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Re: towing

Reply #25 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7887
Chuck,

But, you get the last laugh...at the bank with all that unspent money. I like the idea of a light vehicle going up the hills.

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: towing

Reply #26 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7889
Ree

Quote
>>Is anybody towing a TrailBlazer? How does the ride compare with the Jeep GC?


I tow a GMC Envoy with the rear air suspension which is the equivalent of the Chevy Trailblazer. It is a little larger than the Jeep with more interior room but not quite as capable off road, The highway ride is much superior though & most of my Jeep GC friends (which I have several) ride with us when we car tour.

Terry

Re: towing

Reply #27 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7890
I friend has a new Jeep GC and it does not have as comfortable a ride as I would like. So I am still looking. Looks like it is coming down to the Envoy or TrailBlazer. But, I hope I can hold off for another year before getting it.

Ree

Re: towing

Reply #28 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7911
Gary:

We are pleased with the Liberty. It has been essentially problem free and actually fun to drive. Be sure to get the V6 and 4x4. The gas mileage is a little better than the coach, but not much.
The Liberty can get pricey, by the time I was done it was over 31K, but the deals and rebates brought the price down considerably. In your case I would expect them to give you at least an additional dollar three eighty-nine for your Geo Metro!!
You should trade vintage old cheap toad stories with the guy who has the 1988 Escort.
We will be at the March CC Rally in Tucson and FMCA Rally in Albuquerque. I'll look for a Geo Metro pushing an Intrigue.

Chuck

Re: towing

Reply #29 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8504
David & Karen;

A few questions on your TOAD.

My wife wants to use her 2003 Odyssey with the Magna.
What type/brand of towing gear would you recommend?

Steve & Dee OH.
1995 Magna 5220

Re: towing

Reply #30 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8509
Hi Steve & Dee,    As we have only used one type of tow bar we cannot make a recommendation based on comparison.  We can only comment on how it works for us.
 
    We have the Roadmaster 'Sterling' tow bar and Roadmaster tow bracket.  We also installed a four inch drop to bring the height of the receiver closer to the height of the tow bar bracket on the Odyssey.
 
    Over the past two years we have towed the Odyssey about eight thousand miles and as many of our trips are only three to five days we hook up and un hook many times.  I always remove the cross bar from the tow bracket when we are not on the road and with that done there is not much evidence that the car is a TOAD except for the two round receivers protruding about three inches from the front skirt of the car.
 
    It is necessary to cut the front skirt when installing the tow bar bracket.  This will of course leave a couple of holes if the tow bar bracket were to be removed.  When the time comes for us to part company with the Odyssey I will probably offer it for sale to the RV community and include the tow bar as part of the deal.
 
    Installing the cross bar on the tow bracket is quite straight forward and easy after the first time.  Attaching the tow bar is also easy once you get to know how close to park the TOAD to the back of the coach.  With two people it is easier.  Each arm of the Sterling has about twelve inches of travel between the stored and extended position so it is easy to adjust the length to allow the arm to be connected to the tow bracket.  Once you start moving the arms will extend to the end of their travel and will automatically lock in that position.
 
    We have had no problems with the tow bar.  The only inconvenience occurs when the coach and TOAD are not on flat ground or not lined up in a straight line and you want to disconnect the tow bar.  Under those conditions the pins connecting the tow bar arms to the tow bracket are frequently very difficult to remove.  It is a good idea to have a hammer or mallet close to hand!  This has happened to us about five times in the past two years so it is not a big deal unless you do not have the tools at hand to persuade the pins to let go.
 
    Keeping the parts lubricated helps and I always have a pair of gloves available.
 
    I would suggest that on your next visit to an RV park you walk around and talk to any owner that has a Sterling and see if they will demonstrate it for you.  A picture is worth a thousand words and a demonstration better then a whole book.
 
    Good luck with your quest.
 
David & Karen CA.

Re: towing

Reply #31 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8510
Steve,

I'll second all that David said about the Sterling.
Great product

Easy to hook/unhook

If unlevel, you have to get it's attention (beat on it) If you need a drop-down extention, make sure your installer uses longer cables, to avoid binding (Daaaaa....) We towed our Envoy 31,000 miles last year, no problems.

Get a US Gear brake for the tow, you are all set.

