Community Forums

Mzocchi · 01-14-2014, 08:38 AM

Looking to use my trailblazer to tow a 27' Jay Flight TT I just purchased...new to the RV world and looking forward to getting started. Anyone know if this vehicle will be strong enough? Very difficult getting information from the generic manual it has on towing.
Trailer weight is 4950 dry and I have a factory Reese hitch setup already on the vehicle. Towed it short distances already to test out, seems ok.
Ordered a weight distribution and away setup too.
Any input would be great!
Thanks

450Donn · 01-14-2014, 08:49 AM

Pretty decent toad. Lousy TV.
That is way too much for the poor trailblazer.
First of all, remember no one has ever seen or towed a trailer even close to the advertised "dry" weight. It is a figment of someones imagination and is in no way close to the real world. For making base assumptions use the trailers GVWR and add that to your TV's actual scaled ready to camp weight. At least then you will have a fighting chance of hitting the mark.
BTW towed or attempted to tow a 20 footer with my 02 TB. One trip was all it took me to realize what a mistake I had made. Swapped it for a Tahoe and went camping.

tuffr2 · 01-14-2014, 09:56 AM

The TB can tow that trailer up to about 55 mph before it will get squirrely. I towed a 5,000lb trailer with a Honda Ridgeline. At 55 mph things got white knuckled.

Oh oh...you need the new 2015 F-150 if you can wait until 3rd quarter of this year.

dcarver · 01-14-2014, 10:06 AM

I tow a 4500lb loaded 24ft TT with an 05 rainier (sister to the TB). It has the 5.3 V8 and power is certainly not lacking but sway will be a problem in a strong crosswind. With the wind or a direct head wind it'll do fine. I dont have the most expensive WD and sway control so if you do get a Hensley arrow or equivalent then you'll probably fair better than I did this weekend with 25-30mph crosswind. BTW mpg was from 9.2-10.7 for the whole 600 miles average speed of 63

gggplaya · 01-14-2014, 11:48 AM

27 foot, no way i wouldn't do it. You'll be overweight once loaded and it's too long for your vehicle. I would upgrade to a larger truck if i were you. Suburban would be your best bet.

bt76 · 01-14-2014, 04:49 PM

My wife has a 2005 envoy and I wouldn't tow our 21' 5500lb TT with it. It may have enough power, but it would be to much weight on the suspension when loaded up. And any crosswinds will be blowing it around.
good luck

TXiceman · 01-14-2014, 06:45 PM

27' trailer and Trailblazer arenot a goof combination. For the Trailblazer the max trailer would be a 21' in my opinion.

Ken

Mzocchi · 01-21-2014, 09:42 AM

I'll start looking for a better TV...took it on trip this past weekend and it handled very well so far with WD in place.
Thanks for the advice all!

SmokeyWren · 01-21-2014, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mzocchi

...took it on trip this past weekend and it handled very well so far with WD in place.

The suspension of the Trailblazer was probably severely overloaded. If you take it out again, load up with the normal passengers and stuff you'll have when towing and go to a truckstop that has a certified automated truck scale. Fill up with gas, and weigh the wet and loaded rig. Add the weights on the front and rear axles of the Trailblazer to get gross vehicle weight (GVW). Compare that GVW to the GVWR of the Trailblazer.

Even with a good WD hitch with sway control, and enough drivetrain to pull that trailer over hill and dale, towing with a tow vehicle that has an overloaded suspension is dangerous. Don't do it.