I have installed the hitch. If anyone wants pics let me know and I
will email them. The hitch (although a class I) doesnt show much from
the rear. The only part showing is the insert for the tow bar. Hidden
hitch did a sweet engineering job on the design.

Here are the stats of my road trip:

One way without a trailer, fully loaded with travel
gear -- 30.9 mpg at about 72mph (rpms hoovered at
1900).

Return trip with a 4x8 uhaul closed box trailer with
all travel items in trailer and some stuff in malibu
trunk. -- 19 mpg. at 72 mph(rpms were above 2100).
-- 20.5 mpg at 65 mph(rpms were around 2k).

Weight of trailer = 800 lbs.
Estimated Gear weight = 800 lbs. (inc. gear in trunk)

From the initial looks of it, the stats don't look
good, but alot of times other vehicles got in the way
and the rpms would have to go up around 3k sometimes
4k to get back up to speed. This was only in cruise
control mode. Normally I never see 4k or 3k on
highway driving. So, pulling a trailer with more than
1500 lbs requires gradual acceleration to avoid
wasting gas.

I think its possible to get better milege with a hitch
gear carrier (less gear of course) and/or a open and
lighter trailer.

In conclusion, my full size truck would have carried
the same gear but would have ran about 15mpg at 72mph
both ways. I conclude I'm still better off with the
malibu.

Here are the stats of my road trip:

One way without a trailer, fully loaded with travel
gear -- 30.9 mpg at about 72mph (rpms hoovered at
1900).

Return trip with a 4x8 uhaul closed box trailer with
all travel items in trailer and some stuff in malibu
trunk. -- 19 mpg. at 72 mph(rpms were above 2100).
-- 20.5 mpg at 65 mph(rpms were around 2k).

Weight of trailer = 800 lbs.
Estimated Gear weight = 800 lbs. (inc. gear in trunk)

From the initial looks of it, the stats don't look
good, but alot of times other vehicles got in the way
and the rpms would have to go up around 3k sometimes
4k to get back up to speed. This was only in cruise
control mode. Normally I never see 4k or 3k on
highway driving. So, pulling a trailer with more than
1500 lbs requires gradual acceleration to avoid
wasting gas.

I think its possible to get better milege with a hitch
gear carrier (less gear of course) and/or a open and
lighter trailer.

In conclusion, my full size truck would have carried
the same gear but would have ran about 15mpg at 72mph
both ways. I conclude I'm still better off with the
malibu.

Wow Pete, somebody posted some good info on here. i thought this
board had gone to the dogs :) thanks! if you plan to do a lot of
towing, you may want to look into a transmission cooler. heat KILLS
transmissions. your gas mileage tells me that the tranny was
probably seeing a good deal more heat that it's used to. especially
if you're at high speeds and/or in mountaneous terrain. wind
resistance is also a factor that increases with speed and depending
on the trailer it can make a big difference.

happy trails

j

Good idea. I'll have to get a tranny cooler and maybe
an oil cooler. The factory engine temp. gauge was up
slightly, but not by much. If I install them, spending
100-150 will definitely help the car.

I'll probably do 3-4 trips a year with a trailer, but
plan to drive the 2002 until it dies (hopefully
another 10 years)!

By the way the driving wasn't in mountain areas just
small humps/hills/overpasses.

Best of luck.

Here is a good website that has alot of posts for all
years of malibus:

www.talkaboutautos.com

Most are linked by title or subject.

i pulled a sunfire on a car hauler trailer it did alright i i took it out of
overdrive though

I have a 2-door 91 Blazer, 4x4, auto, 4.3 and it is rated at 5,000
lbs. I've towed with it numerous times (Chevy Monzas, Buick Skyhawks,
Grand Ams) using a tow dolly (total weight, well over 3,500 lbs), no
problems on short and long trips (one was almost 1,000 miles).
Definitely don't use overdrive like the previous suggestion, but
otherwise, perfect towing truck and powerplant.
Bryan

the trans thats on a 4.3 is the same trans that they put in a V8

Bryan

i would not tow anything with a factory s10 bumper hitch the bumpers
are really flimsy, finding a class 2 on one in a junk yard would be
the cheapest route if thats your main conserne

i pulled a sunfire on a car hauler trailer it did alright i i took it out of
overdrive though

I have a 2-door 91 Blazer, 4x4, auto, 4.3 and it is rated at 5,000
lbs. I've towed with it numerous times (Chevy Monzas, Buick Skyhawks,
Grand Ams) using a tow dolly (total weight, well over 3,500 lbs), no
problems on short and long trips (one was almost 1,000 miles).
Definitely don't use overdrive like the previous suggestion, but
otherwise, perfect towing truck and powerplant.
Bryan

the trans thats on a 4.3 is the same trans that they put in a V8

Bryan

i would not tow anything with a factory s10 bumper hitch the bumpers
are really flimsy, finding a class 2 on one in a junk yard would be
the cheapest route if thats your main conserne

What's the difference between a 4.10 rear and a 3.73??
TIA,

Barry

Barry

The differential is the final gear between the power train and the
wheel. A 4.1 means that the driveshaft must turn 4.1 times to turn the
wheel one time. This equates to engine speed, and load. So an engine
that turns 3.73 times to turn the rear wheel one time, vs. an engine
turning 4.1 times will burn less fuel. However the the engine with the
4.1 reduction will not have to work as hard, and will be higher in the
power band and therefore able to produce more power.

Does that help?

So, if I understand this correctly, my 2004 Tahoe with a 4.10 rear will accelerate stronger and tow better?
Barry

Matthew

Yes - put simply.

Yes, you will have more off the line acceleration, but less top speed.
 

Mark Lueker
308 SYSTEMS
www.308systems.com
970-282-7006

I tow a flatbed trailer which, when empty, weighs about 1000 lbs.  On top of the trailer is a 1999 Civic Si racecar.  The car weighs 2800 lbs.  The trailer has a tire race and I can fit nine rims/tires and they probably weigh about 35 lbs each.  In addition, I fill the back of the Tahoe with 300 to 400 lbs more of stuff. 
From what you're telling me, the Tahoe is more than up to the job.
Thanks,