towing a boat
 

hey everyone.I have a 2001 blazer suv with a 4.3 vortec motor.is it safe to tow my 1978 20' wellcraft center console with just the bumper hitch the ramp is 2 miles away with just a normal slope,but dont know if it is safe.Can anyone help?

I would say yes, the Blazer is very capable of doing that. Even from the bumper.

Blazer should be fine. Check the owners manual to be sure there may be restrictions like brakes on trailer above a certain weight or not using overdrive. My Chrysler minivan tows mine fine its rated up to 5000# I think would have to check my book to be exact but it does require brakes on trailer for any load above 2000#

The vehicle will be fine to tow with, but if it's a single axle trailer I wouldn't use the bumper but get a receiver hitch. Single axle trailers tend to shift more weight during breaking, and I've seen what happens when you bumper pull on a S-10 with too much tongue weight(GM's infamous bending frames). You can pick-up a receiver style hitch for $200 or so and then be safe to tow it with no questions.

towing a boat
 

Yes dual axle trailer,Im not gonna go towing this around on a bumper hitch just wanted to try the boat right now And dont have a hitch mounted right now!Just dont know if it will work!!:head:I'm not worried about towing it down the road but rather how good it will pull the boat back out of the water with the bumper hitch.

2 miles?...hell, I'd pull mine that bit of distance w/a good golf cart...my normal tow is 150 miles round trip mostly interstate complete w/HILLS...No kiddin', I wouldn't worry about a receiver or tryin to get real fancy about a two mile tow...it's just not gonna have the opportunity to much of a strain on anything...take it easy...no hurry; it's a short haul...keep your speed down and don't follow anybody too closely...2 miles of FL flatland really shouldn't present any problems for your Blazer...check your max tongue weight and don't exceed it and you oughtta be OK...

I gotta agree with Ferm. The Blazer is more than capable of towing that load, engine and tranny wise, but the bumper is a whole different animal. Todays bumpers are made of tissue paper IMHO. Buy a good frame hitch and you'll be fine to go. :head:

had a 1994 S10 4.3 towed v20 great! but you need a reciver if its going to be a all the time thing

no no no no the blazer wont do. You need to spend $65000 on a diesel truck. :bat: The blazer should tow it just fine.

Back in the good old days when bumpers were steel and mounted solid to the frame....no problemo....but todays bumpers are mounted on shocks that will pull apart or bend with very little pressure.