Finally a holiday with the blazer - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

VinceY · 08-16-2007, 01:17 AM

Finally, I achieved a goal that I have been wanting to do since I got my blazer 2 years ago. I finally hooked up the holiday trailer to the blazer and pulled it through the mountains of British Columbia, including 2 major passes that really put it to the test. I put on 1500 miles during the holiday. About 1400 of those were pulling the 6000lb, 24foot trailer. I averaged 12.5 mpg pulling mostly at 55 and 60mph. It was pretty hot most of the time so we used the bikini and safari tops to keep the sun off us. Never had any heating problems with the new rad, motor and tranny. Someone had previously asked to see pics of my Best top so here are a few. Check out the sexy trailer mirrors on the front fenders. We camped with a couple different groups of friends, made it to a couple of vineyards to wine taste, visited one of my kids that just moved and made it to a Show and Shine that I have wanted to get to. We ended up camping at a friend's land that was about 7 miles from the forest fires so we watched water bombers flying all day while we floated down the river. Even made it to one of the last remaining drive-in movie theatres in Western Canada. Great holiday.

badpeanut · 08-16-2007, 01:25 AM

Very nice truck and looks like fun!

1) What kind of hitch do you have on your Blazer (bumper mount)?
2) Did you use a weight equalizer hitch on the trailer?
3) Doesn't look like the Blazer squatted much?
4) Did you use trailer brakes?

VinceY · 08-16-2007, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badpeanut

Very nice truck and looks like fun!

1) What kind of hitch do you have on your Blazer (bumper mount)?
2) Did you use a weight equalizer hitch on the trailer?
3) Doesn't look like the Blazer squatted much?
4) Did you use trailer brakes?

Hitch came with the truck and was welded to the frame with the receiver under the bumper. I had a 12" extension made so the hitch would stick out further than my gas can and spare tire on the back. Used an equalizer hitch which helps with the handling and helps with the weight distribution so the blazer does not squate much. I had put 1.5" blocks between my rear axle and the leaf springs to make my blazer bedsides perfectly level for normal use. With the tongue weight of the trailer it only sunk a couple of inches. And I did install a trailer brake control to operate the trailer brakes.

vtblazer · 08-16-2007, 07:17 AM

You've set the bench mark, now figure out how to beat it next year!

Great adventure for sure, thanks for sharing.

Chevyman63 · 08-16-2007, 07:30 AM

Now that sounds like a good time!!!
Congrats!

**1971K54X4** · 08-16-2007, 11:13 AM

The Blazer looks great pulling that camper. Glad you had a good time.

**Tom Vogel** · 08-16-2007, 11:14 AM

Man, that looks like so much fun. I want to go fishing and camping!

**Yukon Jack** · 08-16-2007, 01:27 PM

That is camping in style, K5 style!

**72 Super** · 08-16-2007, 09:54 PM

Nice Blazer and cool pictures.Sounds like a great trip.

LUV2XCLR8 · 08-17-2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

That is camping in style, K5 style!

Exactly

NuBomb · 08-17-2007, 11:13 PM

We want to get a trailer, but I thought I would need a new truck, but now I see that may not be the case. What motor and transmission are you using? Also, do you think you could pull an even bigger trailer? I'd rather put money into the blazer than buy another truck.

VinceY · 08-18-2007, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuBomb

We want to get a trailer, but I thought I would need a new truck, but now I see that may not be the case. What motor and transmission are you using? Also, do you think you could pull an even bigger trailer? I'd rather put money into the blazer than buy another truck.

Running a new crate 350 TBI with a 700R4.
As far as trailer size, I have a 1972 Chevy brouchere that lists in "Trailering recommendations" as the Blazer is rated to 5500lbs loaded.
I was pulling a trailer rated at 6000 lbs loaded. I think that on flat runs a bigger trailer would have been okay but in the mountains on the larger passes I found myself down at 35-40 mph sometimes. The diesel trucks pulling 5th wheels passed me on those climbs but no gas powered trucks were passing me so I don't think I had a harder time than anyone else.

krue · 08-18-2007, 02:13 AM

That looks like fun! I've been trying to talk the wife into freeing up some money to build a k5 tow rig, now I have some ammo.

VinceY · 08-18-2007, 11:43 AM

Leaving in a couple of hours to go camping again.

Purs · 08-18-2007, 02:31 PM

I'm glad to see this. I was wondering if my K5 to be up to the task of pulling our boat, camping trailer, or 16' utility trailer, and now I think I have my answer. Did you do any other suspension mods?

Your rig looks great BTW. Keep the pics coming!

69TowRig · 08-19-2007, 01:29 AM

Any idea what the tongue weight is on that thing? Eventually I will be towing my boat with my Blazer and I want to get an idea of how the beast will ride.

