My SSR: 05' Smokin Asphalt, 4.10, Class III hitched for towing with 3 pedals & 6spds that make my heartbeat!
Class III Hitch Installed With Pictures
Hey I had to laugh the day my dealer handed me the hitch for my 05'. From that point I put i back in the box and knew improvements had to be made, this hitch was just too limited being used safely for ball use only.
Well, yesterday was that day I dropped her off at the hitch fabricator in the morning, discussed postioning options.
The only real problem was the exhaust, it needed 3/8" clearence which was cured by notching and filling which was done to perfection. The top of the receiver is flush against the factory hitch which was greased and capped before installation.
For those who I feel the need to pull anything really out of the question (really overkill) these could easily be weilded together. I chose not to. The side brackets also have 1/2 stock sandwiching the frame with 3 - 1/2 bolt. (I was told Reese suburban hitch only has 2) The 2 inch receiver with 2 holes for the U pin are to stop vibrations of hitch or bike rack etc.. Of course to CYA the installer will only offically rate it for the factory 2500 lb off the record much more depending on cooling and suspension I'm told. The whole thing done in five hours including U pin cost $451.
By the way I am now ready for more upgrades and so I'm selling my new in box hitch, never put on the truck $325 includes shipping in USA. Anyone interested PM me I have a private paypal account or other arrangements can be made.SOLD
Anyway here are some pictures
Last edited by sarasotaspeeder : 02-26-2007 at 07:05 PM.
My SSR: Black, '03, 1sb, #1256, License Plate was WOW FCTR
Don't forget the main reason for the limited towing capacity was the cooling system. You should contact Mike in AZ and see what he can do for you
(new radiator and fans)
__________________
2003 Black SSR #1256 1sb
100000 miles (02/04/07).....
150000 miles 10/22/08
Looks like a fine job of workmanship. The main thing is if it works for you. The stock hitch insert works fine for me and I use it 5 days a week. In order to carry a bike carrier I remove the 2" ball and bolt in a 2" recvr section I made in place of the ball.
My SSR: 05' Smokin Asphalt, 4.10, Class III hitched for towing with 3 pedals & 6spds that make my heartbeat!
Class III Hitch Installed With Pictures
No rubbing or vibrations looks and works great. The pictures don't do it justice and the peace of mind is priceless, no worries if I am close to the limit or over don't even think about.
I am seriously debating Mike's radiator setup for the cooling issues versus just upgrading OME fan and adding aux fan. With just fan upgrades does the OME 1" radiator really cover our increasing thermal needs with these upgrades?
Any thoughts...
Hey, I am curious of what you are toweing with your SSR that would warrant putting a hitch like that on it? I can see where it would do more than the fatory hitch but I think it takes away form what GM was trying to do with the factory hitch being hidden without the reciever in it.
I am not saying that is a bad thing but I have used my factory hitch without a problem as many of others on here have, the trick is knowing it's limit. Cooling system and braking system is the 2 things that come to mind for me. I add the breaking system because if you are toweing another vehicle you need some type of break controller to help stop it safely.
My SSR: 05' Smokin Asphalt, 4.10, Class III hitched for towing with 3 pedals & 6spds that make my heartbeat!
Class III Hitch Installed With Pictures
Well, I am towing a 24' boat occasionally and a 14 utility trailer. GMs hidden reciever is nice but limited for me. Our trucks look and perform strong! So I find my new brawny hitch to be another muscle showing.
We as fanatics do what we do make it better, stronger, faster as we see reading these great threads from everyone.
Thanks Everyone
So just as GM left us to improve the cooling system, here's a class III hitch and Yes good trailer brakes are a must with heavier towing. We tailor our own trucks to our wants and needs leaving all others (non ssr drivers) green with envy.
The Stock SSR brakes are very good for towing trailers of reasonable weight.
Remember that the SSR uses a modified Envoy / Trailblazer chassis and brakes, and those are rated to pull some serious trailers.
The limitation is really the cooling, and the European style hitch that GM elected to use for appearance reasons, and because with the cooling limitation, there was no POINT in GM providing a more serious hitch.
If you install a conventioanl hitch, AND improve the cooling via a better radiator AND better cooling fan, I can't see why the SSR couldn't "haul".
