Who is towing what with their H3? 2.0
#21
02-25-2012 | 08:02 AM
Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 52
Yes its just a 16-18ft steel frame/wood deck car hauler. I have taller 305/70/16 tires also which makes gearing worse for towing. Ive never taken it on the highway, just 45mph backroads but 55mph should be a more comfortable speed than 45.. 3rd gear might be best for the trans. I bet a lot of silverado truck guys tow on the highway in overdrive though with this trans.. Do some searching and see if they have any problems.
Trailer brakes are probably the most important part of doing this. Our H3 brakes are probably the weakest part of our "towing package".
Trailer brakes are probably the most important part of doing this. Our H3 brakes are probably the weakest part of our "towing package".
#22
02-26-2012 | 09:31 AM
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 12,491
From: Boat Town USA MI
About 450 miles one way from Wisconsin back to ES MI. Mickey Thompson 305s, in Drive, 70 MPH on the Eway, (65 up steep hills, 75 down the other side). The boat itself weighs 4000# +, so I was substantially over towing capacity, ... but my 07 has mods!!! 
I would think 75 mile trips to a track would be doable, but watch it on those hot muggy summer days.
I would think 75 mile trips to a track would be doable, but watch it on those hot muggy summer days.
#23
02-28-2012 | 12:09 PM
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 15
About 450 miles one way from Wisconsin back to ES MI. Mickey Thompson 305s, in Drive, 70 MPH on the Eway, (65 up steep hills, 75 down the other side). The boat itself weighs 4000# +, so I was substantially over towing capacity, ... but my 07 has mods!!!
I would think 75 mile trips to a track would be doable, but watch it on those hot muggy summer days.
I would think 75 mile trips to a track would be doable, but watch it on those hot muggy summer days.
#24
02-28-2012 | 03:38 PM
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 12,491
From: Boat Town USA MI
Performance Mods: Air Doc Intake with K&N Filter, PCMforless tune and Efan conversion, MagnaFlow Cat back exhaust, and Port/Polish Throttle Body.
One huge factor is I stayed with 33" tires (my 305s are an inch wider than stock 285s), 35s just suck too much power from the I5 for HD towing IMHO.
One huge factor is I stayed with 33" tires (my 305s are an inch wider than stock 285s), 35s just suck too much power from the I5 for HD towing IMHO.
#25
03-01-2012 | 05:23 PM
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14
From: Orlando
Now this is interesting to hear. I want to tow my 3200# mustang and was concerned about the towing specs. So I started looking at aluminum trailers in order to stay under the 4500# limit. But the aluminum trailers are about twice as expensive as an equivalent steel trailer. Is it an open deck trailer? My trips would all be to local drag strips so I'd never be towing for more than 75 miles in one direction direct to get there and this is Illinois, they don't call us flatlanders for nothing, so there are no grade issues I'd have to really worry about other than the occasional over/under pass.
My 06 h3 does NOT have the factory tow package. But it does have the off-road package so the suspension is stiff enough. So other than installing a hitch and an additional trans cooler and trans temp gage(just to keep tabs on the tranny) what else would you recommend? bars? Do you tow in 3rd the whole time or D?
I figure if I keep it close to the speed limit, position the car so my tongue weight is in-check, and be sure to get a trailer with electric brakes, I'll be ok.
I have yet to find someone who is towing a car on a regular basis with their H3.
My 06 h3 does NOT have the factory tow package. But it does have the off-road package so the suspension is stiff enough. So other than installing a hitch and an additional trans cooler and trans temp gage(just to keep tabs on the tranny) what else would you recommend? bars? Do you tow in 3rd the whole time or D?
I figure if I keep it close to the speed limit, position the car so my tongue weight is in-check, and be sure to get a trailer with electric brakes, I'll be ok.
I have yet to find someone who is towing a car on a regular basis with their H3.
Last edited by HumVette; 03-01-2012 at 05:26 PM.
#26
03-19-2012 | 05:42 PM
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7
From: Lincoln, NE
I have an 08 Alpha. I installed an aftermarket hitch and trailer brake. I tow a Built Jeep TJH on an 18 foot tiltbed steel trailer. I recently moved from WI to AZ. and towed this set up the whole way. It pulls with no problems at all.
#27
03-19-2012 | 08:45 PM
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 26
From: Northern Territory, Australia
The Australian 2008 H3 Owners Handbook lists maximum trailer weights as:
Manual Transmission 1360 kg (3,000 lbs)
Automatic Transmission 2268 kg (5,000 lbs)
(Assuming only driver and no passengers, extra equipment or cargo in the tow vehicle)
Assuming brakes are the same, why such a massive difference between manual and automatic?
Also the numbers 3,000 and 5,000 appear to be too conveniently rounded for my liking.
Did the Hummer engineers really work them out or just pick a couple of numbers they thought looked good?
Manual Transmission 1360 kg (3,000 lbs)
Automatic Transmission 2268 kg (5,000 lbs)
(Assuming only driver and no passengers, extra equipment or cargo in the tow vehicle)
Assuming brakes are the same, why such a massive difference between manual and automatic?
Also the numbers 3,000 and 5,000 appear to be too conveniently rounded for my liking.
Did the Hummer engineers really work them out or just pick a couple of numbers they thought looked good?
