pulling truck home, have some ?'s - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

white68chevy · 03-06-2003, 01:39 AM

I am going to be pulling a 67 short stepside home in a couple days. I am going about 150 miles or so. My parents have a 2002 Silverardo with a V-8. It does not have a reciever hitch on it and i was wondering if any of you had pulled one from the bumper before. I told my mom (because its hers) and she was afraid it would pull her bumper off pulling it that far. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

Low68 · 03-06-2003, 01:46 AM

I wouldn't want to pull it by the bumper personally. Is it going to be on a trailer, or what? I pulled mine with my dad's 2001 silverado on an auto transport, and he has a hitch. It was a pretty heavy load. When my dad rented the trailer, he had to tell them that he was going to pull an s-10 so they would rent it to him. They said that it was just barely within the towing capacity. Little did they know he has a supercharger!

Some of the jerks that you get with the auto transport loaded with the truck are pretty hard jerks. If you did it with just the bumper, you might have to go really really slow. I would recommend not doing it, but I don't have a whole lot of experience. Good luck.
Low68

O'l Buck · 03-06-2003, 02:07 AM

Check the weight rating of the bumper hitch, ( should be like 5000 lbs or something )......I had an 87 chevy K-10 with only a bumper hitch, hauled cows, cars, etc, etc and never had a problem. My 72 K-10 just has a bumper hitch.....but it's a little beefier than your average bumper, made out of 1/4"x 3" angle Iron. A few things to consider would be the tongue weight of the loaded trailer, how rough the road is, and how hilly. If you stay well under the max rating on the hitch, you should be fine. The truck on the trailer might weigh say 4500 lbs, but you have to consider that the vast majority of the wieght will be on the trailer axles, not on the hitch itself.

smokekiki · 03-06-2003, 09:04 AM

One other problem,if you are renting a trailer,I don't think you will find anybody let you hook up without a class 3 .At least that is the first thing rental places have asked me.

krazy_texan · 03-06-2003, 10:44 AM

i pulled my brothers 72 cheyenne home on regular flatbed trailer with my bumper i pulled it about 40 miles and then my dad did the same with my truck when i wrecked it and we pulled it behind his 96 1/2 ton which we pulled about 100 miles had no problems either time

stllookn · 03-06-2003, 11:20 AM

The rental yards in WA state are now asking for a full size 3/4 ton truck with Class 3 hitch for any trailer capable of carrying a car or any towing dolly.

jays68yak · 03-06-2003, 11:29 AM

I would never want to tow with the bumper. Just seems tooo weak to me. If you do use your bumper make sure you load it right. You dont want too much tongue weight but then you dont want no tongue weight.

Hutch · 03-06-2003, 12:20 PM

Give the location that the truck is in and where you are delivering it to and someone who is close by with a trailer might be able to help for a small fee.

Have Fun

Earl Junior · 03-06-2003, 12:32 PM

Check with the rental place to see if they rent hitches. When we first got our Bronco it didn't have a hitch and I had the snowmobiling bug bad enough to rent a hitch from U-Haul to head to the hills for a weekend. I don't remember what it cost me but I'm pretty sure it was under $25. Easy bolt-on installation. When we were done we just unbolted it and took it back.

Locutus · 03-06-2003, 01:14 PM

I have pulled my race car to the track(80 miles round trip) many times with the bumper hitch on my 89 Sub. The car weighs 3800lb and probably about 4800 with trailer. Its not recommended and I believe the rated capacity on most bumpers is about 3000lbs. Weight loading and the quality of the trailer are all factors also. If you go slow and easy you should be ok, but 150 or even 15 miles is a long way from home if you have a problem. I would play it safe and find a buddy with the right equipment.

