will it tow it??

[heritagechris]

I have a 2002 Jayco 14SO that has a GVW of 3330lbs. I'm looking a buying a 1999 Chevy Blazer 2DR with a 4.3L motor and a towing capacity of 3500lbs. do you thing here will be a problem towing??

 

[Unstable_Tripod]

I think that is too close. The problem will come from the people and stuff you put in the truck. You might be over the combined gross weight for the two vehicles.

 

[hollywood703]

yep a little to close to the recommended, its hard on a transmission to tow at capacity. You would probably be fine, but it takes 1 thing to make it not ok. Gearing is also a big factor when it comes to towing at capacity. I would recommend something in the 4500# range.

 

[wolfcat1]

Chris, I am not a member of the towing police but, when you add....people, coolers, clothes, pets, supplies, fuel, and sundry items, I think it will put you in the danger zone of towing. I'm not saying it will not do it, but I do not think it will be good for your TV, others might disagree, this is just my opinion
wolfie

 

[wolfcat1]

additional thought...we towed a 12 foot box pup, with electric brakes and a brake controller through Colorado with a Ford Explorer Sport..we camp heavy...with a lot of "stuff"......it still blew out my brake rotors....wolfie

 

[johnlely14hw]

If you still looking, get something with more tow cap.
You'll be happy later!
You still on time to buy the right tv!

 

[JungleJim]

The 1999 Blazer has a wheelbase 4 inches shorter than the current RAV4.

The power might fine if you don't over pack, but the ride and handling might not satisfy you.

 

[bols2Dawall]

My Blazer has a towing cap. of 5000# and i wouldn't want to tow that PUP with it .

 

[robinsonfam1]

general rule of thumb is to keep trailers at 80% of tow capacity. this will greatly help your tranny and brakes

 

[turborich]

If you do decide to tow with it then just remember to have the brakes hooked up! If it has electric brakes then get a brake controller & wire it up right. If it has surge brakes then make sure they are functional. Also remember to use lower gears & cruise off when climbing up steep grades and the same going down steep grades, use lower gears to save on your brakes. I'm pretty sure that your 4.3 will have an external trans cooler, but if it only has the factory radiator cooler then add an external cooler before you tow! It will really help to extent the life of your trans. Keep the trans line going into the radiator & plumb the return line into the cooler & then back to the trans. Don't over work that engine/trans & you should be OK.

 

[joet]

Couple of things. The transmission in the Blazer is the same that is is 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickups .460EL. GM still uses this trans in everything except the diesels. The Blazer does not have an external trans cooler, and depending on the engine code, it might have an engine oil cooler in the rad. on the drivers side.
the rear suspension is soft on these. The last one I had, I added rear spring leafs, made all the difference in the world. The stiffer rear susp will improve the tow handling without being over axle weight, and will not jar you when you are not towing.

 

[PaThacker]

That lil blazer gets horrible mileage.
99 silverados etc get the same if not better mpg and are pretty darn cheap.

 

[heritagechris]

Thanks everyone for the advice.. That two door is sold but he has a 2000 four door model which he says will probably be better..

 

[heritagechris]

Hey Joet, if it has an engine oil cooler, do I not need to add a tranny cooler?

 

[joet]

yes!

 

[thegoodlife]

I have a '98' 4 door Bazer. It tows our Sun Valley good but, as Joet said, it has a weak rear suspension. I may do the same thing as Joet and add leaf spring on it.

 

[gypsy32]

I would add weight distribution to the tv but you are still close to max and that can make things go wrong

 

[RonB]

I don't like the comparison; and weight tolerance isn't the only reason. The Blazer is a short wheel base vehicle which is not good for a trailer that is that heavy. Not only will it keep your busy driving, it will be less tolerant if you get into a marginal out-of-control situation (like sway). The scariest moments in my driving memory was in a FULL SIZED blazer, pulling a borrowed utility trailer that was loaded heavy, but within limits, with firewood. We found out later the trailer had been damaged but that is not the point. When that trailer started swaying the steering reaction was severe. I had four Boy Scouts in the truck with me and was seriously weighing a decision to go into a steep ditch to avoid a head on. I finally found a combination of trailer braking and acceleration that got it under control.

Look around for a long wheel base

 

[Geysergazers]

It depends on how careful you are with your weights. We have towed a Marco TT (lots of wind resistance) 22,000Mi with a Ford Escape. The Escape has a 3500# tow capacity and Marco has a 3500# GVW. Marco has 10" electric brakes. The first 5000Mi trip Marco weighed 3200# (loaded). We went on a diet and Marco now weighs 2860# (loaded). The Escape does fine with it's 3.0 V6 and brakes are no issue. I did on one occasion forget to plug in the trailer pigtail and descended the 10% grade on US Rt30 into Uniontown, Pa with just the TV brakes. I am careful with speeds on mountain descents (2nd gear and 30MPH on that one) and there was no fading....

I recently installed a Scanguage II (plugs into the OBDII port) and determined that the '06 Escape does indeed have a transmission fluid temperature sensor. So far the highest temp I have seen was 210DegF at the top of the Pull up out of Blairsville, Pa. According to Ford 240DegF is the redline. I do have synthetic fluid which will stand a little hotter temps than dino fluid without degradation. I'm happy.

Lew

 

[camping_girl]

I have a short wheelbase Liberty that will tow 5000#, but I am only pulling 1000 with it and the trailer does not have brakes. I have the factory tow package which includes the tranny cooler and maybe engine. I can only tow max 60 before there is sway. I have experimented with loading and checked the manual. Trailer is not rated to carry much load so on one trip I put everything in the TV just to see the difference. Yes, the trailer hopped more over bumps, but did not sway and I could accelerate faster if I had to to clear merges, etc.

That said, a guy cut me off last weekend - I was doing about 35 - I had to lock up the brakes (Jeep doesn't have antilock brakes) and I stopped about six inches short of him. That was not a fun experience.