I have a 2005 Chevy Avalanche, I just bought a 2 horse 4-star gooseneck trailer, can anyone tell me if I can tow with the Avalanche. Some people have told me no, others are telling me yes. I also have an older Dodge pickup, but it has a lot of miles on it, and would rather use the Avalanche.
Posted 2006-10-28 8:03 PM (#50782 - in reply to #50770) Subject: RE: hitches
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Posts: 2689
Originally written by luvmywalkers on 2006-10-28 12:49 PM
I have a 2005 Chevy Avalanche, I just bought a 2 horse 4-star gooseneck trailer, can anyone tell me if I can tow with the Avalanche. Some people have told me no, others are telling me yes. I also have an older Dodge pickup, but it has a lot of miles on it, and would rather use the Avalanche.
Thanks for any help with this!!!
Hi and Welcome to the forum.
Summary:
I doubt that you would have enough clearance between the cab and the trailer on tight turns.
============================
Details:
To get to 90 degrees you NEED the ball to cab distance to be greater than 1/2 your trailer's nose width.
This isn't debatable, negotiable, or subject to opinion.
The question then becomes where the ball will be mounted.
AT LEAST back to the rear axle's center line - I don't think this is disputed. MY preference is as far ahead of the rear axle's center line as I can have it, subject to the previous paragraph and having clearance between the truck bed's corners and the center of the trailer's drop wall, or whatever is mounted on it, usually the landing gear jack. Mine is over 6 inches ahead.
How to figure it;
If your trailer is tapered it COULD be as narrow as 5ft (60 inches), so you MIGHT only need 30 inches from the ball to the cab.
Cab to axle dimension is often on spec sheets, for the nominal "long bed pick-up" it is usually 58 inches.
I suggest you go to Chev/GM's web site and try to find the cab to axle dimension, also measure your trailer's nose width. If you get past this step you probably don't have to worry about the truck bed corners getting to the landing gear jack.
DISCLAIMER:
I'm just a shade tree hack - seek professional advice.
Posted 2006-10-28 9:13 PM (#50784 - in reply to #50770) Subject: RE: hitches
Regular
Posts: 66 Location: Maryland
Thank you so much for the help !! My trailer is tapered. I'll have to measure it and do the calculations. I was just wondering because of the slanted rails on the side of the cab. I did see on some websites they have an extender for shortbed trucks, it said for 6' beds. Mine is 5' and few inches.
Posted 2006-10-28 9:54 PM (#50785 - in reply to #50784) Subject: RE: hitches
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Posts: 2689
Originally written by luvmywalkers on 2006-10-28 9:13 PM
Thank you so much for the help !! My trailer is tapered. I'll have to measure it and do the calculations. I was just wondering because of the slanted rails on the side of the cab. I did see on some websites they have an extender for shortbed trucks, it said for 6' beds. Mine is 5' and few inches.
Thanks again for the help.
The bed length isn't the issue, the cab to axle dimension is.
The slanted rails on the back/side of the cab would probably be the first thing to get crunched, I know someone with (I think) an '02 that he removed those side bits from.
An extender ? Maybe, but consider that when you get to 90 degrees that extender is extending your trailer to the side - you still need the ball to cab distance to be less than half your trailer's nose width.
I'd revert to the truck for towing, even if it needs some work.
I'd keep the Avalanche as a .... I don't know, whatever I had bought it for in the first place (-:
Looking at the web page that Chadsalt gave the pointer to, there seems to be VERY LITTLE distance from back of the cab to the rear axle - even if you got rid of the black (fibreglass or plastic, I think) rail bits.
Posted 2006-10-29 7:06 AM (#50791 - in reply to #50770) Subject: RE: hitches
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Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Another issue not yet addressed is the hitch weight of the trailer.
Can your Avalanche carry the hitch weight of the GN trailer? As the hitch is moved toward the rear axle, the rear axle carries more of the hitch weight. Move the hitch behind the rear axle and the rear axle will then carry some of the weight from the front axle. Some extenders move the hitch weight placement, other types don't. Ignore Axle ratings at peril of your life and purse.
Posted 2006-10-29 7:57 AM (#50793 - in reply to #50791) Subject: RE: hitches
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Posts: 2689
Originally written by hosspuller on 2006-10-29 7:06 AM
Another issue not yet addressed is the hitch weight of the trailer.
Can your Avalanche carry the hitch weight of the GN trailer? As the hitch is moved toward the rear axle, the rear axle carries more of the hitch weight. Move the hitch behind the rear axle and the rear axle will then carry some of the weight from the front axle. Some extenders move the hitch weight placement, other types don't. Ignore Axle ratings at peril of your life and purse.
I agree, however...
A 4-Star 2 horse gooseneck is "probably" light enough on the coupler for a 1/2 ton truck. {"Probably" being the operative word, it needs to be checked}. The O/P didn't state whether the Avalanche is a 1500 or 2500 series.
I was more than a little surprised to find just how light my head to head 4-Star trailer is. They seem to be built strong (or "Hefty"), but without excess weight - - Golly Gee, maybe that is SOME measure of a good design (-:
Posted 2006-10-31 10:04 AM (#50897 - in reply to #50770) Subject: RE: hitches
Regular
Posts: 66 Location: Maryland
well, I have been calling and checking everywhere to find out about my Chevy Avalanche. The final answer is no, you cannot hook a gooseneck up to one. 1st reason being, the bed is shorter than 6', plus the sides are higher. So I guess I will be using my older Dodge pick-up for now.
Thanks again for all your help. I'm glad I joined the forum. There's a lot of good stuff on it.
Posted 2006-10-31 5:32 PM (#50922 - in reply to #50897) Subject: RE: hitches
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Posts: 2689
Originally written by luvmywalkers on 2006-10-31 10:04 AM
well, I have been calling and checking everywhere to find out about my Chevy Avalanche. The final answer is no, you cannot hook a gooseneck up to one. 1st reason being, the bed is shorter than 6', plus the sides are higher. So I guess I will be using my older Dodge pick-up for now.
Thanks again for all your help. I'm glad I joined the forum. There's a lot of good stuff on it.
Take care everyone and have a great day!!!!
Since you posted this I've been staring HARD at Avalanches.
There's just so little distance from the rear of the cab to the wheel arch.
I think it is the Suburban platform with a different rear section after the rear doors. Too bad they don't have a 2 door version, that would probably work (-:
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