71 K10 Towing capacity help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Chris 71 K10 · 10-12-2018, 01:55 PM

I have looked thru a bunch of threads and found a few varying things. I know different specs and ordered options can come into play as well. I am sorry if everything here has been covered but I am dense so here goes.

I have a 71 K10 longbed and need to pull a horse trailer. 2 horse trailer, it has trailer brakes, 2 axles. Weighs about 2400 pounds empty and each horse about 1400 so close to 5500 pounds with 2 horses in it. I will be pulling just the trailer sometimes, with 1 horse sometimes and sometimes with 2 horses.

The attached pics show my truck spec of heavy rear springs, posi traction RR axle, front stabilizer etc. . .
It has a 350 motor, NP204 and 3.07 gears (not 3.73)

In the charts I have seen the 3.73 gearing usually shows a heavier tow capacity. Does this mean it that mine would pull it safely just not as fast especially up grades. Speed is not that important but I do want to be safe.

Not sure what much of the difference really is besides gearing on my K10 compared to the K20's either?

Again I am pretty green and just regurgitating things I have heard so it may be off or plain wrong so any real help/input would be great!

Thanks ahead of time, great board as always!

The Green truck in the pic is mine for fun reference last week at The Desert Race in Johnson Valley CA. Not a lot of shade so we made our own.

weq92f · 10-12-2018, 05:32 PM

.
Flip fa ya...

El Dorado Jim · 10-12-2018, 10:20 PM

you will be fine towing just a two horse trailer with your truck, you said the trailer has brakes,, I did it for years with my 73 shortbed stepside, it was 4x4 like yours so has leaf springs in the rear, unlike 2 wheel drive .never mind what the vin plate says, that is for the truck only, and what its maximum carrying capacity is, not for pulling a trailer, if you were to get a stock trailer or bigger horse trailer, then i would say get a 3/4 ton , but you will be fine

Chris 71 K10 · 10-12-2018, 11:45 PM

Thanks Jim. I’ll probabl add a weight distributor set up too for when we do have the horses in it.

Chris 71 K10 · 10-13-2018, 12:05 AM

Trailer for reference.

10-12-2018, 01:55 PM	#1
Chris 71 K10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Cardiff CA Posts: 33	71 K10 Towing capacity help I have looked thru a bunch of threads and found a few varying things. I know different specs and ordered options can come into play as well. I am sorry if everything here has been covered but I am dense so here goes. I have a 71 K10 longbed and need to pull a horse trailer. 2 horse trailer, it has trailer brakes, 2 axles. Weighs about 2400 pounds empty and each horse about 1400 so close to 5500 pounds with 2 horses in it. I will be pulling just the trailer sometimes, with 1 horse sometimes and sometimes with 2 horses. The attached pics show my truck spec of heavy rear springs, posi traction RR axle, front stabilizer etc. . . It has a 350 motor, NP204 and 3.07 gears (not 3.73) In the charts I have seen the 3.73 gearing usually shows a heavier tow capacity. Does this mean it that mine would pull it safely just not as fast especially up grades. Speed is not that important but I do want to be safe. Not sure what much of the difference really is besides gearing on my K10 compared to the K20's either? Again I am pretty green and just regurgitating things I have heard so it may be off or plain wrong so any real help/input would be great! Thanks ahead of time, great board as always! The Green truck in the pic is mine for fun reference last week at The Desert Race in Johnson Valley CA. Not a lot of shade so we made our own. Attached Images

10-12-2018, 05:32 PM	#2
weq92f Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 3,151	Re: 71 K10 Towing capacity help . Flip fa ya... Attached Images __________________ 67 C10 fleet fuel injected '70 402, 700r4, 3.73 posi 07 335 sport turbo 6sp 94 Trans Am GT LT1 6sp posi -- sold after 22yrs 99 540 sport V8 6sp -- sold 73 240z L24 4sp -- given to friend 68 C10 step 350/350 3.73 open -- sold

10-12-2018, 10:20 PM	#3
El Dorado Jim Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: El Dorado Ca Posts: 3,374	Re: 71 K10 Towing capacity help you will be fine towing just a two horse trailer with your truck, you said the trailer has brakes,, I did it for years with my 73 shortbed stepside, it was 4x4 like yours so has leaf springs in the rear, unlike 2 wheel drive .never mind what the vin plate says, that is for the truck only, and what its maximum carrying capacity is, not for pulling a trailer, if you were to get a stock trailer or bigger horse trailer, then i would say get a 3/4 ton , but you will be fine Last edited by El Dorado Jim; 10-12-2018 at 10:26 PM.

10-12-2018, 11:45 PM	#4
Chris 71 K10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Cardiff CA Posts: 33	Re: 71 K10 Towing capacity help Thanks Jim. I’ll probabl add a weight distributor set up too for when we do have the horses in it.

10-13-2018, 12:05 AM	#5
Chris 71 K10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Cardiff CA Posts: 33	Re: 71 K10 Towing capacity help Trailer for reference. Attached Images

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