Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

[Mscanon99]

Hi All,

I need some advice. I have an 18ft. Sea Ray/115 Merc Outboard at about 2800 lbs all in. I have been towing it with a 1994 Chevy S10 PU (V6/4x4/5 speed). Its not bad, over 60 mph it can start to wiggle, but this is not my main concern.

I am looking at a 1998 Chevy Blazer S10 (V6/4x4/Auto) to replace the PU. I need the passenger capacity (3 sons) and find the manual shift challanging in certain conditions. It feels like I am burning up the clutch and have given up trying to back the boat up my driveway to park it as its on a steep incline (like a reverse boat ramp). Pulling the boat out of the water is no problem, but trying to back up and angle the boat next to the garage is a major challange. I can smell the clutch burning after doing this as its almost impossible to get a straight run as I have to stop and start to adjust the angle.

Does anyone have expierence with the Chevy S10 Blazers and have any comments on its road handeling and the reliablity of the automatic trans?

These trucks are basically the same chassie/engine. Both are spec'd out at 5000 lbs towing (I would not go over 3000 lbs from my expierence). I am guessing the Blazer has some extra weight in the back which should keep it stable and the Auto Trans should make it easier to manuver when parking.

I also looked at the 96-01 Ford Explorer V8, but those only come with all the time AWD, not the selectable low/high range.

Thanks for any feedback.....

Mike

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

I have a 1999 Jimmy that I use to tow the outfit in my signature with (see below) Not needed to use the 4WD yet. No issues at all. 270,000 km on the clock and still runs great.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

the blazer in maintained condition should be fine, as long as you have brakes on the trailer, and i suggest an anti sway, hitch. the short wheel base of the blazer, you will get the tail wagging the dog effect.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

I've owned many S10's (Blazers and pickups) and find either to be good tow vehicles. The 4.3 V6 delivers its maximum torque beginning as low as 2200 RPM so geared properly, it works well. Automatic transmissions are superior to a stick when it comes to starting a load because of the torque multiplication effect of the auto tranny. My current tow vehicle is an S10 crew cab and it has been a flawless performer. The four-door Blazer will not have an issue with the load. I'd look for a Blazer with 3.73:1 axle gearing though. Most were fitted with 3.53:1 or 3:42:1 gears. While those are ok for highway travel when not towing, the 3.73:1 gears makes the vehicle a lot happier. Depending on where you live, at 3000# state law may require trailer brakes but I'd recommend them on any trailer over 2500# especially if being towed by anything other than a full size pickup or SUV.

 

[rndn]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

I towed a 3500# Baja/trailer for 10 years with a GMC Jimmy. Never had a problem. The Jimmy was the 4.3 V-6 with auto and 4x4. Farthest I traveled was 250 miles each way.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

Here's my opinion, I have a 96' GMC Sonoma (S-10Clone) ext. cab Vortec V6 Auto. 2WD slightly modded with a stock 3:08 open rear (this should be outlawed!), they should come from the factory with at least a 3:42posi!
Anyway towing my 19' Bayliner Ski boat model with a 125hp Force, about 2500-3k it has to work some, and work harder on hills. Then backing into my driveway is a joke!, it is like a reverse boat ramp, but not quite as steep, anyway, I really have to feed gas 1/2 way up, or the truck will just stop dead, even then it struggles to get moving, and finish backing up the hill, and it's not the motor, it's the drivetrain! My tranny seems fine all other times, I never noticed a problem with it, until I try to do this. I'm getting ready to put an Eaton locker (on order), & 3:42, or 3:73 gears in it soon.

For now I use my 2005 Hyundai Tucson 2.7 V6 AWD Auto with 4:10 stock gearing, it backs it up No Problem! It even tows it better all around! go figure?

Sorry about the Rant, but to answer your question, Auto is better in these vehicles, as long as you have the right gearing!

