Towing capacity with c10 or halfton - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CHEMPOWR · 10-15-2009, 08:30 PM

Hi everyone,

Looking to see what everyone has towed with their half tons. I know the GVWR is 5000 lbs but I don't think these trucks have a tow rating that can be looked up.

I have an open car hauler with brakes so I plan to be pulling 4-5000 pounds. I may end up putting about 1000 pounds in the bed (2 motorcycles) also. I have installed air bags over leaf springs. What do you guys think??

69halfton · 10-15-2009, 08:43 PM

this seems to get talked about so often, and it always seems to be an argument.

I'll make the first couple points.
alot depends on your setup. I'm assuming your using your 69 GMC SWB thats in your signature? if that is the case, a SWB and drum brakes are really going to hurt you comfort wise. I've towed my car trailer about with my 3000 pound racecar behind the shortbed, and i really didn't like it. the trailer just feels like it wants to spin the truck out going around corners and what not. the trailer just has too much "command" over the truck, for lack of a better word.

the drum brakes are an issue depending on where your doing your driving. If its flat, they will be fine, they always have one good stop in them

but if you plan on pulling through some good hills where you find your self riding the brakes for extended periods of time, them drums are going to get real hot, and they wont be happy.

electric trailer brakes will help BIG TIME with this. my trailer has them on both axles and they really saved my trucks brakes.

its not a matter of can you PULL it, but rather, can you STOP it?

CHEMPOWR · 10-15-2009, 08:49 PM

I have disc brakes in the front. I guess I will have to give it a test run.

toddtheodd · 10-15-2009, 09:33 PM

Don't burn up the transmission.
Some torque converters have been known to balloon which kills the tranny, and can harm the motor too. Happened to me... darn it.

CHEMPOWR · 10-16-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddtheodd

Don't burn up the transmission.
Some torque converters have been known to balloon which kills the tranny, and can harm the motor too. Happened to me... darn it.

I'm not so worried about the transmission. It's a TH400 and I have 373 gears and a good trans cooler.

I am worried about:

1. ride and control on the road with SWB
2. Overwhelming the frame/suspension with 1000 pounds of bed weight and 5000 pound trailer (500 pound tongue weight)

**StingRay** · 10-16-2009, 01:03 PM

The 1000 in the bed could be a problem. If you look at your rear axle rating and your actual weight then add the 1k to the bed and 4-5K on the trailer times 10% to 18% ( typical tounge load)you could have as much as 1900 lbs addedd to the back end. Some of this depends if you use a weight dist hitch and how you load the bed and trailer. You may exceed your rear GAWR. As far as towing capacity I've towed 10K easy with a healthy 350 a good TH350 and a 3.73 diff and my truck is a long bed. Long beds are more stable than a shorter wheel base. At 10% hitch weight and an empty bed I'm still inside of GAWR for the rear. Watch your rear tire pressures as you approach max rear axle weight rating and keep em high especially if you are not on LT tires. Here if no GCVW is listed you can tow 2X the GVW of the tow vehicle if you use a weight dist hitch, a fifth wheel or a goose neck. You can only tow equal to gvw if you have a plain hitch without equalizing bars.

71tahoe · 10-16-2009, 02:08 PM

The 12 bolt should handle the weight but the c-10 springs won't. I would recommend helper bags, trailer brakes, receiver hitch, trailer sway control and wt distributing hitch at a minimum.

dwcsr · 10-16-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHEMPOWR

Hi everyone,

Looking to see what everyone has towed with their half tons. I know the GVWR is 5000 lbs but I don't think these trucks have a tow rating that can be looked up.

I have an open car hauler with brakes so I plan to be pulling 4-5000 pounds. I may end up putting about 1000 pounds in the bed (2 motorcycles) also. I have installed air bags over leaf springs. What do you guys think??

I pulled 6200 plus with mine on the hiway. It was slow but It got it done. The issue is in traffic when I was testing a new electric fan and relay kit with that weight it burned up my brakes.

I had 600 lbs in the bed and 5600 lbs loaded trailer, 600 lbs tounge weight.
You will need to balance the load so it doesn't drive you when stopping and lift the rear when taking off or vise versa.

CHEMPOWR · 10-16-2009, 05:40 PM

Thanks guys. This was the type of info I was looking for. I was already considering a weight-distributing hitch. I do have air-bag over leaf springs in the rear so that part is taken care of. Now for some testing I guess.

