[RockyMtnRay]

Originally Posted by tucsoncarol

Ok, I have a 2633K and tow it with a 2000 Yukon XL. I have a 6'6" husband, 6' fourteen year old boy, three full size greyhounds and a canoe on top. What I like about the Yukon XL is that everyone fits. What I don't like is that my father dictated what we should buy (he of years of experience with towing) and it seems like a smaller unit may do the job as well while guzzling less gas. I have located a nice 2000 Chevy Blazer with 4.3 liter V6, tow package, and 4 wheel drive (which I have always had before this Yukon XL). Am I fooling myself, or is this a viable option? The selling point on the Blazer is that it is almost half the cost to buy as the Yukon XL, and a little lower mileage. Both the boy (at 14) and my dad (at 91) are self limiting considerations. In about four years, I don't think either one will care what I drive. We, however, will be "most timing" or "full timing", and would like to not be limited in where we go by either cost of fuel, or an underpowered tow vehicle. So, what do you think?

Unless you get the extended version of the Blazer, it's wheelbase is a bit too short to properly control the rather long 3326 TM. Furthermore, the 4.3 engine, while quite good for its size, is simply too lacking in torque to happily pull your heavy 3326 (which is probably weighing over 5000 lbs when loaded for an extended, full timing type trip) ....especially if you like to go up into the mountains. For instance, grades that you can now handle easily at traffic speed would have you down to about 35 to 45 mph with the engine screaming in 1st or 2nd gear...which is not good for long life of the transmission or the engine.

So, yes, IMO you are indeed fooling yourself badly if you think that moving down to the 4.3 Blazer is a good idea. You would regret it every time you hooked up the trailer...and you would eventually be avoiding going to a lot of fine destinations because you would know the Blazer probably couldn't handle the mountain roads enroute. I detect a bit of rebellion against your father here and while I certainly can empathize with that, in this case his judgement was sound.

Don't trade down...you'll deeply regret it.