250 towing capacity? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

shelby987 · 03-22-2006, 09:14 PM

I have a 3/4t pickup with a stock 250 and a 3 speed manual running 4.56 gears. I just won a car online, and wanted to know if my truck has the capacity to tow a 3,500lb car. I have upgraded to front disc brakes, and I will be using a trailer from uhaul with inertia brakes.
any thoughts?
class 3 hitch is all I need right?

JAKES 68GMC · 03-22-2006, 09:20 PM

How far are you towing the car? I'm sure the 250 will have guts enough to pull a car on a trailer. Probably not the fastest ticket, though. Reviever hitch would help.

Longhorn Man · 03-22-2006, 09:31 PM

Are you gonna use U-haul... or are you just saying that name genericly? U-haul will say no.
There car transporter weights right at 2000 pounds, plus the 3500 of this car, they'll say your truck can't do it.

TP from Cntl PA · 03-22-2006, 09:34 PM

Should work ok...............Plan your trip so you don't have to start that load from a dead stop on a hill.................

We pulled more than that in gravity wagons on the farm with our C-10, 250 3spd with 3.73's.

shelby987 · 03-22-2006, 10:14 PM

uhaul told me I could tow my 96 bonneville, and my 69 camaro, without any problems. This is going to be an 80 malibu 2dr.....and I figure thats gotta weigh less than either one of those cars.
so, no hills, and we are ok? lots of clutch slip, or am I doomed on a hill.

TP from Cntl PA · 03-22-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelby987

uhaul told me I could tow my 96 bonneville, and my 69 camaro, without any problems. This is going to be an 80 malibu 2dr.....and I figure thats gotta weigh less than either one of those cars.
so, no hills, and we are ok? lots of clutch slip, or am I doomed on a hill.

Hills aren't a problem, getting the load rolling from a Dead stop could be a challenge. I am just saying I'd try to avoid and stops on a pretty good grade with the 3spd. Of-course ours was geared a tad higher

Longhorn Man · 03-22-2006, 10:25 PM

by the book, you are rated to tow 6500 pounds.

JAKES 68GMC · 03-22-2006, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelby987

uhaul told me I could tow my 96 bonneville, and my 69 camaro, without any problems.

You have a 69 Camaro????

qksilver · 03-22-2006, 11:29 PM

I went thru the same thoughts when I went to bring back one from Arizona. Weight wise, have you considered a wheel dolly. The Malibu doesn't weigh as much as the burb I towed and it did well. Disconnect the drive shaft put good wheels and tires on rear and tow from the front.
i have done a lot of picking up vehicles last year, and used a tow dolley when ever possible and that was towing full size trucks.
The rental would be cheaper, less weight and easier on the truck. You do have to be a little more carefull but depending on the distance would be a good option

**special-K** · 03-23-2006, 09:42 AM

I think the 3spd is your biggest drawback.It`ll pull it,it`ll slow down a good bit on hills,downshift,etc.But,the 3spd has that high 1st.Like you said,just slip it.

grayw0lf · 03-23-2006, 12:51 PM

It should do fine. I tow my boat & trailer (3500lbs) around with my 89 S-10. It only has the lowly 2.5L (151cid) 4-banger. The boat definately weights more than the truck.

03-22-2006, 09:14 PM	#1
shelby987 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Just outside Durham, NC Posts: 894	250 towing capacity? I have a 3/4t pickup with a stock 250 and a 3 speed manual running 4.56 gears. I just won a car online, and wanted to know if my truck has the capacity to tow a 3,500lb car. I have upgraded to front disc brakes, and I will be using a trailer from uhaul with inertia brakes. any thoughts? class 3 hitch is all I need right? __________________ 1969 SS 350 Camaro Sold 2008 1970 3/4T K20, stock height with 33's, 250 I6, 3 on the tree, and locked front and rear 4.10's 1980 Chevy Malibu 2 dr Sold 2007 1993 Olds. Cutlass Ciera Wagon Traded 2006 2003 Saturn L200 w/5pd. D/D My list spans 5 decades with One common thread.....GM!

03-22-2006, 09:20 PM	#2
JAKES 68GMC Aluminum slot wheels rule... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 6,211	Re: 250 towing capacity? How far are you towing the car? I'm sure the 250 will have guts enough to pull a car on a trailer. Probably not the fastest ticket, though. Reviever hitch would help.

03-22-2006, 09:31 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: 250 towing capacity? Are you gonna use U-haul... or are you just saying that name genericly? U-haul will say no. There car transporter weights right at 2000 pounds, plus the 3500 of this car, they'll say your truck can't do it.

03-22-2006, 09:34 PM	#4
TP from Cntl PA Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central PA....In the Berg of Nisbet Posts: 790	Re: 250 towing capacity? Should work ok...............Plan your trip so you don't have to start that load from a dead stop on a hill................. We pulled more than that in gravity wagons on the farm with our C-10, 250 3spd with 3.73's. __________________ '72 K-20 EFI'ed 250 Inline/4spd stake body, Farm Truck '71 C-20 Cummins Diesel Powered, In storage thanks to $5.00 diesel! '69 3500 GMC 305V-6/4spd, Still under reconstruction.......... Inlines Rule! 6 soldiers standing is better than 8 laying down!!!!!!!!

03-22-2006, 10:14 PM	#5
shelby987 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Just outside Durham, NC Posts: 894	Re: 250 towing capacity? uhaul told me I could tow my 96 bonneville, and my 69 camaro, without any problems. This is going to be an 80 malibu 2dr.....and I figure thats gotta weigh less than either one of those cars. so, no hills, and we are ok? lots of clutch slip, or am I doomed on a hill. __________________ 1969 SS 350 Camaro Sold 2008 1970 3/4T K20, stock height with 33's, 250 I6, 3 on the tree, and locked front and rear 4.10's 1980 Chevy Malibu 2 dr Sold 2007 1993 Olds. Cutlass Ciera Wagon Traded 2006 2003 Saturn L200 w/5pd. D/D My list spans 5 decades with One common thread.....GM!

03-22-2006, 10:25 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: 250 towing capacity? by the book, you are rated to tow 6500 pounds.

03-22-2006, 11:29 PM	#9
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: 250 towing capacity? I went thru the same thoughts when I went to bring back one from Arizona. Weight wise, have you considered a wheel dolly. The Malibu doesn't weigh as much as the burb I towed and it did well. Disconnect the drive shaft put good wheels and tires on rear and tow from the front. i have done a lot of picking up vehicles last year, and used a tow dolley when ever possible and that was towing full size trucks. The rental would be cheaper, less weight and easier on the truck. You do have to be a little more carefull but depending on the distance would be a good option

03-23-2006, 09:42 AM	#10
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: 250 towing capacity? I think the 3spd is your biggest drawback.It`ll pull it,it`ll slow down a good bit on hills,downshift,etc.But,the 3spd has that high 1st.Like you said,just slip it. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

03-23-2006, 12:51 PM	#11
grayw0lf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Clanton, AL Posts: 1,253	Re: 250 towing capacity? It should do fine. I tow my boat & trailer (3500lbs) around with my 89 S-10. It only has the lowly 2.5L (151cid) 4-banger. The boat definately weights more than the truck. __________________ 85' CUCV M1009!!! The newest addition! 6.2diesel, Th400, NP208, & only 36k miles! 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside - Looking good these days! 05' Dodge Neon 88' Winner Escape Sport 1750 - 4.3v6 94' Seadoo SP 84' Honda TRX200, bare nekkid. Just a frame & tires. Always looking for another project or any good deal!



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