Trailer Hitch?

[msualero]

ok im missing my SUV but i love my alero...question is...can i tow a small boat or jet ski w/o tearin the car up? if so will the hitch stick out like a soar thumb when not towing? or should i just forget about it...

[Grouch]

Might check with misslindseysue. I think she is the only one I can think of that has or had a hitch.

[msualero]

thanx

[misslindseysue]

Aleromaster has one too, but I don't see him around much anymore.
Anyway, yeah, I have a hitch. Do you have a 3.4? GM says you can tow 1,000lbs. I say you can tow more. :) You can definately do a jet ski or small boat. I towed my 16ft sailboat up north a few years ago and it did fine. I had to stay around 65mph or it wouldn't stay in OD though. That's the only thing you have to watch out for. But that thing was at least 1,200lbs.
I've been towing small trailers and stuff for a while, I went to school at MTU and had to get all my crap from here to there.
Aleromaster had the HiddenHitch, I have a DrawTite. The one in my sig isn't the one I have, but it's close. If it says it's for an Alero it'll work just fine.
We (well, I watched mostly) put mine on at the shop in a couple hours.

[misslindseysue]

Oh, mine isn't too visible. The HiddenHitch is better, well, hidden. I can take a pic of it from the back if you want. You can see it in my avatar if you look close.

[spclone]

close look? how about a bigger picture :P i am in the bandwagon about the hitch id like to see some more

[misslindseysue]

You asked for pictures...

[overdrive75]

Yes the alero can tow, there is the sail boat and also the dirt bike.

[misslindseysue]

Down low

[overdrive75]

Dirt Bike

[misslindseysue]

Side

[misslindseysue]

Man, I wish his dad still had that dirt bike...

And two shots with the insert

[msualero]

sweet thanx....yeah i have a 3.4 and i too plan on goin up north lol. i wanna try to get either a small boat or a jet ski. hey one can dream lol thanx :biggrin:

[SouthDakotAlero]

Are either of those cars lowered? I'm wondering if it would be too low to trailer my motorcycle with ST lowering springs.

[eag182]

dude guys check it out you can get the file destination and put trhat in the address bar anbd that;ll make the avatar big like hersss

[roadrunr]

what's the size on the hidden hitch (for a receiver)? I want to buy one for a bike rack--rather than my 'trunk' bike rack (mountain bike!).

[overdrive75]

The only receiver size I am aware of reguardless of hitch brand is 1 1/4".

That is the same car in all the pictures, and not it is not lowered.

[misslindseysue]

Yeah, those are all my car. :) The most recent ones are with new struts and the sport springs from a 4 door, so it should really tow like a champ now.
You don't get bigger than a 1 1/4" receiver 'till you go to like a Class IV hitch I think, and you can't get that for an Alero.
You could tow with it lowered I'd think, you'd just have to be careful because obviously you lost a lot of your travel. I mean, I was before I got new springs and it was sitting pretty low.

[MikeSS]

Trailer hitches RULE! I have one on my camaro, I just got it installed to tow my Jet Ski. An alero will tow no problem. My Camaro tows my jet ski no problem and it is a Resse Class I hitch.

I'll put up pics tonight to show you the difference between Reese and Hiddenhitch.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

I saw a Reese hitch on ebay today cruising for Alero stuff. I don't know if it's cheap or not, I don't know how much they normally go for....

shoot! 8 hours left!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...eName=WDVW&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7985290793&category=33653&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1)

[MikeSS]

Originally posted by AlbinoMonkeyRat@Jul 13 2005, 12:19 PM
I saw a Reese hitch on ebay today cruising for Alero stuff. I don't know if it's cheap or not, I don't know how much they normally go for....

shoot! 8 hours left!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...eName=WDVW&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7985290793&category=33653&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1)
Quoted post


That is the EXACT hitch package I have, but on my Camaro. I'll get pics tonight.

