C30 capacities???
 

It has been quite a while since I last visited this wonderful site! Sold my last '72 around 5 or 6 years ago, but have not been able to get this addiction beat. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for a suitable project truck, and after all of these years, I may have found one!

There is a local auction that has a 69 C30 listed. There are only a couple of pics, and they don't tell me too much. I did a drive by this afternoon, and the property is chained off, and there is no access. No luck. Auction is in June! I would love to get my hands on the truck to take notes and pics and bounce some questions off of the members of this forum. I'm hopeful that I can get in sooner than later. I'm hopeful.

What little I know about the truck is that it appears to have a home-made carhauler in the back. The pics are not from a good angle (almost straight on), but I am pretty sure it does not have an extended wheel base. I'm thinking it is a standard C30 wheelbase truck that someone cobbled together a car hauler bed on. I do not know the motor or transmission info. Guessing a 350??

With all that said, does anyone have any idea of the towing capacity of a '69 C30 (assuming a 350 and 4-speed)?? My plan would be to completely restore it and put a flatbed on it. Would be used mostly to haul hay, but on occasion I would like to haul my tractor which weighs 9,200lbs. Will this truck tow a 14k trailer???

Thanks for any input.

Amstaff

Re: C30 capacities???
 

I'm thinking that I should have posted this thread on the main page, not the "Projects and Builds" page... Anyway for a moderator to move it to appropriate page?

Re: C30 capacities???
 

I moved it for ya!!!....ttt

Re: C30 capacities???
 

I will likely get flamed for this...but... Yes that truck should be able to pull that tractor and trailer with no problems. With the correct hitch and loading of course. I am looking to pull a tractor with my truck, every once in a while, that is only a little lighter than yours. You should never rely on the truck brakes to stop all of that weight though. You will want trailer brakes and most states require trailer brakes on a trailer of that size. I am planning to do a disk brake upgrade and maybe even HD brakes on the rear before I attempt to pull mine but I also have a C10. I have no doubt that I can pull it, but I want to make sure I can safely stop it as well. Your C30 should have larger brakes on it already. Hope that helps answer your question.

Re: C30 capacities???
 

Just opened my '72 Silverbook for quick ballpark numbers.
The RV section only lists C/10 and C/20. But to give you an idea here are max GCW (gross combined weight) ratings for a C/20.

400.... 4.10/ 12.5k..... 3.54/ 10.75k

350.... 4.57/ 10.5k.... 4.10/ 9.6k

Hope it helps some and I'll be able to dug some more later.

Re: C30 capacities???
 

Gcburdic,

Thank You!!!!

Re: C30 capacities???
 

Thanks for the info guys!

Did GM put out trailering guides back then like they do now? I was hoping to get some hard numbers.

Re: C30 capacities???
 

I have seen a VIN plate that list "*Maximum Capability" GVW 14,000....

*Refer to owner's manual for equipment required for intermediate or maximun gvw ratings, and for other loading information, including tire inflation

...with a trailer...?

Re: C30 capacities???
 

I have a 67 C30 dually. I upgraded to 1975 Chevy front disc front with hydroboost and I would highly recommend that upgrade to your future truck if you will use it a lot. You will also want good trailer brakes and a good hitch. With those things in place you shouldn't have any problems.

Re: C30 capacities???
 

Right, GVW (gross vehicle weight) the plate lists both the "as built" capacity and the maximum possible capacity but that may require heavier springs and/or tires to get the maximum certified capacity. It does not list the GCW (Gross Combined Weight) like later trucks do (GCWR).

As far as trailer guides the only info I can did up prior to the '73 trucks are the RV brochure and the Silverbook RV spec section. The truck data book would surely have something as well but I don't have any conplete copies.
There might be something in the Longhorn literature but I cannot remeber for sure. The 12.5k number is about the highest I can remember seeing though. If anyone has a '73 Silverbook handy (mine isn't) the RV section lists C/30 towing as I remember due to the increased sale of recreational C/30s.

Final thing to remeber, a lot of states like here in CA limit towed trailers to 10k without a commercial license (or non comercial class A). But 5th wheel "rv" trailers can go to 15k with an endorsement as I have.

Re: C30 capacities???
 

The '69 RV brochure only lists the C/10 and C/20 as well. The limis are lower than the '72 ratings which Disc brakes likely have a big part in.

Managed to dig out some Medium Duty brochures and the lowest to have a GCW is a C/50 and that runs 8k CS(six)to 21k CE(v8).

At this point though without the actual equipment level on the truck in question everything is a generalization.

Re: C30 capacities???
 

I agree. I need to get my hands on the truck and get some more information.

I am interested to see where the specs come in at. I have a 2000 K2500 regular cab with a 7.4liter (with only 46,000 miles) that is not rated to tow something as heavy as my tractor. It is a great work truck, but I was really disappointed when I found out it was only rated to tow a maximum of 9,500 lbs! And that is both the conventional and 5th wheel maximum with a 3.73 rearend. Even if I had 4.10's, capacity goes to 10k for conventional, and 11,500 for 5th wheel... still not close to the 14k I need. Anywho...

Thanks again for all of the help from everyone! I did miss this board!