Thanks

10-15-2009, 08:30 PM	#1
CHEMPOWR Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Beyond, TX Posts: 61	Towing capacity with c10 or halfton Hi everyone, Looking to see what everyone has towed with their half tons. I know the GVWR is 5000 lbs but I don't think these trucks have a tow rating that can be looked up. I have an open car hauler with brakes so I plan to be pulling 4-5000 pounds. I may end up putting about 1000 pounds in the bed (2 motorcycles) also. I have installed air bags over leaf springs. What do you guys think?? __________________ 1969 GMC Wideside SWB 400ci/TH400/373/Disc Brakes/Leaf Springs 1992 Chevy C3500 Ext Cab Dually Silverado 454 TBI 2007 Chevy Corvette ZO6 427ci 505HP

10-15-2009, 08:43 PM	#2
69halfton Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: King City, Ontario, Canada Posts: 974	Re: Towing capacity with c10 or halfton this seems to get talked about so often, and it always seems to be an argument. I'll make the first couple points. alot depends on your setup. I'm assuming your using your 69 GMC SWB thats in your signature? if that is the case, a SWB and drum brakes are really going to hurt you comfort wise. I've towed my car trailer about with my 3000 pound racecar behind the shortbed, and i really didn't like it. the trailer just feels like it wants to spin the truck out going around corners and what not. the trailer just has too much "command" over the truck, for lack of a better word. the drum brakes are an issue depending on where your doing your driving. If its flat, they will be fine, they always have one good stop in them but if you plan on pulling through some good hills where you find your self riding the brakes for extended periods of time, them drums are going to get real hot, and they wont be happy. electric trailer brakes will help BIG TIME with this. my trailer has them on both axles and they really saved my trucks brakes. its not a matter of can you PULL it, but rather, can you STOP it? __________________ - Jason If you can turn, Youre not going fast enough. Favorite caption: first car to 200 mph in the 1/4 mile, no parachute, drum brakes all the way around.. ..back when men were men. Last edited by 69halfton; 10-15-2009 at 08:45 PM.

10-15-2009, 08:49 PM	#3
CHEMPOWR Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Beyond, TX Posts: 61	Re: Towing capacity with c10 or halfton I have disc brakes in the front. I guess I will have to give it a test run. __________________ 1969 GMC Wideside SWB 400ci/TH400/373/Disc Brakes/Leaf Springs 1992 Chevy C3500 Ext Cab Dually Silverado 454 TBI 2007 Chevy Corvette ZO6 427ci 505HP

10-15-2009, 09:33 PM	#4
toddtheodd The oddest Todd around Join Date: May 2004 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,418	Re: Towing capacity with c10 or halfton Don't burn up the transmission. Some torque converters have been known to balloon which kills the tranny, and can harm the motor too. Happened to me... darn it. __________________ "The greatest pleasure is to vanquish your enemies and chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth and see those dear to them bathed in tears, to ride their horses and clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters." Ghengis Khan IIOY???

10-16-2009, 01:03 PM	#6
StingRay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Saskatoon,SK,Canada Posts: 2,476	Re: Towing capacity with c10 or halfton The 1000 in the bed could be a problem. If you look at your rear axle rating and your actual weight then add the 1k to the bed and 4-5K on the trailer times 10% to 18% ( typical tounge load)you could have as much as 1900 lbs addedd to the back end. Some of this depends if you use a weight dist hitch and how you load the bed and trailer. You may exceed your rear GAWR. As far as towing capacity I've towed 10K easy with a healthy 350 a good TH350 and a 3.73 diff and my truck is a long bed. Long beds are more stable than a shorter wheel base. At 10% hitch weight and an empty bed I'm still inside of GAWR for the rear. Watch your rear tire pressures as you approach max rear axle weight rating and keep em high especially if you are not on LT tires. Here if no GCVW is listed you can tow 2X the GVW of the tow vehicle if you use a weight dist hitch, a fifth wheel or a goose neck. You can only tow equal to gvw if you have a plain hitch without equalizing bars. __________________ Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada Last edited by StingRay; 10-16-2009 at 02:17 PM.

10-16-2009, 02:08 PM	#7
71tahoe Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jonesboro, AR Posts: 916	Re: Towing capacity with c10 or halfton The 12 bolt should handle the weight but the c-10 springs won't. I would recommend helper bags, trailer brakes, receiver hitch, trailer sway control and wt distributing hitch at a minimum.

10-16-2009, 05:40 PM	#9
CHEMPOWR Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Beyond, TX Posts: 61	Re: Towing capacity with c10 or halfton Thanks guys. This was the type of info I was looking for. I was already considering a weight-distributing hitch. I do have air-bag over leaf springs in the rear so that part is taken care of. Now for some testing I guess. Thanks __________________ 1969 GMC Wideside SWB 400ci/TH400/373/Disc Brakes/Leaf Springs 1992 Chevy C3500 Ext Cab Dually Silverado 454 TBI 2007 Chevy Corvette ZO6 427ci 505HP



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.