 

[getinmerry]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

I have owned 3 different Blazers with 4.3l motors and have towed with all of them. They are tanks and will take anything you deal them without hesitation. I have towed trailers up to and over 5000lbs without any trouble. The biggest problem with the Blazers are the brakes. They are undersized for any size load beyond the weight of the truck. I warpped my share of rotors and burned lots of pads over the years. Consider an upgrade to rear disc brakes if you choose the Blazer.

I currently own a Ford Explorer (1998) with the V8. The truck is the Eddie Bauer edition which is AWD. I have owned it for a year now and it's been good to me. The truck has the factory towing package, and I had the transmission rebuilt with a heavier duty OD gear and some other beefier things added to assure good towing ability (it had a bum transmission when I bought it, so I got it for a steal). The truck is very capable of towing heavy loads. I tow my Glastron everywhere (about 3000lbs loaded) and it's a breeze. At times I forget the boat is attached. I had a 26' Sea Ray in tow late this summer that absolutely dwarfed my truck (it looked like a toy truck towing the space shuttle). This boat with 150 gallons of fuel and trailer probably weighed in at 6000 lbs. or more. It worked out the motor good, but it took the beating and was none the worse for it.

The brakes are wonderful on the Explorer. Discs all the way around, and the fronts are dual-piston. I haven't warpped a rotor yet and love the way it stops without any pulling.

I haven't found any need for low range so far, and I have launched at 20+ ramps, the Blazers had low range, but the ONLY time I ever used it was pulling out stumps around my property. Don't make too much of the low range option...you'll probably never need it.

One last thing to consider that I wish I had learned years ago is that the Explorer gets about 22mpg, but the Blazers only got 17mpg at best with a heavy tail wind. I think that putting less stress on the 8 cyl. gets you much better gas milage. Don't get me wrong...you put a boat on the back of either truck and the gas milage plummets. I average 14mpg with my Glastron in tow. The Blazer was about 12 at best. My friend that travels with me has the 6cyl Explorer and at best gets 16mpg. He never believed that I was pulling 22 until we went on a road trip and I made him pump the gas and do the calculations himself. It was a solid 27 mpg over highway and 19 through city/ highway. He's now looking for an Explorer 8cyl.

Good luck,
Chuck

 

[getinmerry]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

One last thing- You mentioned that your boat sways at 60 or above. This isn't the truck's fault...it's the trailer's fault. You need to put more weight forward on the trailer. This could be as simple as putting the coolers in the bow of the boat when towing, or you could need to move the entire boat forward on the trailer an inch or two to get the proper weight distribution. I'm sure there are a number of posts that relate to this in this forum if you do a search.

Chuck

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

a front mounted hitch makes steep, curving driveways a snap. i've had one on every tow vehicle for 30 years.

"http://www.hitchesonline.com/chevy_front_end.htm"

 

[MikDee]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

Just a note here the Blazers, and 4WD S-10's, have the 190 hp version of the Vortec motors, not the 180hp like the 2WD S-10's, but it really is the axle ratio that matters, for me rather then search, & find another truck with a 3:42, or 3:73 Posi, I've decided to do it myself, though I'm not happy doing this for the expense, or at my age, and in this weather.

By the way, good idea about the front hitch TD

 

[roscoe]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

The 4 L SOHC Explorer will do the job as well, with selectable 4x4.

I have both a '96 Blazer, and a '98 Explorer v6.

