Pulling with a Chevy Tahoe? Good or bad?

[tx3dayeventer]

[QUOTE=Susan P;3825197]
When it comes to trailer safety our opinions don’t mean beans, only the facts matter, driving skill and good judgement. Who cares what any of us believe, the facts are all that matter. Educate yourself if you have concerns, my husband has done that so I take his word for it. I’ve also done a little reading myself years ago in Practical Horseman on towing capacity.[/QUOTE]

Thank you Susan. I have done a tad bit of research on it but it has been 20 years since we have owned/pulled a bumper pull (and I was only 6 then:D), we are a strictly gooseneck family. I know that the Tahoe can pull the trailer but my concern was the shorter wheel base. I asked the trailer dealership up here and they were too busy trying to sell me a 4H with LQ (despite the fact I told them I already had one) so they were no help and the ONLY chevy dealer in the area told me that the Tahoe could pull 8,200 lbs and he “thought” I would be fine.

That is why I came here. Ya’ll are a virtual cornucopia of information and experience.

I have been hauling trailers for 10 almost 11 years and spent 4 years on the road by myself hauling all over the country (even to Canada) to events (literally, I put over 250,000+ miles on my trucks). I feel confident in my hauling abilities.

I just needed some reassurance that I did not get from the people here in my area (kinda country, more used to duallys and huge rigs). They did not know much about hauling with a Tahoe b/c most of their customers take out 2nd mortgages to buy Mini Peterbuilts and HUGE LQ trailers, or atleast thats what they told me.

I appreciate the info and am going to go look at one this weekend. I am going to hook it up and haul it around. Maybe the guy will let me stick his roping mare it just to see how it hauls.

[subk]

[QUOTE=tx3dayeventer;3821389]
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)![/QUOTE]
This would be the exact reason I hauled with a Tahoe as well. Nothing like wanting to go on a trail ride with pals only to have the truck parked at the airport! I never had a problem with it or felt my Tahoe was undersized, underpowered or had the handling compromised. Sure I’d would have rather pulled with the 3/4 ton truck, but just because an elephant gun can do the job doesn’t mean that a little less firepower isn’t just as effective.

[StefffiC]

@2bee;3824939

Just trying to help you understand. And since you dont understand the trailer brakes stop the trailer, I can see how/why you arrived at your “opinion of safety”…too bad it (your opinion) is not based on any facts.

Do a little investigation on brake sizes and how brake controllers work, then check back with us.

What happens when your trailer comes unplugged and you have no trailer brakes? BTDT, I was a passenger coming off a mountain. My horse was in another trailer (thankfully!), and we all survived the incident, but I’d rather be overtrucked and overbraked as undertrucked and relying on trailer brakes that may and may not work.

Steph

[Susan_P]

If you come unplugged your trailer should be set up to lock up. There is a safety that is connected to your vehicle, it becomes detached and that’s a sensor to your trailer brakes. Your trailer brakes act independent of your truck at that point.

@StefffiC;3828802

What happens when your trailer comes unplugged and you have no trailer brakes? BTDT, I was a passenger coming off a mountain. My horse was in another trailer (thankfully!), and we all survived the incident, but I’d rather be overtrucked and overbraked as undertrucked and relying on trailer brakes that may and may not work.

Steph

[StefffiC]

@Susan P;3828814

If you come unplugged your trailer should be set up to lock up. There is a safety that is connected to your vehicle, it becomes detached and that’s a sensor to your trailer brakes. Your trailer brakes act independent of your truck at that point.

Most trailers have breakaway breaks, so if it breaks away from your truck it stops. None that I know of lock up if the wire looses power.

[yellowbritches]

We had a full house going to a nearby (within an hour) show once, so I hauled our two smallest horses with a client’s Tahoe and little 2 horse BP. While it was far from hair raising, it was NOT my easiest drive. I did not feel the trailer was super stable behind me at all. HOWEVER, the one thing we were missing were SWAY BARS. Do that. It will make a difference.

I hate driving BPs, even with our giant truck. Give me our giant 5 horse and the dually any day over a Tahoe and a BP, but, as long as you take into account that everything is lightly, flimmsier, and just not as stable on the road, and drive accordingly, you should be fine. And get sway bars.

