Pulling with a Chevy Tahoe? Good or bad?

[tx3dayeventer]

I will NOT be using it to go further than one or two hours (I have a 4H gooseneck for that).

I am looking at buying a 2 horse WW bumper-pull. Nothing fancy. Just a 2H side by side without a tack room (just the little tack compartment under the manger). Looks similar to this: http://www.wwtrailer.com/gal_images/silver_duster.jpg

I will only use it to run one horse (16H QH, who is built like a TB) to vet (which is 45 minutes) and just around town.

I have a 03 Tahoe 4x4 V8 with a towing package. The Chevy dealership said I can haul 8,200 lbs with it.

What do ya’ll think? Would this combination be safe for driving around town and to the vet?

I just want to restate that I have a 4H gooseneck for long hauls so this would just be for short hauls (less than 2 hrs).

[atlatl]

I pull a 2 horse straight load aluminum warmblood sized Sundowner with a dressing room with an 04 Tahoe with a tow package and have had absolutely no problem. The issue with tow vehicles is stopping the trailer more than pulling it. I can’t remember where I got the information on the recommended wheel base length of the tow vehicle, but the Tahoe was fine.

My previous tow vehicle was a 1990 Chevy 1500 with tow package. I would not hesitate to tow long distances with the Tahoe.

[tidy_rabbit]

I had a Tahoe & a bumper pull 2 horse. I don’t think I would have wanted to take it through the Sierras or cross country, but it was fine for my 200+ mile range. I did end up having Trany troubles though.

[flshgordon]

I have (sounds like) the exact same vehicle and tow my 3h slant Trails West with it no problem. Usually only with 2 horses but occasionally (in emergency hurricane evac!) have hauled 3. Most I have driven with it is about 1.5-2 hours away. My trailer is pretty lightweight though-aluminum over steel frame. I can’t remember the weight at this point but it was considerably less than even many 2h steel trailers.

[lovemyoldguy]

I have a 98 GMC Yukon (same thing as a Tahoe) with a tow package that I used to pull my Shoop 2-horse bumper pull. The trailer alone was 3000-ish lbs, and I hauled both my big-butt (1400lbs) gelding and my sister’s QH (1100 lbs). I never had any problems and felt very comfortable with the power of the Yukon, even hauling 5000+lbs.

One thing that made a big difference was the anti-sway bars - I’m sure most (a lot?) of people here use them, but I was always shocked at how many little rigs (e.g., SUV and trailer) I used to see that did NOT.

[Calhoun]

Although, I lived in an area which was flat, I used a Tahoe to pull my 2H bumper pull (no DR) Featherlite w/o problems for 3 years. It was not unusual for me to haul 3-4 hours to a show and I hauled just my horse.

[CANTEREOIN]

I tow all over the Northeast with my 2006 Tahoe (with towing package). I had my 16.3H Dutch Warmblood, a 16.1H hannoverian plus shavings, hay, grain, showing equipment for two eventers going to an Event 3.5 hours away for a three day horse trial. No problems what so ever… hills and all.

I was told by a very reputable Horse Trailer dealer that it (and the Yukon) were the only SUV’s he would recommend as safe towing vehicles. You’re in good hands.

[tx3dayeventer]

Thanks so much! I am going to go look at the trailer this weekend and hope to bring it home with me. I feel better knowing there are many people that tow with a Tahoe.

Where I live EVERYONE hauls EVERYTHING (even those scary little 1 horse trailers with one axle) with a dually.

[AKB]

I have pulled my 2 horse Sundowner (no dressing room) and two plump Irish Draughts, down interstate route 81 in Virginia. Some of the hill/mountains are quite steep. I have had no problems with my Tahoe pulling the trailer. I admit that on an interstate, I feel the trailer is more stable at high speeds (60-65mph) if I tow using my daughter’s pickup truck. However, at normal speeds, the Tahoe is great.

[nightsong]

Most accidents occur within 20 miles of home. The type of driving you are suggesting doing with your admittedly less-safe vehicle has more stops, starts, turns and encounters with @$$#0= drivers than long-hauls do.

[lstevenson]

The shorter wheelbase does make it more unstable with a trailer, and therefore slightly more dangerous. You will feel the difference when towing at high speeds, when it’s very windy, and when the 18 wheelers pass you! Sway bars do help a lot though.

