Please help me figure something out about towing with H2

[ADOR]

Hey guys. Can someone please let me know if I am getting this right about my tow rating and the weight I can safely tow with my H2.



8,600 lbs. – Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR - H2)

-7,440 lbs. – H2 with full tank of gas

1,160 lbs. – MAXIMUM available for driver + passengers + cargo (Is this correct???)




13,500 lbs. – Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)
-8,600 lbs. – Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR - H2)

4,900 lbs. – MAXIMUM available for Trailer + Trailer Cargo (Is this correct???)


4,900 lbs. – MAXIMUM available for Trailer + Trailer Cargo
-4,020 lbs. – Travel Trailer DRY weight

880 lbs.– MAXIMUM available Cargo + Water for Trailer (Is this correct???)



700 lbs. – MAXIMUM Tongue weight with Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) (Trailer Tongue Weight SHOULD NOT exceed 700lbs???)




Our Travel Trailer Dry weight is 4,020 lbs dry. I have 2 propane tanks and 2 batteries in the front. There will be 3 adults and 2 children riding in the H2 (approx. 600lbs combined weight. Some clothes and food. Not planning on driving with 50 gallons of water in the trailer Maybe 10 gallons max. I have taken the trailer twice to Mt. Zion from Las Vegas. When on flat land, engine and transmission temps are OK. But when we start o go uphill, the engine temp starts to go up. Normally, it is pointed at "half". I have to go easy on the gas dropping to speed to about 30mph. When I step on the gas, the engine temp stars to go up.

We are planning to drive to East Coast and back this summer. I am worried about using the H2 for the summer trip. So here are my questions:

1. Did I get the above numbers right?
2. If yes, and decide to use the H2 for the summer road trip, anything I can do to avoid burning my engine and tranny? (I heard about the external tranny cooler. How about the engine temp?)
3. Should I replace the hoses, spark plugs, etc.?)
4. What else should or can I do to avoid any mechanical troubles while on the road?

My H2 now has 32K miles. Tranny oil was changed about 8K miles ago with Royal Purple, added bigger tranny pan. Front/Rear Differential oil change with Roy Purple gear oil about 4K miles ago. It has a Rancho lift kit, 38" tires, 4.88 gears.

Your opinion/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[06 H3]

I would upgrade in the cooling department if your towing.

 

[3Hummers]

Looks about right. At 32K miles you should be good but might do a oolant flush and think about a new thermostat. Under the conditions you describe the temp rising significantly is normal. Does it get to the red zone? I assume to turn off the air when climbing inclines.

 

[Mb30sdl]

What year is h2? 2008+ have 8200lbs towing rating.>2007 have lower. U may need leveling tow kit if u don't have adv. package.

32k on the truck is nothing, your problem will be 38", (2008-2009?) we have e-fans so u will see temp climbing to 3/4 till second fan kicks in and then it comes down fast if you don't run A/C.
I towed ~5k trailer at ~6% for an hour going as fast as I could up mountain twisty road. Temp was on 1/2 to 3/4 but speed was a lot slower vs. no trailer.
on the other hand I towed H2 with my f350TD and going back from Moab we had to drop down to ~45 where H1s non TD were going ~25 up the hill.

 

[ADOR]

It's a 2005 H2. The engine temp never reached the RED zone. Just at about 3/4 of the temp marker. I turn off the AC when I start the climb. I am always using the Tow Haul Mode. What I noticed when I go easy on the gas, the temp gauge would stop rising, but still above the 1/2 indicator. But when I go easy on the gas pedal, the climb speed starts to drop to about 30-35. I have no intention of going fast when towing But hen the speed drop to 30-35, and I am on a one 2lane opposite road, am holding back the traffic big time. Oh, I am using a Blue Ox 700lbs WDH if makes any difference. I also have Prodigy 3 brake controller

What you guys think about external tranny cooler? Anyone currently have a external tranny cooler?

So my number calculation looked alright? Safe to tow the trailer with it's current weight and number of occupants? Sorry folks. I am new at towing. When we purchased the travel trailer, we tried to get the lightest one we like.

1. Coolant Flush
2. New Thermostat
3. Engine Oil Change (switch to synthetic?)
4. Hoses?
5. Air Filter?
6. External Tranny Cooler?

 

[ADOR]

It's a 2005 H2, no adv. package. Do I have e-fan like yours? If not, is that something that can be installed to my H2?

What year is h2? 2008+ have 8200lbs towing rating.>2007 have lower. U may need leveling tow kit if u don't have adv. package.

32k on the truck is nothing, your problem will be 38", (2008-2009?) we have e-fans so u will see temp climbing to 3/4 till second fan kicks in and then it comes down fast if you don't run A/C.
QUOTE]

 

[Big2dabank]

flexalite has a kit for the H2 for an electric fan, I think its about $1,400 or so.

 

[ADOR]

Is there any member on the forum that have the flexalite electronic fan installed? If so, what model number and where was it ordered from? How about external tranny cooler? Anyone have that?

 

[Mb30sdl]

05 have mechanical fan, but 32k is very low miles. Maintence stuff is due to age only.External trans cooler will help a lot if u don't have one.

 

[autumn walker]

This is straight from the 2007 owner's manual (same generation as your 2005 with the 6.0L).

Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming only the driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all the required trailering equipment. The weight of additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the maximum trailer weight.

Maximum Trailer Weight: 6,700 lbs (3 039 kg)

The trailer tongue weight (A) should be 10 percent to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight (B), up to a maximum of 500 lbs (227 kg) with a weight carrying hitch. The trailer tongue weight (A) should be 10 percent to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight (B), up to a maximum of 700 lbs (318 kg) with a weight distributing hitch.