Re: My new Syclone....
I thiught you couldnt tow shit with a Sy ?
If you search, you'll find a few threads about towing. There has been some debate, however, the real reason these trucks were not rated to pull is due to the lack of proper cooling, both engine cooling and boost cooling(anti-detonation) under long periods of boost(like going up a long hill). The same trans, transfer case, and front/rear diffs are used in Bravada's that are rated to pull 5500lbs. The cooling system in these trucks just can't handle the extra load. And for warranty issues also. It's just easier for GM to say "Don't tow" than it is to handle all the warranty and liabilities. Furthermore, you know damn well if they rate it to pull 1200lbs, some jackass is going to pull 3400lbs with it. That's just how it is. So for GM's sake, it's very easy for them to just say "Do not tow" and they've washed their hands clean of it.
Now, with that being said, obviously I'm pulling with a Sy, which is lighter then a Ty. I removed the spare tire, spare tire hanger, jack, and lug wrench from my truck. However, I also added the hitch, so there's no weight increase or deacrease. The trailer empty weighs 840lbs. I estimated that my cargo to Nats weighed roughly 500-600lbs(both in the back of my truck and the trailer). So the total weight of my cargo and trailer was around 1400lbs. There's no sticker on a Ty that says, "Do not use the back seat, it's just for looks." I believe(I'm sure someone will chime in with some real numbers) a Ty is roughly 400lbs heavier then a Sy. Obviously we're assuming both trucks have an equal weight driver. Now add 3 friends into the Ty at 200lbs each, and 100lbs worth of stuff in the back. So a fully loaded Ty is roughly 1100lbs heavier then an empty Sy. My truck/trailer loaded to the max weights 1400lbs heavier. I don't think the extra 300lbs is an issue.
I added the top radiator close-out panel to help with cooling, and also added a couple tranny coolers to keep my trans safe. I drove down the highway like a grandma to and from Nats, and we got 19mpg on the way down and 18mpg on the way back, at 70+ mph. And the truck pulled great!! I had it in OD the whole time, and it never downshifted once. It was impressed!! The Sy really pulled the trailer well, and it was a 1000mile round trip.
I think these trucks are fine to tow a little weight like this. Just use your head. Just stay out of boost and I think you'll be fine. No street racing/boost launches with the trailer.
