Help me get my new truck home

[tomsC10R]

It's a 1968 C10 Long Wide Box. Picking it up in Iowa and bringing it back to Wisconsin.

Could you please tell me the approximate weight of this truck?

I was planning on driving it home this weekend, but it looks like we might have some unpleasent weather (snow ).

I'm trying to come up with a plan B. So I'm trying to figure out if our 1998 GMC 1500 would be able to pull this beast? And would it fit on a 18 foot car hauler? I realize I have to do my own homework, just wanted some opinions.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

[hambone1958]

I have a long bed and it fits on my 18 foot hauler.

[nightmare]

i pulled my gmc home from missouri on a tow dolly using a 94 s-10 blazer. ran fine.

[ljbear]

If the truck is complete with motor and trans I usually figure 4000 lbs. The trailer will probably add another 2000 lbs. If you have brakes on the trailer and a controller in the truck you should fine.

[Moloko]

I'd try to rent one of those U-haul dollies that just hold the front wheels. Then you should be ok towing it home. I used one of them to tow my Chevelle up-state for bodywork.

[SWEET7T]

I would use a trailer instead of a dolly. Sure the dolly keeps the truck from having to carry any weight, just pull it. But then you have to stop all of that extra weight, without any more wieght on your tires.
Use the trailer, that way, you have trailer brakes and more weight on your truck. Plus, it is a whole lot easier to backup if the need comes along

[tomsC10R]

Thanks for all the info and opinions. I was thinking about renting a U Haul trailer since it uses mechanical brakes (my electric brake controller isn't hooked up in my truck yet). It looks like the storm is going to be pretty bad, I saw 6 inches in one report. I'll just have to wait and see. Thanks again everyone!!

Tom

[rustyold69]

i pulled my 69 c-10 accross town in the snow using a tow bar with my moms 2000 windstar so i think your truck could do it

[Class of 69]

If you go the U-Haul route...make sure the brakes actually WORK. The one I rented did not!!

[ABHaulR]

if you decide to use the car dollie, make sure you diconnect the drive line, not just put it into netrule. youll burn the tranny up
Dwayne

[Cat Fuzz]

U-haul sucks. I've got nothing but bad service and bad equipment from them. I'll never rent a U-haul again.

[bpmcgee]

Last time I called U-Haul about a trailer for a '75 C10 they said they wouldn't rent one to me because the truck was too heavy!

I couldn't find anyone who would rent me one.

Brian

[junkyardjohn]

I'LL SECOND THE UHAUL SUCKS STATEMENT. I'VE GOTTEN SUCH TERRIBLE SERVICE IN THE PAST THRU THEM, (WORN-OUT , BROKEN EQUIPTMENT & OUT & OUT LIES)THAT I WOULDN'T RENT ANYTHING FROM THEM, & WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE FOR ANYTHING, ANYTIME ,EVER. DON'T RENT FROM UHAUL.

[1969 GMC]

Originally posted by ABHaulR
if you decide to use the car dollie, make sure you diconnect the drive line, not just put it into netrule. youll burn the tranny up
Dwayne

if you have an automatic, yes.
if it has a manual, you don't need to...just put it in neutral.

[PanelDeland]

I would be very careful about U-could -haul.I have seen recently they seem to be hiring the rejects from the chain parts stores.You know the guys that can do the computer side of renting you a trailer but have no idea how to hook it up.They don't want to either.They would rather hang out at the counter and mac on the babes than do any effective customer service.
I fyou do find someone at U-could-haul around here that can hook up a trailer or anything else I hope you have good language skills.

[jewels.]

ok- now, i'll probably get flack for this, but DONT DO IT!!!!

when i moved NY to IN, i rented a full trailer from UHAUL, only to find out that the trailer was not WIDE ENOUGH to hold my truck.... when i drove the truck onto the ramps, it wouldnt fit between the flatbed trailer's wheel wells....

i consequently got a flat front tire... and the madness started..... a truck stuck 1/2 way on a trailer does you no good... wouldnt budge up or down, and i couldnt haul the trailer cause 1/2 of the truck is on the pavement, and the other 1/2 is on the triler in from of the wheel wells with a fat tire!!! ahhh!!!

HERE IS THE SOLUTION:

i just moved from IN to MO.... i rented a movingtruck... and i bought a tow dolly --- $100 at walmart.... take off the front bumper, and bolt the tow dolly straight to the frame... attach the tow dolly to any vehicle with a ball hitch.... the trucks weigh 3-4K, and any vehicle with a ball hitch will pull it fine.... drop the drive shaft if its an automatic, but since mine was a manual, i just left it in neitral....

i borrowed a really nice harness assy (homemade) from longhorn man, which hooked right into the taillight plug at the firewall, and then plugged into the trailer harness assy plug.... it was slick as oil!!! took less than 15 mins to hook the dolly up to the moving truck, and I"M A WOMAN!!!

good luck!
I hope this helps!
jewels.

[Longhorn Man]

I have also done the tow bar thing on more than one occasion.
Towed my 69 SWB GMC from Central Tx to Central Ohio, 25 foot moving van as a tow rig. Couldn't even feel the truck back there...even when the front left tire blew out on I-35 in Waco.
Then i hauled the one ton from eastern PA to central Ohio with a K/5 (1987 if memory serves) with the same tow bar...again, no problems. Not to mention hauling my old S-10 blazer to a junk yard, and a couple Rangers...and quite a few other small local jobs.
If you go to U-haul, not only will you get the rude refer-addicted assitance that so many are familiar with, but they will send you away telling you that your truck can not handle the weight. Trust me...I been through all of it before. Even if you have factory literature, they will send you walking.
Any way you do this, make sure your tow rig is up to snuff. Your brakes, tires, tire pressure (max pressure listed on sidewall is dang near guranteed to be perfect for hauling) and one overlooked thing is your hitch. I have seen too many bumper hitches falling apart or torn from overloading. A class 4 or class 5 hitch is the only way to go IMO. If you don't own one, U-haul will rent you one....but again, you'll have to watch the crack heads install it to make sure they put all the bolts in.
The tow bar is perfectly safe, the military uses them on 70 ton tanks, schools use them to tow busses, and truckers and RV'ers use them all the time too. Besides, if they were not safe, they would not be legal. (I get way too many nay-sayers on this subject)
Once you are hooked up (don't forget safety chains) you need to learn to drive the truck...braking distance will be increased, and turning will seem funny, but it can all be learned in 15 min on a back road. A parking lot (A big empty one) is a good place to learn to back up with a tow bar....much better than at the gas station on the side of the freeway.
Let me (or jewles) know if you need any details...

[jewels.]

oh yes --- chains! dont forget chains.... i spent a few bucks at the hardware store to get some chains.... thats very important....

thanks for the reminder, andy!

ciao!
jewels.

[Longhorn Man]

Now that the pics are working again...

[Longhorn Man]

A close up o the rigging...

[jewels.]

hey andy, how did you do that without removing your front bumper! you must tell me your secret!

oh - and you can wrap the chains around the towbar to prevent dragging on the road if the truck or ball hitch sits lower to the ground.

jewels.

[Longhorn Man]

Well, the reason I told you to remove your bumper is becouse I learned the hard way...the tow bar and chains may kerfagle your bumper. Mine is bent on both trucks...and it took twice to figure it out too. <insert smiley lookin like a retard>