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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Fairmont WV
Posts: 304
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Towing weight
Is there a published towing cap. for our trucks? I could not find it on the door or any old manuals.
I have a 1/2 ton truck and class IV Weight Distributing hitch. A friend of mine wants me to tow a car trailer (2 axels + electronic brakes) and haul a 1/2 ton international pickup. Has anyone here towed a car + trailer with this type of setup?? I have a 350/TH350 and a large tranny cooler, I think I have the HP but is this going to be out of my towing cap?
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Rod Childers '71 C10 Stepside |
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#2 |
Collector of rusty Items
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sisters,Oregon USA
Posts: 731
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I think you will be just fine.
Going should be no problem, it's the stopping that you might need to worry about. Your only problem, at least in my mind, might be a emergency stop (wheel sliding, rubber screaching, pedal to the floor thing) How far do you have to go and how many hills to you have to go over? I would not have any fear of what you are doing myself, but, I am mostly nuts when it comes to hauling stuff. Worst case scenario: you have to go down a big steep hill, like a 1000 foot drop or more. Go slow. if you have to go down a big hill, put it in low gear and stay off the brakes. If you have to use the brakes going down a long hill, Use them fairly hard and slow down a lot and get into a lower gear then stay off of them. What ever you do, don't ride the brakes all the way down a hill, or you won't have any brakes. on a real long downgrade, just figure you get one stop, use it wisely. Good luck
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Scrub Sisters, Oregon - Home of the Sisters Rodeo. 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends. |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Fairmont WV
Posts: 304
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I think breaks will be OK his trailer seems to have good breaks. I use to be a truck driver, so I think I can manage the break cycles OK. I'm more worried about too much sway. My weight distro hitch helps a lot. I just wanted some reassurance that I won't look like a total Idiot! And I can not find out how much his truck weighs, I'm looking for a public scale as we speek.
There are several hills but all interstate (with nice warning signs and exit ramps) , and I will have someone following me with a radio.
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Rod Childers '71 C10 Stepside |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Cincinnati,OH,USA
Posts: 464
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If this makes you feel any better...I towed my blazer 5500lbs on a car trailer from North Carolina to Ohio with a 305/350 Bronco with a bumper hitch that was reinforced to the frame, don't know what class rating but it was factory. It was a hot day the trailer blew a tire but that was the only problem, hills really slowed me down.
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69 GMC 1 Ton Longhorn 37 Chevy Coupe |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Sahuarita, AZ USA
Posts: 2,033
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I Towed that Olds wagon last week with my 1 Ton. Had a little problem with sway, just moved the wagon further forward and the problem went away. (but with your experience you probably already knew that). I don't think you'll have a problem.
We towed Jeff's Suburban to Desert Rat about 100 miles of interstate with a 3/4 ton Suburban with 350/400 and had no problems other than tires.
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Bill - Tucson, AZ 47 Chevrolet 2 dr sedan 56 Chevrolet 210 2 dr sedan 66 Chevrolet Malibu 2 dr 4 speed 71 Chevrolet C30 Longhorn 86 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS (Sold) 01 Chevrolet Tahoe IM - BUSTERWIVE@aol.com |
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#6 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IL
Posts: 0
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pulling a 4,000lb vehicle with a 67-72 1/2 ton is no big deal, easycake, but if the trailer is damn heavy then you could be reaching limit, helps if you have 3.73-lower ratio gears and a nice engine and damn good brakes, the GVW of the truck is stamped on the door VIN plate, should be 5000-6000 if its a C10
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Mackinaw, IL
Posts: 15
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towing that truck should be no prob. a few weeks ago I pulled an '82 chevy pickup on a tandem axle trailer. the trailer itself was quite heavy however my truck had no prob with pulling it. i think i could still beat a few imports off the line. haha. anyway the truck didn't squat at all nor did i lose any rpms at highway speeds. however my brakes suck so i just took my time and the trip went problem free. well good luck with towing that old pickup!!
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#8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Hughesville, MD
Posts: 1,350
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Put the weight to the front and make your tie downs =. That will eliminate a lot of sway. No prob. You got it.
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Mario and Mandy Hughesville, MD 20637 69 C10 305/350 71 K5 Basket case 75 K10 Rescue **Parting out** 77 MG Midget **Parting out** 15 6.7L Cummins |
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#9 |
CCRider
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA
Posts: 2,232
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I pull heavy trailers all over the country for a living with a 2001 Chevy 3/4 ton truck. Pulling is not the problem, it is stopping. If you are pulling on farely flat ground no biggie. If you head into mountain country,watch out. In the mountains they have hills that while are not that steep, they go on forever. Probably no matter where you live you have gone down a hill with a 5% grade. Now go down a hill with a 5% grade that lasts for 15 miles. You know you are in trouble when you see the emergency stopping for semi s. If you have never pulled a trailer with eletric brakes before, make sure to learn how to operate and adjust the brakes while driving before trying to pull somthing.
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72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Fairmont WV
Posts: 304
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Thanks for all the replies, I may be towing it to Carlisle PA and I don't want any of you guys sain "Look at that nut with the blue '71 stepside. How did such an Idiot get a '71? That guy should be kicked out of the club.. bla bla bla."
You know the ones, they are out there lurking now, or posting: go ahead, don't worry you can pull at least 12,000 lbs with that chevy.
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Rod Childers '71 C10 Stepside |
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#11 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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LOL...Jeff and I towed the one ton Longhorn with his little K 5 87 Blazer. scared teh hell outa me...whit nuckles all the way. From a small town 50 milew west of Philly, all the way here to columbus Ohio. The Turnpike is in grate shape except for a couple spots of construction.
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#12 |
Registered Cruiser
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Las Vegas NV
Posts: 2,230
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On a recent trip to Mohave Valley Raceway I towed the car down with my friends 72 GMC (500cid Caddilac/400th) It was a fun trip. His truck towed great. We all had a good time. John
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I intend to live forever. So far, so good. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Fullerton,NE
Posts: 380
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Like they said, pulling is not the problem, stopping is. I've towed 2 (yes that's two) 50 Buicks from central Ohio to Ashland,VA at the same time,with the 69 short step. One on the trailer, the other on a dolly. If anyone doubts this, I DO have a picture of it. Averaged about 55 mph,too. Of course the steep grades were as posted before, very slow. Properly balancing the loads are the key to pulling as you know.(And having trailer brakes.) The reason I could tow one on the dolly,(info for you younger guys), is the motor,tranny and torque tube were removed, but the rear axle had to be chain bindered in place to keep it stationary.It has no driveshaft, but a torque tube to hold the rear in place , otherwise it is just free floating. I've even pulled 1 ton fords with my 69 and 72.Have even pulled an 88 1 ton 4x4 crew cab from Phoenix to Sioux Falls,SD with the 69,too. Made it up and down Wolf Creek pass with it.(wouldn't want to do it again though)
Good luck!
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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 |
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#14 |
Led Sled! Discs R 4 ME!
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Toms River, NJ, USA (Transplanted Hoosier)
Posts: 7,327
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Towing a tandam axel car hauler with a 3/4t Would be no problem (as you mentioned, the trailer has good breaks).
As for sway with a half ton, maybe someone can share their experence with that. You may want to add a rear sway bar. I would also suggest adding a trans temp guage just to monitor that t350 with. Otherwise, if it gets hot in the hills of PA ya wont know till its too late ![]() |
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#15 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IL
Posts: 0
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jhwkns ! thats frickin cool ! i want to learn more about those races, i wil see that some day, probably next year if all goes as planned!
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