However, note that if you have installed a supercharger, or souped the engine in other ways (including microtuners), be VERY careful to run conservative timing advance, as destructive detonation is very much more easily provoked at low engine rpm when trailering.
By the way I am now ready for more upgrades and so I'm selling my new in box hitch, never put on the truck $325 includes shipping in USA. Anyone interested PM me I have a private paypal account or other arrangements can be made.
hey man i am interested in the hitch if you still have it, email me at rolemodelcc@yahoo.com thanks
The Stock SSR brakes are very good for towing trailers of reasonable weight.
Remember that the SSR uses a modified Envoy / Trailblazer chassis and brakes, and those are rated to pull some serious trailers.
The Envoy nor the Trailblazer are very suitable for toweing anything more than some lawn equipment. The 1500 series trucks are the same way. When you are talking about serious weight none of the above will do.. I pull 12,000lbs with my dodge and that is serious weight. Without a break controller and a trailer with brakes you will be asking for trouble. Me personaly..anything over a ton needs to have a supplamental breaking system...
Mikepowell: There is a humor "Chevy dealer story" concerning that decorative plate which fits ONLY a 2" class III receiver.
When I was having warranty work done at an Atlanta dealership, I noticed the Parts Department had those SSR plates in stock. I tired for 10 minutes in vain to convince the parts manager that they were USELESS for any factory stock SSR, as an SSR does not come with the 2" square receiver hole that this plate requires to mount within! It comes with that special gooseneck European mount.
I even offered to walk with him to my SSR which was currently in his shop and SHOW him. There was no way he was going to admit he was wrong!!
My SSR: 05' Smokin Asphalt, 4.10, Class III hitched for towing with 3 pedals & 6spds that make my heartbeat!
Finishing touch!
Yes that would be a great finishing touch! Monday morning I'm going in for warranty work and if my dealer doesn't have it. I will PM you and I would be very appreciative if you picked up for me.
Yes, heavy loads towed need their own brakes to pull safely like on my boat which I am happy to say it pulled very nicely behind my currently stock SSR. It did squat some 3" which to be expected for the tongue weight load (approx. 275lbs), the Rapid billet adjustable hitch in the receiver help for ball height and I had no heat, stopping or handling problems! Plans are in the works for cooling, suspension and 4.10 gears upgrades to have peace of mind.
Thought you guys would like to see what I pull with this hitch, sorry about the poor photo quality just took them with phone cam.
Last edited by sarasotaspeeder : 01-07-2007 at 07:01 PM.
I have a question if I could. I am looking at buying an SSR, I have a 7x14 tandem axle trailer that weighs loaded about 3300 pounds. If I do a hitch like you did, do you feel the truck will pull it safely? The trailer does have electric brakes, it will have about 250 pounds hitch weight. Thanks you for your thoughts.
My SSR: Black, '03, 1sb, #1256, License Plate was WOW FCTR
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snake
I have a question if I could. I am looking at buying an SSR, I have a 7x14 tandem axle trailer that weighs loaded about 3300 pounds. If I do a hitch like you did, do you feel the truck will pull it safely? The trailer does have electric brakes, it will have about 250 pounds hitch weight. Thanks you for your thoughts.
There is plenty of info talking about towing on the site. The biggest concern is overheating. So do a search to find the info:
Looks like a fine job of workmanship. The main thing is if it works for you. The stock hitch insert works fine for me and I use it 5 days a week. In order to carry a bike carrier I remove the 2" ball and bolt in a 2" recvr section I made in place of the ball.
I like your "mini receiver" Im PMin you for some more pics
I am wondering if you know what pre-manufactured hitch the trailer hitch guy started with to modify for your truck. Looks like the hitch support pipe is pre-formed and maybe he modified an existing hitch for another vehicle.
the day my dealer handed me the hitch for my 05'. From that point I put i back in the box and knew improvements had to be made, this hitch was just too limited being used safely for ball use only.
off at the hitch fabricator in the morning, discussed postioning options. 
Mike's radiator setup for the cooling issues versus just upgrading OME fan and adding aux fan. With just fan upgrades does the OME 1" radiator really cover our increasing thermal needs with these upgrades? 
