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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 77
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Who tows with their truck?
I am planning on building my 72 SWB C10 to be a daily driver and i want to be able to tow my rock crawler with it over long distances. the crawler and bumper pull trailer will probably weigh 7000 lbs or so.
i have an ECE hitch, and the truck will be bagged on all four corners. I was planning on doing hydroboost on the stock brakes for now and maybe going to rear discs later. I am not worried about power, but i am worried about the rear axle holding up, stopping, and over all stability. i cant drive this thing 7 hours white knuckle the whole time! do i need to put down the crack pipe or is this doable? |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Urbana,Ohio,USA
Posts: 4,618
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
You really don't want to tow a trailer that loaded with a shortbed truck. Too unstable. Too much sway. You wont be happy with it.
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2008 Chevy HHR 1/2 panel. 1949 Chevy Panel truck(just sittin, waiting) Board member #6 |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sherwood Oregon
Posts: 1,908
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
Sounds like alot to ask from an old truck.
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#4 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
sounds like you need a 20 or 30 series truck
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#5 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
It could be done in a pinch,but I wouldn`t set out planning on doing it regularily.Towing is a serious matter once the hauled load matches or surpasses the tow vehicle weight.
I`m an 8-lugger guy and look at 1/2 tons as car-like trucks that can do alot when needed,but for regular heavy use a heavier truck is due.
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"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 ~ |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,254
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I tow my 3000 pound (loaded on the trailer) bass boat all summer. That is 2000 pounds less than what my K10 weighs empty. I towed my 4000? pound convertible home on an approximately 1000 pound trailer. I wouldn't consider doing that regularily.
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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#7 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area.
Posts: 7,947
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I also agree with above comments. For short distances or in a pich it's okay but for long hauls it's a pain and you will have to be on constant alert for others on the road not paying attention.
I used my 69 with 350/350 to haul a medium sized tractor and brush hog with a few other items on it for 100 miles. The total weight was about 6,000 to 7,000 pounds and it handled it okay, but it was mostly country roads and I kept my speed around 55 mph or less. I wouldn't try it for longer distances. |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 77
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
well poop. i was hoping to reduce the fleet and get rid of my '95 powerstroke.
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#9 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area.
Posts: 7,947
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
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#10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brookings, SD
Posts: 10,497
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I too have towed with a SWB. Towing with the SWB is easily my most memorable towing experiences, they were white-knuckle rides. I don't do it anymore, just not a safe deal.
For a short trip I may try it in a pinch, but trailer brakes would be a must and a load equalizing hitch would probably help too.
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Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: RVA
Posts: 17
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I plan on towing my track car on an open trailer + supplies, so probably 5000lbs load or so I would imagine. I have a LWB truck with a 402, and from what I have been told it shouldn't be bad.
Trailer brakes would be a must. |
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#12 |
ASE master tech/machinist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Blue Mound Texas
Posts: 303
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I make 2 trips a year with my 72, 153 miles each way. It is a long bed, with trailer brake controller, it is still a wild ride. I would retire any 67-72 1/2 ton from towing duty.
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#13 |
Son of a gun
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Posts: 1,636
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I tow with my 69 lwb, power disc, 350/350 all the time, but I would never pull 7000 on a frequent basis. Better find a 3/4 or 1 ton for that.
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Bill BEATERS ARE NEATER |
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#14 |
Gone to greener pastures
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Gateway to the Delta
Posts: 7,354
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I just got home from moving a ~3500# boat & trailer for a friend with my 3/4 T.
I didn't have any problems, but I knew it was back there. I don't think I would have wanted to do it with my 1/2 T., although I would have in a pinch. I think what you want to do would be an "E" ticket ride.
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'69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Portland
Posts: 382
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I have a 72 1/2 ton LWB. The most so far was 5800lbs on a ball hitch. My truck did pretty well, but like a previous poster stated, I knew it was there. My truck isn't on bags either. I have 8 leaf springs in the back. What kind of hitch are you going to use? If you did use your 1/2 ton, I would probably use the hitch for 5th wheel. trailer brakes would be a must. I believe it would probably be law. Here in Oregon is anything over 1800lbs. If you are going to pull regularly with 7000lbs, I would recommend 3/4 or 1 ton. I am unsure what condition or truck is now, but you could just get a 3/4 or 1 ton frame/running gear and swap everything else over.
Good luck |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Waukee, Iowa
Posts: 1,608
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
Wheelbase has a lot to do with it too, and the LWB would be much better suited for towing duties. Example, I tow my 4500 pound Jeep on 42's on a 12K trailer that weighs 2650 pounds behind a 1/2 ton Suburban and it tows great. Towed all over the country, and other than the small block gas motor working a little harder over the passes in Colorado I've never had any complaints. I know that it's a 1/2 ton and adjust my driving style accordingly, so I plan ahead going down the passes and I do have good electric trailer brakes. When I get home the car seats go back in it and it serves mommy duties for the other 98% of the time.
Don't discount what the 1/2 ton can do, just don't expect a SWB one to tow anything like what your LWB powerstroke does.
