1986 Burb towing ?

[69C20CUSTOM]

I have asked this on the suburban part of the forum once. But just wanted some more anwsers.
I wanted to know if I could tow my 1982 3/4 ton 4x4 Suburban on a flatbed trailer with my 1986 c10 suburban 350,700r4,10 bolt.
If not what can i change to make it safer and work better.


Thanks for the help.

[Clyde65]

if it were me, I would switch the subs. have the 82 tow the 86. but if it wasnt very far, I might do it but Id go slow. that is a lot of weight on that trailer for the 1/2 ton to stop. it would pull it with some grunting but stopping is the real issue.

Also you would need to keep the 700 cool while pulling, so a real good trans cooler would be a must also.

[69C20CUSTOM]

Well i would but the '82 is a toy offroad only.
Yes i will be getting a good size trans cooler.

[lindstromjd]

It's all in how you load the trailer (where you put the weight of the 'burb being towed) and in how well you can stop. I would almost say load the 'burb backwards, so the engine and most of the weight of it is on the trailer's axles, but it all depends on what size trailer you have. If you can load it normal and keep the weight off the hitch, then go for it. The trailer's job is to hold the weight, so let it do that. Don't overload your hitch.

Give yourself more than ample space to stop. Your 1/2 ton brakes won't be happy about it, so be careful of "glazing" them by riding on them too much. Be sure you're able to slow your rig down in spurts, alternating hitting the brakes and letting it coast a little so the rotors can cool down.

Towing in 4th gear isn't necessarily bad, as long as you can keep the transmission as cool as possible. It's the heat that will kill your clutches. You don't want to get anywhere above 220 degrees inside the case. 200 is even a little too hot; the temp inside should never really get above 180 for very long. The safe way to avoid that is to tow in 3rd gear with the torque converter locked in. If it's unlocked, it will slip and create a lot of excess heat, so make sure it does lock in. The last thing to look out for is make sure your transmission doesn't "search" for gears, i.e. if you're at a certain speed and the transmission can't decide if it want's 3rd or 4th and keeps jumping between the two, just put it in 3rd and let it stay there.

[69C20CUSTOM]

Well im looking at a trailer maybe 18-20 feet long so if i go with the 20 foot one i think i could put the burb on the trailer backwards i would not mind that at all. I dont mind driving in third and 55mph taking it easy. The 20 foot trailer has brakes on both axles if that helps. Would it help putting the burb on backwards and useing a weight dist. hitch to help take some of the load from the truck.
I will try anything I just want it safe for the family to.

[thirdstreettito]

That will put the GCVW(Gross Combined Vehicle Weight) at 11,600lbs + trailer. My 83 Burb in my sig has grossed the scale at the dump at 11,600lbs. Don't floor it, estimate your stops. Keep an eye on your gauges. Easy peasy.

[69C20CUSTOM]

Do u think it will be that high. How much to suburbans weight.
I think the trailer is like 2000-3000 but idk.

[thirdstreettito]

5800lbs GVW.

[lindstromjd]

Trailer brakes with an electronic controller inside the truck will help immensely. The best way to test if you have them strong enough is this:
Get everything hooked up and loaded. With your tow rig in Drive, let off the brakes and let it start moving on its own, but don't hit the throttle. Get going about 5 mph. Hit the Manual Control on the brake controller, so the trailer brakes activate. They should be strong enough to stop the tow rig and everything within about 10 feet. You should be able to feel them helping you slow down when you're on the road, too, but they shouldn't be on so strong that they're doing all the work. They're just "helper" brakes, after all.

[DetroitDan]

Geez I was hoping somebody was going to mention trailer brakes. All this talk about whether or not a half ton will stop the trailer... You MUST have functioning trailer brakes with a manual controller to tow this much weight, in fact it is the law for anything over 3000 lbs. (the brakes, not the controller-you could also have surge brakes)

Turning the vehicle backwards can create just as many problems as having too much tongue weight. Too much tongue weight will unload your front suspension and make your steering and stopping ability suffer. Too little tongue weight and too much weight behind the rear axles will cause the trailer to sway, and thats enough of a load to overcome your control of the towing vehicle. I understand the thinking behind loading backwards, but I've never had to do it and I don't think I'd want to. Better off going with a 20' trailer and not pushing the burb too far forward. Try to center the weight over the trailer axles as much as possible, but part of the weight can be and is meant to be carried on the tongue. If you have access to a WD hitch then you have nothing to worry about, load it front ways though. If you load it backwards the WD hitch probably won't even work. Only time I'd consider loading it backwards would be if you have no WD, the trailer axles are set far back, and when you load it the rear bumper of the towrig hits the ground. Good tires, brakes and suspension and that half ton will tow the other Burb just fine. Keep it out of OD and at 55. Don't worry about the gvw numbers listed above, thats not where you're at. At least, not unless both Burbs are fully loaded with cargo and passengers.
And look on the bright side, if anything breaks you probably have a spare part right there with you!

[DetroitDan]

I towed my 82 longbed crewcab dually on an 18 foot equipment trailer behind my 97 dually. It barely fit, had to actually strap the flip up ramps to the rear bumper of the truck. So a Sub oughta fit just fine on the 18', because they're a good bit shorter.

[firenuttz]

i dont think that subs really have a weight dist. point. my dad and i have put them on trailers completely stripped backward and his bumper was close to dragging which was the same way when we loaded it on forward the first time while it was a whole, id say if you have the time put it on foward and then take it off and but it on backward and see which way equals out better

[83burban]

Suburbans are probably the second best tow rig you can get, behind a goose-neck hitch on a 3/4 or 1 ton.

A WD hitch will be a major help and will prevent sway while keeping the load balanced while driving. Coupled with a properly set up trailer brake system you can tow quite a bit.

Make sure the trailer brakes are in good condition and set-up properly (alot of rental trailers aren't maintained so I always check them when I get them)

Just give yourself lots of room, make sure that you have a very good transmission cooler and don't tow in drive and you will be fine.

My heavy half 83 can tow 8000 pounds factory but with the modifications I have made and will make I know that I can tow more safely (air bags, trailer brakes, WD hitch, upgraded brakes, Heavy duty coolers, and low speed)

[69C20CUSTOM]

Thanks alot to everyone know posted.
You all have great points and tips.
This is a great site with great people.
I will feel alot better towing with the burb now.