towing with a '71 C20

[Jerry Jones]

What is the towing rating of a '71 350 C20? I am about to buy a nostalgic boat that is pretty heavy. Not sure of the weight yet, need to get it to the scales, but the PO says it is about 6K w/o trailer. I also have the '05 Suburban with a '7800# rating... seems like that might be pushing it, with fuel and other equipment.

I will only have to tow this thing about 5 miles or so to and from the docks, but I don't want to break anything.

As always, thanx for the input.

JJ

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

Jerry, here is my standard reply to the towing question. It is from a 69 resto pack from Chevrolet (thanks for that info Longhorn Man ). It shows what your truck can pull depending on engine, rear end ratio, etc.

6k, it must be a big boat! My gut feeling is that you will be fine pulling it with either truck, and I always err on the side of caution.

Squint and you can read it

Edit by me;
I forgot to mention...Brakes! On a load that big you will need brakes on the trailer (at least one axle). That means you will need wiring and a electric brake controler. Pulling it is the easy part, stopping it is the challenge.

[Shyguy]

In the late 70's I use to tow a 24 ft Dorsett Cabin Cruiser with my 72 GMC 3/4T with a 350, 4 speed tranny and 4 something gears almost every weekend during the summer 40 miles to the Sacramento River Delta with no problems.

The boat trailer had a surge/hydraulic brake system. Electric brakes don't like water.

Danny - SEMO

[Jerry Jones]

Originally Posted by Bus Ted Knuckle

Jerry, here is my standard reply to the towing question. It is from a 69 resto pack from Chevrolet (thanks for that info Longhorn Man ). It shows what your truck can pull depending on engine, rear end ratio, etc.

6k, it must be a big boat! My gut feeling is that you will be fine pulling it with either truck, and I always err on the side of caution.

Squint and you can read it

Edit by me;
I forgot to mention...Brakes! On a load that big you will need brakes on the trailer (at least one axle). That means you will need wiring and a electric brake controler. Pulling it is the easy part, stopping it is the challenge.

The trailer has 3 axles, one with brakes, I have a 350 with 4:10's, so I guess the big thing is to get this monster to the scales to see what the actuall total weight is

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

Originally Posted by Jerry Jones

The trailer has 3 axles, one with brakes, I have a 350 with 4:10's, so I guess the big thing is to get this monster to the scales to see what the actuall total weight is

Yeah Jerry, I guess that is the next step. Hey remember that chart shows the max combined weight of the truck and trailer/boat. So what ever your truck wieghs, deduct that from the wieght shown and that is how big of a trailer you can pull.

[Jerry Jones]

Originally Posted by Bus Ted Knuckle

Yeah Jerry, I guess that is the next step. Hey remember that chart shows the max combined weight of the truck and trailer/boat. So what ever your truck wieghs, deduct that from the wieght shown and that is how big of a trailer you can pull.

I couldn't read the truck weight included on the sheet... there aint know way in heck that is going to work out with this thing...time for plan B.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by Jerry Jones

I couldn't read the truck weight included on the sheet... there aint know way in heck that is going to work out with this thing...time for plan B.

5 miles with a 3/4 ton. I wouldn't hesitate a bit if everything on the truck was up to spec

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

Well, a 350 with 4:11 shows to be about 10,300 lbs GVW. How much does your truck wiegh? If it is 4,000lbs, then you could haul a 6,300lb trailer.

[WorkinLonghorn]

100%. I wouldn't give it a second thought,unless of course you are talking about a rusted old bumper hitch with the bumper hanging 1/2 off or you have to pump up the brakes at each stop,or maybe the cords in your tires are flopping around in the wheel wells.

[Jerry Jones]

Ok not sure of the truck weight... I will check that out.

The truck stops as good or better now than it ever did, no pumping...period, but the rig is going to be heavy. I am not too sure of getting it off of the ramp with the 2x I might need to have the 'burb there to get it off the ramp just for grins.

[WorkinLonghorn]

Let us know how it worked out. With an auto trans and all that torque multipication,I wouldn't think it'd be a problem,but just how steep is that ramp?

[Jerry Jones]

Originally Posted by WorkinLonghorn

Let us know how it worked out. With an auto trans and all that torque multipication,I wouldn't think it'd be a problem,but just how steep is that ramp?

The ramp isn't bad, but I am going to have my Bro-in-law there on standby with his duramax when I try this out the 1st time. I had no problems with my last boat, but it was quite abit lighter.

[mrein3]

Note that specs like this aren't to protect your truck, they are to protect folks like me, my wife, and my 5 year old that are just going about their business sharing the roads with everybody.

I know that if I wiped out a family because my overweight rig couldn't stop, I couldn't live with my self. Therefore I don't do it. Period.

[68GMC454]

my thoughts on towing are anything i can get behind it i will pull..but the brakes have to be in great shape to...its not the towing that matters, its the stopping...so just make sure your brakes are good...now might be the time ot do them if its been awhile...and if you have 2 axles on the trailer, its a big boat...make sure the brakes on it, should be surge brakes,, are in good working order..dont tailgate...like it was said, its the people around you that you have to watch out for...

[Broken_down?]

Originally Posted by WorkinLonghorn

Let us know how it worked out. With an auto trans and all that torque multipication,I wouldn't think it'd be a problem,but just how steep is that ramp?

Yeah I wouldn't think you would have any issues. . . unless you go to Oroville Lake when the water is drawn down. Man I have seen many a Dulley Pickups (OF ALL TYPES) smoking the tires trying to get back up the ramps and that ain't no joke! Saw a dude dunk his pickup once too. Man you never seen a person so pissed.

Attached is a picture of the lake but of a hill next to the ramp at the Dam Launch ramp. The arrow in blue is the actuall steepness of the ramp when it is down. The ramp which you cannot see if off to the left.

[Shyguy]

Boy!!!!!!!!! That lake sure is low. My family and I use to jet ski there in the 80's.

Danny - SEMO

[Longhorn Man]

I wouldn't hasitate either personally. You will be right on the edge of the limits, however, 5 miles... I'd do it with an S-10. (not the launching part though) Guestimate the truck at 4500 with minimal BS in it with driver.

[Jerry Jones]

Thanx for the input fellas.

Near as I can tell the rig is going to be about 9K loaded, I would not even consider the trip up the mountains. The ramp is not steep at all, and is a well groomed asphalt. It is a 5 mile trip on flat land.

It has 3 axles, one surge braked... trailer is brand new... less than 100 miles on it. What I was thinking was to have it moved by one of the "big trucks" to a wide open lot, hook it up to mine and give it a test (emergency) stop or two.

I am not worried about the suspension, it has some upgrades. The brakes are very solid.

Will keep ya informed

[GREASEMONKEY72]

well let us know how it all goes and see if you can get some pics of it all hooked up



one thing that i dont get is how you subtract the weight of the truck from the weight listed on that chart, because it just doesnt make sense that my truck would only be able to pull a 2500lbs trailer