Hi, looking at my first boat. Would a 04 trailblazer work for towing a hunter 23.5 or should i be looking for something lighter? Thanks dennis
trailing a hunter 23.5
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Weight
Dennis, Other threads have placed that boat's tongue weight about 320 lbs and total trailer weight (fully loaded) about 3,500 lbs. Check your Trailblazer's towing capacity in the owner's manual. It should be fine.
Dennis, Other threads have placed that boat's tongue weight about 320 lbs and total trailer weight (fully loaded) about 3,500 lbs. Check your Trailblazer's towing capacity in the owner's manual. It should be fine.
dennis
Thanks, I dont know much about sail boats or any boats as far as that goes. my owners manual shows ok to tow about 40000 lbs. I should have said its a 1995 with duel axel trailer, they say its in good shape. asking 11,300, Thanks again... Dennis
Thanks, I dont know much about sail boats or any boats as far as that goes. my owners manual shows ok to tow about 40000 lbs. I should have said its a 1995 with duel axel trailer, they say its in good shape. asking 11,300, Thanks again... Dennis
Towing 23.5
This boat is very similar to the H26/260. Very easy to tow if you have the right equipment. This is too important to guess. You might be in the ballpark but you can't go by what other people tell you. Most people significantly underestimate what their load actually is. An easy way to settle this is to insist the seller provide a weigh ticket before closing the deal. It's a simple matter to run it across a commercial scale. If you want to make sure you are OK look at this website for tips on towing. It's well worth your time. Go to: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/travel/travel.html
This boat is very similar to the H26/260. Very easy to tow if you have the right equipment. This is too important to guess. You might be in the ballpark but you can't go by what other people tell you. Most people significantly underestimate what their load actually is. An easy way to settle this is to insist the seller provide a weigh ticket before closing the deal. It's a simple matter to run it across a commercial scale. If you want to make sure you are OK look at this website for tips on towing. It's well worth your time. Go to: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/travel/travel.html
Be careful
Rather than looking for lighter boat, I'd think about a bigger truck. Be careful with a boat that is close to the max towing capability of your vehicle. (I assume you meant to type 4,000Lbs, not 40,000) It's easy to put it overweight with an outboard, fuel, supplies for the weekend, etc. Add a slippery ramp and two wheel drive and you'll be quite entertaining at the retrieval ramp. Also, remember displacement is not the same as tare weight on the boat and trailer. Hunter should be able to tell you what the boat actually weighs. Add the weight of the trailer and all of the weight in your vehicle, then you'll have the total load your putting on your brakes. Because, after all, stopping is as much of an issue (if not more) as is starting and pulling.
Rather than looking for lighter boat, I'd think about a bigger truck. Be careful with a boat that is close to the max towing capability of your vehicle. (I assume you meant to type 4,000Lbs, not 40,000) It's easy to put it overweight with an outboard, fuel, supplies for the weekend, etc. Add a slippery ramp and two wheel drive and you'll be quite entertaining at the retrieval ramp. Also, remember displacement is not the same as tare weight on the boat and trailer. Hunter should be able to tell you what the boat actually weighs. Add the weight of the trailer and all of the weight in your vehicle, then you'll have the total load your putting on your brakes. Because, after all, stopping is as much of an issue (if not more) as is starting and pulling.
Doable, But Barely
Not a good setup for pulling the boat from the Midwest to the Keys to go sailing. Fine for taking it a couple of miles down the road a couple of times a month. The Issue is not going to be weight, the trailer is about 900# the empty boat 2,000# motor and other assorted stuff 1,000# so right at 4,000# is a good number. The issue is size. the size of the boat creates a large enough surface area that it is a issue towing at hiway speeds over an extended period of time and the short wheelbase of the Trailblazer means it will get pushed and pulled by the boat easily. The 23.5 is an excellent boat and if you can make it work I am sure you will enjoy it. We look forward to hearing your decision.
Not a good setup for pulling the boat from the Midwest to the Keys to go sailing. Fine for taking it a couple of miles down the road a couple of times a month. The Issue is not going to be weight, the trailer is about 900# the empty boat 2,000# motor and other assorted stuff 1,000# so right at 4,000# is a good number. The issue is size. the size of the boat creates a large enough surface area that it is a issue towing at hiway speeds over an extended period of time and the short wheelbase of the Trailblazer means it will get pushed and pulled by the boat easily. The 23.5 is an excellent boat and if you can make it work I am sure you will enjoy it. We look forward to hearing your decision.
While I am
on record as being in favor of the biggest tow vehicle possible, GM says that the towing capacity of a Trailblazer is between 4800 and 6300 lbs, depending on axle ratio and motor. Take it slow, have the truck and trailer checked by knowledgeable mechanics, and don't overload it. Tim
on record as being in favor of the biggest tow vehicle possible, GM says that the towing capacity of a Trailblazer is between 4800 and 6300 lbs, depending on axle ratio and motor. Take it slow, have the truck and trailer checked by knowledgeable mechanics, and don't overload it. Tim
and for god sakes
dont tow it in over drive read the owners manuel. it sucks being stranded 200 mi from nowhere with a burned out transmission because you failed to read the stupid little book that came with your car
dont tow it in over drive read the owners manuel. it sucks being stranded 200 mi from nowhere with a burned out transmission because you failed to read the stupid little book that came with your car
Sand Sailor
Are you sure that the book says that? If the transmission is too loaded, I don't think it would shift into O/D anyway. And some transmissions won't lock their torque converter unless they are in 4th gear... Take it slow and you'll be fine. If you want to go 70, get a bigger truck. Both will be about equal on gas.
Are you sure that the book says that? If the transmission is too loaded, I don't think it would shift into O/D anyway. And some transmissions won't lock their torque converter unless they are in 4th gear... Take it slow and you'll be fine. If you want to go 70, get a bigger truck. Both will be about equal on gas.
The owners manual says
"You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or a lower gear, under heavy loads or hilly conditions." As a GM tech who has seen how lightly built these "trucks" are, I would use 3rd gear, imho. Tim
"You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or a lower gear, under heavy loads or hilly conditions." As a GM tech who has seen how lightly built these "trucks" are, I would use 3rd gear, imho. Tim
no towing in O/D
if you put too much load on the trans it will down shift USUALLY,but more often than not in o/d it will release the tension on the clutches so they will slip because it cant hold the pressure required to stay locked up and once the o/d clutches start to slip they glaze over like brake shoes and then it goes down hill from there usually to the tune of a new trans($2000).
if you put too much load on the trans it will down shift USUALLY,but more often than not in o/d it will release the tension on the clutches so they will slip because it cant hold the pressure required to stay locked up and once the o/d clutches start to slip they glaze over like brake shoes and then it goes down hill from there usually to the tune of a new trans($2000).
my .02
if in your truck ,full engine power in OD (or any other gear) the clutches slip, you have a trans problem to start. It doesnt matter how much weight is there, the most load will be the maximum engine torque. Merry christmas!
if in your truck ,full engine power in OD (or any other gear) the clutches slip, you have a trans problem to start. It doesnt matter how much weight is there, the most load will be the maximum engine torque. Merry christmas!
there are only two clutches in the o/d drum
opposed to 4 in all the others so yes chances of them slipping are greater under a load
opposed to 4 in all the others so yes chances of them slipping are greater under a load
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