Weight Distributing Hitch Questions and More

[jayhaitch]

My 1994 Yukon (2 door), 5.7 with 4 speed auto only had a tow rating of 5500 lbs with the 3.55 axle (?3.42, I can't remember) as it didn't have oil cooling, but had every other trailer towing option. IIRC, the oil cooler added another 1000 lbs to the tow rating.

So, what is your axle ratio? Do you have the tow package, with or without engine oil cooler?

The Suburban definitely had a higher tow rating than the Yukon, so in any case I'm sure you're fine. Always remember to manually shift to 3rd when towing so it stays out of overdrive. An excellent idea would be to change the trannie fluid to full synthetic, or at least to have clean dino fluid with the new-to-you vehicle.

 

[MossRoad]

My 90 Blazer was rated for 6000# with the 5.7. If you don't find an answer before I my next trip to the Akron area I will stop and see a guy that should have that information. I will watch this post to see if you get an answer, if not, I will see if he still has the 93 books. I should be there in the next 2-3 weeks.

Kurt

Thanks. I would appreciate it.

 

[MossRoad]

My 1994 Yukon (2 door), 5.7 with 4 speed auto only had a tow rating of 5500 lbs with the 3.55 axle (?3.42, I can't remember) as it didn't have oil cooling, but had every other trailer towing option. IIRC, the oil cooler added another 1000 lbs to the tow rating.

So, what is your axle ratio? Do you have the tow package, with or without engine oil cooler?

The Suburban definitely had a higher tow rating than the Yukon, so in any case I'm sure you're fine. Always remember to manually shift to 3rd when towing so it stays out of overdrive. An excellent idea would be to change the trannie fluid to full synthetic, or at least to have clean dino fluid with the new-to-you vehicle.

It has the towing package. The oil cooler is in one side of the radiator and the transmission cooler is in the other. It has the larger brakes and trailer wiring in the rear. It is 5.7L engine with the 4L60E transmission. I do not know the axle ratio but will try to find out.

 

[KeithInSpace]

It has the towing package. The oil cooler is in one side of the radiator and the transmission cooler is in the other. It has the larger brakes and trailer wiring in the rear. It is 5.7L engine with the 4L60E transmission. I do not know the axle ratio but will try to find out.

Mr. MossRoad, if your Suburban has the towing package, I'd think the rating would be higher than 6,000#. The Expedition has a "normal" tow rating of 6,000#. With the tow package (same deal...trans fluid cooler, bigger radiator, different gearing, electric brake pre-wiring) AND with the use of a WD hitch, the tow rating is 9,400#.

I've poked around on the internet searching for some specs on your vehicle to no avail. Dunno why it is such a tough thing to find.

I was going to say your vehicle was rated for well ver 8,000#, but oddly CURRENT, 2008 half ton Suburban is rated for 7,000# to 8,200# depending on configuration. I would have thought it more...

Point is to confirm that a WD hitch is critical for heavy towing. Seems like I've seen more and more "droopy" trucks with the spring mulch coming out. Really scary to see these rigs limp down the highway, dragging their rear bumpers.

 

[aczlan]

I took a look around and Edmunds says #7k, there is another site that claims to tell you based off of your VIN (Home - VINquery.com VIN Decoder - 24X7 VIN Decoding Web Service) but they want $$$ to tell you... too bad Chevrolet does not have the vin decoder on their site like Volvo does... they have all the owners manuals and the vin translator charts available online...

Such is life.


Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

I called two Chevy dealers and they cannot tell me what the gcwr is even with the VIN. They suggested I call some trailer hitch companies! The trailer hitch companies cannot tell me, either. Good grief, I wouldn't think it would be this hard.

 

[MossRoad]

I took a look around and Edmunds says #7k, there is another site that claims to tell you based off of your VIN (Home - VINquery.com VIN Decoder - 24X7 VIN Decoding Web Service) but they want $$$ to tell you... too bad Chevrolet does not have the vin decoder on their site like Volvo does... they have all the owners manuals and the vin translator charts available online...

Such is life.


Aaron Z

The Edmunds site says it weighs 6800 pounds. The chevy dealers say it weighs 7200. The door sticker says it weighs 7200 pounds. I get different numbers from each person I talk to. You think this stuff would be in a chart somewhere.

 

[RobS]

On my truck (Ford) the axle and truck ratings are on the door jamb. To get the combined rating, there is a chart in the owners manual and to decipher the chart you need the rear axle code from the tag on the axle. Yes, it seems this could all be much easier.

