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Buick Rainier, Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy

18329 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2012 at 8:10 PM

You are in the Buick Rainier Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, GMC Envoy XL, Isuzu Ascender, Oldsmobile Bravada, SUV

Messages Page 1817 of 1834

#18156 of 18329 Re: Trailblazer, Envoy and Rainier [earlc] by wlbrown9

Aug 15, 2008 (6:49 am)

Replying to: earlc (Aug 14, 2008 4:25 pm)
I went to gmsupplierdiscount.com and looked under the incentives they list... None of these were showing up in the list of 2009 models but were there for the 2008's. Interesting that they were showing $6000 incentives on the 2008s. But that does not really confirm either way.
 
Edit... I next went to www.gm.com, selected GMC, then went to Build Your Own.. chose 2009 and the Envoy does show up there. So, maybe they are still building them after all.

#18157 of 18329 Passenger Weight capacity by alancsn

Aug 16, 2008 (3:51 pm)

Have a family member that weighs towards 400 pounds. Any SUV model or sedan that can take that weight on a constant basis?

#18158 of 18329 Re: Passenger Weight capacity [alancsn] by tidester

Aug 16, 2008 (8:58 pm)

Replying to: alancsn (Aug 16, 2008 3:51 pm)
You may want to give What's the best vehicle for my needs? a try.
 
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

#18159 of 18329 Re: Trailer Towing [hardhawk] by handyandy3

Aug 20, 2008 (4:15 pm)

Replying to: hardhawk (Apr 06, 2004 4:43 am)
in your message about trailer towing you mentioned that the air suspension worked great to keep the load level---I am getting conflicting answers about the auto air suspension on my 2005 rainier some GM people say to disengage the system when towing others say leave it alone these same conflicting answers are also coming from RV dealer service people---so who do I believe which mode should I tow my trailer in----any insight from you could be very helpful
 
thanks
handyandy3

#18160 of 18329 Re: Trailer Towing [handyandy3] by hardhawk

Aug 21, 2008 (1:25 pm)

Replying to: handyandy3 (Aug 20, 2008 4:15 pm)
HandyAndy3:
 
I do not have the ability to turn the air suspension on or off in my Envoy. It is "on" all the time and usually I hear it come on every time I start the car. It has done that since new. I can turn on or off the aux. air pump outlet located in the passenger side rear panel in the cargo area. I cannot imagine why someone would not want it on when towing unless there was some fear it would overload the system. That has never happened to me. I would think that even if you could turn it off while towing that the back end would sag lower due to the extra weight of the trailer tounge. My Envoy has the extra duty towing package so I have always assumed that the air rear suspension was designed to work in towing situations. Mine is a 2002 that I bought new 7 years and 1 month ago and the air suspension has worked the entire time. We have towed with it during the summer since new. Our boat/trailer weighs 5000# and the Envoy tows it just fine. Does your owner's manual say anything about it? Do you have a switch that lets you turn the air suspension feature on and off? On mine the air suspension has air bladders instead of rear coil springs. I replaced the rear shocks last year but they are not connected to the air suspension bladders and are just plain old shock absorbers.
Good luck and keep us posted!
 
Hardhawk

#18161 of 18329 Re: Trailer Towing [hardhawk] by handyandy3

Aug 21, 2008 (3:09 pm)

Replying to: hardhawk (Aug 21, 2008 1:25 pm)
I have only had my rainier for a month now and did not tow my trailer (4800#) with it yet because I wanted to be sure about the air suspension----the fellow from the help desk at buick customer service told me to disable the system by just pulling the fuse when I am towing----I think that I will judge for myself by towing with and without the suspension activated----I am going camping for the holiday so I will try it at that time and let you know what happened
 
thanks
handyandy3

#18162 of 18329 Re: Trailer Towing [handyandy3] by envoyager

Aug 23, 2008 (9:23 pm)

Replying to: handyandy3 (Aug 21, 2008 3:09 pm)
"the fellow from the help desk at buick customer service told me to disable the system by just pulling the fuse when I am towing,"
 
That sounds like the absolutely most absurd "customer service rep's" advice I've ever heard.
 
If towing something caused an adverse response in the model you own, the manufacturer would have designed something a little more "sophisticated" than pulling a fuse.
 
And I would sure get hold of the franchise owner and get, in writing, what he would suggest in the situation you describe.

#18163 of 18329 Re: Trailer Towing [handyandy3] by glubash

Aug 25, 2008 (9:19 am)

Replying to: handyandy3 (Aug 21, 2008 3:09 pm)
The air bladders can handle the rating of the hitch. I would not tow with the suspension system turned off because the back end will sag like crazy and the handling will probably stink. If you are concerned about overloading the system, check your trailer weight (fully loaded) as well as the load on the hitch. You should be able to do that at any public scale.
 
Good luck.

#18164 of 18329 trailer towing wih my rainier by handyandy3

Aug 25, 2008 (2:15 pm)

thanks guys for all of the input---going on the popular opions of your answers and my hunch I will not disengage the air suspension when towing---my vehicle will not be overloaded (I had it scaled) so the system should handle it with no problem at all plus the fact that it towed fine to and from the the yard where the scale was located
 
thanks again

#18165 of 18329 Re: trailer towing wih my rainier [handyandy3] by hardhawk

Aug 25, 2008 (6:55 pm)

Replying to: handyandy3 (Aug 25, 2008 2:15 pm)
You are most welcome. I have gained a lot of insight in 7 years in this forum. I hope your Rainier serves you as well as our Envoy has us. We had a few first year minor glitches, but overall the Envoy has been a great vehicle. With our oldest son getting his learner's permit soon we plan on keeping the Envoy for a good long time. It will be a great vehicle for him to learn to drive in. If you ever have a question be sure to check the search feature here as you may find that it has already been answered by someone. I have done that many times.
 

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