VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION Hauling or Trailering Need info on buying a trailer.

I agree with this. I've owned a 2002 envoy with the straight six and it was a great vehicle. If it was a one time tow and I was willing to go slow, I suppose I might try it. You always have to keep your safe stopping distance but you could also add a brake controller to the TB if the trailer has electric brakes. I also own a Duramax Dually crew cab and have owned them since the DMax came out in 01'. I always bought duallys for the bigger brakes. The Dmax's can really pull but stopping is more important to me. I am also a class A licensed driver and have drove rigs for 35+ years. Your TB will make the trip, if you drive cautious and pamper it. If you're content doing that then go for it. Because of the short wheel base of the TB you will absolutely need the anti-sway bar. The WD hitch might not be necessary depending on how it balances the tongue weight. I also have a restored 83' Blazer which would be a more capable tow vehicle than your TB. I personally wouldn't want to tow that far with it but it is more old school than the TB. I have often seen trucks at their GVWW's and they do just fine especially if you're taking it easy. So I think you're worrying too much about staying at 70%. You won't be pushing it either going or slowing so don't worry.
Went to Sturgis SD from MA with my Dmax rig and my brother in his 1/2tn Chevy short bed pickup rig. He was towing a 18' camper/toy hauler with two full dressed HD's in the back. His truck bed was filled with tools, firewood, and belongings of two other riders we were meeting in Sturgis. He used both the WD and the sway control and needed both. I have to tell you his little 305 1/2 ton truck did a bang up job going both way with all that load.

Here's another option. Buy a vintage medium duty industrial truck, put a U-HAUL box on it, paint it to look like a moving company from olden days, put your baby in it, and drive to wherever.

Check out this truck: https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/353409#Post353409

Cheers, Dean

Hi Bob,
It looks like renting a larger truck from Uhaul might be your best option, after reading all the suggestions and knowing your situation.
Back in 2000 when my son and I towed "Dorothy" (my 51 from KS) home, we rented a Uhaul box truck and their car trailer. The 51 fit fine, and the trailer had mechanical brakes which worked when the truck slowed and there was force on the hitch. We kept it at a safe 55 and had an uneventful trip back to Upstate NY. Unfortunately, only a box truck was available and that Ford V8 drank a lot of gas.

Good luck on your decision.

Phil, Chistech, Dean and Rick,

I thought this thread died a natural death, but was happy to see additional comments.

This thread coincides to the other current thread, discussing the physical size of an enclosed trailer.

I have towed the '51 with a HEAVY U HAUL open car transporter and my TrailBlazer, with no negative side effects, in the north Georgia and NC mountains, but certainly not for 2,500 miles. We did, however, exceed 6,000 feet. I think the '51 got dizzy up there, since she lived her previous life in the streets of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A 3/4 or 1 ton DuraMax is the way to go, with a 24' trailer, but I cannot make that investment for one long trip. Do I investigate the LEGITIMATE possibilities of my current tow vehicle ..... OR do I just stay home?

For me, I must look at Chevrolet factory ratings, which I believe to be credible. I must look back at previous adventures, which involved towing experiences, with TrailBlazers. Over the years, I purchased 3 TrailBlazers, still own 2 of them. Those still in my stable are low miles, for the model year.

I'm not the guy who will ever attempt to put 10 lbs. of poop in a 5 lb. bag. I will never overload, putting our lives and safety at risk, nor will I intentionally damage my "mechanicals", for the sake of proving a point.

I WILL, however, examine ratings, I will look at current trailer and towed vehicle weights vs TrailBlazer factory ratings, and I will invest in proper hitching (WDH and sway), not only because they are needed, but because it will make us safer and more calm and comfortable, over our journey.

For certain, an installed tranny temp. gauge will keep an eye on the pulse, so to speak.

I have been a VCCA member for 10 years. We have lived in the northern tip of Georgia, and now reside in the southwestern tip of NC. NO VCCA EVENTS OR MEETINGS within a reasonable distance, at this corner of the world.

At my age, along with my desires, I would like to make one VCCA national event, while I am still physically and mentally able to do so. That idea then puts the focus on Tahoe.

IF I can make this trip happen, within the SAFE AND COMFORTABLE towing parameters of my vehicle, I will consider this "once in a lifetime trip".

If I'm uncomfortable with my final figures, the '51 will have to stay home.

If we go, and you see our hood open on the side of the road, please stop to share a sandwich with us.

Sorry for being " long winded ".

My thoughts exactly. The Tahoe event is probably the only VCCA National that I'll ever go to.

Cheers, Dean

Hopefully you will go, as well. I did make my hotel reservations, back on that crazy day of "reservation making", so we have a place to sleep, if nothing else.

Bob,
Did you get your answer about what kind of trailer to use?

B.B.,

The trailer I MUST work with, based on my limited options, would be an open trailer, dual axles, 18' or 20' in length, with an aluminum frame construction.

I love aluminum.

I found this trailer for right now was wondering if this would work.

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/rvd/5261761091.html

I have a 2009 Chevy 1500 Silverado with the 4.8L engine in it and towed my wife's ford mustang that weighed 3,420 lbs. and the trailer from uhal weighed 2,210 lbs. So my truck can haul a combined curb weight of 5,630 lbs. This trip was from La Puente California to Pittsburg Kansas when we moved out there for my schooling and then we moved back to California.

I also packed the car with stuff to so I may have been more weight than I thought.

My trucks tow capacity is 4,400 to 7,500 lbs advertised.

I do have hellwig helper springs on and on the back of my truck though. I got them from 4wheelparts.com for $280

A fellow VCCA member uses a similar 4.8 L 1/2 ton to tow a open trailer with '28 or '53 2-door. One trip 3500 miles from Houston to Ely NV. Has load leveling and anti-sway hitch. Seems to work well. Amazingly gets ~ 15 mpg even in the mountains and keeps up with my Duramax with enclosed trailer on all but the steepest grades.

Yeah my truck avraged 15 to 16 mpg I was suprised.

Late to this party.....

As for other possible Truck rental - I just rented from Enterprise Truck rentals. It was completely set up for towing, Diesel engine with enough power to cruise over hwy 50 into Lake Tahoe, It was a crew cab with 4 full size doors so plenty of room for luggage and it had very low mileage. They only charged me $65/day plus mileage. They gave me 600 free miles so I did not pay any mileage for this rental

Great info, Mike.

Thanks! Dean

Mike,
Considering what a new one costs and the number of days you actually use one, it is a bargain. I have a 2008 that I primarily use to tow and haul parts. I am sure if I figured out the cost per day it would be in the same cost range. Mine can sit for a month or more without driving. Of course the mileage charge might get a bit pricey as I have only 175,000 miles on mine so far.