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Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Malibu / July 20072004 Malibu Maxx LT - Towing Question
I'm about to have a hitch installed on my 2004 Malibu Maxx. Has anyone done any towing with this model vehicle? If you have, what was your experience? All the web research indicates that the car can pull 1,000 lbs. If that is the case, has anyone pulled that much weight and how did the car preform while pulling? I'm very new to the whole towing thing, and am looking for advice. Thank you, Andrew "Andrew Rabbitt" <> wrote in message news: > I'm about to have a hitch installed on my 2004 Malibu Maxx. Has anyone > done any towing with this model vehicle? If you have, what was your [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Andrew You're not going to two much at 1000 lbs. The engine won't be the problem with towing. I guess the problem is the transmission. A medium sized pop-up camper will weigh 2000 lbs loaded. > You're not going to two much at 1000 lbs. The engine won't be the problem > with towing. I guess the problem is the transmission. A medium sized > pop-up camper will weigh 2000 lbs loaded. I didn't think it would be the engine. I just got off the phone with the hitch installer who told me that my car had a factory installed transmission cooler. That wasn't on any of the options lists. Why would they have installed that at the factory? He also said that it was bigger than the one they wanted to install... I guess it's time to call GM and find out what they did... Thanks for your advise! Andrew Another very important aspect of towing is the brakes. If your trailer has brakes, it should increase the towing capacity, unless, like my pop-up, the brakes are more a 'meet the state law requirement' than actualy functional brakes. Many states require trailer brakes when over 1000 lbs. Your factory installed tranny cooler is a nice feature, and saves your hitch installation. > Another very important aspect of towing is the > brakes. If your trailer has brakes, it should increase [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Your factory installed tranny cooler is a nice feature, and saves your hitch > installation. Yeah, breaks are my next concern. I just had these put in 7500 miles ago, so they are still pretty new, but under a 2300 load I could clearly feel the difference in breaking. The plus side is that the coolant temperature was only slightly higher while towing then while not towing. The engine RPM was roughly 250 higher while on flat roads, and 500-750 higher when climbing hills. All in all I'm very impressed with the way the vehicle has coped with towing, so far. Thanks for the suggestion - I'm off to look at breaks! Your engine runs noticeably hotter when you're towing? Where are you? >> Another very important aspect of towing is the >> brakes. If your trailer has brakes, it should increase [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Thanks for the suggestion - I'm off to look at breaks! > Your engine runs noticeably hotter when you're towing? > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >> >> Thanks for the suggestion - I'm off to look at breaks! Of course an engine will run a little hotter when towing. Since you are putting more load, you will get more heat.  SignatureCy Welch 89 Camaro RS 5.0 TBI 03 Malibu It's been years since I've owned a vehicle that I've noticed running hotter under heavy load. Back in the day, I had a Toyota that would overheat if you drove for extended periods at about 130 kph. We've got three delivery vans, two newer Fords and an old Chrysler. Both Fords, rock steady temperature loaded or unloaded. The Chrysler bounces around quite a bit, but I think that's more a function of the sensor location. I just thought that the new (i.e. 2004 Malibu) would have adequate cooling capacity under all but extreme (like +40C) conditions. I've never noticed my 2000 Malibu run hotter and while I don't tow with it, I have taken long trips across the parries with the AC cranked and fighting some pretty strong headwinds. >> Your engine runs noticeably hotter when you're towing? >> >> Where are you? <snip> > Of course an engine will run a little hotter when towing. Since you are > putting more load, you will get more heat. > It's been years since I've owned a vehicle that I've noticed running hotter > under heavy load. Back in the day, I had a Toyota that would overheat if [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> Of course an engine will run a little hotter when towing. Since you are >> putting more load, you will get more heat. Nobody said anything about overheating. Trucks tend to be overcooled since they are setup for the max load expected, most cars however are not setup for towing since that is such a small percentage who tow with them, so the cooling system tends to not keep it as cool. Towing tends to put a LOT more stress on a car than heavy load due to the drag of the trailer, even more so than the AC and heavy headwinds. For that matter, my experience has been that headwinds tend to make the cooling system work better rather than worse. If you want to see the worst conditions, try towing a large heavy trailer with a tailwind uphill. SignatureCy Welch 89 Camaro RS 5.0 TBI 03 Malibu >> It's been years since I've owned a vehicle that I've noticed running >> hotter under heavy load. Back in the day, I had a Toyota that would [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > better rather than worse. If you want to see the worst conditions, try > towing a large heavy trailer with a tailwind uphill. I have one worse than that... Go up a mountain, hauling a trailer, realy hot day out, no wind.... There is a reason they sell transmission oil coolers for cars. There is a reason older cars break down.... Cars are more of a people mover. Trucks are for cargo. At least thats what the designers think. Micheal All very good points. I'm in New England, USA. I'll be towing from Boston, MA to Pittsburgh, PA. By noticeably hotter, the temperature gage moved up about 3 millimeters when going up steep hills - I should have qualified that statement. I leave tomorrow for the big trip - full report to come when I return! Thanks for all the words of advice and comments. >>> It's been years since I've owned a vehicle that I've noticed running >>> hotter under heavy load. Back in the day, I had a Toyota that would [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > > Micheal |
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