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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bakersfield,CA
Posts: 7,893
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towing power
how much can a 72 1/2ton tow? trailer and in the bed? i remember seeing somewhere that you could pull a 6k lbs trailer is that true? and how much payload can you carry?
TIA
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-steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 901
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Re: towing power
a lot of factors would determine max load and tow capacitys. tire load capacity; rear end axle ratio, radiator size and condition, fan shroud and a high capacity fan. Transmission oil cooler will be required and possibly an engine oil cooler
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'71 GMC;fleetside;PB/PS/AC/CC/402 Eng./Custom Paint/110,000act miles/3 fuel tanks(52gal). |
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#3 |
Son of a gun
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Posts: 1,636
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Re: towing power
here you go, squint and you will be able to make it all out
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Bill BEATERS ARE NEATER |
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#4 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: towing power
yep, for factory ratings, engine, gears, and tires is all that limits you
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#5 |
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Eastern - Manitoba Canada, Winnipeg
Posts: 4,369
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Re: towing power
Interesting scan ...looks like 396 and 3.54 gears in a 1/2 ton was available. Never seen that on an option sheet yet. Anyone have that combination as a factory option?
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Senior active founding member. 70 3/4 ton GMC Suburban 4x4 250/4 spd. 71 1/2 ton Suburban Chevy 4x4, 350/350 72 Chev 1 ton tow truck 402BB w/Holmes 440 wrecker on propane 2005 FLSTSCI Harley Springer 85 FXSB Harley Lowrider 72 Triumph 650 Bonneville 5spd "Poor people don't have hobbies" Quote from wife. |
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#6 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: towing power
that's outta the 69 restoration packet.
I've never seen it either personally |
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#7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Shelbyville, KY
Posts: 3,269
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Re: towing power
The get goin is the easy part. The stopping is the trick. These trucks are strong enough but their breaking systems are the pits. I would use extreme caution if towing over 2-3,000 lbs especially if you don't have trailer brakes!! If you have to ask why----just try it!
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#8 |
Problem Child
![]() Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Kettering Ohio
Posts: 1,248
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Re: towing power
Also depends how fast you want to go
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1972 gmc sierra grande 350/350 a/c soon`to get a new 350 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bakersfield,CA
Posts: 7,893
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Re: towing power
so from that it looks like i can pull about 6500lbs?
what about the payload? my truck is stock with the stock 350sb and stock th350 trans that only has about 4k miles after the rebuild and its got 3.07 gears and 31x10.5 tires(thats the sidewall reading) and i do have an external trans cooler, anything else i should list?
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-steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME |
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#10 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 901
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Re: towing power
GreaseMonkey--- The way I read the chart is that the 6500 lbs is for the combined load of truck and trailer.... So you would have to deduct the loaded weight of the truck from the loaded weight of the trailer. This would be towable weight; in the neighborhood of 3000 lbs.
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'71 GMC;fleetside;PB/PS/AC/CC/402 Eng./Custom Paint/110,000act miles/3 fuel tanks(52gal). |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bakersfield,CA
Posts: 7,893
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Re: towing power
so if the truck is empty i can tow 6500lbs or haul that in the truck itself? so its a 6500lbs tow load or payload?
im confused
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-steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME |
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#12 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 901
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Re: towing power
The chart states that the weights listed are for the "combined weight of loaded truck and trailer" As you state; 6500 lbs for your model truck/ engine/ axle ratio combination. So, if your truck weighs 3200 lbs and the trailer weighs 1000 lbs = 4200 lbs. As the max combined weight is 6500; subtract the truck and trailer empty weights of 4200 lbs.This would give a payload of 2300 lbs.
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'71 GMC;fleetside;PB/PS/AC/CC/402 Eng./Custom Paint/110,000act miles/3 fuel tanks(52gal). |
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#13 |
Designated A-hole!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: South Mississippi
Posts: 36,450
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Re: towing power
My swb weighs 4000# by itself and I have pulled a trailer loaded with 6600# of scrap iron, but it was a pain in the butt to stop and I've had to rebuild the tranny shortly after doing it.
