How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

Hi Guys,

I'm looking at a 1981 K30 3+3 4x4 and I want to know if it will pull my trailer. My trailer is a 29' 2004 Jayco Jayflight with a slide. It weighs about 6000 lbs, dry. The 1981 Chevy is a one ton with a 454 and a turbo 400. I also live in the mountains, anywhere I want to go, I'll have have to take it up some steep grades. I love the look of the old "boxy" Chevs (I used to have a '79 GMS Suburban and I miss it). What do you guys think?

Thanks

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

I've got pretty much the same truck as you are looking at & I don't think it would have any trouble with that.As long as your not too concerned about gas mileage,they like their fuel.My crew used to belong to the neighbors & it was their main trailer pulling truck on the farm with lots of loads well over 20-22000lbs gross & she still runs strong! Go for it!

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

could'nt do any better for old school heavy duty
have a '85 k30 crew, same as yours with 4:56's. i tow a 4000lb quad hauler & pack a camper on the truck (around 3k, give or take...) and i live right beside the "coke"
put half to 2/3rds of your vacation money aside for fuel! i manage about 5mpg in the valley & drop to around 3 past Hope. i weighed my set-up at the Laidlaw scales- 15k truck & trailer. did anybody mention fuel?
plan your vacation route by gas stations...
pulling a 29 footer, leave the t400 in, strong & good on the mountains, you would hardly ever get to lockup with a od with the hills & weight anyways...
k30's dont turn worth a darn, especially when your 20 feet long with another 30 hanging off the back-go wide on the corners or you might get a pedestrian stuck in your awning...
if i hit the "smasher" at 65, i can still manage an easy 50 at the top without straining the truck
carry jerry cans...

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

Cummins conversion into the 3+3... pull a house down and get the MPG back....

minus the stacks and 4x4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS6262VvdYU

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

How much can you stop??

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

diesel. diesel go for a diesel swap. 6.2 will do it but slow......reallly slow. cummins 6b best for the swap and ez too. drop the 400 and go with a 6 speed with the cummins. it will ruin a 400 have seen it a few times.

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

That's a bumper pull trailer right? SRW or DRW?

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

I tow a 2014 27ft fifth wheel with 1 slide with a goose neck adapter mounted on the trailer with my 1986 k20 regular cab. It has 350/TH400 for drive line. The trailer weighs 7000 lbs. I can run about 65 down the highway with no problems but when it comes to some inclines I am being passed like I am sitting still.

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

Tow ratings varied a little year to year and I can't find the rating for 81 exactly gm heritage center is a good website for year specific info. That being said I can't see the tow rating being less than 7500 lbs I know that's a low ball number but k trucks had lower ratings. Personally my 85 dually is rated for 10k (2wd camper special). I also pull a 5th with a gooseneck adapter trailer is 6600 dry I assume 7500 loaded up. Truck has a 454 pulls trailer no problem but likes gas as stated also. I plan on a Cummins swap eventually also. I'm sure it would be fine to pull your trailer but would obviously have the brakes and major components checked out on a 34 year old truck before you do. Besides you can never go wrong with a k30!

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

I have an 82 c20 with a 350 and a 400 turbo transmission. I've rolled across the scales hauling scrap metal at 34,500 pounds. There aren't any mountains here but there are a few pretty good hills here, and I pulled them just fine. I don't know what your torque curve looks like on you 454 but few you can try and hold your RPM's at the top of the curve and you will be fine. The 400 turbo is geared low enough and depending on what gears you have in the axles, you will be able to pull no problem. With most of the trucks I have ran pulling is not the problem, it's stopping.

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

This is a different year (I think 78), but they didn't change much

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...its78Chevy.jpg

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

7K for a k30? i've had two 7K trucks on a trailer behind mine. didn't even notice it was there hardly. stopping will be the only issue. just gotta think ahead.

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

I don't know that the chart is accurate, just found it somewhere else on this forum. Seems strange that trailer weight on the K is so much less than the C.

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

This is a vin chart for GM trucks from 1981 to 1991. As long as you still have the factory hydraulic brakes on your truck, and they are in good shape. This is the factory recommended maximum GVWR if you have changed the brakes this will change also.

Re: How much can a 1981 1 ton 3+3 4x4 tow?
 

GVWR is different than trailering.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is how much you can put in the box, plus the weight of the rest of the truck, too. (ie, GVWR = curb weight + payload).

Trailering is defined either by the trailer weight alone, or the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR).

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