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#1 |
BlahBlahBlah
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wa.
Posts: 19,881
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towing with our trucks question
i know with a burb or a long wheelbase truck towing isnt usually a problem as far as trailer length. what about a short box truck...how long a trailer can you safely tow with them be it, utility, boat, or car trailer. does the short wheelbase make them a little squirrely?
Last edited by CG; 04-16-2005 at 04:16 PM. |
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#2 |
BlahBlahBlah
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wa.
Posts: 19,881
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ttt...anyone? curious if you can pull and 18ft car trailer safely.
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#3 |
Designated A-hole!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: South Mississippi
Posts: 36,450
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I pulled an 18 foot trailer with a lwb truck with no motor or tranny on it and had no problems.
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"If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. ![]() We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck" |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi.
Posts: 1,771
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Well it wasn't much but my 104" wheel base Blazer towed this 4'x8' Uhaul no problem.
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71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE |
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#5 |
A classic GM kinda guy
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 296
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The length of the vehicle does not matter in towing that much; its the load capacity of the suspension and axles that matters. Where the length matters in towing is in how the vehicle reacts to bumps in the road, and in manuvering, especially in backing. A shorter vehicle does help when backing trailers, as the shorter wheelbase is quicker to react to input from the driver.
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Old school rap music: a dual exhausted GM 6 with no mufflers. "If you can find a better vehicle, buy it" Lee Iacocca, Chrysler commercials of the '80s. "I did. They are called Classic GM pickups !!!" ![]() ![]() |
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#6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brookings, SD
Posts: 10,497
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I towed a Blazer on a standard size car trailer behind my SWB 4x4. I hit one patch of road that was really bumpy and I couldn't go faster than 35 mph, it sucked huge. It was a horrible road though, Crew70 lives on it, no idea how he deals with it everyday.
Other than that it isn't terrible, but I would rather pull with a larger vehicle.
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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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#7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Plymouth, MA
Posts: 891
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I hope you can. I just bought an 18ft H&H MX trailer, I plan to pull with my 2wd 71 GMC SWB.
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1972 Blazer body...need to get a thread started for the rest of the story |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,980
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I've pulled several vehicles w/the heaviest being a swb truck (my 74) on an 18ft car trailer w/my 68 swb that's equipped w/disc brakes, a 6cyl/3spd, & 3.73's. A bigger engine would work better but my old 6 got the job done.
Would I want to haul that combo around daily? No. Did it get the job done w/o drama? No prob. Just be 100% sure you have fully functioning electric trailer brakes. When there's more weight w/the trailer/cargo combined than your tow vehicle, the stock brakes won't do squat.
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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#9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brookings, SD
Posts: 10,497
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Quote:
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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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#10 |
Left Foot Functioning
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Duncan, OK
Posts: 348
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I bought my 16ft flatbed to pull behind a 4x4 Blazer (cuz it was a Blazer - no bed). I pulled it thousands of miles hauling everything from household goods to trucks. As others have said, trailer brakes are not an option - they are a must.
The other thing that is really important to watch on SWB pull vehicles is your tongue weight. A LWB is pretty forgiving, since there is more leverage to keep the front wheels weighed down. SWB's can get really squirrely if downforce on the hitch lightens the front end too much. But, the other extreme won't work either (having the tongue pulling up on the hitch). You need tongue weight to keep the trailer tracking straight. If my hitch is rated at 500 lbs tongue weight, I shoot for 300-500 lbs. So your options are to either use a weight distributing hitch (best choice) or very carefully load your trailer. On mine, for instance, we backed cars & trucks on so the engine weight was not on the tongue. Helped balance the whole trailer/cargo distribution front/rear. Set up right, you will have no problems at all. SSOW ![]()
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69 C10 (#1 son's ride) 72 C20 (Dad's farm truck) 82 K30 (Ex - brush pumper project) |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Paradise TX USA
Posts: 1,200
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I towed a complete 71 GMC LWB on a 18 ft trailer with my 69 LWB.
Other than the fact that I had no trailer brakes and the original 4 wheel drum brakes that came on my 69 leave a lot to be desired, I had no problems
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"Negative people always seem to have a problem for every solution" |
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#12 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Kansas
Posts: 702
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my experience is only with a lowered 71 LWB & 18' car hauler, as noted above, trailer brakes are mandatory. The best thing I ever did was put air assist air bags on the rear. Towed like a dream after that. Everyone I have talked to that installed air bags feel the same.
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#13 |
blood type; Retumbo
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: next to my reloading bench
Posts: 10,269
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it also matters where the axle(s) is (are) on the trailer. closer makes for easier turning.
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Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card |
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#14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Plymouth, MA
Posts: 891
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Here is the trailer I just ordered.
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1972 Blazer body...need to get a thread started for the rest of the story |
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#15 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sparks, NV
Posts: 790
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no problems with my swb. look at the avitar pic.
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#16 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SOMERSET KY.
Posts: 6,427
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junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. ![]() LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST |
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