Towing

[Doug]

My dealer says the H2 is rated at 6800 lbs for towing. I am looking at purchasing a trailer that weighs 8500 lbs. Some say the rating is based on towing full time. My question is if I only tow this trailer 8 to 10 times a year will it be ok, does anyone have any experience with towing. Your reply will be much appreciated, thanks!

Doug
2003 Metalic Red H2
Adventure Series. w/navigation/Sat Radio/Winch

[Doug]

My dealer says the H2 is rated at 6800 lbs for towing. I am looking at purchasing a trailer that weighs 8500 lbs. Some say the rating is based on towing full time. My question is if I only tow this trailer 8 to 10 times a year will it be ok, does anyone have any experience with towing. Your reply will be much appreciated, thanks!

Doug
2003 Metalic Red H2
Adventure Series. w/navigation/Sat Radio/Winch

[AlamoJim]

you might want to find out if that limit is because of the hitch...maybe a stronger hitch would make a difference...I would never exceed the recommended performance of my vehicle too many potential problems.

I saw the aftermath of a boat/trailer that exceeded the specs of the tow rig...lost it at a
underpass turnaround in Austin TX and put the boat across the top of several cars at the adjacent car lot.

I don't think you want to be a hazard to yourself or other people (thus your question) perhaps there is an upgraded tow hitch/setup that you could get.

JMO

[JohnS]

My experience would be that your H2 would be the wrong vehicle for towing a 8500lb trailer. I trailer a bass boat a lot to travel for tournaments and even at a total weight of about 3500lbs I feel that the H2 is somewhat inadequate. I guess I was spoiled by some of my past tow vehicles - 2000 Excursion, 1997 Expedition, 1994 Suburban. My H2 tows better than a 1984 full size Bronco that I once owned. Bottom line - the H2 is adequate for my towing purposes but not the best that I have had.

JohnS

[Gary C]

If you are stuck with the Hummer as a tow vehicle, Never tow in Overdrive, keep your eye on the guages and change your tranny fluid if it ever gets hot. In my 580hp Dodge Diesel PU truck I change fluid ever 6000-10000 miles.

This site has some good info.

Good Luck

http://www.goerie.com/fallcarcare/changing_transmission_fluid_is.html

<font color=Gray>Pewter</font>, Lux, No Spare Anywhere http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif, Ventvisors, Foose Wheels (http://www.foosedesignwheels.com/product_details.php?style=spank+8-lug), Corsa Touring Exhaust (http://www.corsaperf.com/hummerh2.htm), HID's (http://brightheadlights-hid.com/Sylvania-xenarc-sealed-beams.htm)

[Big Z]

Doug, this is a good one to do a search on. JohnS summerized very well, and came to the same conclusion as i did, months ago.

[Hummer Man]

You must know the TONGUE weight before you get a HUMMER!

[bmac]

I am the farthest thing from an expert on towing. However, my understanding is that the towing capacity of a vehicle is based upon a multitude of factors that include the vehicle's geometry, weight, engine HP, frame, axles, hitch, wheels and tires. By exceeding the recommended limits, you may induce a failure in any of these components. Simply adding a performance mod would not necessarily make for safe towing. Towing mishaps can be catastrophic not only for the driver of the tow vehicle, but also for anyone else who may have the misfortune of being near you. My suggestion would be don't do it.

[Big Z]

The Tow rating is 6700#.
The GCWR is 14,000#
Section 4-62 page 290 in the Manual.
The Manual Is A Must Read, at least once. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif A whole lot of good Info. IMHO
But your greatest concern if you did pull this trailer---1800# OVER MFG TOW RATING--and---1000 PLUS POUNDS OVER MFG MAX GCWR, (AT THIS POINT YOUR RIG HAS BECAME ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE!) Your Insurance won't cover you---and you would be liably for everything if something went wrong-- Just not worth the chance..

[Doug]

Thanks for all the info. You guys got me researching and I found a Keystone Tailgator. Empty it 's 6000 lbs. Loaded with my two quads and some gear I estimate It should be at about 7200 lbs. A bit over the limit. But its the lightest SUT I could find that suits my needs. My dealer said with a load distributing hitch and anti sway bars it should be fine. I will let you know how it works out.
Thanks again for the help.

Doug
2003 Metalic Red H2
Adventure Series. w/navigation/Sat Radio/Winch

[DennisAJC]

Reading these posts kind of makes me wonder if that VW Toureg commercial towing a massive trailer is a little misleading.

He ain't heavy.....
He's ma HUMMER baby!
03 NUDE Pewter Lux H2
03 Dressed Range Rover

[Gary C]

Reese hitches (http://www.reese-hitches.com/hi_pef_trunnion_bar_wd.htm)

Hi-Performance Trunnion Bar Weight-Distributing Hitch Systems is a must do. I have this system and what a world of difference, the handling is like you are on rails. I have a lot of miles of towing without this system, now I wished I had this for all those white knuckled times.

I also have a sway bar tensioner, again a world of differance.

<font color=Gray>Pewter</font>, Lux, Ventvisors, Foose Wheels (http://www.foosedesignwheels.com/product_details.php?style=spank+8-lug), Corsa Touring Exhaust (http://www.corsaperf.com/hummerh2.htm), HID's (http://brightheadlights-hid.com/Sylvania-xenarc-sealed-beams.htm)

[Doug]

I just picked up a Drawtite weight distributing hitch and anti sway system, identical to the Reese. Spoke to a fellow H2 owner who tows a 7k lb plus 35' trailer, he says with the hitch system the H2 tows like a dream.
Picking up the trailer Tuesday, 25' Keystone Tailgator. Pictures to come.

Doug
2003 Metalic Red H2
Adventure Series. w/navigation/Sat Radio/Winch

[Gary C]

I have had my system for about 3 months Doug. I tow a short wheelbase 20' enclosed trailer and without it the H2 is DANGEROUS, even with my Dodge Deisel truck its dangerous without it and the trailer with The Prowler inside is only 6800 lbs. You need the system and the anti sway system is also a must.

Its a must have, now towing my ski boat it works rather well without it, go figure.

http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

<font color=Gray>Pewter</font>, Lux, Ventvisors, Foose Wheels (http://www.foosedesignwheels.com/product_details.php?style=spank+8-lug), Corsa Touring Exhaust (http://www.corsaperf.com/hummerh2.htm), HID's (http://brightheadlights-hid.com/Sylvania-xenarc-sealed-beams.htm)