New at towing!

[Pont406]

My buddy used to tow my car with his f350 3 to 5 times a year. I stoped going for few years. Now that work is picking up again I have some cash to play with again. Problem now is that my buddy dosn't want to tow my car now. Do you guys think my c10 will be up to task?

[fastwillie 696969]

3/4 tn ?

[tantrumpipeline]

depends on gearing, tranny, brake setup, spring rates and how patient you are really, I'm sure it'll tow but safely and efficiently may be another story

[mikey531]

I towed my racecar with a 1971 shortbox 6 cylinder 3 speed with no problem. It was up some pretty good hills too. I had a step and tow bumper and a 4 wheel trailer with lights. I even towed on the highway too. My drag car weighed about 2850 and the trailer was another 500.

[Rob H.]

I used to tow all the time back in the late 80's with a 71 GMC half ton with a 307 and 3 spd, it was my cousin's truck and he pulled his race car behind it, we hauled a 550 Oliver tractor all over Nashville area with it. I don't see a problem with it.

[PanelDeland]

You'll have more worries about brakes than anything.If you're not towing far or in traffic you can just be "Very Aware" of what's going on.If you're towing a longer ways or in heavy traffic,I would suggest trailer brakes.

[brad_man_72]

time for a power disc swap, brake modulation is so much better. Last time I checked trucks were for hauling and towing.

[Vintage Windmills]

Originally Posted by mikey531

I towed my racecar with a 1971 shortbox 6 cylinder 3 speed with no problem. It was up some pretty good hills too. I had a step and tow bumper and a 4 wheel trailer with lights. I even towed on the highway too. My drag car weighed about 2850 and the trailer was another 500.

500 is way light for a car trailer. Most are about 1500 aren't they?

[dubds10]

I'm gonna say you'll have no problem at all towing you're car and trailer. My blazer has towed 10,000lb metal dump trailers and not missed a beat and towed 7,000+lbs in vehicles and was fine. You just have to be very careful towing and be aware of everything in front and behind you amd always brake early.

No change in towing style no matter the weight. You should always drive the same..carefully and never take any chances. Your truck though should be able to handle towing the car easy enough not to worry much about it.

[Pont406]

It's a c10. I already installed 4.10 gears and front disc brakes. Is that a factory trailer harness? Sorry about dirty and rusted pics. Thanks

[GASoline71]

These trucks will pull dang near anything. Just get a good tranny cooler installed, and get it all wired up for trailer brakes and lights.

Gary

[C-10 simplex]

This is just my humble opinion, but if your car is the ventura then i would say not a good idea. Technically it could tow it, but really 3/4ton is the minimum if you want to tow a car on a car trailer comfortably(safely).

i'm going thru the same thing except my car is much lighter only weighing under 2000lbs and the trailer was probably 1200-1500 lbs. And my 1/2 ton was struggling. (see my other posts regarding towing for more info). Although as far as supporting the weight and handling it did well.

[Vintage Windmills]

Looks like you have helper springs so thats a plus. That isn't dirt and rust, you should see trucks from the salt belt!!!

[GASoline71]

I towed a 1971 El Camino SS drag car for years with a 1979 GMC half ton. No sweat.

Gary

[o6r1man]

I had a 69 c10 6 cly with a granny 4 speed back in high school that I towed my 4,000 lb elcamino to the track (45 miles one way) every weekend in the summers. I still to this day have not made as many trips to the track with any other truck as I did with that one. It had over loads and I put new moog stock replacement springs in it and it did great.

And it would look cool as **** pulling a old car with a old truck!!!!

[71swb4x4]

What people have done in the past, and what you can safely do, are two entirely different things.

IMO trailer brakes are a MUST, not an option, but a MUST.
A good quality receiver hitch, or very good quality drop bumper is also a must.

You should check your local laws too. I suspect the California Highway Patrol may be a bit more strict than other states where board members are giving you their opinion.
In some states you must stop at weight stations whenever you are pulling a trailer, even if you don't have commercial plates. Any laws you aren't following will only make your day worse at that point.

[67_C-30]

If you have disc brakes, you'll have no problem - especially with a Pontiac 400 and TH400. It won't even grunt. Since you have helpers, it should track fine also with no more weight than that is. Trailer brakes are best, but I (and tons of other people) have put 10's of thousands of miles on a trailer with no brakes before. As others have said; take it easy, stay back from cars in front of you, and it will do fine.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

What people have done in the past, and what you can safely do, are two entirely different things.

IMO trailer brakes are a MUST, not an option, but a MUST.
A good quality receiver hitch, or very good quality drop bumper is also a must.

You should check your local laws too. I suspect the California Highway Patrol may be a bit more strict than other states where board members are giving you their opinion.
In some states you must stop at weight stations whenever you are pulling a trailer, even if you don't have commercial plates. Any laws you aren't following will only make your day worse at that point.

My 1979 GMC half ton (damn near same as a 67-72) had electric trailer brakes with a hydraulic activated brake controller in the cab. HD Overload springs, and a sway control on the hitch for the trailer. I not only towed the car, but had the bed full of tools, a floor jack, and other crap. So it was, and is, still completely safe. No bad advice given... just gotta be smart about it.

Gary

[Vintage Windmills]

I agree trailer brakes are a must. Even if it works good or has worked for others, its the unexpected and rare events that you have to be prepared for, like when someone swoops in front of you and then brakes pretty hard to make a turn. You may not have an open lane to dodge into. Then theres the guys that pull out in front of you or run lights. Its just not worth saving a little money on brakes to end up crashing your truck, your car, and your trailer, not to mention your safety. Also, you can end up in some serious legal trouble if you are in an accident and do not have the proper equipment. Its cheap insurance to plan for the worst.