[overdrive75]

Originally posted by AlbinoMonkeyRat@Jul 13 2005, 01:19 PM
I saw a Reese hitch on ebay today cruising for Alero stuff. I don't know if it's cheap or not, I don't know how much they normally go for....

shoot! 8 hours left!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...eName=WDVW&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7985290793&category=33653&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1)
Quoted post



Dude you don't want that it's only class 1 which is about useless. You want a class II. The class II alows for 350 lbs. of tonque weight, a class I only alows for like 100 lbs of tongue weight. 100 lbs. of tongue weight makes a hitch in my opinion useless.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

so basically, unless the only thing he's towing is a small trailer with a light payload (like a jetski or a perhaps a dirtbike), it's no good?

[MikeSS]

Originally posted by overdrive75+Jul 13 2005, 03:15 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(overdrive75 @ Jul 13 2005, 03:15 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-AlbinoMonkeyRat@Jul 13 2005, 01:19 PM
I saw a Reese hitch on ebay today cruising for Alero stuff.Â;-) I don't know if it's cheap or not, I don't know how much they normally go for....

shoot!Â;-) 8 hours left!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...eName=WDVW&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7985290793&category=33653&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1)
Quoted post



Dude you don't want that it's only class 1 which is about useless. You want a class II. The class II alows for 350 lbs. of tonque weight, a class I only alows for like 100 lbs of tongue weight. 100 lbs. of tongue weight makes a hitch in my opinion useless.
Quoted post
[/b][/quote]

350lb of tongue weight is a lot. I mean A LOT!

A class I hitch is rated for 100lbs (or 150lbs) of toungue weight and 2000lbs towing weight.
A class II hitch is rated for 350lbs of toungue weight and can tow 3500 or 4000lbs IIRC.

Now you alero is rated to pull 1000lbs so say you are going to tow 1500lbs max.....that is still in its tow rating.

350lb of toungue weight means 350lb of static weight can be placed on the toungue. Now last time I checked, I couldn't dry lift 350lb off the ground and put it on my car's hitch.

So in other words, if you can lift your trailer and put it on your cars hitch, you aren't going to exceed 100lbs most likely. Trailers are designed to carry all their weight on their wheels.

You will not find a trailer payload under 1500lbs with a toungue weight over 100lbs unless is it loaded all wrong.

[overdrive75]

Originally posted by MikeSS+Jul 13 2005, 04:33 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MikeSS @ Jul 13 2005, 04:33 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Originally posted by overdrive75@Jul 13 2005, 03:15 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-AlbinoMonkeyRat@Jul 13 2005, 01:19 PM
I saw a Reese hitch on ebay today cruising for Alero stuff.Â;-) I don't know if it's cheap or not, I don't know how much they normally go for....

shoot!Â;-) 8 hours left!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...eName=WDVW&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7985290793&category=33653&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1)
Quoted post



Dude you don't want that it's only class 1 which is about useless. You want a class II. The class II alows for 350 lbs. of tonque weight, a class I only alows for like 100 lbs of tongue weight. 100 lbs. of tongue weight makes a hitch in my opinion useless.
Quoted post


350lb of tongue weight is a lot. I mean A LOT!

A class I hitch is rated for 100lbs (or 150lbs) of toungue weight and 2000lbs towing weight.
A class II hitch is rated for 350lbs of toungue weight and can tow 3500 or 4000lbs IIRC.

Now you alero is rated to pull 1000lbs so say you are going to tow 1500lbs max.....that is still in its tow rating.

350lb of toungue weight means 350lb of static weight can be placed on the toungue. Now last time I checked, I couldn't dry lift 350lb off the ground and put it on my car's hitch.

So in other words, if you can lift your trailer and put it on your cars hitch, you aren't going to exceed 100lbs most likely. Trailers are designed to carry all their weight on their wheels.

You will not find a trailer payload under 1500lbs with a toungue weight over 100lbs unless is it loaded all wrong.
Quoted post
[/b][/quote]


Trailers are designed to carry 85% to 90% of there weight on their wheels. The remaining is to go to tongue weight.

So basically a trailer loaded to 1000 lbs. (trailer + load) should have between 100 and 150 lbs on the tongue. A 1500 trailer should have between 150 and 225 lbs on the tongue. If you read up any on trailering you will see this. Now as far as boat trailers go, it can be 5% to 15% tongue weight.

