1977 Heavy Half, what weight trailer can I tow?

[PugDad]

The data decal on the door is pretty much unreadable.

I want to buy a travel trailer. How do I figure out what weight trailer I can pull?

[James McClure]

10,000 pounds with a good reciever type hitch, about half that with a bumper hitch. Either way toung weight will be about 500 to 800 pounds. I don't have a clue what a gooseneck will do, but I imagine it's up there, 15 or 20,000?? jim

[PugDad]

Thank you, sir!

[C-10 simplex]

Which model do you have?

[big10ratrod77]

you realy cant over load a big 10, but you can improperly load one you also wanna check your brakes, shocks ect. before you try to haul that much

[PugDad]

Originally Posted by C-10 simplex

Which model do you have?

The fender emblem says Cheyenne 10, so I'm guessing a C-10

[Matt Man]

i wouldn't tow 10,000lbs with a half ton regardless if its a "heavy half" trying to stop is going to be your problem i would say 7,000 max.

[PugDad]

Originally Posted by Matt Man

i wouldn't tow 10,000lbs with a half ton regardless if its a "heavy half" trying to stop is going to be your problem i would say 7,000 max.

Ok, that's good advice. I don't want to push it.

I'm actually looking at about a 4000 lb trailer, probably another 1000lbs load, so maybe 5000 lbs, give or take a couple hundred.

[76stepsidechevy]

my 76 says 6200 on the door tag, im fairly certain thats the number that makes it a big 10 but I could be wrong.

[PugDad]

Originally Posted by 76stepsidechevy

my 76 says 6200 on the door tag, im fairly certain thats the number that makes it a big 10 but I could be wrong.

Well, I know the vin designates mine as the heavy half. So, if yours is 6200, mine probably is, too.

[Keith Seymore]

I towed with this setup for years and years; approx 4500 lbs counting the car and trailer.

My truck is a V6, manual, regular half ton - so you shouldn't have any problem with 4000 - 5000 lbs.

K

[PugDad]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

I towed with this setup for years and years; approx 4500 lbs counting the car and trailer.

My truck is a V6, manual, regular half ton - so you shouldn't have any problem with 4000 - 5000 lbs.

K

Thanks, Keith.

[C-10 simplex]

Which engine you got?

[PugDad]

Originally Posted by C-10 simplex

Which engine you got?

Looks like a 350

[Goldfinger]

my 85 c10 with hd suspension from the factory can tow 12 on the bumper with about 1/2 ton of tongue weight. with a goose-neck you can tow much more as long as your brakes and wheels can support it. Remember any more than about 4 tons, its towing you

[C-10 simplex]

If it's a 350, then the GVWR is 6200lbs. Not sure what the GCWR is.

But the other thing you can do just to be safe is to go to any chevy dealer's parts counter (could be any GM dealer, but probably best to go to a chevy dealer), give them the vin# and they can look up all the pertinent info on the computer----GVWR, GCWR, rear gear ratio etc. etc.

[PugDad]

Originally Posted by C-10 simplex

If it's a 350, then the GVWR is 6200lbs. Not sure what the GCWR is.

But the other thing you can do just to be safe is to go to any chevy dealer's parts counter (could be any GM dealer, but probably best to go to a chevy dealer), give them the vin# and they can look up all the pertinent info on the computer----GVWR, GCWR, rear gear ratio etc. etc.

I just found 1977 Chevy build records. It confirms what you just said, 6200 lbs.
Fourth digit in VIN is a 4, which as my understanding is the heavy half designator.
Also, seems to be the 68th unit to roll off the line in Fremont. Where the heck is Fremont?

[Keith Seymore]

Californ-i-A.

So the sequence portion of the VIN is 100068-ish?

Be advised trucks weren't necessarily built in VIN order (close, but not quite).

K

[Pop's C-10]

check tha vin in tha motor to see what you realy have

[PugDad]

Originally Posted by Pop's C-10

check tha vin in tha motor to see what you realy have

That will be no good...it has a Goodwrench replacment motor in it.