Dan69 step · 03-07-2003, 08:17 AM

150 miles? What are you guys afraid of? Growing up on a farm and having pulled almost anything and everything, this is a piece of cake !!!
Have the proper ball for the trailer , required lighting and trailer brakes, properly load the truck and most of all drive sensibly. Nothing to it. The tow truck is more than adequate, unless they are using inferior quality in the bumpers that I'm not aware of.
If you are a young inexperienced driver (which according to some of the replies it sounds like) then ask someone older to help you out to make sure you take your time and do it safely.
Now quit fooling around and go get the job done!

smokekiki · 03-07-2003, 09:14 AM

It doesn't have anything to do with being afraid.In my area if you don't have a class 3 hitch you will not be able to rent a trailer,dollie or tow bar.It sounds like he needs some equipment.

Fred T · 03-07-2003, 09:35 AM

Well, Dan is right. A bunch of us have towed a lot of stuff with bumper hitches. Never had any problems. And, the land around Hurst, Texas is fairly flat, so he ain't going up and down no mountains. My last pull with a bumper hitch was a JD4020 tractor on a trailer. Somebody tell me how many tons that weighs.

And he didn't say anything about using a trailers. If he's using a towbar, it's even less load on the hitch, and someone can ride in the truck and run the turn signals and do some braking to take to load off the burb.

Longhorn Man · 03-07-2003, 10:16 AM

IMO, I wouldn't use the bumper hitch, I have torn up 2 of them.

6869704X4 · 03-07-2003, 10:34 AM

Hit the junkyard with a tape measure and you might find a hitch pretty cheap.
As far as a bumper hitch. If its rated for it go for it. A good stout one is bolted on like the reciever hitch.

Dan69 step · 03-08-2003, 09:55 AM

I have bent bumpers ,too, under the wrong/right conditions. But to do the job he wants, there's no reason why a 2002 truck with rated bumper won't be adequate to tow/pull another pickup home. I saw a receiver hitch sheer grade 8 bolts off, so any towing device can cause problems under the right conditions. The key is to go slow and be careful.

gmc7286chevy · 03-08-2003, 10:02 AM

I agree with everyone else here, go with the trailer. Beg borrow or buy one. I bought a 72 gmc with a bad engine with no way to tow it. I broke down a bought a trailer. It is the best thing I could have done.

travis martin · 03-08-2003, 10:03 AM

I wouldn't be afraid of using the bumper. That is what everybody used before they came out with reciever hitches. I've hauled more cars/vehicles by pulling with my bumper than anything else.

72bigblock · 03-08-2003, 03:38 PM

hi all as far as getting a hitch from a junk yard NO WAY buy a new one! and always get a class 3 or 4 a new hitch don't cost much but wrecking your truck and trailer and other stuff will! and maybe hurt or kill yourself or someone else. i have towed a car/flat bed trailer for over 50.000 mile no accidents chris

oldsub86 · 03-09-2003, 01:39 AM

I towed a 67 stepside Chevy 50 miles behind a 67 Ford 1/2 ton on the end of a chunk of 3/4 inch nylon rope. That was about 30 years ago and I still have the rope.

A couple of years ago I towed a 85 Cadillac Fleetwood about 30 miles behind my 68 Chevy on the end of a chunk of rope as well. He had the car running so that he had power steering and brakes. I pulled him at about 40 mph and we had no problems at all.

If the truck has all of its wheels you might want to find out if it is legal to tow like that where you are.

Longhorn Man · 03-09-2003, 01:42 AM

I towed a one ton Longhorn behind an 87 K/5 1/2 ton Blazer 425 miles with a tow bar (read, no trailer brakes). Doesn't mean I should have.

*Phillip Johnson* · 03-09-2003, 01:59 AM

Since its "moms" truck you are using, spend $150 and buy a class lll hitch for it. Save your future inheritance.

white68chevy · 03-09-2003, 02:47 AM

thanks for all the input. I am going to pull it off the bumper. I talked to the people at u-haul and found out that the bumper is rated at like 4000 pounds or so. Since the whole truck is not there it probably dont weight that much. We have pulled trailers before just not off a truck that was not really designed for it. It will be on a flat bed trailer and i dont really see it being a problem. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks

6869704X4 · 03-09-2003, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 72bigblock
hi all as far as getting a hitch from a junk yard NO WAY buy a new one! and always get a class 3 or 4 a new hitch don't cost much but wrecking your truck and trailer and other stuff will! and maybe hurt or kill yourself or someone else. i have towed a car/flat bed trailer for over 50.000 mile no accidents chris

Whats wrong with a hitch from a junk yard?

