Towing with a half ton
 

Does anyone here tow with their 1/2t? How much weight will this truck take? I have a 1969 C10 long bed. It has a 350,3 spd manual(for now),and a 12 bolt with 3.73 gears. I am lowering it 2"-2" and using a 1" block in the rear.I ordered HD rear coils and 6 lug rotors for the rest of my disc brake conversion. I have always had 3/4 tons. I plan on putting trailer brakes on my BBQ trailer and car trailer. Will this truck handle the weight? Thanks
-Lance

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

I use one all the time.Please use the trailer brakes. Mine squats pretty good sometimes,but it has stock springs. It's a Burb also and has the extra weight in the back.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

IIRC the 1/2tons can take or pull 6000lbs i believe

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

I am building progect "LDF's Low buck truck build" just for towing. It is a 1/2 ton leaf spring truck that is going to be shortened to a SWB. I will be installing rear air bags as load lever's for when the trailer is hooked up. Also I will be doing a 5/7 drop;) My car trailer is duel axel with elect brakes at each wheel and I have a good controler as well. I have the hidden hitch from ECE and it is rated at 5000lbs so that tells me 5000-6500 will be safe as long as you follow good sence while towing. If you do not have a hitch yet I highly recomend ECE's kit. Quality is top notch and it even comes with the lic plate flip up kit, reciever, mounting hardware and the plup that will go right into your truck with out cutting anything.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

short beds don't tow as nice as long beds. it must be something with the wheelbase length. :(

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

We've pulled stuff behind our short step '69 C-10 that make most of you guys shake in your boots............Of-course, it wasn't on state roads or interstates.

Don't worry, it will handle more than would legally be allowed.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

You will also find that leafs tow better than coils! If you are going to do a coil rig I would add some bags just for towing. I wanted a short bed but also wanted a leaf spring rear set up so I am starting with a long bed and breaking out the tortch:cool:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=222718

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

With a threespeed manual that bad boy is going to pop as soon as you put a load on it.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

I had a 1/2t set up for work with a Reading steel work cap and ladders and tools.It wasn`t lowered.I installed new 3/4t coils w/ Air-Lift bags in them.The bags add 1,500# capacity.Yet,fully adjustable.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

Personally I think 1/2 tons are good for 4000lb with 3.73 gears and an auto or 4 speed stick. Air bagged I would lessen the load as the rear would be squirrelly. This is for towing on a regular basis. Once a year OK go heavier. Remember you should have about 10% of the towed load on the hitch and 400lbs added to the rear of a 1/2 ton is alot especially when you add in side winds and passing dynamics of other vehicles. The air bags for street lowering are different than the air bags for 1 ton and up pickup/over the road truck towing.
A good weight distributing hitch would be a big plus with sway control.
The new SUV tow ratings are over stated in my opinion. Sure the engine and drive train can pull that load but anytime the trailer gets to be 2 times the weight of the towing vehicle you are going to have the tail wagging the dog.
This is just my opinion and take it or leave it but remember lets be safe out there and keep these old trucks on the road.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

Just so I am clear in my opinion on this. When I said add bags what I ment was add bags along with your coils or leafs just for the added weight when towing. I know alot of guys tow with bagged trucks but this is not wat I was talking about. On Low buck I will be doing a flip kit with my rear leaf springs and adding ART. bags to keep the rear end up when the tounge weight is applied.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

Yeah,my bags are inside coil-type intended for extra capacity,too.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

Air bags in the coils are a good thing to help carry the weight. Always keep air in them so the coils won't pinch and cut them. You still need a weight distributing hitch to move the load form 6' behind the axle to balance it onto the front so you can still steer the truck.
This is the minimum hitch for a 1/2 ton truck and a heavy load.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

GM had an option for coil spring trucks that were made for loads--overload springs that bolt to the frame and engage the spring/shock mount. This is a nice cheap help for towing and hauling--I'v got them and they work well. A short bed truck is not meant for towing heavy loads---wheelbase from axle to axle make is nasty. Weight distributing hitch setup with anti-sway attachment is also a big help. A long wheel base 1/2 ton will pull 6-7000lbs no problem till you need to brake--good working trailer brakes are definitely a must as I've tried without and it is---dangerous!. The truck brakes themselves are --marginal so ~~. Just make sure you have the hitch set up so the trailer --both single or double axle---sits level. Empty or loaded, the trailer should be level to the ground for proper towing. I tow and haul at least once a month and a good safe setup with proper securing--spare tire--etc. will make your hauls easy. Good luck---Huck

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

i took my 1971 1/2 ton, 250 -6cyl, 3 on the tree with a u-haul wide car houler and towed a m715 ( 7000 lbs ) army truck from panama city , fla. back to east tn. at 55 mph with no trouble.
bob

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

Ok, here's another question. If I put 3/4t axles,and front brakes on my half ton would I have a 3/4 ton? Or are the frames that differnt? Thanks
-Lance

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

Swap the front springs, spindles, brakes, etc, and the rear axle and springs and you will have a 3/4. Frames are pretty much the same between 1/2 +3/4

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

Frames are the same as far as I know! Here are the bags that are going on mine along with the factory leafs. Now I just need to see if I can fit one of those weight dist, hitches with my hide away set up. my trailer is a 16' steel deck Carson dual axel (all w/brakes) and weighs about 1700lbs.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Towing with a half ton
 

well if you have the coil springs best thing to do it get the over load leaf spring there over loads but remmber the one thing you all for got to ask was tires if you have low profile tires and your hualing weight best to run a 235/75/15 tire if possible run alum 16X7 rims and run 245--255--265 /75/16 tires it will handle the load and the side wall wont give out on you