towing capacity vs hitch capacity

[Knightgang]

Re: towing capacity vs hitch capacity

I'm not even sure what my alternator output is.

Gary

At www.oreillyauto.com, you can look up your vehicle and find replacement alternators. It will give the you amp rating of each alternator available for your vehicle. If there is more than one amp rating listed, then you have a choice to upgrade (if you do not already have the highest rated), otherwise, it is a one size fits all situation...

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: towing capacity vs hitch capacity

gt, okay I believe you. I am disappointed in GM, however. Put a hitch and wiring harness on every TB, but no external trans cooler? Stupid! "Every" other truck they make with a tow package gets one. And since they were already putting a hitch on EVERY TB, would it really have been that hard to put a trans cooler on ALL of them? Set the line up once and you're done. Silly on GM's part.
Put a trans cooler on it, for sure. You won't be sorry.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: towing capacity vs hitch capacity

on the camper thing.... mine has 15 interior lights two exhaust fans a furnace a refrigerator a water pump and a slideout room that all run off of 12 volt power.... My truck has 2 big batts and the camper has 2 bigger ones....
It isn't that the base alt can't charge them but that the bigger one just does it better... especially if at idle.... kinda alike the trans cooler.... you can tow without it but your trans will run cooler and live longer with it.

I don't know about your excursion but my f350 powerstroke was avail with an ambulance package that had two alternators and since the bracket is there I am thinking of adding a second one...... I guess this has nothing to do with boats so I'll quit now but was just an fyi

 

[Philster]

Re: towing capacity vs hitch capacity

The advertised towing capacity is a frustrating number. For example, I went to look at some Tahoe's, because they advertise over 7100 lb towing capacity.

The tow package is an add-on, and if you stoop down to look at the hitch, it's rated for 5,000 lb, and 7500 with weight distribution (WD). And while there are WD hitches that can be used with surge breaks, the reality is that most people don't want the hassle, and it has to be set up just right.

My next stop is to stoop down behind a Nissan Armada, flaunting a 9100 lb towing capacity, but I have a feeling I am going to run smack dab into another Class III hitch, with a load rating of 5000 or 6000 lbs, with a higher rating only with weight distributing equipment.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: towing capacity vs hitch capacity

on the camper thing.... mine has 15 interior lights two exhaust fans a furnace a refrigerator a water pump and a slideout room that all run off of 12 volt power.... My truck has 2 big batts and the camper has 2 bigger ones....
It isn't that the base alt can't charge them but that the bigger one just does it better... especially if at idle.... kinda alike the trans cooler.... you can tow without it but your trans will run cooler and live longer with it.

I don't know about your excursion but my f350 powerstroke was avail with an ambulance package that had two alternators and since the bracket is there I am thinking of adding a second one...... I guess this has nothing to do with boats so I'll quit now but was just an fyi

Yeah, I agree that a bigger alternator will charge better/quicker. Remember though, that an alternators pulley is designed and set to charge at optimum efficieny while at cruising speeds, not at idle...

On the dual alternator, I am sure that I could add a second, but do not really need it for our purposes... I know I could add the bracket, but not sure if the wiring is already there or not.

WOW, that is alot of equipment in your camper that runs on 12v. I have ton of lights that run on 12v and a water pump. The heater blower might, but not sure in mine. The refrigerator ( and your I am sure) only uses the 12v to power the ignitor to heat the refrigerant for circulation, so it actually runs on propane when the camper is not running on A/C power...

Also, your camper should have deep cycle batteries on it, rather than starting batteries... You now the deal, like on the boats running trolling motors and acces... that way it gets continual voltage output for an exteded period of time...

Anyway... still great info in this threa....

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: towing capacity vs hitch capacity

my fridge runs on 110 or 12 or lp and is set to select power in that order... the camper does have deep cycles..... of course you get more charge at cruise but sometimes that isn't an option such as when snowed in at a rest area ..... the camper is 38 feet long so obviously a smaller rig would have much less impact on the 12 volt system
Yeah i understand it all has nothing to do with boats but was just explaining why a tow package often includes an alternator upgrade.... My main interest in the dual alt is redundancy but I highly doubt I'll ever get around to installing

 

[Knightgang]

Re: towing capacity vs hitch capacity

Never seen a frig that has a 12v selection. Man, that would have come in handy for me when my ignitor would not light and I did know it. Took a 3 hour drive and the frig was warmer than usual when we arrived. Took a little while to figure out...

Never been snowed in at a rest area either... Hope it never happens... Happy boating and camping....

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: towing capacity vs hitch capacity

def not fun being snowed in and getting closer and closer to to being out of lp for the furnace..... if you ever have to buy a new fridge the 3 way model is a couple hundred dollars more........ oops sorry we are seriously hijacking..... pm me if you wanna know more

 

[Willyclay]

Re: towing capacity vs hitch capacity

An extra capacity transmission pan is also an easy upgrade. I have the GM p/n for 4L60E transmission deep pans if you want it. Good luck!