Towing a C-30? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

RuralRoute C-30 · 01-30-2010, 12:20 PM

I've been looking at buying another C-30, an 85 C-30 cab/chassis about 3 hours away. It's drivable but was contemplating towing or trailering it home since they are geared so low.

Could a tow dolley be used for something like this or is a trailer the only option besides just taking a slower than normal trip home with it?

Transporting with a regular tandem trailer probably wouldn't work due to the weight or width of the truck so asking about the towing idea. Just don't want to mess up a rear-end in the process.

Common sense tells me to just drive it. Yet a 3 hour road trip in a used truck without "knowing" it thoroughly has me asking.

Thanks,
Mark

thepartsguy · 01-30-2010, 12:23 PM

As long as the gear oil in the rearend is ok u'd be fine draggin it. Ive tow barred pickups all over montana and never had an issue.... Automatics are a different deal ,but Im quite sure u have a 4 spd.

Benelli · 01-30-2010, 12:33 PM

It shouldn't make any difference whether its an automatic or a clutch. Either in neutral and you should be fine. Be careful.

**old Rusty C10** · 01-30-2010, 12:39 PM

Im trying to remember what i towed back from PA but it had no nose and no powerplant.. it was just a cab , fullframe , and the large flatbed. It just fit on the Uhaul to dolly but we had to lie to Uhaul and tell them that we were towing something else or they wouldnt rent it to us. It did fit BUT it was tight and a pain in the butt but we did tow it from MD to NJ

KQQL IT · 01-30-2010, 01:17 PM

take the outside dauls off and load it. Or if its a automatic and you towbar it pull the driveshaft.

Big Port Jimmy 6 · 01-30-2010, 01:27 PM

You can either pull the driveshafts or the floating axle shafts and tow away. Jay

ToughBowtieTruck · 01-30-2010, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Port Jimmy 6

You can either pull the driveshafts or the floating axle shafts and tow away. Jay

Don't pull the floating axle shafts out. The spinning differential gears are what oils the hub bearings so removing the shaft will cause the bearings to run dry.

Also pull the shaft, manual or automatic. The fluid isn't flowing in either transmission because the input shaft isn't spinning. I have destroyed a 4 speed in a dump truck on a 30 mile pull because I left the shaft hooked up and just put it in neutral.

Pull the shaft to tow it. Or as said, take the outer duals off to get it on a trailer.

Crew cab trucks I have fit on 16' trailers, front loaded, the box just hangs off the back.

If it is just a cab/chassis it won't weight much. Even so my crew cab 454 4x4 dually pickup only weighed like 8,200 lbs.

GM72K10 · 01-30-2010, 07:08 PM

A dually usually will fit on a trailer, mine came home on this one. It fit on the trailer with the duals on. It ran but with the rotted frame, shakey brakes, 2 hours and 111 miles a way was too big of a safety risk. Good Luck.

RuralRoute C-30 · 01-31-2010, 01:37 AM

Thanks guys,
Will know early in the week if a road trip is in store. Appreciate the experience. Will let you know if I bring another one home! This one has a dump bed so I am leaning towards it over the current fixed flatbed I have.

Passed IDOT(Illinois Dept of Transportation) safety test lane last week though with the '79'. Not bad for a 31 year old 1-ton. Been some time since I drove an "older" truck. What a difference 30 years makes!

Mark

01-30-2010, 12:20 PM	#1
RuralRoute C-30 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: East Central Illinois Posts: 511	Towing a C-30? I've been looking at buying another C-30, an 85 C-30 cab/chassis about 3 hours away. It's drivable but was contemplating towing or trailering it home since they are geared so low. Could a tow dolley be used for something like this or is a trailer the only option besides just taking a slower than normal trip home with it? Transporting with a regular tandem trailer probably wouldn't work due to the weight or width of the truck so asking about the towing idea. Just don't want to mess up a rear-end in the process. Common sense tells me to just drive it. Yet a 3 hour road trip in a used truck without "knowing" it thoroughly has me asking. Thanks, Mark __________________ 1985 Chevy C-30 Hydraulic Dump Bed 2001 Saturn SC2 (go to work car) 2010 PT Cruiser (wife's car) "Reality is just a hallucination brought on by lack of alcohol."

