Luxy60

Just bought a 02 Chevy Tahoe with the 5300 V8 and 3.73 gears. The book says it's rated for 7400 lbs. Just wondering if anyone has this truck and tows a 25 Outlaw or similar and how it handles that load? I'm estimating the boat, trailer, gas at about 7000#. Just about the rated load. I don't plan to tow very often so it shouldn't be too hard on the truck. At least I hope not.

warren

We have the same truck (1998), and we tow a 27' Baja Boss to all the APBA national events with no problems. The only thing we do is to add a little air to the rear tires.

DJG

I tow a 24 outlaw with a 95 tahoe every weekand I have no problems even with crappy trailer brakes.

Boating Fool

We towed our outlaw 25 with a F-150 supercrew (2wd) w/ no problems. I think my new ranger will pull it w/o a problem. Just wouldn't want to go far. 7000lbs seems a bit heavy for a 25 considering a 342 comes in around 10,000. The brochure says 4500Lb. That big tahoe shouldn't even notice it back their.

CigDaze

I don't think it should be a problem, just make sure your brakes and trailer brakes are in order. Getting going is the easy part if you take it slow, stopping is the tough part when approaching your gvwr limit.

The 25 weighs 4750 dry and will probably come in at around 5500 with fuel, water, gear, and misc. stuff. Trailer can be figured at another 1500#, so you're right on with your estimate!

[ 02-07-2002: Message edited by: Baja Daze ]

Boating Fool

Good point Daze - I forget about the trailer weight.

Jayl13

Yeah I did too when I got my boat
I actually thought a 2000 ford explorer could tow a 30' baja loaded with crap
and a tri axle trailer

(Doh, need some more cough cough crack over here cough cough )

Anyway, Now I drive a FORD F350 Daily and
my trans am sits in the garage collecting dust and I am using about 1 gallon per 9 miles (ouch)
Main rule of thumb, wanna play, gotta pay

280 baja es = 30 feet + 185 gallons fuel+ equipment, + 2500 lbs for trailer,
coming in around 10000 10500 lbs ish
(want to go to a weigh station and see but they are ALWAYS closed on the highways)

Anyway -- Like these guys mentioned, Getting going is the easy part even though you might think oh crap im hurting my truck, wait until your going 60 some MPH on the turnpike and some a hole cuts you off and you have to slow down fast

Make sure your trailer brakes are working!!!
Best advice in this thread
Heed the warning, you dont want your boat laying on its side on a highway or hit someone with that amount of weight
dooms day for you and the other person
Good luck and your truck should be more than suited to pull your baja
Good luck again to you
Jason

Sacandaga

Nice Boat-Nice Truck. I have a 1996 1/2 4x4 Z-71 Chevy w/5.7 Vortec/373's. I pull my '98 25' Outlaw with an 850lb Alum. tandem axle trailer w/surge brakes. It pulls it pretty good, however if I really trailered a lot, I would want a 3/4 ton truck. These guys are right about the brakes. Surge brakes work great, but if the trailer sits a lot, it will need frequent service. And that is important. I think you'll be fine.

MikeBaja232

I have a '99 Tahoe w/ the 3.42 gears (5500 lbs tow rating) and I pull our '97 232 Islander. I put one size larger tires on it (265-75-R16) which effectively lowered my gear ratio even more. I definately know the boat is back there. It stops well with the trailer brakes; however, I've got my foot in it pretty good on hills. Flat land it tows at 70 real nice. Love my Tahoe, but I can't believe it is only rated to tow 5500 lbs.

Thing some of you need to remember is that if you are exceeding your tow limit on your vehicle and you have an accident, the insurance company probably has a case to not pay. That could get real ugly when you start taling about replacing a boat at the bare minimum (not even talking injuries, etc.).

Advantage

Luxy60,

I pull a 29' Outlaw with twin engines that ways about 10,000 with trailer. I pull it with a Ford Expedition with the Triton 5.4. It pulls it fine but wish I had bigger brakes. My buddy pulls his 25' Outlaw with a 2000 Chevy 1500 5.3 with no problems at all. In fact, his truck pulls my 29' better than mine.