Gas mileage:

Blazer - 60 mph = 23 mpg, 17 mpg with the boat (1500#)

Explorer, 60 mph = 19 mpg, 15 mpg with the boat

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

Spot on with the gas mileage. My Jimmy does 17mpg on the nose when towing.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

So does my S10 Crew Cab. 3.73 gears with a locker. Great vehicle. Towing capability is all in the gears. It takes a lot of HP to make up for a bad gear selection.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

Silvertip, I picked up an Eaton locker, and I'm getting ready to order gears for my 96' Sonoma Vortec V6 Auto, 3:08 open rear. What ratio would you recommend going to 3:42, or 3:73?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

If you are towing I would go definitely go 3.73. My S10 Crew Cab has no trouble at all getting 17 MPG towing my 17 ft walleye boat at freeway speeds. It will easily do 20 MPG not towing. If I run into a head wind or have to run the A/C while towing I'll drop out of OD and tow in direct. Mileage will drop to about 15 or 16. In fact if you are towing anything more than around 3500 I would even pop for 4.11 but that depends just a little on what tire size you have. Yes -- it will use more gas but you will have a great tow vehicle. My first S10 Blazer was a new 1986 and I looked high and low for one with 4.10 gears knowing the 2.8 was a bit short on HP. This was a daily commuter as well. It took awhile but I found one and it towed a very heavy 19 foot I/O (Century) just fine. 3.42 gears are simply not good for towing with anything except full size trucks with bigger engines or vehicles like a Trailblazer and V8 Explorer/Dodge Durango, etc. There is no substitue for gears and cubic inches when it comes to towing. Don't forget to recalibrate the speedometer when you switch axle ratios. Or just calculate the percentage difference from what you have and subtract that from the speedometer reading as it will be faster than before since the driveshaft is now spinning faster. Same for the odometer as you will be putting on miles faster than actual.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

My tow vehicle is a 1998 Blazer LS, four-door, 2WD, 4.3L, automatic. It did not come with factory tow package but did have rear sway-bar, trailer wiring harness and 3.42 rear axle. First thing I did was install a transmission fluid cooler, extra capacity GM transmission pan, Class 3 hitch and six pin connector. I thought the OEM engine oil intercooler was adequate. I was unable to find air shocks/bags so I installed heavy duty rubber snubbers on the rear springs to prevent bottoming. It performs great; running 60MPH at 2500RPM in third gear. Towed a 19ft Ebbtide I/O at 3500lbs over 300 miles with no problems. FYI, my last U-Haul trailer rental contract in AUG07 had a special note that I found interesting and it was verified by a friend who tried: U-Haul will NOT rent trailers when the tow vehicle is a Ford Explorer.

 

[Benny1963]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

411s wiyh the 4speed auto is the way to go wich is alot of gear if you were running a three speed but with your over drive it will work fine .
you want to use a trans cooler .and if money allows a remote oil filter and cooler. or you could go up to 433 and if the gear was to steep you can go to a taller tire to kill off a little gear, and give you a little ground clearence
my experience is with the older s10s and blazers ,used for drag raceing
the 8.8 rears are a lot tuffer than most people claim we ran 433s
on a s10 king cab 83 that made 531hp on dyno with a 3800 stall /.trans brake . with the factory 8.8 and ran a complete season with out breaking and axle .
benny b

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

I won't dispute using 3.42 gears for towing but will point out that few people realize the importance of manifold vacuum when towing. While 3.42 gears may "seem" to be fine, if a vacuum gauge was installed on the vehicle you would find there is too much throttle opening and therefore loss of manifold vacuum than there would be with say 3.73 or 4.10 gears. Low manifold vacuum is an indication the engine is being lugged.

 

[scrobo]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

I tow with a 2000 Jimmy 4door 4WD with the factory tow package. (I get 17mpg when towing as well) and I find it is good for everything I do with it. I recently pulled a friends 24ft house trailer home for him. Added the level bars and she ran like a dream on a 100km trip from where he broke down to his house.

Although I haven't had much experience towing with passenger vehicles I would say the Blazer is a great tow vehicle for most small or medium tow jobs. I wouldn't go too close to the 5000lb weight.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Chevy S10/5 speed vs Blazer/auto

Do you guys tow in 4th gear OD, or 3rd gear normally? I would think if you're towing in 3rd gear, 3:42 gears, instead of 3:73 gears, should be fine no?