Tow rating for Rovers

[They call me Pete]

I've got a travel trailer I would like to tow with Rover that I buy. The trailer weights 7500 loaded and has electric brakes on it.

 

[57loboy]

According to the info I have, that trailer is too heavy:
Max Trailer Wt=5,500 lbs w/brakes (6500 lbs for LWB), 1,650 lbs w/o brakes
Max Tongue Wt=550 lbs

 

[garrett]

Buy something designed to tow a 7500 lb trailer like a Yukon. If you are thinking of doing so with a RRC, LWB, DI, DII or whatever you will be in for a ride. It just won't happen.

5,500 is really too heavy for these trucks. It can be done, but not very safely or efficiently.

 

[sven]

Damn. 1650 lbs WITHOUT brakes? I knew it was low but damn, that just sucks!

 

[gmookher]

I tow a sports car weighing about 3000lbs and a trailer at 1750 with brakes and thats about the limit with my 4.6 equipped d2

 

[57loboy]

Buy something designed to tow a 7500 lb trailer like a Yukon. If you are thinking of doing so with a RRC, LWB, DI, DII or whatever you will be in for a ride. It just won't happen.

5,500 is really too heavy for these trucks. It can be done, but not very safely or efficiently.

Unless it's a Yukon XL/Suburban, even then you're near the max and being there with a short wheelbase truck is NOT fun. I usually tow 7500lbs easily with the Suburban and appreciate the stability of the longer truck. I've lost count of how many Turbo Buicks, trucks and tractors I've dragged around with it and if it was with the RR, it would have been a lot more (less) exciting!

 

[roverover]

TG hauled his disco to MAR with his RR I sure as shit wouldn't have but he lived to tell the tale. It will no longer pull it at least hold the trailer up since he removed the air suspension

I was looking at a Q56 they are supposed to haul 9000# but I haven't tried it yet

 

[az_max]

I towed a trailer greater than 7500lbs across metro phoenix. 30 ft, Triple axle double decker car hauler. The poor rover looked like an ant hauling a huge stick . Wouldn't want to do it on the freeway or over long distances. I'll look around to see if I can find the pic of it.

 

[They call me Pete]

I see my dream of a Rover slipping away. I've got a F-350 PSD that tows it now but it's a regular cab so we need to take two vehicles to use it. We have had it at a seasonal spot but this year will be pulling off due to lack of funds. It was either camper or a week up on the Cape and I chose the Cape. I couldn't pass up fishing the Cape again. We really need a all around vehicle so I think I'll be looking for a Excursion with the 7.3 PSD. Damn it I was so close. Time for a PT job!!

 

[luvs2getmuddy]

I've towed a D1 on a full car trailer with my RRC with nor real problem, was just real careful.

 

[57loboy]

I see my dream of a Rover slipping away. I've got a F-350 PSD that tows it now but it's a regular cab so we need to take two vehicles to use it. We have had it at a seasonal spot but this year will be pulling off due to lack of funds. It was either camper or a week up on the Cape and I chose the Cape. I couldn't pass up fishing the Cape again. We really need a all around vehicle so I think I'll be looking for a Excursion with the 7.3 PSD. Damn it I was so close. Time for a PT job!!

The 7.3 was last in the Excursions in 2003 if I recall correctly - those things have held their value unbelievably well. I've almost bought one a couple of times but found that many of the parking garages I use are too low. The gas ones (V10) and later 6.0 PSDs not so much. A V10 model might not be a bad deal given that the 7.3 carries such a premium these days that the crappy mileage on the V10 would be offset quite a bit by the $$ savings on the lower priced v10. However, the idle is just so much wimpier on a gas truck of that size!

