Tools & Fabrication - can a 4.3L Bravada pull a TA on a trailer? yes or no?

I am thinking of using the 98 Bravada SUV with the wimpy 4.3L V6 to pull my 99TA (car is about 3300 lbs) in race trim. is this a real bad idea? the trailor is a doule axle nice car trailor. i dont want to destroy the tranny or convertor in it. suggestions? this would be a one or two time thing and not a reg thing at all. thanks for your responses. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

I wouldn't do it for very far in any type of hill country. That would be in the 4500# tow wieght range. That probably maxes out that tow rating. Ask Terry Burger. He says he tows his car with a 4.3 S-10.

Greg

how about one of those uhaul tow dollys that pull cars behind you? that will knock down the weight of the total tow. hmmm. and no there is no hills in this area.

Daren, an LT1 guy, tows with a similar gen Blazer.

I think you'd have to:

-tow in 3rd gear
-need airbags for rear or air shocks
-might need higher load rated tires.

If you go short distances it might be okay but long distance would scare me because of the truck's short wheelbase.

How about just driving the car <img border="0" alt="[evil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[evil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

In all seriousness, I do have a trailer but don't take the car to the track on it...if it were to break down, I'd go get the trailer THEN and drag it home. Obviously the viability of this depends on how far away you're racing...and Mo-Kan isn't close... (that's a racetrack, fer you foreign to these here parts...)

Bravada can do it, but I sure wouldn't plan on driving very fast (i.e. don't attempt to keep up with F-bodies caravaning down there or anything like that)....its a white-knuckle <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> tow vehicle if you ask me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_images/icons/tongue.gif" />

appropriate place to say
one of the times my engine was out i took moms bravada down to the track and ran a 16.3 at 84 mph!!! it had a towing package too

if yours does then see what its rated for.. and follow the towing instructions in the manual, if it breaks then it aint your fault (tell that to the judge lol)

When I sold my '96 Mustang GT, the guy that bought it showed up in his GF's JGC Laredo with a U-Haul trailer. Let's just say that the front of that Jeep was ready to come off the ground when we put the car on the trailer. I know that the guy got home safe, but I'm sure that it wasn't the most wonderful towing experience.

Since the Bravada is in the same category, I would say that it might be OK for short distances, but that's about it. Just my $.02.

my TA's raceweight is around 3350 lbs + about a 1550 lbs trailor. i think it will pull 60 mph in 3rd gear without killing anything. this will be a solid 190 miles there and 190 miles back.

Well a trans cooler is a must.

I think you will need some sort of airbag setup you will bottom out the back of your Bravada possibly.

You have to tow in third with that truck otherwise you will burn up the tranny.

You will also need electric brakes.

I'd be super careful and drive slow. Might take you all day to get there.

Not to jack your thread but does anyone trailor there car with a new Tahoe? How does it do?

Justin

A load distrubution hitch will help keep some weight on the front wheels. I think Terry Burger uses one.

Also, back the car onto the trailer.

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 09:48 PM: Message edited by: XFiveLiter ]</small>

You'll be fine. I have a 1993 GMC Jimmy 4.3 V6 Vortec with 218,800 miles. I pulled my SS (3500+#) plus the weight of the trailer 135 miles each way to my house upstate, on what was said to be the hottest weekend last summer. It was slow going, but I cruised at 65 mph on the open Expressway.