65 C20 Tow Rig - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chevyfreek · 06-24-2016, 01:15 PM

Hello everyone, I own a 65 C20 and would like to make a tow rig out of it. my pipe dream is 6BT Cummins and a NV5600. I would box the frame, and make stronger trailing arms with airbags. But as I said that is a pipe dream and isn't going to be true in the next 5 years, but what I really need to know is what should I do to make my 65 tow a 35 foot gooseneck with a 65 VW bug and a 95 4runner across country potently. I realize I will probably get some flack for this and get told to buy a new truck for this, but if I have to buy a new truck I don't think my old lady will like that as we have 4 cars/trucks. LOL

So, any help would be appreciated, even if its telling me 35 foot is too long and try thinking 16-20 feet and one car/truck. Thank you for all your help.

vin63 · 06-24-2016, 02:45 PM

I used my C10 to pull a horse trailer (a 16' Sundowner Performer customized to accommodate two Draft horses) to local events, but I would be hesitant to pull something heavier and longer with even a C20 chassis for long hauls...not that we can't build the power to pull it, but mainly because of the stability and braking concerns. With two 18hh 1 ton horses, tack, feed and water, the trailer would move the rear of my truck around. I also boxed my frame, went with tubular trailing arms, and HD rear air springs.

For pulling a 35' travel trailer and all of the equipment and amenities that go with it, I would only pull it with a 1-ton pick up for the safety of myself and the other drivers around me.

chevyfreek · 06-24-2016, 04:55 PM

Would adding a rear sway bar help or a 4link?

vin63 · 06-24-2016, 05:48 PM

For me, I would want the HD leaf spring pack with overloads...the track bar moved the rearend around too much for my taste through the suspension travel. Plus, if you only have rear air springs, and one fails, you're kind of screwed.

chevyfreek · 06-24-2016, 04:50 PM

Ok, what would be the stability concerns be? I understand the braking part that I would upgrade as well and have a trailer braking system in place to aid that. How would the trailer move your rear end? Is their a way to combat the rear-end moving around? The most I've towed is a single place car trailer and a U-Haul up the west coast on the Pacific Coast Highway, so I don't have the most knowledge on what would happen.

06-24-2016, 01:15 PM	#1
chevyfreek Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oak Harbor Wa Posts: 13	65 C20 Tow Rig Hello everyone, I own a 65 C20 and would like to make a tow rig out of it. my pipe dream is 6BT Cummins and a NV5600. I would box the frame, and make stronger trailing arms with airbags. But as I said that is a pipe dream and isn't going to be true in the next 5 years, but what I really need to know is what should I do to make my 65 tow a 35 foot gooseneck with a 65 VW bug and a 95 4runner across country potently. I realize I will probably get some flack for this and get told to buy a new truck for this, but if I have to buy a new truck I don't think my old lady will like that as we have 4 cars/trucks. LOL So, any help would be appreciated, even if its telling me 35 foot is too long and try thinking 16-20 feet and one car/truck. Thank you for all your help.

06-24-2016, 02:45 PM	#2
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 65 C20 Tow Rig I used my C10 to pull a horse trailer (a 16' Sundowner Performer customized to accommodate two Draft horses) to local events, but I would be hesitant to pull something heavier and longer with even a C20 chassis for long hauls...not that we can't build the power to pull it, but mainly because of the stability and braking concerns. With two 18hh 1 ton horses, tack, feed and water, the trailer would move the rear of my truck around. I also boxed my frame, went with tubular trailing arms, and HD rear air springs. For pulling a 35' travel trailer and all of the equipment and amenities that go with it, I would only pull it with a 1-ton pick up for the safety of myself and the other drivers around me. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

06-24-2016, 04:55 PM	#3
chevyfreek Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oak Harbor Wa Posts: 13	Re: 65 C20 Tow Rig Would adding a rear sway bar help or a 4link?

06-24-2016, 05:48 PM	#4
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 65 C20 Tow Rig For me, I would want the HD leaf spring pack with overloads...the track bar moved the rearend around too much for my taste through the suspension travel. Plus, if you only have rear air springs, and one fails, you're kind of screwed. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

06-24-2016, 04:50 PM	#5
chevyfreek Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oak Harbor Wa Posts: 13	Re: 65 C20 Tow Rig Ok, what would be the stability concerns be? I understand the braking part that I would upgrade as well and have a trailer braking system in place to aid that. How would the trailer move your rear end? Is their a way to combat the rear-end moving around? The most I've towed is a single place car trailer and a U-Haul up the west coast on the Pacific Coast Highway, so I don't have the most knowledge on what would happen.

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