towing capacity

11-20-2003, 09:38 PM

I recently had a hitch installed on my 02 GL2, 3.4L V-6 and am looking for any info on towing. I am planning on towing my motorcycle alot this year and was curious if anyone has had any problems towing anything. I know the weight is 1000 lbs capacity which is right under what my bike and trailer will weigh. I know you shouldn't tow in overdrive so does that suggest I need to keep it in 3rd gear when I am towing my bike? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

11-20-2003, 09:53 PM

Ok, you can tow in overdrive, if the trans start to hunt (shifting between 3rd and 4th alot) put it down into 3rd. I have towed with my GF's alero, I am guessing around 1100 lbs, her utility trailer full of her stuff with out a problem even in D4. Now when it comes to towing her 16 foot sailboat, which I am guessing is on the order of 1800 to 2000 lbs, I have to use D3 in her car and keep it around 65 to prevent hunting between 2nd and 3rd.

So to answer your question, the weight of you bike and trailer will not be a problem if you are in a towing environment similar to the UP and lower of Michigan. I pulled her trailer loaded to the gills, so about 1100 lbs and the car full of her stuff, from houghton to detroit, 550, miles without any problems in D4. In the UP on the 2 lanes I was doing 65 and in the lower 75 on the interstate. So yes you can do it.

Fast Eddie · 11-21-2003, 03:24 AM

get a tranny cooler (used to be a search not sure how much is up on the new board though) that should help keep the fluid cool. Also to be extra anal get a tranny fluid temp ga. that will tell you what gear is keeping enough fluid flowing to keep the tranny coool

11-21-2003, 07:57 AM

Fast eddie's line of thinging is right, but you haven't said where you are going to be doing your towing. Unless it's in the rocky mountains, neither of those two items are needed. You can trust me on this one, let's just say I have some insider info.

11-21-2003, 09:37 AM

I like you. An girl, with an Alero, with a hitch, with a motorcycle!

Overdrive is talking about my car. I can pull just fine around 1,000lb. When you get above that (3,000lb is about as high as I'd go, short distances), you have to be more careful about staying in a gear.

11-23-2003, 11:24 PM

Thanks for all the responses

I dont plan on towing in the mountains, just flat interstate for the most part. Any mountain riding I do is always done on the bike :thumbsup: !!

11-23-2003, 11:31 PM

Wow, I LOVE YOU!!

11-24-2003, 08:06 AM

Yeah you'll be all set no need for an extra cooler than, just watch for the hunting thing and you'll be fine.

Aleromaster · 12-05-2003, 07:15 PM

I Just Tried towing My motorcycle today andMAN what a rough ride. Althoughyou almost need a Body lift to make it through the potholes around my house. I have to say I'm impressed with the towing altoughwas a gas sucker. I hope it will do as well for 1500 miles will a fullyloaded trailer and car.I do have kind of a large car. There is a pic of both of them in the reviews under the hidden hitch topic.

12-08-2003, 09:55 AM

You won't have a problem towing that far, Lindsey's car used to run from houghton MI to Grand Rapids MI which is 500 miles, she did it in the winter in in the snow. So isn't gonna be problem.

Yeah her car inhales the fuel too when towing. Her little trailer which is a 4'X8' she get's I think 22 MPG but towing that sail boat of her's which is attached to your post, I think she got 16 or 18 mpg. Towed that sail boat pretty good, she just had to watch for hunting.