Who's Towing a Boat ?

[Yukon John]

Let's check out the performance of these newer Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade models relative to towing boats.

What size and weight are you towing? What is your tongue weight and how is your trailer set up ?

I'm towing a 1979 Formula 255 Liberator with twin Small Blocks and Bravo I Drives. The boat is on an All American twin torsion axle aluminum trailer with 4 wheel disc. I am towing right at 7500# with trailer and a full tank of gas (135 Gallons). I have 600# of tongue weight.

I am towing with a 2016 Yukon SLE standard wheel base with Max Tow Package. The truck does a great job with this rig both on the road and at the ramp. I am 2WD and will get just a bit of spin until the Posi Traction Eaton rear locks in and then no problem ...even at low tide on a wet ramp.

My trailer brakes are surge and work ok...I am considering converting to electric over hydraulic to take advantage of the on board trailer brake controller.

I need to come up with some clip on side mirrors because I can't see all of the boat with the stock mirrors. Love the back up camera for centering the hitch/tongue especially when I'm alone.

Share your set ups....would like to see how you guys are set up.

John

 

[mtocrs1]

272 Rinker Captiva. It does great pulling and stopping. I can however feel the tail wagging the dog around some corners at speed. Can definitely tell it's got a short wheelbase.
I am also getting rid of the surge brakes but I am converting to full electric. I had then on my previous boat trailer and they were so much better.
I looked into electric over hydraulic for installation simplicity and found most of the EH setups don't work with our integrated brake controllers. Something you might want to look into.


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[Yukon John]

Thanks David...did you find any EH that worked with our controllers ? If so which ones ? Are there any fully submersible electric systems? I'm a Salt Water boater so the system would have to be seriously high Quality !!

What weight do you think your towing total? Also...any thoughts on the side mirror issue?

 

[mtocrs1]

I did not find any that would work. I gave up easily though. Full electric brakes are fine to use in water. I used dexters from Redneck trailer supplies. The wiring was fully sealed. As long as your connections are sealed you should be good to go. No different than your trailer lights. I do try and unplug the harness before submerging but that's a good idea on your lights as well.
With fuel, gear and crew in probably at 7500 to 8000.
The mirrors suck for towing. I always lose sight of the trailer axles in parking lots tight turns etc. I have been waiting for someone to produce the clamp on extended ones.


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[Yukon John]

I did not find any that would work. I gave up easily though. Full electric brakes are fine to use in water. I used dexters from Redneck trailer supplies. The wiring was fully sealed. As long as your connections are sealed you should be good to go. No different than your trailer lights. I do try and unplug the harness before submerging but that's a good idea on your lights as well.
With fuel, gear and crew in probably at 7500 to 8000.
The mirrors suck for towing. I always lose sight of the trailer axles in parking lots tight turns etc. I have been waiting for someone to produce the clamp on extended ones.


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I talked to my guy at All American Trailer in Pompano Beach. He has set them up on 2015 and 2016 GM vehicles this way:

Use a Titan BrakeRite EHB Electric-Hydraulic Actuator for Disc Brakes along with a Titan BrakeRite EHB Adapter for Ford/Chevy Integral Brake Controller, part # T4846000.

The adapter reads the signals from the built in Trailer Brake Controller from GM and so far has worked well on every GM/Chevy/ Cadillac SUV and pick up he has set up. The cost is just under $1000 and I am seriously considering it. I have a 10500# Trailer and to convert it to all electric would mean a complete re-do of the entire braking system.

When I convert to EOH and connect to the Factory controller I will post the results.

I may have an idea on the mirrors...doing more research.

Stay tuned...

 

[mtocrs1]

I talked to my guy at All American Trailer in Pompano Beach. He has set them up on 2015 and 2016 GM vehicles this way:

Use a Titan BrakeRite EHB Electric-Hydraulic Actuator for Disc Brakes along with a Titan BrakeRite EHB Adapter for Ford/Chevy Integral Brake Controller, part # T4846000.

The adapter reads the signals from the built in Trailer Brake Controller from GM and so far has worked well on every GM/Chevy/ Cadillac SUV and pick up he has set up. The cost is just under $1000 and I am seriously considering it. I have a 10500# Trailer and to convert it to all electric would mean a complete re-do of the entire braking system.

When I convert to EOH and connect to the Factory controller I will post the results.

I may have an idea on the mirrors...doing more research.

Stay tuned...

Yes please share your results but man that is pricey.
You can purchase fully assembled electric brakes for 50 a wheel and reuse your original drum. They are super easy to install. Then you need to replace the coupler which I'm assuming you'll do anyway with EH. Install a breakaway kit $100.00 and then run the wire. The trailer brake wire is already in a sheathing and I attach it to the inner frame rails with some bolt on wire clips.
Man that sounds like allot of work. Maybe the extra $700 is worth it.....


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[Yukon John]

Yes please share your results but man that is pricey.
You can purchase fully assembled electric brakes for 50 a wheel and reuse your original drum. They are super easy to install. Then you need to replace the coupler which I'm assuming you'll do anyway with EH. Install a breakaway kit $100.00 and then run the wire. The trailer brake wire is already in a sheathing and I attach it to the inner frame rails with some bolt on wire clips.
Man that sounds like allot of work. Maybe the extra $700 is worth it.....


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$50 per wheel is super cheap...will that work with disc brakes? I have disc on all 4 wheels.

 

[mtocrs1]

No, disk brakes are a different animal all together. Forget everything I said.


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[Shadow17]

I tow. However, I am lighter than you guys with a 196ssi at around 5K#. I believe my tongue weight to be around 250#.
Surge brakes here.
I haven't noticed the issue with the mirrors. However, I am at an 8' beam.

I do notice the power to weight ratio compared to my previous Expedition EL. The Denali has no issues at all pulling this smaller boat.
The biggest improvement though is the 8-speed. My EL was a 6 speed and would seem to get stuck in between gears. The 8 always seems to be at the right spot when hauling.
My EL also had the rear air suspension however once again the Denali seems more effective. I can also notice the anti-sway on the Denali which the EL did not have.
IMO, it is the perfect tow vehicle.

 

[Parthery]

2000 Grady White 225....towed weight is north of 6K lbs. I've since upgraded the trailer.

8-9 MPG at 65 MPH. Starts and stops fine.