 

[fordbuilder98]

I towed a Jeep and it wasn't fun around turns being I have no sway bars lol or stopping for that matter

 

[QQQQ]

My 3/4 ton Yukon XL was in the shop (f'ing 8.1 motor). So we went and saved my GF's DII when it died with a friends D1...towing with the Disco is not fun!....but It's flat here so it made it no worries...but sometime a bit scary

 

[57loboy]

It's unfortunate how much trouble the 8.1 has given people - first it was leaky intake manifolds and grew from there! The 6.0 is darn good though - put 55k miles on my '02 2500HD pickup in 20 months, great truck - then I traded it for a 740il...that was sweet too... No troubles with my Suburban so far 60k miles in 2 years on that one!

PS - how the heck did you steer with that load on the back? I'm surprised there's any traction at all on the front tires!!!

 

[garrett]

That's a 6,500+ lb load you are hauling with that stock DI. Not a safe situation at all. I've done it for short distances and won't do it again towing a DI. If you are going to do it get a tow dolly. They weigh 800 lbs compared to 2000 lbs with the transport trailer.
I have extra HD OME springs and it's still sags a bit.

 

[QQQQ]

That's a 6,500+ lb load you are hauling with that stock DI. Not a safe situation at all. I've done it for short distances and won't do it again towing a DI. If you are going to do it get a tow dolly. They weigh 800 lbs compared to 2000 lbs with the transport trailer.
I have extra HD OME springs and it's still sags a bit.

That D1 has 2" Rovertym heavy springs in it...looks worse in that photo than really was...wasnt too bad at max of 55 mph on flat SC roads(trailer brakes worked)...but as I said NOT recomended

 

[QQQQ]

It's unfortunate how much trouble the 8.1 has given people - first it was leaky intake manifolds and grew from there! The 6.0 is darn good though - put 55k miles on my '02 2500HD pickup in 20 months, great truck - then I traded it for a 740il...that was sweet too... No troubles with my Suburban so far 60k miles in 2 years on that one!

My (first) 8.1 started using a quart of oil every 1000 miles and was a fight to get changed under warr. ...the next motor they put in never ran right and then had major failure (maybe cam first then like a spoon in the garbage disposal sound)....plus it had a rear end replaced (locking diff made metal) then the trans acted up and final straw was the morning I started it...it shifted into 4 low on its own and wouldnt come out...gone now...I'll never buy another GM product

 

[57loboy]

It's unfortunate how much trouble the 8.1 has given people - first it was leaky intake manifolds and grew from there! The 6.0 is darn good though - put 55k miles on my '02 2500HD pickup in 20 months, great truck - then I traded it for a 740il...that was sweet too... No troubles with my Suburban so far 60k miles in 2 years on that one!

My (first) 8.1 started using a quart of oil every 1000 miles and was a fight to get changed under warr. ...the next motor they put in never ran right and then had major failure (maybe cam first then like a spoon in the garbage disposal sound)....plus it had a rear end replaced (locking diff made metal) then the trans acted up and final straw was the morning I started it...it shifted into 4 low on its own and wouldnt come out...gone now...I'll never buy another GM product

The encoder motors on the transfer case would fail and do exactly that - sometimes the pushbutton dash switch would fail too (in 4lo). As they got later, they got better. The 8.1 could have been so much better - I miss my '97 6.5td Suburban, maybe the Duramax concept one will actually get made...The 5.3 in my Z71 is tweaked and tuned but not anywhere near where I want it to be...

 

[etcatmeat]

I pull a 18' tandem axle toy hauler with my RR 4.6 and loaded I guess its probably around 5500 lbs. It tows very nice actually, but I would not want to pull anything much bigger. I can cruise about 60-65 no problem on the flat, but slow down to 40mph on the really steep hills.

Relevant towing info:

I have:
weight distribution bars
sway control
electric brake controller
33" tires


I used to tow a 15' 3500lb single axle trailer with my D1 and it was a white knuckle drive over 50mph!

 

[EJB90]

My 3/4 ton Yukon XL was in the shop (f'ing 8.1 motor). So we went and saved my GF's DII when it died with a friends D1...towing with the Disco is not fun!....but It's flat here so it made it no worries...but sometime a bit scary

Wow, put a penny in the coin holder of the DII and your front tires would be off the ground hahah.