Towing with Airmatic...
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
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Won't the automatic higway "crouching" of Airmatic put your rig out of level, and screw up the load on a weight distribution hitch?
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#2
Super Member
Good thought. But I think it only drops an inch? Have to check. Anyways, seems that that shouldn't be enough to offset the tow setup. Plus you should have a ride height sensor?
#3
Super Member
Thread Starter
Right, the truck will be level, but the trailer will be tongue down, inducing toe-in the trailer axle.
#4
Senior Member
I may be wrong, but the truck "knows" when there's a trailer in tow by recognizing the electrical connection made for the lights. When a trailer is hitched up, the vehicle will not rise to the high position, and if the lights on the trailer are disconnected, it still won't rise if it senses the weight on the hitch. Along these lines, it may also cancel the ride height adjustment at higher speeds to prevent upsetting the trailer. Others who know more than I may have a different opinion.
#7
Yes, the crouch point is 70 mph. I tow some very big stuff (enclosed car carrier and an 8,000 lb boat) and have not seen the suspension crouch with a trailer, but have probably never been over 70 - very dangerous thing to do with a trailer no matter how well you keep your wheel bearings greased. I bet the GL's auto-sensor system that runs the anti-sway also knows enough to keep the bumper at standard hieght, with no crouch no matter what speed.
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#8
Super Member
Thread Starter
I don't cruise at 70, but there are several stretches that I drive where driving any less means you would never be able merge, or where you have very short passing sections, and lots of logging trucks going 35-40 on a two lane highway...
#9
Super Member
Thread Starter
Correction: I just got back form camping in British Columbia this long weekend, and 70mph is as low as I can safely go on the roads here without being a major hazard, so yeah, I'll be towing at 70+.
#10
Senior Member
I have towed my 7500 lbs boat and trailer at 65 - 70 mph and felt more comfortable in Gl than when I used to tow with Yukon XL. The system does recognize the trailer load and adjusts suspension and vehicle sway control accordingly
#11
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GL 450 and X5
What kind of hitch are you guys using? I am using the Equal-i-zer sway bars and it has so far proven to stabilize the 5600 lb trailer. I have not exceeded speeds over 65 mph though. I'd rather arrive in one piece than be there 10 mins earlier.
#12
Super Member
Thread Starter
Just a plain old ballmount... There are more ways to be unsafe than speed. If I were to drive @ 100km/h on the highways here, I would have a parade of impatient passers piled up behind me in no time, and on a two lane highway they'll pass up hills and on curves, on the inside if they have to. It's far safer to keep up with traffic, than having to thread the needle, three abreast with some Sunfire and a tractor-trailer. So, yeah, I think I know how to arrive in one piece, dude.