Towing trailer with a short 1/2 ton 4x4

[Lugnutt]

Hi guys,

I'm looking at wanting to tow a small travel trailer when I'm done restoring my 72 chevy 1/2 ton short bed 4x4. What upgrades would you guys recommend to the suspension and such to make it handle the tow as easily and safely as possible. Right now everything is still stock except that I added an overload leaf to the rear axles and I'll be running 33x12.50 tires & wheels. My hitch is rated 5,000 lbs and that's what most of the smaller "ultralight" travel trailers are GVRW'ing these days. I'll also be running proportional trailer brakes back to the TT.

Any recommendations, especially with pictures and/or web links would appreciated.

Thanks,

Gary

[Dmcinfo]

This thread might help answer some of your questions.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=498892
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[Lugnutt]

Great info on that thread, thanks.

I've got the advantage of an additional 11" of wheelbase at 115" from a Blazer at 104" but is much shorter than the typical long bed's 127" that most people use pulling trailers. I'm going to install anti-sway bars, weight distribution hitch, and will be using trailer brakes (duel axles for sure) with a proportional controller. Because it's a 4x4 I've got the standard 2 leaf front springs and the 5 leaf rear springs with the additional overload spring. My Truck is going to be left at the stock 4x4 height and I've installed a 5,000 lb rated hide-a-hitch.

I need to upgrade my shocks and had planned on mounting Mickey Thompson 33x12.50 Baja ATZ Radials on 15"x10 aluminum 6 lug wheels. Do you think that the 3 ply side-walls on the MT tires would cause too much squishy side-play? And are there any particular shocks that would add to the stability of my truck while towing? Any trailer I would consider would be of the "ultralight" variety 18 to 19 feet long.

Thanks

[Lugnutt]

Also, the biggest challange I think I will have would be my having to cross the Siskiyou mountain pass often as I live in California but enjoy going to Oregon to camp and see my son. That pass has many curvy streatches with 6 degree down-hills.

[2fast55]

I rode over the Siskiyous going to a race in Yreka last summer with a friend towing a 72 k20 (the truck in my avatar. ~6000 lbs) on a 16' car trailer with this truck:



The trailer has brakes, but no controller on his truck. 33x12.50 tires, small lift, and airbags to help with tow duty. D44/12bolt axles, mild 350 and turbo 400 trans. The only problem we had was actually transmission temp from pulling way too hard up the hills. Just drive sanely and remember there is a trailer back there, and you should have no problems.

[Lugnutt]

Originally Posted by 2fast55

I rode over the Siskiyous going to a race in Yreka last summer with a friend towing a 72 k20 (the truck in my avatar. ~6000 lbs) on a 16' car trailer with this truck:



The trailer has brakes, but no controller on his truck. 33x12.50 tires, small lift, and airbags to help with tow duty. D44/12bolt axles, mild 350 and turbo 400 trans. The only problem we had was actually transmission temp from pulling way too hard up the hills. Just drive sanely and remember there is a trailer back there, and you should have no problems.

Thanks for the info. You say air bags helped with towing, were they in addition to your springs or replacement? I know what air bags are, got them on my RV, but am not familiar with them on these older trucks. Do you have a name brand and model number so I can read up on them?

Thanks,

[Lugnutt]

Originally Posted by 2fast55

I rode over the Siskiyous going to a race in Yreka last summer with a friend towing a 72 k20 (the truck in my avatar. ~6000 lbs) on a 16' car trailer with this truck:



The trailer has brakes, but no controller on his truck. 33x12.50 tires, small lift, and airbags to help with tow duty. D44/12bolt axles, mild 350 and turbo 400 trans. The only problem we had was actually transmission temp from pulling way too hard up the hills. Just drive sanely and remember there is a trailer back there, and you should have no problems.

Oh, by-the-way... the Syskiyou pass is paved now. jk

[mr48chev]

I don't see a real problem with towing a light weight trailer with that truck the way you have it set up.

I would however:

Get an equalizer hitch for the trailer. That will stabilize it and keep some of the tongue weight off the back of the truck. Sometimes you can find the whole setup on Craigslist or at swapmeets for a lot less than the new price. Do your homework first though to make sure that they aren't selling it with parts missing.

Get a brake controller. You want one that you can reach down and activate the trailer brakes by hand when you just want to hit the trailer brakes and not the truck brakes.

[2fast55]

Originally Posted by Lugnutt

You say air bags helped with towing, were they in addition to your springs or replacement? Do you have a name brand and model number so I can read up on them?

The red truck isn't mine, so I don't have a brand or model number, but they are in addition to the leaf springs. Depending on your overload leaf setup, I wouldn't worry about bags unless you are getting some serious rear sag. I completely agree with what mr48chev recommended. An equalizer/weight distribution setup on the trailer will keep the rear from squatting as much, and a properly adjusted brake controller with the manual override will make your towing way less stressful when it's time to slow it all down.

Originally Posted by Lugnutt

Oh, by-the-way... the Syskiyou pass is paved now. jk

As long as the racetracks stay dirt, I'll do plenty of asphalt miles to get to them.

[rsavage]

Anti-sway bar on the trailer to hitch helps a lot. They aren't expensive (the friction type) and really help in cross winds and when big rigs blow by you at 75-80 on the interstate.