2015 ltz tahoe towing issues
August 31st, 2014, 10:53 AM
#1
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2015 ltz tahoe towing issues
I have recently purchased a 2015 LTZ Tahoe and had extreme sway when towing a RV trailer. I used to tow with my 2012 TAHOE Z71 edition - with no sway at all. This new TAHOE is supposed to have sway control built into it - which is ironic. Within the first hour of towing - there was so much sway that the trailer ended up on its side - and the truck almost too. The sway control never engaged. I have heard a similar story from another 2015 Tahoe purchaser - and he ended up returning the TAHOE immediatley. Has anyone else encountered this?
August 31st, 2014, 5:36 PM
#2
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Holy cow...
I'll ask the obvious just so its out of the way... was the trailer properly loaded and not overloaded behind the trailer axle AND how is the trailer tongue height to the truck? too high and it could cause sway...
I'll ask the obvious just so its out of the way... was the trailer properly loaded and not overloaded behind the trailer axle AND how is the trailer tongue height to the truck? too high and it could cause sway...
August 31st, 2014, 11:27 PM
#4
Wow - I hadn't heard about the sway control "feature" Chevy is pushing on the new SUVs.
Of those three things, the only one that MIGHT mitigate sway is activating the trailer brakes. The last thing you want to do is hit the vehicle brakes or reduce engine power. If you get into a bad sway, the best thing to do is hit the gas and pull the trailer out of it. Letting off the gas or hitting the brakes is likely to make it worse. You need to apply more tension to the hitch - either by applying the trailer brakes or hitting the gas.
I'm sorry for your situation. But frankly, I'll take a $30 friction sway brake over any kind of "active" system in the tow vehicle. Even better, a dual cam system or something like the Hensley Arrow.
When you're towing a travel trailer, there's a lot of dynamics going on. You have three potential pivot points - your rear axle, the hitch, and the trailer axle(s). It's kind of like trying to walk with three knees, instead of one. You need some kind of "brace" to keep those joints from bending/flexing too much. Counting solely on the tow vehicle's electronics is a little overly optimistic.
But, then again, what do I know? I've only logged ~25,000 miles pulling a 30' 6,500-lb TT all over the country (through 41 states).
It senses conditions of trailer sway and, without input from the driver, intervenes with braking and/or reduced engine power to bring the trailer under control and keep it on its intended path. The system will use electric trailer brakes when a trailer is plugged into the standard harness
I'm sorry for your situation. But frankly, I'll take a $30 friction sway brake over any kind of "active" system in the tow vehicle. Even better, a dual cam system or something like the Hensley Arrow.
When you're towing a travel trailer, there's a lot of dynamics going on. You have three potential pivot points - your rear axle, the hitch, and the trailer axle(s). It's kind of like trying to walk with three knees, instead of one. You need some kind of "brace" to keep those joints from bending/flexing too much. Counting solely on the tow vehicle's electronics is a little overly optimistic.
But, then again, what do I know? I've only logged ~25,000 miles pulling a 30' 6,500-lb TT all over the country (through 41 states).
Last edited by intheburbs; August 31st, 2014 at 11:31 PM.
September 1st, 2014, 12:11 PM
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Wow - I hadn't heard about the sway control "feature" Chevy is pushing on the new SUVs.
Of those three things, the only one that MIGHT mitigate sway is activating the trailer brakes. The last thing you want to do is hit the vehicle brakes or reduce engine power. If you get into a bad sway, the best thing to do is hit the gas and pull the trailer out of it. Letting off the gas or hitting the brakes is likely to make it worse. You need to apply more tension to the hitch - either by applying the trailer brakes or hitting the gas.
I'm sorry for your situation. But frankly, I'll take a $30 friction sway brake over any kind of "active" system in the tow vehicle. Even better, a dual cam system or something like the Hensley Arrow.
When you're towing a travel trailer, there's a lot of dynamics going on. You have three potential pivot points - your rear axle, the hitch, and the trailer axle(s). It's kind of like trying to walk with three knees, instead of one. You need some kind of "brace" to keep those joints from bending/flexing too much. Counting solely on the tow vehicle's electronics is a little overly optimistic.
But, then again, what do I know? I've only logged ~25,000 miles pulling a 30' 6,500-lb TT all over the country (through 41 states).
Of those three things, the only one that MIGHT mitigate sway is activating the trailer brakes. The last thing you want to do is hit the vehicle brakes or reduce engine power. If you get into a bad sway, the best thing to do is hit the gas and pull the trailer out of it. Letting off the gas or hitting the brakes is likely to make it worse. You need to apply more tension to the hitch - either by applying the trailer brakes or hitting the gas.
I'm sorry for your situation. But frankly, I'll take a $30 friction sway brake over any kind of "active" system in the tow vehicle. Even better, a dual cam system or something like the Hensley Arrow.
When you're towing a travel trailer, there's a lot of dynamics going on. You have three potential pivot points - your rear axle, the hitch, and the trailer axle(s). It's kind of like trying to walk with three knees, instead of one. You need some kind of "brace" to keep those joints from bending/flexing too much. Counting solely on the tow vehicle's electronics is a little overly optimistic.
But, then again, what do I know? I've only logged ~25,000 miles pulling a 30' 6,500-lb TT all over the country (through 41 states).
I towed a new trailer with the same repaired 2015 Tahoe a second time - and the excessive sway took place again. I even purchased a PROPRIDE hitch which is identical to the HEMSLEY.
September 1st, 2014, 1:37 PM
#7
No offense, but as the old saying goes, "The only common denominator in all of your bad relationships is you."
Knowing how GM is under a microscope right now because of ignition switch issues, if there was any major towing issue with Suburbans or Tahoes, the bloodthirsty press would be all over it.
Granted, the Tahoe is a shorter wheelbase vehicle, so, by definition, it's not going to be as stable as a Suburban or longer vehicle like a crew cab pickup. There's a formula floating around on the internet relating tow vehicle wheelbase and overhang to maximum safe trailer length. I'm sure if you plugged in the Tahoe, it would come out with a relatively small number like 16 or 18 feet for maximum trailer length.
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September 1st, 2014, 1:57 PM
#8
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I am certainly not an authority on towing by any means and have only done a limited amount, but I have always been told that sway equals improper balance of the trailer with too much weight to the rear of the axle of the trailer.
I'm not saying the vehicle can't be at fault to some extent, but I just can't see how the vehicle could induce that much sway to put the trailer out of control...
I'm not saying the vehicle can't be at fault to some extent, but I just can't see how the vehicle could induce that much sway to put the trailer out of control...
September 1st, 2014, 7:03 PM
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Well, if you're still getting sway with a hitch like that, then it has to be how the trailer is loaded. Hitches like the Hensley and ProPride (which was also designed by Jim Hensley) eliminate sway by locking that hitch "joint." Those rigs lock the trailer and tow vehicle together so that it's not possible for the trailer to induce sway. Only the tow vehicle can "break" the lock when it makes a turn.
No offense, but as the old saying goes, "The only common denominator in all of your bad relationships is you."
Knowing how GM is under a microscope right now because of ignition switch issues, if there was any major towing issue with Suburbans or Tahoes, the bloodthirsty press would be all over it.
Granted, the Tahoe is a shorter wheelbase vehicle, so, by definition, it's not going to be as stable as a Suburban or longer vehicle like a crew cab pickup. There's a formula floating around on the internet relating tow vehicle wheelbase and overhang to maximum safe trailer length. I'm sure if you plugged in the Tahoe, it would come out with a relatively small number like 16 or 18 feet for maximum trailer length.
No offense, but as the old saying goes, "The only common denominator in all of your bad relationships is you."
Knowing how GM is under a microscope right now because of ignition switch issues, if there was any major towing issue with Suburbans or Tahoes, the bloodthirsty press would be all over it.
Granted, the Tahoe is a shorter wheelbase vehicle, so, by definition, it's not going to be as stable as a Suburban or longer vehicle like a crew cab pickup. There's a formula floating around on the internet relating tow vehicle wheelbase and overhang to maximum safe trailer length. I'm sure if you plugged in the Tahoe, it would come out with a relatively small number like 16 or 18 feet for maximum trailer length.
September 1st, 2014, 7:05 PM
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I am certainly not an authority on towing by any means and have only done a limited amount, but I have always been told that sway equals improper balance of the trailer with too much weight to the rear of the axle of the trailer.
I'm not saying the vehicle can't be at fault to some extent, but I just can't see how the vehicle could induce that much sway to put the trailer out of control...
I'm not saying the vehicle can't be at fault to some extent, but I just can't see how the vehicle could induce that much sway to put the trailer out of control...