Bill Harris

03 Allure 1st Ave 30912

Re: towing

Reply #32 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8511
I also have the Sterling setup. I have never had to beat on the pins to remove them. If the pins are bound up and won't come out easily, have your assistant get in the toad and start the engine (helps with the power steering). Leave the toad in park and then begin to turn the steering wheel one way or the other. At some point you will see the tension on the tow bar relax and then you can pull the pins out.
If this doesn't happen while turning in one direction, then reverse and turn the steering wheel the other way. Works every time.

Don

'02 Intrigue #11427
'02 Intrigue #11427

Re: towing

Reply #34 –
Yahoo Message Number: 26663
Quote from: Sue Conant \[br\
]
We tow an '07 Chevy Tahoe 4 down and it does fine. Almost an > Esclade, but not quite....LOL

Sue
I think you will find that a Tahoe 4 wd has a neutral position while the Escalade is an AWD which means there is no switch to allow you to put the transfer case in neutral for towing. That is one of the problem when you go to the "higher end" vehicles such as the Caddy Escalade and GMC Denali line....they are All Wheel Drive, all the time and do not have a switch allowing the driver to chose between 4 WD- high and low, 2 WD, auto-AWD and neutral. I would suspect that an awd vehicle probably could be towed IF you install a transmission cooling pump.....IMHO easier to buy the Tahoe and have a little less luxury than in the Escalade...I think the power seat is a 6 way seat in the Tahoe and in the Escalade its probably 10 way seat.

bill & barb in the Poconos of PA, 1998 40' Country Coach Prevost

Re: towing

Reply #35 –
Yahoo Message Number: 26666
Sue, I met a guy who worked in the Dallas plant building Escalades.
These vehicles are totally different from the Tahoes and Yukons.
They come down a different line and use totally different parts from suspension to the chassis. Even though they appear to be the same except for trim level I have been told that's not so.
John F

Re: towing

Reply #37 –
Yahoo Message Number: 26679
Sue,

We are thinking of replacing our Jeep GC with an 07 Tahoe. Do you use an auxiliary brake system on the Tahoe and if you do would you share what it is?

Thank You,
John Kearsing

05 Intrigue Ovation #11889
03 Jeep GC

Re: towing

Reply #38 –
Yahoo Message Number: 26686
Hi John,

We use a Break Buddy. When we bought it, that was the only one of it's kind out there. Now, I see by adds in the RV magazines, there are a few of that same type. It has worked well and easy to move to another vehicle. We started with a Saturn, then the Ford Explorer, now the Tahoe.
Our Break Buddy quit working a while back and we called the company. They sent us a loaner and we used the same box and sent ours to them for repair. It was a month or 2 out of it's 3 year warranty, but they fixed it at no charge. Once it was done, they sent it back to us and we returned the loaner. They had even sent a return postage sticker. Only costs us the shipment of ours to be fixed. All done quite fast and our repaired one has worked well ever since. They said the BB does better if it is hooked to a 12v receptacle directly coming from the battery, so they sent us one and Bob installed it.
To be honest, I'm not sure just how much it really helps in stopping. IMHO that Tahoe (or more so, the little Saturn) isn't going to stop that 55,000 lb. rig. But....since more states say you need some type of breaking system, we have it. If it helps, even a little bit, then it is worth it. And if you were ever in an accident, that is one of the first things they are going to look at...do you have an aux. breaking system. So we have always used it.
We've been very happy with our Tahoe. It is a V8, but once you get up to speed, it will only use 4 cylinders, which helps with the mpg.

Sue

05, 42' CC Allure quad slide #31254 See where we are---

http://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=3792

Re: towing

Reply #39 –
Yahoo Message Number: 26707
Sue, Thank you for your response
Evelyn

07 42' Allure 470 31449

Re: towing

Reply #40 –
Yahoo Message Number: 26727
Sue,

Thanks for sharing the information on Brake Buddy, especially their service levels. I agree about not being sure how much the braking system helps, some I am sure.

We have two kids who are state troopers and they have warned me that you do not want to get in an accident and not have a braking system if that state requires it, even if you are not at fault.
Looking forward to shopping for a new Tahoe.
Again thanks,
John Kearsing

05 Intrigue Ovation #11889
03 Jeep GC
 

Re: towing

Reply #41 –
Yahoo Message Number: 26733
Enjoy hunting. We purchased our Tahoe in Hamilton, Mt. Our SIL is the sales manager so when we were back there this summer and new the Explorer was on the way out, we went shopping. We are very happy with it.
Sue

'05, 42' Allure, quad slide, #31254