01-30-2010, 12:23 PM	#2
thepartsguy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kalispell, MT. Posts: 90	Re: Towing a C-30? As long as the gear oil in the rearend is ok u'd be fine draggin it. Ive tow barred pickups all over montana and never had an issue.... Automatics are a different deal ,but Im quite sure u have a 4 spd.

01-30-2010, 12:33 PM	#3
Benelli Watchin the rust grow Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Western Nebraska Posts: 950	Re: Towing a C-30? It shouldn't make any difference whether its an automatic or a clutch. Either in neutral and you should be fine. Be careful. __________________ 1979 Chevy K10 (H/D Front end) - 350 w/ Holley Truck Avenger, Weinald Intake manifold, headers, bored .060 over, mild cam, Built up TH350 (TranStar Shift kit) with a part-timed NP203 t-case SOLD ($3,000) 1997 Chevy Silverado 1500 - 4.3 vortec, extended cab, 21 highway MPG, stock. "Red" SOLD ($3,000) 1987 Toyota 4wd Pick-up - work in progress, future DD SOLD ($1,850) 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins 5spd Quad cab - old 12 valve with some work done 2004 Chevy Silverado - Black, 4x4, 5.3L, stock for now Underneath that rust is a heart of gold

01-30-2010, 12:39 PM	#4
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,299	Re: Towing a C-30? Im trying to remember what i towed back from PA but it had no nose and no powerplant.. it was just a cab , fullframe , and the large flatbed. It just fit on the Uhaul to dolly but we had to lie to Uhaul and tell them that we were towing something else or they wouldnt rent it to us. It did fit BUT it was tight and a pain in the butt but we did tow it from MD to NJ __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

01-30-2010, 01:17 PM	#5
KQQL IT At the body shop. Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Land of fruits and nuts. Posts: 5,229	Re: Towing a C-30? take the outside dauls off and load it. Or if its a automatic and you towbar it pull the driveshaft. __________________ " That didnt make it any newer " " Dont antique the equipment "

01-30-2010, 01:27 PM	#6
Big Port Jimmy 6 Addicted to Rust Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Abbeville SC Posts: 1,030	Re: Towing a C-30? You can either pull the driveshafts or the floating axle shafts and tow away. Jay __________________ Current trucks: (48 GMC100 320 inliner) Gone (48 Suburban in pieces) Sold 87 GMC CCSB 5.3 4l60E Daily Driver ECTA National record holder XO/PP We never really grow up, we just learn how to act in public.

01-30-2010, 07:08 PM	#8
GM72K10 Next! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Eastern Pa. Posts: 2,482	Re: Towing a C-30? A dually usually will fit on a trailer, mine came home on this one. It fit on the trailer with the duals on. It ran but with the rotted frame, shakey brakes, 2 hours and 111 miles a way was too big of a safety risk. Good Luck. Attached Images __________________ 86 K30 CUCV M1028A1 86 K30 CUCV M1028a2 dually 86 K30 C&C 6.2 4:56s, 4M, 11,000 gvw, ex fire truck, now lowboy dump More square bodies and CUCVs than I care to admit to 2020 Silverado K3500HD Work truck Last edited by GM72K10; 01-30-2010 at 07:09 PM.

01-31-2010, 01:37 AM	#9
RuralRoute C-30 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: East Central Illinois Posts: 511	Re: Towing a C-30? Thanks guys, Will know early in the week if a road trip is in store. Appreciate the experience. Will let you know if I bring another one home! This one has a dump bed so I am leaning towards it over the current fixed flatbed I have. Passed IDOT(Illinois Dept of Transportation) safety test lane last week though with the '79'. Not bad for a 31 year old 1-ton. Been some time since I drove an "older" truck. What a difference 30 years makes! Mark __________________ 1985 Chevy C-30 Hydraulic Dump Bed 2001 Saturn SC2 (go to work car) 2010 PT Cruiser (wife's car) "Reality is just a hallucination brought on by lack of alcohol."



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