Tow vehichle ?

[Dennis McGill]

I bought a 99 Suburban to tow my covered trailer and Vette. Coming back from Bloomington in June, rearend went out.
Local Chevy Dealer replaced it.
Pulled to Park City, almost 4000 miles.
Then on the way to Carlisle, access plate and seal on yoke started leaking.
I tightened the access plate along side the Penn Turnpike and made it home.
Now, the Chevy dealer says it's my fault becouse the Suburban isn't designed to pull a covered trailer with a car in it.
Says, that the bolts came loose from the over heating of the rearend.
Also says that if I continue to use the Suburban for a tow vehicle I'll have the same problems again.

Does this sound right?




Park City Photos

[Gary Chesnut]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

What is the towing capacity listed in the vehicle owner's manual. If you trailer & Corvette fall are within that spec - then the dealer's all wet. Gary #5895....

[Patrick H.]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

How heavy are the trailer and car combination?

No, it doesn't sound right. It sounds like he's giving you bull. Many of us have used 1/2 ton pickups and Suburbans to pull car trailers, both covered and open, without a problem. I would suggest he screwed up in fixing the rear end after Bloomington, and now is trying to blame you. If you doubt it, check out the towing ratings as listed in your owner's manual.

I used my 94 pickup to pull a trailer and car several times, and my friends have used Suburbans. I have never had a problem, even with over 100,000 miles at the time of my last tow. I'll use my newer 2003 in 3 weeks to pull to Cincinnati.

Patrick

[Jack H.]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

The max load rating for my '93 Suburban 2500 is 8500 lbs and it tows my enclosed car hauler + Corvette without a problem. However, I take one precaution and that's to leave the 4L80-E transmission in drive vs. automatic overdrive when I tow the heavy load to keep it from excessively looping in/out of integral overdrive.

You might suggest your Chevy dealer schedule an appointment for you with the Chevy Zone Dealer representative so you can hear from the horse's mouth that the truck you bought is incapable of pulling the load you desire... I'll bet that stops him in his tracks!

[don 42616]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

Dennis, No, It does not sound right. The corvette & trailer combo should not weigh more then 6000 lbs. I'll wager a Suburban is designed for more then that. Don

[Mike McKown]

HEH HEH, TOW VEHICLE?

Maybe you should have bought a real truck and got an Expedition to tow your car and trailer with.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

My Suburban 2500 w/7.3L (454) pulls a 6K# camping trailer without a whimper. A properly speced 'burb will tow just about anything wihtin reason. It is the tow vehcle of choice for most of the RV folks.

[Donald M.]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

Also, a properly speced Suburban will tow an Expedition!

[Paul Reynolds]

Now that's funny..... *NM*

[J B.]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

And my Excursion will tow the Surburban while it tows the Expedition!

[Rick S.]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

I thought the gas mileage was bad for my small block and at $3.50 a gallon for premium, I have to re-think driving it now. What kind of gas mileage do you get on that Ford Excursion towing a fine Corvette? What do you pay for filling the tank on your tank?

[J B.]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

Let's see. 44 Gallons at todays price seems more like a mortgage payment than a gas fill up. Makes me want to cry!

At least it runs on regular ;-)

Although it sure was great to have all that space when I was hauling all of those 68 parts I bought at Carlisle last weekend.

I haven't towed my Corvette yet. It's still in way too many pieces. Maybe next year.

[Mike McKown]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

If you don't try to blow the speed limit signs off their posts, a PowerStroke Diesel Excursion should get 13-15 mpg pulling a car on a trialer. Diesel fuel is usually cheaper than gasoline in my neighborhood.

[Dick W.]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

Sounds like typical "hogwash" from your local dealer. If you cannot get it resolved to your satisfaction, most states have some sort of consumer products protection board to resolve these. In NC it is through the Attorney General's office.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Tow vehichle ?

Aren't you glad you don't have to worry about that, Dick?

You know, dealer hogwash and all....

Patrick