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build threads: 86 Suburban 88 Jeep 6.0 swap 49 Chevy truck 54 Chevy wagon 86 Suburban lowered 4/6 54 Chevy wagon 49 Chevy/s10 mix 88 Jeep Wrangler rockcrawler |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Santa Maria, Ca.
Posts: 1,423
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I built this SWB just to tow my boat and it works sweet. boat weighs 4200 and the trailer is around 1500. The only real time i know its there is when I hit a grade and the OD will shift down. I have a 14 bolt rear from a one ton so it has large brakes and I put discs on the front. I have also pulled my car trailer with a full size half ton on it no problems. A lot will depend on your brakes and how much weight you can load on the truck.
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69 Chevy 4x4 383 Power ![]() |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 357
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
It isn't safe for you to haul that much weight on anything less than a 3/4 ton, or 1 ton. I know the later years chevy had a 6 lug light 3/4 ton and those are dangerous too. I spent a lot of time on the road hauling a 10k trailer with a pickup the last 8 years and you really need electric brakes and a really good hitch. I've seen too many guys just wingin' it out there and it's scary.
A fifth wheel is even more stable if you're hauling all the time. Hope it didn't sound like I was yelling at you, I know this is why you are asking the question. It just brings back some white knuckle memories. =o) ![]() Dan
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Dan Smith Colorado Springs, CO 71 GMC Custom Camper "Longhorn" 454, TH400 73 Chevy Camper Special (Yes, it's badged a camper special) Flat Bed Motorhome conversion 454, standard tranny "DON'T TREAD ON ME !!!" My Project: http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/20829244 , http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/24654442 |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sherwood Oregon
Posts: 1,908
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I like towing with all my powerstrokes. The old 7.3's were beasty, as I assume thats what is in your '95. The new 6.4 is even better though
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#20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Clarks Hill, Indiana
Posts: 733
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I think it all comes down to experience. I've pulled with SWB and LWB, I prefer the LWB. Makes some difference going forward, but I really prefer the LWB when backing a trailer up. I'm running 3/4T suspension on a 1/2T truck. The loaded 2-horse trailer wasn't an issue. Just took a long time to stop w/ 4 wheel drum brakes & no trailer brakes... The worst was flat pulling my now wife's '68 1/2T back from Baltimore MD. I wouldn't do it a 2nd time. It'd be on a trailer or at least a car dolly... It was OK when flat, but going down hills was a true white knuckle experience!
Go slow until you get used to it. You'll figure it out... Good luck!
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1969 K10 - V8, 465, 205, 12 bolt, D44 2002-current 1969 K20 - V8, 465, 221, Eaton, D44 2012-current Nothin' but drums on all 4 corners! past horses in the stable 72 C10-short step (97-02), 68 C10-long fleet (06-12) |
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#21 |
Hollister Road Co.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 6,134
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I regulary tow with a 350/350 LWB 6600 lbs load including the trailer. I do have bias ply on the trailer and sway bars front and back on the truck it's not fast towing but it tows very nicely
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 357
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I towed with a 98 powerstroke F250 for a couple years and it was very strong, but it paled in comparison to the 04 GMC Duramax 2500 with alyson tranny we replaced it with. That truck was STRONG! It was a shortbed extended cab. Loved that pickup.
Dan
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Dan Smith Colorado Springs, CO 71 GMC Custom Camper "Longhorn" 454, TH400 73 Chevy Camper Special (Yes, it's badged a camper special) Flat Bed Motorhome conversion 454, standard tranny "DON'T TREAD ON ME !!!" My Project: http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/20829244 , http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/24654442 |
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#23 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: plainfield indiana
Posts: 283
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I dont think the short bed matters or that the trailer weighs more the the truck almost no tow rig weighs as much as the trailer i pull a 12k trailer everyday now with a gmc 3500 crew cab diesel but had a 2500 ex cab short bed diesel before not that much difference the trailer set up is the most important (brakes tounge weight)
Last edited by weav1; 01-06-2009 at 11:23 PM. |
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 27
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
I've pulled (and still plan too) an 11 foot camper and boat with my GMC and it has always handled well. Our usually place is about a 1,300 mile round trip and she has always run like a clock. Although pulling the same load with my father's F-350 dually was much better, Ole' Blue still gets the job done
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![]() Buford - 1971 3/4 ton, Custom Camper, 350 Th, 350 SBC. |
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: King City, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 974
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Re: Who tows with their truck?
i find that the amount of tounge weight has more to do with sway movment then anything else. I know that when im towing the race car around with my F*rd F150 (about 125 miles per weekend) it took me a while to get the car on the trailer just right. too much or too little toung weight and the truck was a total mess and really scary. you want just the right amount of squat, but not too much.
i think thats why 3/4 tons and 1 tons seem to tow so much nicer, they are more forgiving to the amount of tounge (does that word have an 'E' ? ![]() 1/2 tons will haul just as good, you just have to be way more careful with planning how the load sits on the trailer. electric brakes are a MUST! they will save your life. dont leave home without them.
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- Jason If you can turn, Youre not going fast enough. Favorite caption: first car to 200 mph in the 1/4 mile, no parachute, drum brakes all the way around.. ..back when men were men. |
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