Community Forums

Ginger2859 · 01-22-2008, 04:38 AM

WE HAVE A 2007 CHEVY AVALANCHE 4 WHD, V8 AND WE ARE GETTING CONFLICTING VIEWS ON WHICH TOWING IT WILL DO. WE WOULD LIKE A 5TH WHEEL. WE JUST WENT TO THE DULES EXPO AND COULD NOT GET AN ANSWER THAT MATCHED. HELP!!!

Ginger2859 · 01-22-2008, 04:38 AM

WE HAVE A 2007 CHEVY AVALANCHE 4 WHD, V8 AND WE ARE GETTING CONFLICTING VIEWS ON WHICH TOWING IT WILL DO. WE WOULD LIKE A 5TH WHEEL. WE JUST WENT TO THE DULES EXPO AND COULD NOT GET AN ANSWER THAT MATCHED. HELP!!!

MonacoMama · 01-22-2008, 04:53 AM

Ginger2859...
First let me welcome you to iRV2!

This is the best RV forum on the web with the friendliest & most knowledgable folks anywhere.

Am I understanding you correctly...you want to use your Avalanche to tow a fifth wheel?
You need to post which model and what V8 engine it has.
Once I have verification as far as you using it to tow...then we can link it to another area also

Again...Welcome to iRV2! I hope you post & visit often!

MM

MonacoMama · 01-22-2008, 05:03 AM

Ginger...I have linked this to the TT & Fifth wheel area...You should get more information from that forum
Good Luck

SacsTC · 01-22-2008, 05:19 AM

Just a quick look at GM's website says the Avalanch can tow up to 8200 Lbs for the 2008 model year.
More than likely, this is not going to do what you want to do.

Route 66 · 01-22-2008, 05:22 AM

I don't think the Avalanche is able to tow a 5th wheel trailer.

Your owners manual will list towing limits, details, etc.

Hitchhiker · 01-22-2008, 05:44 AM

The limiting factors with towing a 5th wheel with your Avalanche would be:<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>The truck's gross combined weight rating<LI>Bed rail clearance<LI>Cab clearance to front of trailer<LI>Rear axle weight rating<LI>The truck's gross vehicle weight rating[/list]
It's a 1/2 ton with a bed shorter than a short bed pick-up and was designed for purposes that don't likely include towing a 5th wheel. If the 5th wheel were a very small one and you could meet the weight limits and address the clearance issue, it's possible... but not very likely.

Nonno · 01-22-2008, 05:51 AM

Ginger2859,
I had an 03 avalanche. It could not be used for 5th wheels. I doubt that has changed.

As for standard towing capacity, max trailer weight depends on which model (1500 or 2500) and axle ratio (3.73 or 4.10) you have.

I also want to join the others in welcoming you to irv2

JimmyDee · 01-22-2008, 05:57 AM

Any thing shorter than 6 1/2 feet is not going to work very well. I have a short box that is 6' 9" and it is tight and has limitations. I think t he Avalanche is around 5' 6" and unless you purchased on of the hitches that moves as you are turning, (this would probably be enough to put you truck over on the weight limit) it just wouldn't work.
Jim

RV Wizard · 01-22-2008, 11:47 PM

Welcome to the website and forum. We are glad to have you join us here. I am suprised that a salesman did not tell you "sure it will put this fifth wheel coach just fine". To be honest if you found a coach light enough and installed a slider with a maximum adjustment you might be able to tow it with the Avalanche. Even then it is not the towing vehicle you would want to have. However people have done some really strange things like this:

RustyJC · 01-23-2008, 03:42 AM

First, welcome to iRV2.com.

We're glad to have you join us.

I suspect that due to the extremely short bed in the Avalanche, if a sliding hitch were used, it would put the pinbox into the truck's tailgate before it would give sufficient clearance with the truck's cab. The "flying buttress" trim between the bedrails and the rear of the cab roof would also interfere with the front of the 5th wheel in a turn.

Rusty