How much can my truck tow? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Edmond · 12-29-2002, 06:24 PM

I hope you guys can help me with this...
I need to know how much my Truck can tow, officially.
I searched the Restopacks, but didn't find any info on this.
Did GM give any advise on how much the Truck can tow? If so, were can I find this info?
I need this for my registration papers, if I want to make it legal
to tow more than 1600 lbf.
If anyone can help me with an official document from GM with this kind of info, I can go to the state inspection and get it on my registration papers.
Please help me...

I need it for a 1971 C/20 Longhorn.

Thanks in advance

Cya,
Edmond

mtdave2 · 12-29-2002, 08:48 PM

i would think its more with the rating on your bumper and hitch set up. i know my long horn has a strong bumper but if i was going to pull something really heavy id buy one of the new hitches. they have offical ratings

nu2-72 · 12-29-2002, 09:02 PM

Hey Edmond, how was Santa to you ?
I am going to go out on a limb here and make a guess as to your question. My owners manual states that when towing a trailer, it is to be balanced at 10% tongue weight.
The max a vehicle could then handle would be the rated GVW- the tongue weight.
Say your 71 C20 is 7000 GVW ( not accurate but just say). If the truck weight is 5000 and you and passengers and gear is 1000, that leaves 1000 difference to meet GVW. That second 1000 is 10% of trailer so it would be 10,000. The deciding factor then would be the capacity of your hitch for the for the tounge carying weight and load pulling weight.
Make sense?
Look on page 8 of your resto book and pages 2-3 of the owners and drivers manual for more accurate info on front and rear GVW loading.

oldsub86 · 12-30-2002, 01:18 AM

Don't know what it is rated for but I have towed a 23 foot travel trailer behind my 68 Chevy without problems. I have a class III hitch and an electric brake controller mounted on the truck. I believe the trailer is over 4000 pounds.

Edmond · 12-31-2002, 06:16 AM

Thanks for the info guys!

Kevin, thank you for the info, but unfortunally that is not enough.
They must have an official document from GM stating it can tow a surtain amount of weight. So for now I'm still doing it the illigal way,
but that doesn't feel right. If I do succeed, I will let you know....

To be continued

Cya,
Edmond

PS
Have a great New Year everyone!!

nu2-72 · 12-31-2002, 09:58 AM

Must be really different there.
Here I have a half ton truck. We all know it is not a 1000 lb. vehicle. It has a 10,000 lb. Road Warrior bumper which is frame mounted and considered a load distributing bumper. Not a load bearing bumper.
I run a 2" ball, pull a 10,000 lb. trailer, (two 5,000# axles), and a 6500 lb. 843 Bobcat.
I have the truck tagged with 12,000 lb. BL plates.
As long as my plates cover my combined total weights, the hitch is rated for the tongue weight and the pull weight, I am OK. If I add a bucket to the trailer, a fuel tank and tracks I would go to 18,000 lb plates or up to a 3/4 ton truck. You have a 3/4 ton. Should be no problem and would not be here.
I will do some looking around. I would think that an original sales brochure would show that info.
* Just looked at my 1972 sales brochure. Next to the last page says "Required equiptment", "for trailering specifications, ask for the 1972 Trailering Guide."
There it is, post and see if anyone has that publication. If I find it for 71, I will scan it to you.

Edmond · 01-02-2003, 02:51 PM

Hi Kevin,

Well I have both the 71 and 72 sales brochures, but they are Canadian editions, and I could not find any info regarding towing.
Perhaps the sales brochure for the US is different?

Now for the other publication, I need the help from you guys again.
If any of you have the publication NU2-72 is revering too, please help me out by scanning the publication and send it to me by email if you can. Or post them on this board.
This is the 1972 Trailering Guide or (even better) the one for 1971.

Thanks in advance.

Cya,
Edmond

68 Suburban · 01-02-2003, 03:06 PM

Ive checked in the Dealers Data Manuals and have not been able to find anything about towing weight limits. Sorry

JoetheMobster · 01-02-2003, 03:09 PM

When you hook up the load, push the gas, and the truck won't move, you have too much!!!

Stopping you say? No problem, keep your seatbelt off, and the door unlocked, ready to bail.

Sorry, just kidding around.

JoetheMobster · 01-02-2003, 03:11 PM

Don't go too far though, I can tell you that!

Edmond · 01-04-2003, 05:05 AM

Thanks anyway for the info 68 Suburban...

