Towing?

[ATL jack]

Does anyone use their 9-7X to tow? What has been your experience?

I test drove an '05 today and left very impressed. Not only with the handling & ride but with the price. The resale value must be awful - but as far as I can tell its a great value.

The only problem is that I need to be able to tow a 5000lb boat. The V8 has lots of torque and should be able to pull more than the rated 6500lbs. I am guessing the brakes, transmission & overall weight are limiting the capacity. That leaves me wondering how it performs while towing.

Its going to primarily be a soccer mom vehicle, but I still need the towing capability. I'd rather not get another Yukon. I am looking for something smaller this time. A V8 4Runner would suit me fine, but I feel myself drawn to the 9-7X. Partially for price and partially for the overall feel I have about it.

[mikeucr]

Does anyone use their 9-7X to tow? What has been your experience?

I test drove an '05 today and left very impressed. Not only with the handling & ride but with the price. The resale value must be awful - but as far as I can tell its a great value.

The only problem is that I need to be able to tow a 5000lb boat. The V8 has lots of torque and should be able to pull more than the rated 6500lbs. I am guessing the brakes, transmission & overall weight are limiting the capacity. That leaves me wondering how it performs while towing.

Its going to primarily be a soccer mom vehicle, but I still need the towing capability. I'd rather not get another Yukon. I am looking for something smaller this time. A V8 4Runner would suit me fine, but I feel myself drawn to the 9-7X. Partially for price and partially for the overall feel I have about it.

Given that 9-7xs are rare cars and then those that tow is even smaller than that, I would reccommend going to trailvoy.com, which is a forum for envoy/TBs. It is a VERY good website. I would ask/search around for those that do tow, mae sure you differentiate the 5.3 liter option as most of the TBS I have seen are the 4.2 I6s.

[timg]

I have towed the largest U-Haul trailer (double axle) a few times. It was no big deal, almost as if it wasn't there. I think I towed my S2000 once as well, though that might have been with my Dad's Bravada (roughly the same car, but smaller brakes and engine). Honestly, it tows very well. I don't think you will have any problems with a 5000 lb boat.

Tim

[mikeucr]

I have towed the largest U-Haul trailer (double axle) a few times. It was no big deal, almost as if it wasn't there. I think I towed my S2000 once as well, though that might have been with my Dad's Bravada (roughly the same car, but smaller brakes and engine). Honestly, it tows very well. I don't think you will have any problems with a 5000 lb boat.

Tim

I think it is rated at 6500 lbs isnt it...well the v8 is. You should be fine.

[timg]

I think it is rated at 6500 lbs isnt it...well the v8 is. You should be fine.

Agreed. The nice thing is that all you need to add is a mount with ball and some wiring depending on the trailer (may need a 4 pin harness converter).

Tim

[mikeucr]

Do you guys know of anything I can buy to cover up the entire hitch assembly, I am not talking about just a hitch cover but something that will make the entire bumper flush so you can't even tell it is has a hitch? I don't think it exists, but I thought its worth a shot.

[ATL jack]

I think it is rated at 6500 lbs isnt it

Just because you have the right "equipment" to have sex doesnt mean you are good at it. ;)

Sorry if that is inappropriate, but I thought it was funny... I havent been hanging around here long enough to know if that kind of humor is acceptable.

I've been doing my research and I think the 9-7X is the way to go. I dont care if most of the reviews are bad becasue 1) its not a Saab and 2) its a pimped-out trailblazer. As far as I can tell its a great truck and excellent value if you buy used.

[slicksilver]

I regularly tow a 5500lb wakeboard boat behind my 9-7x 5.3i, and I find it to be the perfect tow vehicle.

The self leveling rear suspension works incredibly well and the brakes are more than sufficient. In fact, I wouldn't hesitate to tow 7000lbs with the truck, it's that good.

[slicksilver]

As an aside, I've towed the same boat with a 4Runner on many occasions and my 9-7x does a much better job. The 4Runner has lousy brakes, and a soft suspension targeted towards offroad use. You'd have to get a fully loaded Limited model to get a load leveling suspension, and even then you'd have a weaker motor and inferior brakes.

[ATL jack]

As an aside, I've towed the same boat with a 4Runner on many occasions and my 9-7x does a much better job. The 4Runner has lousy brakes, and a soft suspension targeted towards offroad use. You'd have to get a fully loaded Limited model to get a load leveling suspension, and even then you'd have a weaker motor and inferior brakes.

Thats good to know. I am actually debating between a 4Runner & 9-7X.

Your boat weighs more than the truck. Have you ever felt like you needed a weight distribution hitch? Do you get a lot of sway at higher speeds?

