Towing?

Hey guys & gals,

Will a 1997 Chev Tahoe with a 350 be able to pull a Ranger 620VS with a 225 & a kicker?

Thanks in advance,
Joe

I would think so. I would recommend turning your overdrive off when towing.

It will….but the be prepared to stop at the gas stations often!!!

you can pull all day long with that rig!

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It will….but the be prepared to stop at the gas stations often!!!

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Not for the truck, for the boat!

yeah, that boat motor should push that rig around just fine incase of a flood, why do you ask, afraid the rain that we are getting??

shane

If you don’t have a tranny cooler on that truck, not a bad idea to add one.

-J.

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It will….but the be prepared to stop at the gas stations often!!!

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Not for the truck, for the boat!

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Are you looking forward to that 50 gallon fill up this spring Dan……

50 time $2.19, ouch i can’t even do that math. to expensive for me,

Thanks guys! I am going to pick it up in Chicago and was just a little worried about the long haul and the tongue weight. I just thought it would be too much for a half ton. Maybe I can stand at an off ramp and hold a sign saying “will work for gas”

It would be cheaper to give me the 620 and go with something lighter.

I have been looking in all the couch cushions, the ashtray in the truck, and taking a penny from the “take one leave one” cup at Holiday whenever I get a chance. I have never put $120 worth of gas in anything, so it should be fun!

Hey Dan;
“What if” you have to fill the boat and truck at the same time?

$200!!!

That is what Bob is for…

Speaking from experience…..

The boat and the truck…..OUCH!! And my diesel even gets decent mileage.

HOWEVER!!!!!!!

When Mille Lacs is rockin and rollin and all the owners of “lesser boats” are in the bar….we will be out whackin the eyes!!

Congrats on the boat!!

Thanks again everyone!

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If you don’t have a tranny cooler on that truck, not a bad idea to add one.

-J.

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I’ll second that one, tow in 3rd too. The 4L60E transmission needs some help, and giving it some cooling and less hunting/shifting is about all you can do.

I owned a used 1998 Tahoe for one month. I tow my boat often and the tranny started slipping right away. Then I found out that the trannies were constant problems in these vehicles. I have also had several 1/2 ton pickups. They work great but if you tow often like I, they just dont remain reliable. I ruined a few of these trucks towing. I would reccomend going with a 3/4 or 1 ton. I had a 3/4 ton newer pickup and at 7 miles per gallon I didnt keep that long with the fuel bills being so high. I ended up buying a 03 Ram 3500 with the cummins diesel. Now I can tow/haul whatever without the thing ever shifting out of overdrive, and getting between 14-17 miles per gallon doing it depending on conditions. Just some advice based on my experience. Congrats on the boat, now you can justify to the wife the need for a new vehicle

But if you are buying a diesel for fuel milage, you are buying it for the wrong reason. Diesels are meant for towing and high milage. For someone who doesn’t really tow anything, in which towing a boat isn’t really a load, then purchasing a diesel isn’t worth the added costs. Plus, you should be driving it at least 40,000 miles a year. Diesel fuel is nearly .50 more a gallon here. I have an 8.1 gasser in my truck and get 16 mpg. Better than the 6.0 that I previously had but not as good as the 5.7 that I had earlier. Yes a 3/4 ton would be better, but towing in 3rd will do just fine, the key is to keep the transmission from hunting/shifting all the time. There are several 4L60E transmissions that have gone over the 200,000 mile mark and have been used for towing. The cost of a transmission is much cheaper than the increased cost and depreciation of a new or newer vehicle. That ’97 Tahoe he has can’t depreciate much more, and it will last 300,000 miles if its taken care of. If you have a Dodge with an automatic and a big block or diesel you will be needing a transmission too, I hope you got the manual instead.

And with the 1/2 ton pickups if you do tow a boat alot you should change the tranny fluid about avery 25,000 to 30,000 miles, a little maintenence goes a long ways.

Thanks again guys. Bringing it back from Chicago is about the only towing that I will do. It will go up for sale this spring Again, I don’t recall seeing anyone tow a 620 with a half ton, but that is the reason I asked you guys.

What does the boat, motor, and trailer weigh in at?

I was “told” 4500lbs. I could be wrong.

That Tahoe should be able to pull it. My guess is its rated to pull about 5,500 lbs. Like others have said don’t pull in overdrive.

If the Tahoe has the oem tow package (factory trans cooler) and was maintained well it will be fine. Tow in 3rd, never OD!!! We have a customer where I work with a 95 c/k with over 300k with original trans and rear end. He towed a 20ft car hauler for years!!!! Maintenance, every year change fluids, trans and rear end. Synthetic gear lube is worth its weight in gold.