 

[MossRoad]

On my truck (Ford) the axle and truck ratings are on the door jamb. To get the combined rating, there is a chart in the owners manual and to decipher the chart you need the rear axle code from the tag on the axle. Yes, it seems this could all be much easier.

I've got the axle and truck ratings. I just don't have no stinking chart! And apparently neither does the dealer. I sent an e-mail to Mr. Goodwrench himself and got a nice reply that it may take a couple days to answer my question.... so, I wait.

From everything I've read I am perfectly safe at 6000#. I am most likely safe to 7000# and may be able to go more, but since my trailer is rated at 7 I should be fine. I would just like to know the numbers for my own personal knowledge.

 

[MossRoad]

Mr. Goodwrench said he could not help me. They only help with service....

They gave me the phone number of GM's customer service center. 10 minutes with the person there and they could not find anything that wasn't already on my door sticker. They said the truck was a special build and I would have to talk to the light truck division and transferred me there. The woman at the light truck division apologized and said I never should have been transferred there, as they only handle 4500 series and larger trucks. She transferred me back to the GM customer service center and stayed on the line and chewed out the person that answered the phone.

So, I got to talk to a "supervisor" (probably the person in the next cubicle). I was on the phone with them for another 35 minutes and they could not find anything. They would call back as soon as they find something.

Two hours later they call back and say it is rated for a towing capacity of 5500 pounds. From that I have to subtract any weight that I add to the truck like people, cargo, etc...

I say, "Now wait a minute. The owners manual says between 6000 and 10,000 depending on how the unit is equipped. Where did you get that number?". They could not tell me. I asked what publication that information came from and they could not tell me. I asked if they could send that to me in writing and they could not.

Good grief!!!

Then they asked me to take the survey to gauge how helpful they were....

 

[Egon]

Moss; you are going to have to make up your own door sticker that has whatever tow weight you desire on it.

 

[MossRoad]

Moss; you are going to have to make up your own door sticker that has whatever tow weight you desire on it.

Maybe if I forge it convincingly enough, I can claim it was there when I bought it if I get in trouble.

Yeah, it says right there on the door that it can tow 20,000!

 

[Lasgambler]

I have had and towed with several diff. types of WD hitches. Hands down, my fav. is the Reese trunion style with dual-cam sway control. You have complete control of a 30 ft trailer at 75mph with the above set-up. I know this from experience that I hope I never have to "witness again."

 

[npaden]

Okay - so I think I'm going to buy a WD hitch.

Here is the one I'm looking at - I says good for 12,000lbs and 800 - 1,200 tounge weight which is a little overkill but they are all the same price and the next size down is 8,000lbs which is fine but it is for a 500 - 800lb toungue weight and that seems a little light maybe.

Southwest Wheel

How much difference is there on the brake controllers? Is the fancy $160 controllers that much better than the $90 controllers?

Tekonsha P3

I guess you need to call to get the TBN discount? Maybe that will make up for the fact that they will charge me sales tax since they are in Texas.

I push the limits of my Chevy Z71 pickup and my 7,000lb trailer about 4 times a year hauling it 100 miles each way and I probably should invest in the WD hitch.

 

[npaden]

Here is a link to Southwest wheel

Southwest Wheel Company Steel and Aluminum Truck Wheels

There were 2 links to them in my post above but that doesn't help answer my questions!

 

[Bird]

The first one did not work, thats the only reason I posted a link

It didn't work for me, either, so I fixed it so it does work now. At least it now works for me, so I hope it works for everyone else, too.

 

[npaden]

I called them and they recommended the lighter hitch with the 8,000lb rating for me.

They said the discount was for online sales only and to enter TRACTORBYNET as the coupon code and it would give you a 5% discount.

 

[hench861]

did you buy the brake controller yet,i have a new in the box tekonsha prodigy,ill sell you for 75.00

 

[npaden]

hench861,

I sent you an email through your TBN account. If you didn't get it you can send me a Private Message.

Thanks, Nathan

 

[KAB]

Moss,

I had a chance to stop by the dealer that has information back to 1990. I was thinking that you had a 94 so I am 1 year off. Although the numbers are the same as what my 90 Blazer was so they should be ok.

Please read the bottom notes on the attached sheet. The codes that are listed there should be in the glove box on the build tag.

To find which axle ratio that you have there will be either of the following codes:
GU6 = 3.42 axle ratio or
GT4 = 3.73 (I don't think that these have changed since 93)

While there also check for G80 which is the Eaton Automatic Locking Differential.