pulling a camper questions

[tnblazerk5]

can a 67 swb 1/2 ton pull a 72 pathfinder 20 foot camper safely ? or do i need a bigger truck ?

[67ChevyRedneck]

Guess it all depends on the weight of the camper. I have found that my 67 squats an awful lot with a heavy trailer with the rear coil spring suspension. Hook it up and find out

[tnblazerk5]

i dont have hitch on the 67 yet but i want to put one on there
i was just wondering if it would work or not lol

[thecatseye66]

That truck will pull that big trailer, although the tongue weight (the weight of the trailer at the hitch) might be too much for the rear springs, but like Redneck says, you'll just have to hook it up and find out. If it is a tandem axle trailer you might be alright there.

Your biggest concern would be braking...does the trailer have electric brakes? Do you still have the drum brakes on the front of your truck or have you upgraded to discs? Unless one of these conditions is met I'd be reluctant to try and stop something that big--especially in an emergency.

[tnblazerk5]

Originally Posted by thecatseye66

That truck will pull that big trailer, although the tongue weight (the weight of the trailer at the hitch) might be too much for the rear springs, but like Redneck says, you'll just have to hook it up and find out. If it is a tandem axle trailer you might be alright there.

Your biggest concern would be braking...does the trailer have electric brakes? Do you still have the drum brakes on the front of your truck or have you upgraded to discs? Unless one of these conditions is met I'd be reluctant to try and stop something that big--especially in an emergency.

yes its a tandem axle
yes the camper has brakes
i put disk brakes on the 67 long time ago



i just got the camper and know nothing about it like , how much it weighs or anything for that matter it looks like the camper has the stablizer bars hookup but the the bars are missing . i need to put a pic of it on here maybe sumbody could help me out with sum stuff about it i think i will put a post about it on the general board

[dwaite72lnghrn]

You might find a sticker or plate on it with the GVW and GAWR (gross axle weight rating). this would give you the total wet weight, If you can't find a sticker take the tire rating That would give you a rough axle weight then add 10% for hitch weight. Normally 2 axle trailers start about 5000lb. that's 500lb hitch weight which will really drop the truck without weight distributing hitch. That is pushing the GVW/GCVW of your half ton. OK for a few tripsa year but if you tow alot you will wish you had a heavier tow platform with a longer wheelbase. Other wise the trailer will be wagging the truck. I always yield to safety with lives and go bigger truck smaller trailer. Once you are in a incident with a passing truck or heavy crosswind you might not get the chance to change your setup. Start with a proper weight distributing hitch and sway control. This will set you back about $700 (Hitch/receiver/spring bars/sway control/brake controller) money well spent and can be moved to a new trailer or truck so no long term loss on the envestment. Just my own Opinion, Dave.

[tnblazerk5]

Originally Posted by dwaite72lnghrn

You might find a sticker or plate on it with the GVW and GAWR (gross axle weight rating). this would give you the total wet weight, If you can't find a sticker take the tire rating That would give you a rough axle weight then add 10% for hitch weight. Normally 2 axle trailers start about 5000lb. that's 500lb hitch weight which will really drop the truck without weight distributing hitch. That is pushing the GVW/GCVW of your half ton. OK for a few tripsa year but if you tow alot you will wish you had a heavier tow platform with a longer wheelbase. Other wise the trailer will be wagging the truck. I always yield to safety with lives and go bigger truck smaller trailer. Once you are in a incident with a passing truck or heavy crosswind you might not get the chance to change your setup. Start with a proper weight distributing hitch and sway control. This will set you back about $700 (Hitch/receiver/spring bars/sway control/brake controller) money well spent and can be moved to a new trailer or truck so no long term loss on the envestment. Just my own Opinion, Dave.

thats why i was askin all the questions , its the safety thing that i am worryed about and i probly only tow it about 1 or 2 times a year

[tnblazerk5]

so i need to hurry up and get the one ton truck up and running to pull it with dont i or would that be over kill ?

[speedracer]

I'd definetly get a set of helper springs

[dwaite72lnghrn]

A 3/4 ton long wheel base truck from the 67-72 range with 373 or 410 gears were rated to tow upto 8000lbs with a V8 and auto trans. The 1 tons were good to about 10000lbs with the correct hitch. A half ton just wasn't designed to carry the load, They only had a net carry capacity of 800-1200lbs. Subtract 500lb hitch 2 people 300-450lb. that gives you 0-400lbs depending on truck extras. Why tear up a nice 1/2 ton go for a 3/4. I have seen people pulling 28' 5th wheels with 1/2 ton extended cabs, Yep you can I wouldn't.
I use a 1 ton because that is what I have, but I would do it with a 3/4 ton also. My camper weighs 6600lb gross. 600-650 hitch weight. reese weight distributor and dual cam anti sway. I pulled the trailer short with just a hitch then weight distrib, then sway. The difference is like pulling a bag of marbles, pulling a wagon, and last like it was 1 unit.

[chevy_fatman]

I agree that what has been said already, a set of helper springs wouldn't make any difference, I had a set in my haf ton and it still had a hard time, not pulling but keeping the trailer straight (had trailing arms) the truck would pull a 24 ft trailer with a 3/4 ton truck on it (non operable) that I'm thinking it would had been a total of 8000 lbs, it would pull it no problem, the thing was trying to stop the thing and my truck had disc brakes, now the same setup and everything but this time with a 3/4 ton, man!! what a difference, now I'll never use another haf ton to tow anything haevier that 800 lbs.

[kwmech]

There were the short leaf spring overloads avail for these trucks--factory. They clamped on the rear of the frame rail and went to a plate under the single u-bolt. Maybe those and some 6 ply tires. That may be a starting point.

[tnblazerk5]

i think i will wait till i get the one ton done and use it to pull the camper

[sdkid]

Speaking of the 1-ton...How close is it? Any pics?

[whitesswj]

what if you have the overload springs on the back of the 1/2 ton??

[tnblazerk5]

Originally Posted by sdkid

Speaking of the 1-ton...How close is it? Any pics?

its still in peices here and there hopefully by the end of summer i will have it driveable if i can find front and rears for it

[tnblazerk5]

Originally Posted by whitesswj

what if you have the overload springs on the back of the 1/2 ton??

at frist i kinda tought the same but from what i hear on here i dont think i want to pull it with my 67chevy

[special-K]

I didn`t think people moved trailers in Tennessee.LOL!!Oh,you`re not.Sorry,bad joke.BTW,I love TN and all it`s fine people.Pulling that think would compare to pulling a trailer with a truck on it,or at least a good sized car.Only bulkier(wind).