We have been pulling our 14SO with our 2001 GMC Safari AWD. After many camping adventures and fighting the sway issue's we decided to add a 3rd vehicle to our family. We purchased a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71. We hope this vehicle will make a night and day when pulling the camper, heck when we lowered the tongue onto the truck hitch the back end only squatted 1". With the van we would have to use air bags to bring the rear back up to ride height (surge brakes cannot use wdh).
We will take the vehicle combination out on the first treck this wknd for an outdoor 4 day concert. We'll be climbing some pretty good hills and get some wind gusts to see how the pulling will be.
Congratulations on the new TV Corey and Sandra. Can't wait to check it out at the Rally. :)
Quote from: PopupSgt.... We'll be climbing some pretty good hills and get some wind gusts to see how the pulling will be.
Especially around here, we do have some nasty hills. Congrats on the new TV.
Congrats Corey ! That is a really good tow vehicle ! Can I take a peek at it at the rally ? I always see them from outside ! What color ? do you have pictures ?
Congratulations, Corey! :#
I'm pretty certain you won't even know that big ole PU is behind you!! Can't wait to see it (and you and your family! ;) ) this summer ....
PopUpSgt,
We tow a 12FSO with our AV and it works out great. You can see right over the top of the trailer out the rear window. The only negative with the Avalanche is a relatively low GVWR - 7000#. IIRC the dry weight of the truck is just about 5700#. Subtract for fuel, people, and tongue weight of say 350 - 400# and there isn't a whole ton left. Excuse the pun...
Otherwise, it will tow great! In tow-haul mode you will hardly know the 14FSO is even back there.
hmmmmmmmm, you got it instead of us,lolllololololololololol,glad to hear it ,congrats!:-() :# :!
Thanks for the warm welcome to our new TV :). Hopefully we didn't make a poor choice due to towing capacity, looked for a 2500 but rare as hens teeth mainly due to not many people purchase them and you must order. We really needed the room for the kiddos and the supercab p/u's just don't have enough leg room. Guess we'll find out in a couple of days how it handles the camper.
So, where you gonna camp in the weather we're having. I wanted to get out this weekend until DH told me rain till next week :swear: ; can't wait till the weather breaks
Nancy,
We are going to Wilmore, KY to the Ichthus festival which is Thursday thru Sunday morning. Had to buy an additional dry cell battery so the DW can run the furnace at night :swear:. We'll have to hook up one weekend for a campout.
Quote from: PopupSgtThanks for the warm welcome to our new TV :). Hopefully we didn't make a poor choice due to towing capacity, looked for a 2500 but rare as hens teeth mainly due to not many people purchase them and you must order. We really needed the room for the kiddos and the supercab p/u's just don't have enough leg room. Guess we'll find out in a couple of days how it handles the camper.
PopupSgt,
I did not intend to scare you off the Avalanche. Just and FYI on weights. When I ran through the numbers I was suprized. The tow weight is 7k# w/3.73 rear gear! You won't have any problems as long as you don't plan on hauling a huge load of firewood in the TV.
Also, the 2500 CCC is not that much higher @ 1900# plus. However, the 2500 weighs in at 6600# dry!
Let us know how it tows! We have virtually zero sway! Have fun...