[BeastieSlave]

I’m a total Tahoe lover :yes: I’m on my second one. Both have/had the big Vortec V-8 with towing package, etc.

The first one was great (the new one is too, but I haven’t had it as long). It was a 2000 and when it finally wore out it had over 274,000 miles on it - and a lot of those were towing. My longest haul was 11 hours each way, but mostly I haul locally (within 45 minutes) or up to 6 hours (ea. way) away for shows.

I’m in south GA and it’s pretty flat, so I don’t really sweat the few inches difference in wheelbase. Maybe that’s foolish, but the Tahoes have done very well pulling my 2H BP!

[Pat]

I think I’ve used a Tahoe to tow before. Er, it wasn’t my rig, it belonged to the wacky chick I was working for. We only toodled around to nearby shows and the odd hunter pace. Mostly back roads and rural divided hiways w/55 mph speed limits.

The trailer was a nice little 2H with a small but funtional tack room. Other than the hitch the dealer guy sold her, it was all pretty good. That hitch had a hieght adjustment on it and I had to remove it for her when we weren’t towing anything or she’d bottom out on every driveway!! lol

Sway bars, tho. don’t leave home with out the sway bars. With a larger towing vehicle it’s not a big deal, but with what you are suggesting they really aren’t an option.

But, if you have a truck for that gooseneck, why use the Tahoe?

[Pat]

@AKB;3819765

… down interstate route 81 in Virginia. Some of the hill/mountains are quite steep…

weeeeee!!! I’ve done that run more than once, straight on from Harrisburg, PA to the TN boarder. Those hills on I-81 are pretty impressive!!

[Chardavej]

My concern wouldn’t be with pulling, as I am sure it pulls fine, I would be concerned about stopping, being able to stop quick, short and straight…

[Susan_P]

I had no problem hauling with my Tahoe until it had some problems as it got older. It should have enough power and weight to haul a 2 horse bumper pull. My husband repairs tractor trailers and a lot of horse equipment and he picked out the car. He understand those things better than I do. I never even felt the trailer as I towed it until as I say, it got older and worn. Actually the trailer had better breaks than the Tahoe, which has lousy brakes.

I do have a F-250 now but no trailer, need to remedy that. My trailer has aged too.

@tx3dayeventer;3818386

I will NOT be using it to go further than one or two hours (I have a 4H gooseneck for that).

I am looking at buying a 2 horse WW bumper-pull. Nothing fancy. Just a 2H side by side without a tack room (just the little tack compartment under the manger). Looks similar to this: http://www.wwtrailer.com/gal_images/silver_duster.jpg

I will only use it to run one horse (16H QH, who is built like a TB) to vet (which is 45 minutes) and just around town.

I have a 03 Tahoe 4x4 V8 with a towing package. The Chevy dealership said I can haul 8,200 lbs with it.

What do ya’ll think? Would this combination be safe for driving around town and to the vet?

I just want to restate that I have a 4H gooseneck for long hauls so this would just be for short hauls (less than 2 hrs).

[tx3dayeventer]

[QUOTE=Pat;3820932]

But, if you have a truck for that gooseneck, why use the Tahoe?[/QUOTE]

B/c the truck is used by the SO daily. I have to switch vehicles with him and then go hook up my gooseneck (or I guess in this case the 2H BP). PITA (the switching of vehicles)!

[ThisTooShallPass]

This has been discussed to death over the years on COTH.

Stopping. Stopping is the issue. Stopping! Stopping! Stopping!

Some folks simply like to try to cheat death. Death always wins. Sometimes sooner due to stupidity.

[lstevenson]

@ThisTooShallPass;3822067

This has been discussed to death over the years on COTH.

Stopping. Stopping is the issue. Stopping! Stopping! Stopping!

Some folks simply like to try to cheat death. Death always wins. Sometimes sooner due to stupidity.

Um… trailers have brakes. And Tahoe weighs as much or more than your average pick up truck. So it’s perfectly capable of stopping a two horse trailer. Yes, the heavier the tow vehicle, the better. But the Tahoe is heavy enough to safely stop a trailer. I maintain that the shorter wheelbase is the real drawback (think sway and possible jacknife).

[ThisTooShallPass]

Idiots pull with average pick up trucks.

Yes, I absolutely did just say that.