[slicksilver]

Thats good to know. I am actually debating between a 4Runner & 9-7X.


Your boat weighs more than the truck. Have you ever felt like you needed a weight distribution hitch? Do you get a lot of sway at higher speeds?

No noticeable sway as the suspension is quite stiff.

I don't think you can get a weight distributing hitch for such a light load.

[ATL jack]

No noticeable sway as the suspension is quite stiff.

I don't think you can get a weight distributing hitch for such a light load.

You can, actually. And technically you are suppsoed to use one if the trailer weighs more than the vehicle. But most people dont bother unless their vehicle sways a lot and they frequently tow at highway speeds.

[SaabScott]

Just because you have the right "equipment" to have sex doesnt mean you are good at it. ;)

Sorry if that is inappropriate, but I thought it was funny... I havent been hanging around here long enough to know if that kind of humor is acceptable.




That is quite funny and a great way to put it.

I have noticed more than a few 9-7X's on ebay for sub $20K ... a ridiculously low amount of money for the vehicle you get.
So low in fact that in a couple of years, I might even consider getting one as a second vehicle that I could use for towing.
I would feel a lot more comfortable in that than towing behind my 9-5 Aero SC even though it is rated for 3500 lbs.

[coldwake81]

I have towed my wakeboarding boat (about 5500 lbs when fully loaded with toys, fuel, etc) with a TB and Bravada. That was with the 4.2L. All areas of the vehicles did well (braking, control, no sway) except the engine really had to rev up high to pull... but since you're looking at the V8 you should eliminate that problem. Not to mention the suspension is stiffer on the 9-7x which will only help your cause.

[kkees]

My experience sucked towing at altitude. Seemed to do fine with the Smallest enclosed Uhaul trailer you can get, like 8 ft or so, until i got to Colorado. From there, it was ok 'pulling' but it freaked my car out and o2 sensors freaked and had to be replaced because of having to use 85 octane (the only available gas there). My idler pully started squealing. It was like the car totally wigged out going in the mountains. Pretty disappointed!!!!

[timg]

E85 was a bad idea. It would have really decreased the amount of power the motor has because it has lower specific energy. It takes a lot more E85 than gas to make the same amount of power. Import and turbo guys like it because they run HUGE fuel injectors and extra boost. E85 also has higher octane. It's kind of like cheap race gas.

Do you have the 4.2 or the 5.3? I've never had trouble with the 5.3 at altitude or in hills. The 4.2 tends to stay between 4000-5000 rpm in the hills- the 5.3 downshifts much less because of the extra torque and IIRC mine was still around 2000-2500 rpm in the mountains.

Funny story- I had a pair of F250's for work. The one with the 5.4 couldn't maintain more than 60 mph along I-70 in the mountains in Colorado (when towing). The V10 model was able to do 75, but it was floored the entire time. The 5.4 isn't a bad engine in the F150, but when paired to the F250 it becomes gutless.

Tim

[g hack]

Frequently towed 6300lbs (tongue weight/trailer/sundeck boat) and needed to be extremely careful when pulling it up the launch. Definitely start out in low and 'slowly' work the shifter manually- vehicle seemed to respnd much easier than just leaving it in "D" - Did have a little sway;about the same as a Z71 Tahoe used to tow w/ before the 9-7X.

[kkees]

Mine is the 4.2. Supposed to tow up to 5500 and wasn't doing near that. I was shocked that it freaked out like it did. So I definitely wont pull a trailer up there again, which before it started idling and shifting funny, it was pulling fine for the first week. I suspect, being my vehicle is used to 89 octane, was forced to use 85 and freaked the sensors out, and started runnign weird after that. The Idler pully was making a little noise before leaving but was really squealing when i got home. So when I asked saab what I do this summer when I go back to CO, what in the world do i do? They suggested carrying octane booster with me. :evil:

[timg]

Places like Colorado and Wyoming typically sell lower octane gas, but at altitude you can safely drop the octane by 2 points or more. If you normally run 87, then 85 in the mountains will work fine.

The 4.2 tends to be a very revvy motor. If you're used to high torque, low RPM towing, the 4.2 isn't like that. It will get the job done, but will be at a higher RPM to do it. The 5.3 doesn't have a low more power, but does have a more torque at a lower RPM. It will seem less stressed while towing. I've towed with both and the 5.3 definitely feels more relaxed.

Tim

[toxicavenger]

where I live at they sell 85,87 and 89 octane and almost all of the towns in Colorado I have been too sell the same. since I only run 89 in my cars.:cheesy: