Towing with the Tahoe

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October 5th, 2012, 12:56 PM

jrfish007

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Towing with the Tahoe

First post here, looks like a good forum to ask this question!

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ontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> So I down sized from an F250 pulling a large gooseneck horse trailer to a 2011 Tahoe that I thought had the towing package. I’ve had the Tahoe for a few months now (bought it 7 months used) and bought a small horse trailer last week (about 3200# empty). Brought it home and the Tahoe struggled to pull this trailer empty up the mountains. By struggle I mean it lost 10-15 mph with my foot on the floor and tranny temps hit 210. I’m a little (actually quite a bit) worried that if I made that same hill climb with a horse and tack and during the hotter summer days, the Tahoe would be in very bad shape.

So I looked up a few codes and quickly realized this did not have the towing package and only has 3.08 rear end. The bank and I are kind of stuck with this truck for a while (and other than towing it is an excellent family vehicle) and I’ve made a plan to change a few items:

- New gearing to either 3.73 or 4.11, haven’t decided on which yet
- Real truck tires instead of the 4 ply crossover tires
- New anti-sway bars
- Upgraded tranny cooler

I read the tow package comes with an engine oil cooler, but am not sure I need this. The engine temp gauge never moved (I know that is coolant temp, but if the engine were over heating I would suspect the water should get hot too).

So my questions are this: is there anything I missed? What else comes with the tow package that I might be forgetting? Do I really need the oil cooler? Anything else I need (I already have a brake controller installed if that comes to mind).

The things you learn after you make a mistake… Should have bought an LTZ with a tow package!

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October 5th, 2012, 1:49 PM

hicksvilleshick

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outside of getting a hitch mounted sounds like you've covered the bases...

the gear change is the tricky one, if you think you can pull it with the 3.73's and keep that rpm down for when your not pulling and save the fuel... going full out 4.11 your gonna lose some mpg but naturally you'll be able to pull just about whatever you want. So you are going to have to consider how much pulling you plan to do with it to determine what gear set.

for sure on the trans cooler, and make sure you use the tow/haul er.... well that might not have a tow/haul button, but if it does you'll want to use it.

:chug:

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October 5th, 2012, 2:15 PM

jrfish007

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Quote:

Originally Posted by hicksvilleshick

yeah, the gears stump me a bit. The 3.73 would probably do it, but the 4.11 will definitely do it. On the other hand I came out of an F250 with a 6.8L V10 and 4.30 rear end, so the 4.11's are still a fuel sipper by comparison.

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October 5th, 2012, 10:25 PM

73shark

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jrfish007: Welcome to the forum.

If you bought from a dealer and they represented it as having a tow pkg, then I'd go back and explain to them about the benefits of making it right for you. Like no BBB calls, no small claims court, no letters to local paper, etc.

If a private party transaction, then I'd get the tranny and oil cooler and the 3.73 gears. That's plural on the gears if 4WD.

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October 6th, 2012, 2:06 AM

DPLarson

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I have a 2006 Suburban with a 6.0 and 3.73 gears. My trans has one less gear than your 2011. I pull a camper that is over 4000 lbs empty. It handles great when towing but I don't have enough umphhhh up hills. I was looking into changing the gear ratio as my backup plan if a cold air intake and Blackbear tune didn't help. Then after hearing that I needed both front and rear gears, maybe reprogram the computer, worse mileage (doubles as daily driver), I gave up that plan.

Now my options are:
Keep the 'burb
3/4 ton GMC Yukon XL SLT
Ford F150 Eco Boost?
Diesel truck?
1 ton full size 4x4 van

Last edited by DPLarson; October 6th, 2012 at 2:10 AM.

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October 6th, 2012, 9:44 AM

spyncycle

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If it were me I'd get the 4.10 gears. The labor (cost, or effort if you do it yourself) will be the same either way.

If you run the 3.73 gears, then any money you save on fuel for everyday driving will be spent when towing that trailer.

Just my opinion.