Replaced my Tow Vehicle - Out with the Old in with the New

[zboaterctf]

Just measured mine, I have 7.5" in the front and 9.25" in the rear. What's your tire size? Mine is 265/70R17

17" ALUMINUM WHEELS with LT265/70R17 Tires (Blackwall) - have the same wheels and tires. Ran 70lbs in rear when towing with tounge wight at around 550lbs and cargo area packed to brim with no sway bars (I know - not per hitch spec) - but no issues and smooth ride. I do have one advantage of not being as tall, which means I get no sway due to drafts from trucks (vs what I used to feel towing the 290 sundancer in the past).

BTW - also running goodyear marathon trailer tires and have no issues.

 

[ChuckW]

Travis, thanks for the tip on the RAS. I did a little research on it and decided to give it a try.

Today I had the RAS system installed. Got a local trailer company here in FL to install them for $390. Seemed like a bargain. We'll see how the haul back North this weekend goes. Hopefully better.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I wonder if a GM dealer would install 4.10's? If so, it might save your warranty. I have no idea if they will or won't - just a thought. 'Course, that just means your 70mph RPM's will be even higher. But, maybe 6th gear with 4.10's would run the same RPM's as 5th gear with 3.73's?

 

[KRB64]

Travis, thanks for the tip on the RAS. I did a little research on it and decided to give it a try.

Today I had the RAS system installed. Got a local trailer company here in FL to install them for $390. Seemed like a bargain. We'll see how the haul back North this weekend goes. Hopefully better.

Interested in hearing your opinion on the RAS once you put it through the paces. Should help with axle wrap too.

Not a GM man but if air bags are available for the Burb they would make a big difference as they can be aired up when towing and back down when empty.

 

[shore]

My escalade has air-ride and that makes all the difference for sag.

 

[ChuckW]

Interested in hearing your opinion on the RAS once you put it through the paces. Should help with axle wrap too.

Not a GM man but if air bags are available for the Burb they would make a big difference as they can be aired up when towing and back down when empty.

My escalade has air-ride and that makes all the difference for sag.

The 1/2 ton's all have air bags..as they use a coil spring in the rear. The 3/4 ton's have leaf springs and no air bag option.

 

[ChuckW]

Return trip complete, in short much better.

I had the RAS installed and it performed as expected, kept the sag out of the rear end and made it a bit smoother over the bumps. Basically brought me back to par with the '07 I had.

For my haul back, here is what changed:
- installed Roadmast Active Suspension (RAS)
- GCVW was ~400lbs lighter due to fewer passengers and fuel/water load.

I was able to make some use of 6th gear this time. On the flats could hold 65mph at 1750 RPMs or 70mph at 1900 RPMs.:thumbsup: It's still too quick to downshift into 5th and too slow to upshift back to 6th without a lot of attention to throttle management though. With my '07, 5 speed and 4.10 axle I didn't have to pay so much attention to the throttle and RPMs.:smt009

MPG improved by .8 miles to 8.0 MPG. which puts me back to what I had with the '07 as well.

Still boggled as to why the rear end on the '10 is softer than on the '07, but at least the RAS has leveled that playing field. Will investigate with dealer.

 

[KRB64]

Are there kits out there that will allow you to "tune" your tranny's shift points?

 

[zboaterctf]

Return trip complete, in short much better.

I was able to make some use of 6th gear this time. On the flats could hold 65mph at 1750 RPMs or 70mph at 1900 RPMs.:thumbsup: It's still too quick to downshift into 5th and too slow to upshift back to 6th without a lot of attention to throttle management though.

MPG improved by .8 miles to 8.0 MPG. which puts me back to what I had with the '07 as well.
quote]

Glad you had a better trip back - as I said earlier "gas pedal management" was my key to staying in 6th gear (my MPH was not consistent) – no cruise control and “forget it” like the ’07 with the 4.1 with 3 speed … you have a little more weight than me (est. 1-2K lbs) and that seems to really be making a difference … as I can hold 72-75 mph at 2,100 RPM in 6th gear which gets me closer to 9.5 MPG.

 

[390pi]

Here is one more angle to this:

The '07's had 245-75-16 tires; the '10's have 265-70-17, which are taller.

So, combine the '10's 3.73's with taller tires and no wonder the overall gear ratio is not as tow friendly as 4.10's with smaller tires.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Here is one more angle to this:

The '07's had 245-75-16 tires; the '10's have 265-70-17, which are taller.

So, combine the '10's 3.73's with taller tires and no wonder the overall gear ratio is not as tow friendly as 4.10's with smaller tires.

But, by less than 2mm. Effectively, the same. There's so many factors that come into how well a vehicle tows.

Unless you've got the low end torque of a diesel, 6th gear is going to be awful hard to hold a speed while still low in the RPM band. Gassers need a little more RPM's - especially when you're towing at max weight.

Did the tranny gear ratio's change between the two Sub's?

 

[ChuckW]

I would assume the tranny ratio had to change, as the '07 is a 5 speed and the '10 is a 6 speed.

According http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp?action=submit the tire sizes are more than 2mm different.