08-16-2007, 01:17 AM	#1
VinceY Just need a couple more parts. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 470	Finally a holiday with the blazer Finally, I achieved a goal that I have been wanting to do since I got my blazer 2 years ago. I finally hooked up the holiday trailer to the blazer and pulled it through the mountains of British Columbia, including 2 major passes that really put it to the test. I put on 1500 miles during the holiday. About 1400 of those were pulling the 6000lb, 24foot trailer. I averaged 12.5 mpg pulling mostly at 55 and 60mph. It was pretty hot most of the time so we used the bikini and safari tops to keep the sun off us. Never had any heating problems with the new rad, motor and tranny. Someone had previously asked to see pics of my Best top so here are a few. Check out the sexy trailer mirrors on the front fenders. We camped with a couple different groups of friends, made it to a couple of vineyards to wine taste, visited one of my kids that just moved and made it to a Show and Shine that I have wanted to get to. We ended up camping at a friend's land that was about 7 miles from the forest fires so we watched water bombers flying all day while we floated down the river. Even made it to one of the last remaining drive-in movie theatres in Western Canada. Great holiday. Attached Images __________________ --------------------------------------------------- 1947 Studebaker M5 project to match the camping trailer. 1950 Chev 4x4 Pickup 1958 Shasta Airflyte Travel trailer (fresh restoration) 1971 C/10 Pickup(Frame off Restoration) 1972 K5 Blazer CST (Daily Driver & My Company Truck) 1976 Honda CB750 Bobber 1988 Jaguar XJ12

08-16-2007, 01:25 AM	#2
badpeanut Not a bad nut after all.. Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: ND Posts: 1,759	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer Very nice truck and looks like fun! 1) What kind of hitch do you have on your Blazer (bumper mount)? 2) Did you use a weight equalizer hitch on the trailer? 3) Doesn't look like the Blazer squatted much? 4) Did you use trailer brakes? __________________ '05 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 '72 GMC LWB 4x2 driver '72 Chevy LWB 4x4 plow truck '71 Blazer 4x4 driver '70 GMC LWB trailer

08-16-2007, 07:17 AM	#4
vtblazer Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central Vermont Posts: 8,537	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer You've set the bench mark, now figure out how to beat it next year! Great adventure for sure, thanks for sharing.

08-16-2007, 07:30 AM	#5
Chevyman63 Can't wait to retire!! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Corunna, MI Posts: 1,575	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer Now that sounds like a good time!!! Congrats! __________________ 2009 4x4 Chevy Crew Cab 6.0 1989 4x4 Siverado (270,000 miles) 1972 4x4 Blazer 2007 Chevy Cutaway 1 ton 1970 Corvette (sons project) RIP - CLR 10/11/09

08-16-2007, 11:13 AM	#6
1971K54X4 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Manchester, Iowa Posts: 1,493	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer The Blazer looks great pulling that camper. Glad you had a good time.

08-16-2007, 11:14 AM	#7
Tom Vogel 2WD Jimmy Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Davis County, Utah Posts: 2,565	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer Man, that looks like so much fun. I want to go fishing and camping!

08-16-2007, 01:27 PM	#8
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,686	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer That is camping in style, K5 style! __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

08-16-2007, 09:54 PM	#9
72 Super Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hyattsville, Maryland Posts: 3,685	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer Nice Blazer and cool pictures.Sounds like a great trip. __________________ 72 Cheyenne Super (Purchased new by my parents in August of 71) Black and White

08-17-2007, 11:13 PM	#11
NuBomb Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canton, Georgia, USA Posts: 1,119	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer We want to get a trailer, but I thought I would need a new truck, but now I see that may not be the case. What motor and transmission are you using? Also, do you think you could pull an even bigger trailer? I'd rather put money into the blazer than buy another truck. __________________ Jeremy (NUBOMB) 72K5 CST 350/350/205 1951 Chevy 1/2 ton North Georgia Group "... And the first rule to being a man is you gotta spend your life doing crap you don't wanna do." Red Forman.

08-18-2007, 02:13 AM	#13
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,448	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer That looks like fun! I've been trying to talk the wife into freeing up some money to build a k5 tow rig, now I have some ammo. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

08-18-2007, 11:43 AM	#14
VinceY Just need a couple more parts. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 470	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer Leaving in a couple of hours to go camping again. __________________ --------------------------------------------------- 1947 Studebaker M5 project to match the camping trailer. 1950 Chev 4x4 Pickup 1958 Shasta Airflyte Travel trailer (fresh restoration) 1971 C/10 Pickup(Frame off Restoration) 1972 K5 Blazer CST (Daily Driver & My Company Truck) 1976 Honda CB750 Bobber 1988 Jaguar XJ12

08-18-2007, 02:31 PM	#15
Purs Got Big Block? Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: West Texas Posts: 1,510	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer I'm glad to see this. I was wondering if my K5 to be up to the task of pulling our boat, camping trailer, or 16' utility trailer, and now I think I have my answer. Did you do any other suspension mods? Your rig looks great BTW. Keep the pics coming! __________________ "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."

08-19-2007, 01:29 AM	#16
69TowRig Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 894	Re: Finally a holiday with the blazer Any idea what the tongue weight is on that thing? Eventually I will be towing my boat with my Blazer and I want to get an idea of how the beast will ride. __________________ -Chris Building a stripper, one part at a time: 1969 K5, 307, 3spd, 3 seats, hard top. Added Pwr Discs, Pwr Steering, Aux Battery, T-case Skid, Lighted Sidemarkers, HEI, Lock-Right Diff, ECE Class IV Hitch, 32" MT/Rs. Parts to Install: Hand Throttle, Console, Tow Hooks, Dual Horns, AM-FM, Dealer Swing-Away Tire Carrier, Gas Tank Skid. Also building a 1950 Willys CJ-3A and off-roading a 2001 Nissan Frontier on 1-Ton Portals...



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