Blue_71 · 03-09-2003, 12:41 PM

i've never pulled anything with a hitch, and we've pulled loads of hay on flatbeds (3 rolls at a time, 1500lbs each) loads of tobacco, trucks, even a hay roller one time.. the hay roller is heavy enough it pushed the bumper down some and the backend was almost on the tires, with the front end up in the air (3/4 ton truck too) and so far we've never pulled bent or broke a bumper.. just depends on if you have a bumper big enough for the job
this pic shows the truck we pull with and it's bumper (bad quaility, quick scan job)

03-06-2003, 01:39 AM	#1
white68chevy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Hurst,TX,US Posts: 301	pulling truck home, have some ?'s I am going to be pulling a 67 short stepside home in a couple days. I am going about 150 miles or so. My parents have a 2002 Silverardo with a V-8. It does not have a reciever hitch on it and i was wondering if any of you had pulled one from the bumper before. I told my mom (because its hers) and she was afraid it would pull her bumper off pulling it that far. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks __________________ 1968 swb IM-Bufechevy56 If its to loud then your to old

03-06-2003, 01:46 AM	#2
Low68 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Arizona Posts: 758	I wouldn't want to pull it by the bumper personally. Is it going to be on a trailer, or what? I pulled mine with my dad's 2001 silverado on an auto transport, and he has a hitch. It was a pretty heavy load. When my dad rented the trailer, he had to tell them that he was going to pull an s-10 so they would rent it to him. They said that it was just barely within the towing capacity. Little did they know he has a supercharger! Some of the jerks that you get with the auto transport loaded with the truck are pretty hard jerks. If you did it with just the bumper, you might have to go really really slow. I would recommend not doing it, but I don't have a whole lot of experience. Good luck. Low68 __________________ Build Thread Last edited by Low68; 03-06-2003 at 01:49 AM.

03-06-2003, 02:07 AM	#3
O'l Buck Recovering Truck Driver Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orleans, NE USA Posts: 1,883	Check the weight rating of the bumper hitch, ( should be like 5000 lbs or something )......I had an 87 chevy K-10 with only a bumper hitch, hauled cows, cars, etc, etc and never had a problem. My 72 K-10 just has a bumper hitch.....but it's a little beefier than your average bumper, made out of 1/4"x 3" angle Iron. A few things to consider would be the tongue weight of the loaded trailer, how rough the road is, and how hilly. If you stay well under the max rating on the hitch, you should be fine. The truck on the trailer might weigh say 4500 lbs, but you have to consider that the vast majority of the wieght will be on the trailer axles, not on the hitch itself. __________________ 67 K-20 350, SM465, Eaton rear, 4.56 no spin option 00 Dodge 2500 4x4, 24V cummins, 5 speed Chad South Central Nebraska

03-06-2003, 09:04 AM	#4
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,474	One other problem,if you are renting a trailer,I don't think you will find anybody let you hook up without a class 3 .At least that is the first thing rental places have asked me. __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires

03-06-2003, 10:44 AM	#5
krazy_texan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Des Moines, Ia Posts: 3,233	i pulled my brothers 72 cheyenne home on regular flatbed trailer with my bumper i pulled it about 40 miles and then my dad did the same with my truck when i wrecked it and we pulled it behind his 96 1/2 ton which we pulled about 100 miles had no problems either time __________________ Krazy Texan My Trucks are made with Wrenches not Chop Sticks 1967 GMC 3/4 ton "Johnny Cash" 1990 v1500 suburban 1967 Ford f100 Swb 4x4 "green bean" GOD BLESS JESUS, JOHN WAYNE, AND THE ALAMO

