ration which in turns means this:

Weights: gross vehicle weight rating (lbs) 5,550, curb weight (lbs) 4,425, gross trailer weight braked (lbs) 5,300 and max payload (lbs) 1,125

The trailer specs are as follows. Have I exceeded my capacity in all reality?

Unloaded Vehicle Weight 3665
Hitch Weight 440
Gross Vehicle Weight 4750
Cargo Carrying Capacity 1085

[michele]

Ok, so I just looked on the door sticker and it says the GVRW is 5,750.

[clutch]

So those figures mean that you are 1,000 lbs to the good. The weight police will probably be checking in.

[michele]

Thanks Clutch.

We live in the mid-west so we are mostly on flat ground. I guess we will give it a whirl and if it doesn't work, we upgrade. Even though I would rather not since it is almost paid for.

[Seann45]

Just remember to add the weight of all passengers and "stuff" in the tow vehicle.

[michele]

Thanks Sean!

THe GCWR is 10,000 lbs.

The GVRW of the TV is 5750
The GVRW of of the HTT is 4750

This takes me to 10,500 max.

So as long as we pack light, we should be ok?

[29BHS ECO]

Michele It doesn't sound like your suv has a trailer tow package based on the rear gear ratio you listed. So you might want to read all the posts listed in this forum & Please pay heed to the added coolers etc (not for the beer)that you need to add. Larry

[etothepii]

My two wheel drive 2004 Trailblazer says this:

Standard Towing 5300 lbs Maximum Towing 6300 lbs

Four wheel drive is rated slightly less because of the added weight of the extra drive train.

Anyway, I researched what "Maximum Towing" means, and that is the rating for towing with a weight distributing hitch. Not sure if that still goes for the newer TBs or not, but it might be worth looking into.

[clutch]

Just be sure to use tow/haul if that is in your transmission. If not then do not tow in OD. A transmission cooler is a must have. With a weight distributing hitch you should be good. If you lived in a mountainous area then you might want something else.

[etothepii]

I towed my new Swift from Cincinnati to Columbus with my '04 Trailblazer. Towed like a dream in 3rd. Tried putting it in drive a couple times to see the difference, and it was remarkable. No point in even trying. Third gear it is. If only MPGs hadn't dropped by 10!

I'm looking into a trans cooler now. Trailvoy forum makes it sound easy except for the issue of one hose fitting. I'll have to research that problem a little.

[etothepii]

Installed a transmission cooler. Easier than I thought. Fitting adapter (found on at NAPA) and a trans cooler from O'Reilly, and I've got a cooler for less than $100.

[29BHS ECO]

Another always overlooked item, concerning towing is, The rated frontal area your TV is rated for. The frontal area is square footage of your tv & tt looking at them from the front. All this about what gross vehicle rating is goes out the window as soon as you hitch up & travel down the road. If there is no wind at all and you going 50 mph your pulling against a 50 mph head wind, this is where mini vans, v6 suvs and evan some 1/2 tons with 3:00 to 3:40 gear ratios suffer. I hate to be bad guy buT if your under powered & maxed out on weight you are a danger to yourself, your family and mine. if you can't buy the right TV don't buy the TT. Sorry to be so blunt.

[Firefighter78]

I had a 2006 Trailblazer with the I6, 3.42 axle, it towed my 3,000 LB landscape trailer ok. It would not be a good TV for a TT over 5,000 lbs. The rear springs are too light, plus the rear axle and drive line is light duty. The engine /trans are bullet proof, had 230k on mine all original before trading it. Should have kept it and ran it another 200k miles. Great car

[DocBrown]

Since you brought up an old thread I'll add my 2 cents.

I just sold our '03 Trailblazer that had specs very similar to the OP. It towed our old Kiwi 17a (GVWR 3500#) beautifully. Got 12 mpg towing most of the time too. They were made for each other. The X20E, not so much. The TB was adequate at best. The X20E is 4750# GVWR and was really pushing the limits of the TB. Our Sierra has no trouble with the X20E at all. We would have kept towing with the TB if not for the fact that it had 160k miles on it and we had it 8 years. Its was time to get something else.