[Susan_P]

In my opinion, if you are just locally hauling a two horse bumper pull with a Tahoe with the right tow package, etc. and are sensible, not taking additional risks, you should be fine. I had some engine problems with my injectors and that bogged down the power and as the Tahoe aged it just wasn’t doing the job anymore. But when it was newer, it was great. I felt safer hauling the trailer than when it was not on there. If I set the brakes on the trailer too much it would and did pull my Tahoe to a stop before the Tahoe would. The trailer brakes on my trailer were unreal, don’t know if all trailers are like that. I always had to adjust them so they would drag my Tahoe to a stop, LOL. It’s a weird experience.

I think good judgement and driving skill with experience makes for the safest ride. Just don’t go 90 miles an hour. :eek:

@tx3dayeventer;3825279

Thank you Susan. I have done a tad bit of research on it but it has been 20 years since we have owned/pulled a bumper pull (and I was only 6 then:D), we are a strictly gooseneck family. I know that the Tahoe can pull the trailer but my concern was the shorter wheel base. I asked the trailer dealership up here and they were too busy trying to sell me a 4H with LQ (despite the fact I told them I already had one) so they were no help and the ONLY chevy dealer in the area told me that the Tahoe could pull 8,200 lbs and he “thought” I would be fine.

That is why I came here. Ya’ll are a virtual cornucopia of information and experience.

I have been hauling trailers for 10 almost 11 years and spent 4 years on the road by myself hauling all over the country (even to Canada) to events (literally, I put over 250,000+ miles on my trucks). I feel confident in my hauling abilities.

I just needed some reassurance that I did not get from the people here in my area (kinda country, more used to duallys and huge rigs). They did not know much about hauling with a Tahoe b/c most of their customers take out 2nd mortgages to buy Mini Peterbuilts and HUGE LQ trailers, or atleast thats what they told me.

I appreciate the info and am going to go look at one this weekend. I am going to hook it up and haul it around. Maybe the guy will let me stick his roping mare it just to see how it hauls.

[2bee]

[QUOTE=StefffiC;3828802]
What happens when your trailer comes unplugged and you have no trailer brakes? BTDT, I was a passenger coming off a mountain. My horse was in another trailer (thankfully!), and we all survived the incident, but I’d rather be overtrucked and overbraked as undertrucked and relying on trailer brakes that may and may not work.

Steph[/QUOTE]

What happens if the trailer’s brakes go out? The same thing as if the truck’s brakes go out, or any other emergency…you deal.

HOWEVER, there is no reason to have the trailer come unplugged just running down the road, I have snagged mine a few times in the field though. Nor is there any excuse to believe the trailer brakes “may and may not work”. Dont run junk equipment, maintain it properly and the chance of a problem is slim.

Like I told the other poster, go do some research on brake rotor size then come back and join the discussion.

BTW, according to the owners manual my Chevy 3500 is only rated to be able to stop a 2000# unbraked trailer…the Explorer was 1500# IIRC. With the brake controller turned off, NEITHER truck would stop my loaded trailer effectively, but both could stop it adequately under normal driving circumstances.

[Rileyhorse]

I’m in the same predicament in 2019 and since this thread is 10 years old, I just wanted to ask if there are any opinions on using a Tahoe fot a 2 horse Hawk bumper pull trailer with a dressing room? Our family is torn over the decision! Thanks for any advice.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

@Rileyhorse The Tahoe is rated for the same towing as a Suburban, it’s just a shorter vehicle. I believe it’s 9,000 pounds (I have a '99 Suburban and that’s its towing capacity). But your tow package (factory or aftermarket) and electronic breaks also matter.

But since this thread is so old, you might wish to start a new one. Things do change in 10 years!

[ecpolo]

I have a newer Tahoe and a rather light 2h bp
with tack room for local stuff and emergencies. It’s honestly scary compared to my gooseneck. So handy. But I would never have it as my main hauling rig.

[fourfillies]

Following this. I hauled a 2H aluminum BP with a Tahoe for years up and down I81 in Virginia, etc. Usually one horse with sway bars. Never felt undertrucked to stop or go. I upgraded to a GN 2+1 and an V10 F250 10 years ago. Love it for stability and power. But circumstances change and I’m thinking about going back to the Tahoe and a BP.

[Belowthesalt]

All other issues aside, I would always recommend sway bars when pulling a horse trailer with ANY SUV. Before I had my own rig, I was allowed to borrow rigs from my employer’s hobby (Arabian) farm. Over the years I used a 1/2 ton Ford, a 3/4 Chevy and a heavy-duty Suburban. The 3/4 Chevy did the best job of the three. But the Suburban was fine - with sway bars. Otherwise it was not as stable a tow vehicle as the regular trucks. (in all cases, steel two-horse trailer with dressing room),.