So you can see were a class I in my opinion become useless.

[misslindseysue]

Trailers are designed to carry 5-15% of their weight on the tongue, depending on the size and type of trailer.
If you can get a beefier hitch, why not? One of the main reassons I got mine is because there are no tow points on an Alero and I didn't want to get stuck in a ditch with no way out. Ask b-spot about that.
And I've way overloaded my car, but not the hitch. I've gotten close to a ton of rocks in a trailer before. We didn't go far with it, but we didn't have a truck at the time. That was way over 100 lbs of tongue weight.
When I'm hauling my tractor in my 4x8 trailer, it probably isn't over 1,000lbs, but the tongue weight is pretty close to 100lbs, if not over. I can't lift it off the ball, because I put it in the front of the trailer so I can tie it down.
And if you put a rack or anything in your hitch, I personally would want one that's designed to carry as much load as I could get.
The point it, unless you're getting it only for one purpose, I think you're better off having the higher rated hitch because you can do more with it and you have a greater margin of safety.

[MikeSS]

I see where your points are, but I just don't think a vehicle rated to tow 1000lbs needs a class II hitch. I just like the sleekness of a class I better too.

[misslindseysue]

Like I said, if all you do is tow a jet ski, that's all you need.
I can beat the poop out of mine and I don't have to worry about it.
Personal preference, just know what you're buying and why.

[MikeSS]

Okay, I checked my hitch

Reese Class I
Max Load = 2000LBS
Max Toungue Load = 200LBS

So it isn't that bad at all, here are pics.

side shot

[MikeSS]

Attention Overdrive! What do you tow with? Is it 4WD OR RWD?

I'm asking cause I was wondering how to smooth-out my driving when pulling my sea-doo out of the water. My car has no problem pulling the seadoo out, but the boat launch is gravel/dirt and no matter what I do I seem to do a mini burnout evertime I pull the boat out.

I have posi-traction so at least my car has both tires trying for grip.

So is there anything I can do with tire pressure to help avoid this, like drop the pressure? I have tried feathering the clutch in many different ways, but no luck :(

Or should I just accept the fact I drive a camaro that was never meant for towing and be happy it even get s the boat of out of the water.?

And I finally weighed my toung. 133lbs, so my 200lbs limit is ok....phew, you got me worried. :naich:

[misslindseysue]

He tows with a 4WD Silverado 2500HD. I don't think he's ever had to put it in 4WD to get up a ramp though. He always two foots its, brake/gas to avoid the burnout, but I suppose that'd be a little harder if you have a stick.

[MikeSS]

Ok, thanks for the info. Yeah, I need a third leg to gas/brake/clutch outta the water lol.

I just got new tires put on this week, so this weekend will be my first pullout with the new tires, maybe they'll grip better

[overdrive75]

Silverado 2500HD 4x4. I have never used 4 wheel drive. Boat and trailer weigh about 3500 lbs. I have a locking rear end, and that has only kicked in once. The tires never spin for me. I two foot gas and brake, so I don't get roll back. I do not use the brake to control wheels slipping, I figure if the wheels ever slip that's why I have 4WD which I have never had to use.

[MikeSS]

Hmmm, could be a weight thing too, maybe I should have a friend or two sit in the back/hatch when I'm pulling the seadoo out.

[overdrive75]

If I remember right the e-brake is hand operated in that car, try using that similiar to the service brakes, the key is to prevent roll back and be really smooth about going up the ramp. Big thing is not to many RPM on the motor.

[MikeSS]

Originally posted by overdrive75@Jul 20 2005, 09:25 AM
If I remember right the e-brake is hand operated in that car, try using that similiar to the service brakes, the key is to prevent roll back and be really smooth about going up the ramp. Big thing is not to many RPM on the motor.
Quoted post


Yeah, I hear that. The alero was so much easier to launch out slowly. The Camaro chugs and stalls if there isn't a decent amount of RPM. But I like that parking brake idea! Thanks!