[DetroitDan]

Please don't tow 5 or 6 tons behind a half ton truck. Just because people say they have done it doesn't make it safe, legal, or smart.

You have small wheel studs (and less of them). You have little tiny load carrying bearings and you don't have a full floating rear axle. A heavy half might have a bunch of springs in the back, but it does not have adequate cooling to tow 10k, it does not have enough brakes (regardless of trailer brakes), and unless you upgrade your wheels and tires aren't up to it either.

A trailer is on wheels, so of course you can pull on it and cause it to move. But there is far more than that to safe, responsible trailer towing.

[PugDad]

Originally Posted by DetroitDan

Please don't tow 5 or 6 tons behind a half ton truck. Just because people say they have done it doesn't make it safe, legal, or smart.

You have small wheel studs (and less of them). You have little tiny load carrying bearings and you don't have a full floating rear axle. A heavy half might have a bunch of springs in the back, but it does not have adequate cooling to tow 10k, it does not have enough brakes (regardless of trailer brakes), and unless you upgrade your wheels and tires aren't up to it either.

A trailer is on wheels, so of course you can pull on it and cause it to move. But there is far more than that to safe, responsible trailer towing.

No worries...I'm looking at small to mid-size trailers. I'm also concerned about length, I don't want to tow over about 17-20 ft, and the ones I've seen are about in the 3000-4000 lb range. I started asking the question because the body tag is not readable, but I have since found out what the GVWR is. But, I do appreciate your advice...good way to break it down. Thanks.

[Altec]

Already been covered, but I figured I'd post this information for anyone who finds this thread in a search.

Lowest Rated C10 = 4900lb (With Nothing...)
Highest Rated C10 = 6200lb (With V8)

Lowest Rated C20 = 6400lb (Standard/Regular Cab)
Highest Rated C20 = 8200lb (Heavy Springs/Crew Cab)

Lowest Rated C30 = 6600lb (Standard/Regular Cab)
Highest Rated C30 = 10,000lb (Dually/HD Brakes)

[C-10 simplex]

Originally Posted by DetroitDan

Please don't tow 5 or 6 tons behind a half ton truck. Just because people say they have done it doesn't make it safe, legal, or smart.

You have small wheel studs (and less of them). You have little tiny load carrying bearings and you don't have a full floating rear axle. A heavy half might have a bunch of springs in the back, but it does not have adequate cooling to tow 10k, it does not have enough brakes (regardless of trailer brakes), and unless you upgrade your wheels and tires aren't up to it either.

A trailer is on wheels, so of course you can pull on it and cause it to move. But there is far more than that to safe, responsible trailer towing.

i've always wondered what was the purpose of this; i have the "heavy duty" springs on my 1/2 ton, but i have 2.56 rear, stock brakes, no aux trans cooler etc. Why bother? i can load the bed with 2000lbs of corn, but i still have to drive it to market.

Originally Posted by PugDad

No worries...I'm looking at small to mid-size trailers. I'm also concerned about length, I don't want to tow over about 17-20 ft, and the ones I've seen are about in the 3000-4000 lb range. I started asking the question because the body tag is not readable, but I have since found out what the GVWR is. But, I do appreciate your advice...good way to break it down. Thanks.

As you probably know GCWR is different from GVWR.
We need to find out what GCWR is on the truck. i'm not sure where to find it. Do you have your owner's manual handy?
4000lbs trailer with 1000lbs in the bed is actually kind of pushing it for a 1/2 ton, but let's do more research.

P.S. GVWR= Gross vehicle weight rating. How much total can the truck itself, fuel, driver/passengers and load weigh.

GCWR= Gross combination weight rating. How much totally can the truck(including above mentioned load) plus the trailer weight.

Or something like that. There is probably a good link that describes all that, but i don't have time to find one.

[PugDad]

No info in the owners manual