Combined at 17500lbs eek!

[k5chevyblazer]

9280 on the steer axle, and 7640 on the drive axle, plus about 500 in gear that I took out. That is how much my setup is towing my k5 to the trail. I normally get about 14mpg, but towing I got around 9mpg. I am also 6" lifted with 35"s, I am also straight piped and an intake system. Mileage wise does this sound about right?
Here is the setup
Pic of the setup

[Texascadillac42]

Did you get your steer and drive axle numbers mixed up?

[housedad]

I think he means 9280 for the tow vehicle, 7640 for the trailer. That is 16920lbs.

Add the 500lbs for gear he says he has, and you have 17420lbs., or right at 17,500.


If that is the case, he is right at GVWR limits of the truck, and the tow is well below max. of 11000. for a Weight Distribution setup.

Again, assuming the above is true, and his base curb weight is 7700lbs, then subtracting the 500lbs from 9280 gives 8780lbs. 8780 lbs minus 7700lbs gives a tongue weight of 1080 lbs.

With a proper weight distribution setup, ther should be no problems, as long as he does not add cargo or passengers to the tow vehicle.

However, after blowing up the picture, I don't see a WD setup. The picture doesn't show the hitch area very well.

K5chevyblazer, If you are not using a weight distributing hitch at those tongue weights, I STRONGLY suggest you re-think your plans. The truck is only rated for 500 lbs non WD, no matter what the sticker on the hitch says. Frame damage could result, possibly catastrophically.

[housedad]

Now if the 500 lbs of cargo is on the trailer, he could take a passenger or two.

[k5chevyblazer]

I think you are right on the scales numbers. no, I do not have a WD hitch, but I need one badly. I will have it before my next tow trip for sure. it is just too much weight on the tongue. I do have have the tongue set up at about 700 lbs though. Not too much over, but not really safe enough either, ecspecially with an 8" drop hitch. and the 500lbs of gear was on the trailer.

[housedad]

By the way, that truck looks BAD!!! It must be as HOOT to go off roading in that!!

I sit back and sigh with envy!

[k5chevyblazer]

good times thats for sure. that poor little truck has come along way in 5 years
The beginning
Pic of a bad line from last weekend
And some fire from the carb

[BenBone]

I tow my k5 alot too and it doesnt seem to give the excursion any problems...feels like a tractor in tow. Rear doesnt sag at all too.

[Bruce1954]

[ QUOTE ]
Frame damage could result, possibly catastrophically.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think I agree on this one;

If you think about the mechanics of a WD hitch it put more strain on the
hitch and frame.

Without a WD hitch the load all goes on the rear attachment bolts or
rivets in our case. about like the following just close guessing here

Say you have a 1000# TL at the ball and the ball is 12" behind the rear
rivits or attaching points Also assume that the front attaching points
are say 18" in front of the rear attaching points. Now again this is an
example I did not go out and measure but if you want to you can use the
following math to get the loads at the hitch attaching points
<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>
Load on rear rivets is: 1000# X (18+12)
-------------- = 1666#s down on rear rivets
18

load on front rivits is; 1000# X 12
-------------- = 666#s up on rivets
18
for a net load of 1000#
</pre><hr />



Now lets add in a WD hitch and you want to put 800# on the rear axle and
200# on the front. now assume that the front rivet in the above example
is another 10" behind the rear axle and the X has a 137" wheel base.
Again just estimates but close to reality.
This gets a little more complex [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]


first figure the load at the rear axle W/O a WD hitch

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>
load on rear axle is 1000# X (18+12+10+137)
-------------------- = 1292#s on rear axle
137

Now if the rear axle has 1292# on it and we only added 1000#s
to the vehicle we know that 292#s came off the front axle

Now the next step is to deturmine how many inch pounds of torque that WD hitch
has to produce at the ball to shift 492#s (200+292) to the front axle
this is easy:

492#x137 = 67404"#s of Torque


Now that hitch with it's rivits must transmit this Torque to the frame
and on to the axles with it's rivits just 18" apart

67404"#s of Torque
------------------ = 3744#s up on the rear rivits and down on the front rivits,
18"

but wait, we still have the original ball load to add back!



original 1666#s down on rear rivets + 3744#s up on the rear rivits =
= 2078# up on the rear rivets net load


original 666#s up on front rivets - 3744#s down on the front rivits
= 3078#s down on the front rivits
</pre><hr />

From the above the load to the hitch and frame is more with a WD hitch, the good
news is that to gain veicle stability the hitch and frame are designed to take this load
in stride and you get a better safer ride [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]



BTW I once towed about 14K on a non WD trailer at about a 1200# TL 500 miles with no problems it towed very well, would have been much better
with a good wd hitch!

[k5chevyblazer]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] whoa man you lost me somewhere in all of that [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] but if you can figure it out and call it safe I am on your team [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[dgreen1069]

Are the older X's rated for less than the newer ones? I know in 2003 the GCWR is 20,000lbs. 17,500lbs. should be no problem. I also think the class IV hitch on our trucks is good for tongue weights up to 800lbs. without WD.

[FamilyRide]

Bruce is right, and the rated weight carrying capacity has nothing to do with what the frame can handle. You could put 2500# on the reciever and be fine, only as far the the frame goes....it's everything else that would be a mess! LOL [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]