Cya,
Edmond

12-29-2002, 06:24 PM	#1
Edmond Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,063	How much can my truck tow? I hope you guys can help me with this... I need to know how much my Truck can tow, officially. I searched the Restopacks, but didn't find any info on this. Did GM give any advise on how much the Truck can tow? If so, were can I find this info? I need this for my registration papers, if I want to make it legal to tow more than 1600 lbf. If anyone can help me with an official document from GM with this kind of info, I can go to the state inspection and get it on my registration papers. Please help me... I need it for a 1971 C/20 Longhorn. Thanks in advance Cya, Edmond __________________ 1971 Chevy C/20 Longhorn, 350/TH400, Edelbrock Performer, IMPCO 425 LPG Carb 1974 Chevy Camaro Z28 (Original) ------------------------- The Netherlands

12-29-2002, 08:48 PM	#2
mtdave2 newly minted old timer Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Hudson WI Posts: 3,521	i would think its more with the rating on your bumper and hitch set up. i know my long horn has a strong bumper but if i was going to pull something really heavy id buy one of the new hitches. they have offical ratings __________________ ____________________________________________ 72 c20 longhorn 65k org miles and counting! 69 k10 Suburban

12-29-2002, 09:02 PM	#3
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Hey Edmond, how was Santa to you ? I am going to go out on a limb here and make a guess as to your question. My owners manual states that when towing a trailer, it is to be balanced at 10% tongue weight. The max a vehicle could then handle would be the rated GVW- the tongue weight. Say your 71 C20 is 7000 GVW ( not accurate but just say). If the truck weight is 5000 and you and passengers and gear is 1000, that leaves 1000 difference to meet GVW. That second 1000 is 10% of trailer so it would be 10,000. The deciding factor then would be the capacity of your hitch for the for the tounge carying weight and load pulling weight. Make sense? Look on page 8 of your resto book and pages 2-3 of the owners and drivers manual for more accurate info on front and rear GVW loading. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide Last edited by nu2-72; 12-29-2002 at 09:13 PM.

12-30-2002, 01:18 AM	#4
oldsub86 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 695	Don't know what it is rated for but I have towed a 23 foot travel trailer behind my 68 Chevy without problems. I have a class III hitch and an electric brake controller mounted on the truck. I believe the trailer is over 4000 pounds. __________________ 1968 Chevy - 292 with a powerglide

12-31-2002, 06:16 AM	#5
Edmond Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,063	Thanks Thanks for the info guys! Kevin, thank you for the info, but unfortunally that is not enough. They must have an official document from GM stating it can tow a surtain amount of weight. So for now I'm still doing it the illigal way, but that doesn't feel right. If I do succeed, I will let you know.... To be continued Cya, Edmond PS Have a great New Year everyone!! __________________ 1971 Chevy C/20 Longhorn, 350/TH400, Edelbrock Performer, IMPCO 425 LPG Carb 1974 Chevy Camaro Z28 (Original) ------------------------- The Netherlands

12-31-2002, 09:58 AM	#6
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Must be really different there. Here I have a half ton truck. We all know it is not a 1000 lb. vehicle. It has a 10,000 lb. Road Warrior bumper which is frame mounted and considered a load distributing bumper. Not a load bearing bumper. I run a 2" ball, pull a 10,000 lb. trailer, (two 5,000# axles), and a 6500 lb. 843 Bobcat. I have the truck tagged with 12,000 lb. BL plates. As long as my plates cover my combined total weights, the hitch is rated for the tongue weight and the pull weight, I am OK. If I add a bucket to the trailer, a fuel tank and tracks I would go to 18,000 lb plates or up to a 3/4 ton truck. You have a 3/4 ton. Should be no problem and would not be here. I will do some looking around. I would think that an original sales brochure would show that info. * Just looked at my 1972 sales brochure. Next to the last page says "Required equiptment", "for trailering specifications, ask for the 1972 Trailering Guide." There it is, post and see if anyone has that publication. If I find it for 71, I will scan it to you. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

01-02-2003, 02:51 PM	#7
Edmond Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,063	Sales Brochure Hi Kevin, Well I have both the 71 and 72 sales brochures, but they are Canadian editions, and I could not find any info regarding towing. Perhaps the sales brochure for the US is different? Now for the other publication, I need the help from you guys again. If any of you have the publication NU2-72 is revering too, please help me out by scanning the publication and send it to me by email if you can. Or post them on this board. This is the 1972 Trailering Guide or (even better) the one for 1971. Thanks in advance. Cya, Edmond __________________ 1971 Chevy C/20 Longhorn, 350/TH400, Edelbrock Performer, IMPCO 425 LPG Carb 1974 Chevy Camaro Z28 (Original) ------------------------- The Netherlands

01-02-2003, 03:06 PM	#8
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	Ive checked in the Dealers Data Manuals and have not been able to find anything about towing weight limits. Sorry

01-02-2003, 03:09 PM	#9
JoetheMobster Listening since '86 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 1,799	When you hook up the load, push the gas, and the truck won't move, you have too much!!! Stopping you say? No problem, keep your seatbelt off, and the door unlocked, ready to bail. Sorry, just kidding around. __________________ 2007 Saturn Aura - hey it WAS a GM product

01-02-2003, 03:11 PM	#10
JoetheMobster Listening since '86 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 1,799	Don't go too far though, I can tell you that! Attached Images __________________ 2007 Saturn Aura - hey it WAS a GM product

01-04-2003, 05:05 AM	#11
Edmond Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,063	Dealers Data Manuals Thanks anyway for the info 68 Suburban... Cya, Edmond __________________ 1971 Chevy C/20 Longhorn, 350/TH400, Edelbrock Performer, IMPCO 425 LPG Carb 1974 Chevy Camaro Z28 (Original) ------------------------- The Netherlands

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