[Rhodes22-list] Tow Vehicles

[Steve Alm]

Thanks, Rik.

You probably tow trailers more than all of the rest of us combined so I'm
happy to get/take your advice.

Slim

On 4/27/05 6:03 PM, "Rik Sandberg" <rik at signsbyrik.net> wrote:

> Slim,
> 
> Yeah, I've been trying, but my email at work is giving me fits. I sent
> the salt water post to the list, then I could not send to the list
> again. I'm rewriting (AGAIN) at home now.
> 
> Doug ..... you're too kind. :-)
> 
> I found, with our R-22 that our V-6, S-10 Chevy extended cab, 4x4 did
> quite a good job of towing for us. I've never compared the wheelbase on
> the S-10 with the Chevy Blazer/Trail Blazer, so I can't say with
> certainty that the Blazer would work as well. There have been several
> other owners on the list who have used them and seemed pretty satisfied
> with their towing ability. I tow our Flicka@ 6000 lbs. + trailer with a
> 1500 Chevy, extended cab, short box, 4x4. It does a very nice job, both
> on the rhighway and on the ramp. Yes, I am partial to 4 wheel drive,
> mostly because of the 2 speed transfer case. This is a truly great
> feature on the ramp. Ask Elton about our S-10 sometime :-)
> 
> When looking for a tow vehicle, a longer wheelbase is always better.
> There is another factor to consider though and that is the relationship
> between the length of the wheelbase and the length of the overhang (rear
> axle to hitch ball) behind the rear axle. If your overhang in back is
> shorter, your vehicle will tend to be more stable with weight hanging
> back there.. So if you are considering two different vehicles with the
> same wheelbase and onen has a shorter overhang in back than the other,
> the one with the shorter overhang will generally be the more stable tow
> vehicle.
> 
> I think the overhang on the Blazer is pretty short. That is probably why
> it tows pretty well with what appears to be a pretty short wheelbase.
> 
> I am not a big fan of that trailer hitch in the front deal. It isn't all
> that hard to learn to back a trailer properly. A 2 wheel drive van or
> pickup on a ramp with the tongue weight of the trailer hanging on the
> front bumper is going to be a bit hard up for traction. This is the same
> reason that you see front wheel drive vehicles spinning their wheels on
> a ramp. The weight is not on the wheels where the power is and as you
> pull harder it gets worse as weight shifts the wrong way.
> 
> Now, if you want to put a hitch on the front of a 4x4, that is a whole
> 'nother deal. :-)
> 
> If I can offer any further advice, feel free to ask. You all know I
> always have an opinion. :-)
> 
> Rik
> 
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