towing home a 73-87 and got a few questions

[84 400]

Well I am not new to towing and in the last year have actually pulled hjome two parts trucks. anyways I am trading my 62 wheel horse for a 77 k10. I don't own a car trailer so I was planning on renting one from uhaul as I have done in the past. Thing is they say the K10 is too heavy for ther equipment on the web site. How can this be? IF I enter in 1970 K10 1/2 6 foot bed it says that it is a fine set up. Does the 77 really weigh more then a 1970 K10? I am going 15 miles with the truck but our State (MAss) SUCKS. I mean really they have some crappy laws. I would drive it but you need plates in order to do that and I don't want to get plates for a vehicle I need to work on a bit first. I cannot use a tow strap and mock tow it because again it needs to have plates. Our state will not issue temp tags and if they see you driving with no plate the truck gets a costly ride to a tow yard and the driver gets a big fine. Even if you just purchased it and have insurance..........

So how much does this truck weigh???
I work at a rental shop and the owner said he would let me barrow one of the bob cat trailers but insurance would not cover him if anything happens.

I know your not supposed too but If it weighs what I think it does I was thinking of calling it a 1970 K10 . I had to do this whit my willys 4x4 pick ups because they where too old to be in U hauls comp.

Thanks for any advice or input.
Ian T

[sdavid]

I would call it a 1970 and go get the trailer and tow it home. I think you will need one of the newer galvanized style U-Haul car hauler trailers. They are wider than the older painted ones. U-Haul is just trying to cover their behinds with the rules.

[ElGracho]

U haul has some wierd rules when it comes to towing. Of course it's to cover their liability with inexperienced people towing trailers.

I've towed both long and short bed 86s (both were 2wd) on their trailers. The long bed was the absolute limit in wheelbase for the trailer. They both towed just fine with my 84 K10. Keep in mind that with surge brakes, you need to be careful about sway, you can't tap the trailer brakes to get it to straighten out. Don't get in a hurry and you should be fine.

In order to get them to rent me a trailer, I told them I was towing a small car.

For whatever it's worth, I bought a real car trailer when I moved back to the west coast and use either my dually or my new truck for towing. It's much safer and a better way to go. When I used U-haul, I was in the Navy on the east coast and didn't have any other choice.

[Captkaos]

Figure on 4500lbs.

[1987SierraClassic]

I can tell you that my '89 1500 Suburban weighs 5460lbs. A 77 k10 has to weigh less than that, but I think my '87 weighed in at 4880lbs if I remeber correctly (it's been a while). The last time I needed my '87 1500 long bed home from the body shop, I just had AAA do it. They dropped it right in the yard.
U-Haul trailers are not rated for very much.
Check with your insurance co. on the borrowed trailer...usually the insurance of the tow vehicle extends to the trailer as well so the borrowed trailer might be an option.

Hope this helps!

[84 400]

Guys first off thanks for the quick replies. I have used them before and I did know the allumin is larger width then the older orange steel ones. That is defiantly something to note. I also am not a fan of surge brakes but again I am firmilar with there operation. I wish I could just barrow one from work but I am not about to argue with the boss. IT is his place and he said no. I wish I had my own trailer but just don't have the room for it and Honestly would not have much use for it. I do all the work on my stuff at my home and only use trailers for dragging home new projects. But i wish I had room for one anyways. .It looks like Saturday is gonna be the day for the trade which is alot sooner then I wanted but what can I do.

I wish I had another option but a tow would be expensive and I don't have tripple A.

[78 Chevyrado]

might end up calling a wrecker, or rent a car dolly. I'd go with the "tell em its a 1970 k10" thing and take it easy. How much are tags there? might be cheaper to go ahead and get tags, since you said it's insured all ready. I think I pay $35-$45 total, taxes and all for my tag, in GA.

As far as wieght goes, My 87 1/2 ton 2WD lwb weighed 4,300lbs or so and my 78 3/4 ton 2WD lwb weighs 4,950. it should be somewhere in between. I'd call it 4700 for a guestimate.

[84 400]

Tags are cazy prices. When all said and done transferring titles, registration and tags it is around 200 plus another 30 for inspection. By insurance I ment we have insurance not on this truck. Up here in NH you are not required to have insurance and can get a 20 day paper temp tag. Why you can't get a temp tag or just drive it straight home is beyond me.

Also how much would a 1970 K10 weigh? they have got to be about the same I would think

[James McClure]

84, why not register it in NH just to get her home? Wish I lived closer, you could use my trailer. It's rated for a 5000 pound load and I'm sure that would cover it. I had a 3500 pound jeep cherokey on it and didn't know it was there. Only thing is any vehicle you put on it has to go on backwards so the trailer can balance out. Good luck, jim

[84 400]

Jim I wish you where closer as well. That is a very nice gesture. I am not on file in NH yet. I guess I could try that but the trade has to happen on Saturday and I am in school right now. In fact My 84 is registered in MI to avoid Mass's loony laws. I think I am going to just go for the say it is what it is not route. I don't advise doing this to anyone simple because of the problems you could face in the event of an accident. I think I should be just fine tho. thanks for all the input every one and I will have a thread introducing the truck and my plans for it after I get it home.

[killthewabbit]

When I brought my 78 2wd stepside home, it wouldn't fit on a tow dolly. That was my original plan. I ended up calling a tow truck and getting it home for basically the same price as the rental on the tow dolly.

[tgh117]

I used a tow dolly to take my 77 down to the car wash to pressure wash the grease off the frame before I painted it. I have 33 x12.50's, so with both of them on, it was too wide to fit the tow dolly. Luckily I had an old spare laying around, so I bolted that on just the one side and was good to go. The tow dolly I was using I believe had 80" from inside of fender to the other inside of fender, and with one big and one small tire I was at 78". Its probably a lot easier to use a dolly then the whole trailer setup but that depends on if everything is free'd up and can roll down the road. Also if it was a auto, you would have to pull the driveshaft loose, another step.

Good luck moving it home.

[84 400]

thanks.
Right now the only thing that has me worried is the width. I would say at biggest it has 31's. They are on wagon wheels so I am not sure how big they are but I dought they are bigger then 15x10.

[84 400]

I called some tow companies and they want at least 175 for the tow. That is way outta what I want to pay. does anyone know the stock front axle width?

The only thing I am thinking could e a problem is that the it is too wide.

Thanks for the help guys tomarrow at noon is when I am picking her up.

[chevy2ss]

if your only going 15 miles id put a good plate and drive it with someone following fairly close behind me.

[84 400]

Well the farm truck is home or the green monster as my mom calls it.

U haul trailer was wide enought and just long enough. Guys I would not recommend towing one of these 4x4 trucks on the u haul set up with anything less then a 3/4 ton (2500). the tahoe sagged down the most I had ever seen it go. She was riding low but made the trip okay. And the tires where buldging at the point where they contacted the pavement (wow I am glade We put the correct load range tires on this tahoe when it got its first set of new ones. I could defiantly seen a blow out happening if you had the wrong load range. Aside from riding low she towed it just fine and more importantly stopped it well too. Again We did take it on the high way but I would not suggest high speeds with this set up.

and she was low but not close to bottoming out or anything like that. Just the lowest I have seen it.
Thanks for all your help intro and pic loaded post to come sometime tomorrow.