New Towing Vehicle Chev Avalanche

[poolguy]

After a complete years hiatus (2017) dealing with sciatic nerve pain, I'm going to try and get myself and the camper out of storage and get back out to a few places in 2018. The vehicle I was pulling my X189FBR with was a 2002 Suburban and now I am going to switch to a 2011 Chevy Avalanche PU. I'm wondering if there will be obvious differences in towing.
2010 Funfinder X189FBR
2011 Chevy Avalanche

 

[profdant139]

Great! That looks like a very competent truck. Sorry to hear about the sciatica -- that is no fun, as I can unfortunately attest. I was on Gabapentin for 8 months, ending a month ago. It worked, but it seemed like forever.

 

[poolguy]

New towing vehicle chev avalanche reply to thread

Hi profdant139, Thanks.
Regarding Sciatica. Came on like wildfire after a lot of physical work one day and had me on the floor screaming in pain for the next 7 months. I'm sure I don't have to tell you about the pain but this was by far the most horrific thing I have ever experienced in my 64 years. Gabapentin was the very first of many things that didn't put a dent in it. Then went away like magic 3 weeks before surgery. Didn't have the surgery in December. Enough about that . I don't want to jinx it.
The reason I worry about the truck is I think PU trucks don't have the traction of a big SUV and I know most people here pull with trucks. Pulling with that old Suburban is the only thing I've known and that was pretty stable. The motor is the same basically and a little underpowered at 5.3; but I'm in no hurry. Anyway will know soon enough as I pick the truck up this week and I'll probably do a dry run in March.

 

[profdant139]

I have not heard that trucks are less capable than SUVS, but I am not an expert. I do know that we towed first with a Pathfinder SUV and then switched to a Tacoma, and the Tacoma has out-performed the SUV. I don't know if it is a fair comparison.

But we go off road a lot, into snow, mud, ice, and sand, and the Tacoma has steadily pulled the trailer into (and better yet, out of!) some tough situations. When the going gets really bad, I put it into 4 wheel low and grind my way through.

I should also add that the Tacoma pulled the fully loaded trailer (including full water tank) up a 26 percent incline a couple of years ago. That is not a typo -- this was the east side of Sonora Pass. The sign said "not recommended for trailers." I had talked to the Calif Hwy Patrol office in charge of that road and described my setup. They said, "no problem, you are good to go."

 

[poolguy]

Thanks . Quite an incline..I didn't think the truck would be an issue but wondered never having towed with one.

 

[Silverad0]

Your 2011 Avalanche is very capable and you wont have any problems. Some have 4:11 gears and tow very nice even with 3:42 gears. You will like it as guys like my dad will not give his up and it is a 2002 Avalanche. Silverado

 

[fourfourto]

You will have no problems towing with avalanche.
I crossed the country twice towed 25,000 miles in 8 years pulling same camper with a 2006 H3 with a inline 5 cyl 220 Hp some hills had to take it slow otherwise didn't know it was back there,
only using a friction sway bar.