Towing 4,000 lbs trailer with Lifted H2, 38 tires and 4.88? Any potential problem?

[ADOR]

I have a 2005 H2, with 36,700 miles. It's lifted with Rancho Lift it, and 38 in tires. I has Rancho RS9000XL Shocks. The gears has been changed to 4.88 ratio. I also have the Superchips Flashpaq programmer. I can probably re-program the H2's computer once I tow.

I will be towing a 4,000 lbs camping trailer DRY. With propane, batteries and other gears that we will be carrying, it may go up to around 4,300 - 4,400 lbs. I will be using a Blue Ox WDH with sway control. I also have a Prodigy P3 brake controls.

I am not concerned about gas mileage, as I know it wil signifficantly go down. I am a bit concerned about the lift kit, 4.88 gears & transmission.



1. Is the H2 going to be OK with all of the stuffs mentioned above?
2. Can or should I still used the Tow Haul button in the dash?
3. Should I re-program the computer with the Flashpack for towing, or is the Tow Haul button enough?


Help and suggestions from those who have towed with lifted and oversized tires will be greatly appreciated.

 

[06 H3]

the gearing should help, I would say you should be fine. Just watch your temps.

 

[ADOR]

Hey there 06 H3. I also have a Mag Hytec transmission pan which holds a bit more transmission fluid. It's filled with Royal Purple transmission fluid. The front and rear gears are also filled with Royal Purple gear oil. I just had my oil changed today. Should I also flush the coolant? I remember doing that at around 15K. What is the max trans temp I should look out for when towing?

the gearing should help, I would say you should be fine. Just watch your temps.

 

[06 H3]

You should be good on coolant. I would say start pulling over if you hit 240 (some may say before that) and if you do hit that temp when you get back to town change the fluid.

 

[Scarsman]

You'll probably be fine as long as you don't try to keep up with traffic. It is going to be a slow, sluggish, turd, and you're just going to have to accept that. I would for sure use the tow hall mode. I would also really recommend a tune that will adjust shift points for your tire size and gearing.

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[MuDnYrI]

4300 LBS is no problem for a H2. Like 06 H3 said just watch your Temps. 240 is a bit high ... I would like to see it below 220. If you tow often I would seriously think about adding a good sized external Transmission Cooler. IMO it should be at least 30,000 BTU+ The small Trans Coolers just won't help enough.

 

[ADOR]

Scarsman, I already re-programmed the computer using the Flashpaq Superchips programmer to reflect the new tire size and gear ratio. No problem about keeping with traffic speed. I drive slow anyway, with or without trailer.

MuDnYrI, I thought about external Transmission Cooler. Do you know anyone here in the forum who already have an external trans cooler? Do GM shops install those? Or do I have to take the H2 to an off-road shop?

 

[Fish]

I tow my toy hauler which all loaded up is easily pushing 6500-7000 lbs. I have 37's and no gearing and it tows it just fine. It even does pretty good on hills. I use the tow haul button when its really loaded up but if I'm not carrying that much stuff I dont use it.

 

[ADOR]

Thats very re-assuring Fish. Do you have external transmission cooler?

 

[Fish]

I just have the stock transmission cooler. It never really gets too hot, I'm pretty sure you will get a warning light if it does get hot.

 

[twinmill28]

Lotsa interesting repsonses on this trailer towing business.
Big question is are you towing in mountains or on flat lands? Short distances or long hauls? Fish's reply gets me thinking he's mostly on flat ground with an occasional hill and sort distances.
I spent two years towing our 6000lb travel trailer in the mountains of Utah--long and short distances. The trans ran hot for every big mountain pass I had to take unless I kept the speed down and just enjoyed the scenery, which I learned to do. I would have installed a trans cooler but I knew I was moving out of the mountains and back into the flatlands in short order.
Now that we're in the flatlands of Florida and only run short bursts to our campgrounds with only small hills to tackle, plus none of the camping here is dry so we can run with an empty trailer, I don't have a need to worry near as much about the tranny heating up.
If you run long distances or climb steep grades, the tranny cooler is a must, for peace of mind if nothing else.
As for the programmer, I'd use it to calibrate for the tires and gears, but I tried one when we first got the trailer for improved power---guess what? The added power comes at the expense of heat. So it kind of defeats it's purpose.

Regardless of all this, towing 4000 pounds, probably all the way up to 5000 pounds will be a breeze for the deuce, it will feel confident to pull and have good power in this range.

 

[MuDnYrI]

I have the Tru-Cool Tranny Cooler it's a 45,000 BTU unit. Not only will it keep your Temps around 150-170 F but it will also protect you from the dreaded Pepto-Bismol effect where your Tranny Fluid mixes with your Anti-Freeze causing a fail of your Tranny and Radiator to the tune of $3-5 Grand!

 

[Fish]

Yes my towing is mainly on the flats. I take a slightly longer route when going to the desert to avoid some steep grades. I have to pass over the mountains eventually but they are windy roads so I'm at reduced speeds anyways. The 2 still towed better than I expected and I didn't expect much.

My friend sent me this pic awhile ago, I think it's safe to say this guy is towing more than he should be.

 

[ADOR]

Anyone heard or used this tranission cooler? Derale Transmission Coolers - D51608

I found that from Etrailer. Com
I lookwd for Tru-cool. I dont think they carry that brand.

 

[autumn walker]

I have the Tru-Cool Tranny Cooler it's a 45,000 BTU unit. Not only will it keep your Temps around 150-170 F but it will also protect you from the dreaded Pepto-Bismol effect where your Tranny Fluid mixes with your Anti-Freeze causing a fail of your Tranny and Radiator to the tune of $3-5 Grand!

What is the deal with this anyway? Why does it happen?

 

[Fish]

The pepto bismol effect is always on my mind. I need to do the mod to fix that.

Within the cooler there is some place where the tranny fluid and coolant fluid tubes cross paths, they are separate but somehow one tube corrodes and spills into the other. So now you have the two fluids mixing and that's obviously not good. Your tranny and radiator are now ruined.

 

[autumn walker]

I need to do the mod to fix that.

Details on this mod?

I recall one of the guys going down to Sunday River a couple years ago having this happen to him on the way down.

 

[Kyle]

Details on this mod?

I recall one of the guys going down to Sunday River a couple years ago having this happen to him on the way down.

the mod is adding an external transmission cooler. that way the fluids cant mix

 

[Mb30sdl]

U will be ok I used to tow 8k boat with my '08 37" tires and stock gears up a long grade and never had any issues

 

[Kyle]

U will be ok I used to tow 8k boat with my '08 37" tires and stock gears up a long grade and never had any issues

Grapevine?


Sent from the top of a mountain in my h3

 

[Mb30sdl]

No 241 in orange county to riverside

 

[Rig Pig]

You'll probably be fine as long as you don't try to keep up with traffic.

Yes, or the popo likes to hand out driving awards

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