Anybody pulling an enclosed trailer?
 

I wanted to know how my 97 K1500 Z71 w350, would pull a 20-24 ft enclosed trailer. Probably a Haulmark, cannot afford a Featherlite. I have heard that it would work my truck to death, but I want to know what everyone thinks. I can pull an open trailer great with it now.

We pull a 24' enclosed trailer with a 88 GMC 3/4ton 4X4 15,000mile 350ci , with Edelbrock Multi-Point fuel injection, headers, edelbrock cam, and hi-po cat with 3" exhaust and Flowmaster muffs, Automatic trans.
The truck weighs slightly over 6900lbs unloaded, and with the truck connected to our fully loaded trailer they have a combined weight of 17,000lbs plus or minus a 1000lbs depending on how much I decided to haul to a show.
Top speed flat ground with a weight distribution hitch and F rated tires is about 80-85 depending on the wind, 0-60 in about 40seconds, heavy mountain grade 40-45mph in 2nd.
Compared to 0-60 in about 8seconds, and a top speed of over 110mph unloaded grade or not.
That should give you a rough idea.
You will want a weight distribution receiver hitch without a doubt though. The Super Sunday Swap meet is this Sunday at the State fair grounds Pavilons, I buy my weight distribution receiver hitch from a dealer there for $250 which gives you a adjustable height receiver, both weight distribution bars, trailer brackets, hardware to install, and a pry bar.
GMCPaul

i pull 12,000 lbs with my 89 all the time... this truck has been totaled and has 220900+ miles on a original stock 350

and just a side note, that 12000 lbs is just the weight of whats on the trailer, not adding in the trailer and the truck

I towed a 20 ft enclosed trailer with my Liberty. It wasn't the best ride and when a vehicle passed I about got sucked into the side of it. But, I would suspect your truck will tow it fine. Be a trip on windy days though. No problem. Might want to look into a tranny cooler though if you don't have the towing package already on the truck.
My 98 Z-71 towed the same trailer like it wasn't even back there. I had my 69 chevy truck in the back too.

should be fine as long as ya dont overload the trailer too much and take it out of overdrive when you use the trailer

No problem!

I used to tow a 22 foot enclosed four-place snowmobile trailer with my Dad's '89 GMC 1500. It had a 350, four speed, and 3.73:1 gears. Trailer was 3500+- pounds, and four fully loaded sleds added another 2600 pounds, plus maybe one in the bed which is another 600 pounds or so. I'd say I had close to 7000 pounds on a regular hitch doing 65 over Snoqualmie Pass.

Yeah you should be okay. I see 24 foot enclosed racecar trailers being pulled with less than what your truck is!! LOL You may get you a sway control just to improve the handling.

Thanks a lot guys. I have 373's, tow package, weight dist. hitch, so it sounds like I am good to go! Now all I have to do is convince myself that I should spend $4500 on a trailer.

It would be better if you gave the trailer to me. I would let you use it anytime you want. I'll give it a very nice home. I really want an enclosed trailer, but my wife won't let me spend $4500 on a trailer I will use only a couple times a year.

Man, you must be smoking crack! Haha, just kidding. I got an even better idea... You can make payments for a few years on the trailer out of your money so you wife won't find out, then I can keep the trailer at my place. I would take nice care of it, might even keep it inside. It's a win-win situation- we both get a trailer and your wife doesn't cut your nuts off.

My Dad pulls a 20 ft enclosed with a 99 Denali with a 5.7 Use an equalizer hitch for sure and be careful not to overload and take care in postitioning the weight inside the trailer.

Another tip, in the winter he puts on over 200 miles every weekend, his gas mileage sucked, then he added a throttle body spacer vortex thingy and he significantly increased his gas mileage when towing the trailer, like what he saved in two trips paid for the thing