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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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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: POWNAL VERMONT
Posts: 343
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Re: towing power
c20/355 mild cam/4.10 posi/3core radiator. towed my new toy home with out a problem and this thing weighs about 6000 pounds no trailer brakes stop fine.i also haul scrap metal and have crossed the scales at 11,000+ not a smart move but i did it.the genteman said it all goes together or none at all.i think he was trying to discourage me from the job but i did it he called me crazy.set up right you will be fine
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1972 c-20 chevy 500 caddy/4.10posi / 1972 3/4 ton gmc 350 4x4/4.10posi front&rear ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bakersfield,CA
Posts: 7,893
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Re: towing power
1bad chevy- not a bad lookin truck you got there
i dont get how the weight of the truck factors into it though? i mean yea its gotta move the truck to but i dont get why they would give you the haul weight including the truck weight
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-steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bakersfield,CA
Posts: 7,893
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Re: towing power
the reason i dont get it is because if you minus the truck weight from the 6500 that means i wouldnt be able to pull my brothers race car on the trailer
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-steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: POWNAL VERMONT
Posts: 343
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Re: towing power
you should have no problem towing a car trailer with a car on it even with a half ton truck put some trailer brakes on it and you are good to go
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1972 c-20 chevy 500 caddy/4.10posi / 1972 3/4 ton gmc 350 4x4/4.10posi front&rear ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: POWNAL VERMONT
Posts: 343
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Re: towing power
thanks she's a good ol' girl works hard everyday
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1972 c-20 chevy 500 caddy/4.10posi / 1972 3/4 ton gmc 350 4x4/4.10posi front&rear ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Clarks Hill, Indiana
Posts: 733
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Re: towing power
remember, those are factory recommendations... just like your truck is only designed to have a 1/2 ton of crap in the bed...
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1969 K10 - V8, 465, 205, 12 bolt, D44 2002-current 1969 K20 - V8, 465, 221, Eaton, D44 2012-current Nothin' but drums on all 4 corners! past horses in the stable 72 C10-short step (97-02), 68 C10-long fleet (06-12) |
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#20 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Studio City, Calif.
Posts: 2,873
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Re: towing power
Quote:
Greasemonkey,I think they state the max as "Gross combined weight" because the weight of the truck is going to vary according to equipment,tools,people,etc. For instance my longhorn with tools and crew weighs 5500 lbs with the bed EMPTY. Let's say I'm going camping and have 200 lbs.of gear in the bed (mostly beer).Then I could safely pull 4800 lbs IF I had 4.10 gears,which i don't.
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'69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, stereo speakers, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bakersfield,CA
Posts: 7,893
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Re: towing power
ok so say my truck wieghs 3900 with me in it and i put 600lbs of race crap in the bed which makes 4500lbs and means i can safely pull a 2000lbs trailer, but the trailer and car together wieghs 5500+lbs so that means realistically i shouldnt pull it right? (the trailer does have brakes)
im just confused on how much the payload and hauling load is, im fine with hearing the factory specs because that keeps me in a safe load range sorry for being such a pain
__________________
-steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME |
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#22 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Studio City, Calif.
Posts: 2,873
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Re: towing power
The amount you can put In the bed is the Gross Vehicle Weight (On the door edge on mine) minus the weight of the truck as it sits.Mine is 7500 lbs GVW on the door plate,so if the truck is weighing 5500,then I could put 2000 lbs in bed,assuming tires were correct range and inflated properly etc. The amount of trailer you can pull is Gross Combined weight minus truck as it sits (including passengers,put them porkers on a diet!)
Actually I have heard from numerous sources (on "Rec.Outdoors.RV-Travel") that wise trailer pullers aim for about 80% of factory specs but they are talking about modern trucks where there is lots of hype about which can pull the most,and maybe the figures are a bit stretched. In your example I guess if your figures are correct,you are overloaded. I once(15 miles only) pulled an OLD OLD 27 foot travel trailer with a '63 1/2 ton with a 230 str8 6 and 3 on the tree.(In my younger foolish days).
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'69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, stereo speakers, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Clanton, AL
Posts: 1,253
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Re: towing power
I have about 300lbs in the bed & I pull my 3,500lb boat/trailer w/o any problems. Just drive cautiously & brake in advance.
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bakersfield,CA
Posts: 7,893
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Re: towing power
ok so i take the gross vehicle wieght and subtract the wieght of the truck and i get the payload
but how much can i pull trailer wise? i saw somewhere that the 1/2ton can pull 6000lbs and the 3/4 can pull 9000lbs
__________________
-steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME |
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#25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: northwestern wi
Posts: 2,111
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Re: towing power
just for referance my neighbor has a mid 70s 3/4 ton trailering special the badge that says trailering special says max combindweight11,000 lbs this is a truck chevrolet built for towing
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