Towing question...how will my Blazer hold up?

04revx · Post by **04revx** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 9:05 am

We are buying a new snowmobile trailer. Its the same as the blue one on this page: http://www.actrailers.com/pages/snowmobile2.htm except its 12' long. It can fit up to 3 sleds in there. Roughly each sled weighs 500 lbs and the trailers weighs 1600 lbs, so we're looking at 3100 lbs total all loaded up. How will my blazer with 3.42 gears hold up? The trailer has elec. brakes and I'm adding a tranny cooler. It does get pretty hilly around here, but I think the ol' Blaze can handle it. Thanks.[/url]

kf6kmx · Post by **kf6kmx** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 9:22 am

04revx wrote:We are buying a new snowmobile trailer. Its the same as the blue one on this page: http://www.actrailers.com/pages/snowmobile2.htm except its 12' long. It can fit up to 3 sleds in there. Roughly each sled weighs 500 lbs and the trailers weighs 1600 lbs, so we're looking at 3100 lbs total all loaded up. How will my blazer with 3.42 gears hold up? The trailer has elec. brakes and I'm adding a tranny cooler. It does get pretty hilly around here, but I think the ol' Blaze can handle it. Thanks.[/url]

I dont think it should be a problem.. whats the Blazer rated at for a trailer capacity?
I know my CC is rated art somewhere in the mid 5000 (5400?)lbs.. There is a white CC here in town that pulls a 24ft RV trailer with no trouble at all.. that weighs at least 3500lbs, probably closer to the 4000lbs loaded..

malkavian · Post by **malkavian** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 11:38 am

I have a vnose trailer like that. it 13' long and Id guess about 6'wide. I tow it up to North carolina with 2 bikes. ON climbs I just put into 3rd instead of od. I havnt had any problems towing it.

04revx · Post by **04revx** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 12:00 pm

Thats good to hear. The box is 12' long, the V is another 4' and the tongue is about 3', so i'm looking at close to a 19' trailer.

kf6kmx · Post by **kf6kmx** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 12:07 pm

malkavian wrote:I have a vnose trailer like that. it 13' long and Id guess about 6'wide. I tow it up to North carolina with 2 bikes. ON climbs I just put into 3rd instead of od. I havnt had any problems towing it.

You run with it on od on the flat roads?I've always been worried about hurting the od so I run in 3rd all the time with my trailer (loaded or empty).. plus i like the engine braking assistance the 3rd gives you.

JimmyDiamond · Post by **JimmyDiamond** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 12:33 pm

Let me share my experience. This Jimmy is my second S-series SUV (first was a 2001 Blazer). I tow a 5x10 utility trailer behind mine often. Sometimes I have 1 ton of rock, sometimes a tractor, sometimes a 6-wheeler etc. My truck has the stock 3.42 gears and G80. If I could change one thing, I'd get the 3.73 gears. Mine tows ok but I think 3.73s would help. It works pretty hard some days. I think with that trailer you have, wind drag, not weight will be your biggest enemy. My Jimmy has the factory tow package (standard on the Diamond edition) with hitch, 7-prong outlet, t-cooler, tow/haul button etc.

I've got a larger utility trailer on order and on this one I added electric brakes. I really don't need them but towing with a smaller SUV it doesn't hurt to have them.

Steve

Bad_Ass_S10 · Post by **Bad_Ass_S10** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:35 am

dude, if you really want 3.73, I have a set for you that came out of my rear end - well actually it the whole rear axle, rotors ( well everything ) for sale, its just sitting in my shed- I even have the front differential to match

JimmyDiamond · Post by **JimmyDiamond** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 7:41 am

Bad_Ass_S10 wrote:dude, if you really want 3.73, I have a set for you that came out of my rear end - well actually it the whole rear axle, rotors ( well everything ) for sale, its just sitting in my shed- I even have the front differential to match

Really? How much $$ we talkin? Is the axle a factory G80 locker? How many miles?

04revx · Post by **04revx** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:44 am

Whats the cost of having the gears upgraded to 3.73's versus doing a complete rear axle swap that has 3.73's?

Also, if you change the gear ratio for the rear do you have to do the same for the front? Sorry I'm just don't know much about this area.

JimmyDiamond · Post by **JimmyDiamond** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:56 am

04revx wrote:Whats the cost of having the gears upgraded to 3.73's versus doing a complete rear axle swap that has 3.73's?

Also, if you change the gear ratio for the rear do you have to do the same for the front? Sorry I'm just don't know much about this area.

I've heard depending on the shop, parts and labor for a re-gear can run $500-$1k. I just rebuilt my rearend back in April with all new parts so all I would need is new gears.

On a 4x4 you have to do both ends otherwise if you didn't you would hear BOOM when you shifted into 4wd!

Steve

04revx · Post by **04revx** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:46 am

Hmmm...not sure how much longer I'll have the blazer for so I'll probably not end up doing. I'm contemplating upgrading next year to a Silverado Ext. cab.

JimmyDiamond · Post by **JimmyDiamond** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:50 am

04revx wrote:Hmmm...not sure how much longer I'll have the blazer for so I'll probably not end up doing. I'm contemplating upgrading next year to a Silverado Ext. cab.

There's no doubt a Silverado (even if it's a pre-99 with a 350) will tow and handle your trailer MUCH BETTER than the Blazer does.

I'd like to swap a V8 into mine for better towing too.

Bad_Ass_S10 · Post by **Bad_Ass_S10** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:12 pm

I have a 92 z71 for sale with a 350, but its been built with roller cam, hooker headers, 650 double pumper carb, 3000 stall converter, th400 tranny, 1 ton rear axle, 4.88 gears

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 5:40 pm

JimmyDiamond wrote:
Bad_Ass_S10 wrote:...I have a set...
Really? How much $$ we talkin? Is the axle a factory G80 locker? How many miles?

complete front end from 2001 crew cab and rear end for sale

JimmyDiamond · Post by **JimmyDiamond** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 6:14 pm

HenryJ wrote:
JimmyDiamond wrote:
Bad_Ass_S10 wrote:...I have a set...
Really? How much $$ we talkin? Is the axle a factory G80 locker? How many miles?
complete front end from 2001 crew cab and rear end for sale

Thanks. I looked in the Classifieds AFTER I posted the question.

malkavian · Post by **malkavian** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:12 pm

as long as its not wanting to shift back and fourth all the time Ill role with od. The owners manual say if it shifts alot to pull it in 3rd. any hills I pull her to 3rd.

04revx · Post by **04revx** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:51 pm

Well it looks like we're not getting that trailer. Just too much money to cough up right now so we're settling with the conventional tilt trailer with clam shell.

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Towing question...how will my Blazer hold up?

Towing question...how will my Blazer hold up?

Re: Towing question...how will my Blazer hold up?