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Posts: 81
Location: Indiana | Lease was up on my Silverado the wife wanted something more family friendly so we bought a Chevy Traverse. Towing cap is 5200 my rig(Ranger 1860 Angler) is about 3000-3500 and max trailer weight of 4500 and has surge brakes. The old Silverado pulled and stopped everything fine. Just wanting feedback from people that have used this vehicle pros/cons. Thanks |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
Not having driven that vehicle, I would be looking for one major thing: whether or not the Traverse has a trailer towing package on it. If it does, you should be fine...if not, I would highly suggest getting one installed. Good that the trailer has brakes as well..that is a bit of weight back there, so getting it rolling isn't too much of an issue...it's getting it stopped.
What sized engine do you have?
steve |
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Posts: 81
Location: Indiana | It has a 3.6L V6, I've added a draw tite hitch and wiring not to hard to do, Most of the towing will be in flat Indiana so power shouldn't be an issue but it has 4 wheel independant suspension and rear disc brakes which are a first for me. |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | I have a GMC Acadia which is the exact same thing. Sure it doesn't pull as well as my F-350 6.4l, but it does ok. My rig is about 2800-3000 lbs. The longest I've pulled it though is around 2 1/2 hours one way. Mine didn't come with the trailer tow package (which I think is an extra tranny cooler, hitch, wiring). Mine does have the "pick your highest gear" button on the side of the shifter, so whenever I was approaching hills, I would downshift it manually to keep it from going back and forth from 6th to 5th and heating up the tranny. Also, I still averaged around 18-20 mpg while towing it.
Edited by JimtenHaaf 1/19/2010 2:15 PM
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Do yourself a favor and spend the couple hundred and put a tranny cooler on it. You're pushing the max for that rig so anything you can do will help extend the life of the vehicle. |
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Posts: 81
Location: Indiana | Thanks guys that's the type of info I was looking for, please keep it coming. On the tranny cooler side of things any body have any brand suggestions? |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I don't know a lot about brands of tranny coolers. I'd go to a tranny shop you trust and you'll probably be ok. |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I think you could also go right back to the dealer...they will have that as an add on as well. Might pay a little more, but it would be OEM stuff...
Steve |
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| I believe on the Traverse that you have to have the tow pkg. installed at the factory. I don't believe the dealers can install it. I saw this on one of the trailer/camping websites.Try doing a "towing with a chevy traverse" search. Huge |
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Posts: 81
Location: Indiana | After the vehicle purchase I also found a Travese forum that described the towing cap. difference. (Wish I would have known before hand) but I still don't understand why the rating is so much lower on the none factory equipped platforms. I've had other GM vehicles with the tow/haul mode and didn't like using it due to the poor gas performance. I think if you cool the tranny fluid with an aftermarket cooler then that would protect the tranny and the electronic programming to alter shift perimeters would only effect the performance(Or could be done at the dealer). From what I've read there is no difference in suspension or structural integrity to the vehicle that should change the cap. |
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| I seem to remember that there were wiring changes that needed to be completed during construction of the vehicle. I also remember that the reason the Traverse is rated at 5200 vs. 4500 lb. towing cap. is due to the larger hood opening on the front of the vehicle as opposed to the acadia/buick platforms. This is supposed to provide greater cooling capacity for the Traverse. Wish I could find the article! Huge |
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Towing with a Traverse