03-06-2003, 11:20 AM	#6
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	The rental yards in WA state are now asking for a full size 3/4 ton truck with Class 3 hitch for any trailer capable of carrying a car or any towing dolly. __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)

03-06-2003, 11:29 AM	#7
jays68yak Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Gilroy, CA Posts: 1,454	I would never want to tow with the bumper. Just seems tooo weak to me. If you do use your bumper make sure you load it right. You dont want too much tongue weight but then you dont want no tongue weight. __________________ 1969 Chevy Project SWB Fleet, 20s, 5.3, t56, in the weeds. 1970 Chevy Truck cab on a 1979 Jimmy frame-8.1 liter 496 bbc/sm465/np203-jeds doubler-np205/d60/14bff Welded/42 tsls on recentered H1s 1998 Chevy Crew Cab K3500 SAS'd with hpd60, links and swayaway coilovers. 8.1l vortec DD/towrig "I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. "

03-06-2003, 12:20 PM	#8
Hutch Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Grapevine, Tx. Posts: 2,142	Give the location that the truck is in and where you are delivering it to and someone who is close by with a trailer might be able to help for a small fee. Have Fun __________________ John Hutchison Grapevine,Texas 68 1/2 t swb 68 Mustang 69 Jaguar 71 1/2 t swb 88 Supra CompTs6m 93 Escort GT 2005 Corolla XRS

03-06-2003, 12:32 PM	#9
Earl Junior Cadillac power Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North Idaho Posts: 296	Check with the rental place to see if they rent hitches. When we first got our Bronco it didn't have a hitch and I had the snowmobiling bug bad enough to rent a hitch from U-Haul to head to the hills for a weekend. I don't remember what it cost me but I'm pretty sure it was under $25. Easy bolt-on installation. When we were done we just unbolted it and took it back. __________________ Just for the record, if I'm down to my last potato, I'm not sharing it with a guy who wants to kill me so he can get a better supply of virgins in paradise. That lesson is a little thing I call Economics 101, infidel style. --Scott Adams author of Dilbert

03-06-2003, 01:14 PM	#10
Locutus Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Santa Fe, Texas Posts: 250	I have pulled my race car to the track(80 miles round trip) many times with the bumper hitch on my 89 Sub. The car weighs 3800lb and probably about 4800 with trailer. Its not recommended and I believe the rated capacity on most bumpers is about 3000lbs. Weight loading and the quality of the trailer are all factors also. If you go slow and easy you should be ok, but 150 or even 15 miles is a long way from home if you have a problem. I would play it safe and find a buddy with the right equipment.

03-07-2003, 08:17 AM	#11
Dan69 step Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Fullerton,NE Posts: 380	150 miles? What are you guys afraid of? Growing up on a farm and having pulled almost anything and everything, this is a piece of cake !!! Have the proper ball for the trailer , required lighting and trailer brakes, properly load the truck and most of all drive sensibly. Nothing to it. The tow truck is more than adequate, unless they are using inferior quality in the bumpers that I'm not aware of. If you are a young inexperienced driver (which according to some of the replies it sounds like) then ask someone older to help you out to make sure you take your time and do it safely. Now quit fooling around and go get the job done! __________________ 69 short step 68 50th Anniversary Gold/ White lwb 72 2wd Blazer 63 Studebaker Avanti 85 Avanti 66 Studebaker Cruiser 49 Studebaker pickup 3-49 Studebaker 1 1/2 truck 94 White/ GMC coe (cabin hauler) 95 chev 2015 chev Duramax 2500

03-07-2003, 09:14 AM	#12
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,474	It doesn't have anything to do with being afraid.In my area if you don't have a class 3 hitch you will not be able to rent a trailer,dollie or tow bar.It sounds like he needs some equipment. __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires

03-07-2003, 09:35 AM	#13
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	Well, Dan is right. A bunch of us have towed a lot of stuff with bumper hitches. Never had any problems. And, the land around Hurst, Texas is fairly flat, so he ain't going up and down no mountains. My last pull with a bumper hitch was a JD4020 tractor on a trailer. Somebody tell me how many tons that weighs. And he didn't say anything about using a trailers. If he's using a towbar, it's even less load on the hitch, and someone can ride in the truck and run the turn signals and do some braking to take to load off the burb. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

03-07-2003, 10:16 AM	#14
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	IMO, I wouldn't use the bumper hitch, I have torn up 2 of them. Attached Images

03-07-2003, 10:34 AM	#15
6869704X4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: SE NM Posts: 769	Hit the junkyard with a tape measure and you might find a hitch pretty cheap. As far as a bumper hitch. If its rated for it go for it. A good stout one is bolted on like the reciever hitch. __________________ The more I learn about women, the more I love my truck.



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03-08-2003, 09:55 AM	#16
Dan69 step Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Fullerton,NE Posts: 380	I have bent bumpers ,too, under the wrong/right conditions. But to do the job he wants, there's no reason why a 2002 truck with rated bumper won't be adequate to tow/pull another pickup home. I saw a receiver hitch sheer grade 8 bolts off, so any towing device can cause problems under the right conditions. The key is to go slow and be careful. __________________ 69 short step 68 50th Anniversary Gold/ White lwb 72 2wd Blazer 63 Studebaker Avanti 85 Avanti 66 Studebaker Cruiser 49 Studebaker pickup 3-49 Studebaker 1 1/2 truck 94 White/ GMC coe (cabin hauler) 95 chev 2015 chev Duramax 2500

03-08-2003, 10:02 AM	#17
gmc7286chevy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dyersburg, TN Posts: 66	I agree with everyone else here, go with the trailer. Beg borrow or buy one. I bought a 72 gmc with a bad engine with no way to tow it. I broke down a bought a trailer. It is the best thing I could have done.

03-08-2003, 10:03 AM	#18
travis martin CoonHunter Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: valley falls ks Posts: 346	I wouldn't be afraid of using the bumper. That is what everybody used before they came out with reciever hitches. I've hauled more cars/vehicles by pulling with my bumper than anything else. __________________ 72 Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 4" inch lift. 2000 Chevy Malibu

03-08-2003, 03:38 PM	#19
72bigblock Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: rockford il. Posts: 190	hi all as far as getting a hitch from a junk yard NO WAY buy a new one! and always get a class 3 or 4 a new hitch don't cost much but wrecking your truck and trailer and other stuff will! and maybe hurt or kill yourself or someone else. i have towed a car/flat bed trailer for over 50.000 mile no accidents chris

03-09-2003, 01:39 AM	#20
oldsub86 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 695	I towed a 67 stepside Chevy 50 miles behind a 67 Ford 1/2 ton on the end of a chunk of 3/4 inch nylon rope. That was about 30 years ago and I still have the rope. A couple of years ago I towed a 85 Cadillac Fleetwood about 30 miles behind my 68 Chevy on the end of a chunk of rope as well. He had the car running so that he had power steering and brakes. I pulled him at about 40 mph and we had no problems at all. If the truck has all of its wheels you might want to find out if it is legal to tow like that where you are. __________________ 1968 Chevy - 292 with a powerglide

03-09-2003, 01:42 AM	#21
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I towed a one ton Longhorn behind an 87 K/5 1/2 ton Blazer 425 miles with a tow bar (read, no trailer brakes). Doesn't mean I should have.

03-09-2003, 01:59 AM	#22
Phillip Johnson Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 1,580	Since its "moms" truck you are using, spend $150 and buy a class lll hitch for it. Save your future inheritance.

03-09-2003, 02:47 AM	#23
white68chevy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Hurst,TX,US Posts: 301	thanks for all the input. I am going to pull it off the bumper. I talked to the people at u-haul and found out that the bumper is rated at like 4000 pounds or so. Since the whole truck is not there it probably dont weight that much. We have pulled trailers before just not off a truck that was not really designed for it. It will be on a flat bed trailer and i dont really see it being a problem. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks __________________ 1968 swb IM-Bufechevy56 If its to loud then your to old

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