some C30 questions....

[fluffyfreak]

Since the gearhead portion of my brain overruns the logical portion of it I find myself in need of a more robust tow pig than my c1500 suburban (2 minitrucks and the needed trailer I think would be a bit much even with a s/c'd 6.0 ls) so im considering areg cab C30 dually static dropped. Would be pulling either a gooseneck 40 footer or if I can find one for the right price, a 3 car hauler. Can this truck handle this load? Im mainly concerned about braking and the such. As far as power I gotta few ideas floating around. Thanks for the help in advance

[lilspike]

Its one thing to have the engine to go, but ya gotta have the whoa too. First thing to consider is you overall GVW rating. Gross Vehicle Weight rating. Look at the sticker in the cab it will tell you. Then look at the GVW of the trailer you intend to use. Add the two together. That will be your total GVW of rating. You have to be careful because it could possibly put you in the CDL category in some states. I am no authority on this by any means, however I do know that some localities have been nailing farmers with severe fines. Check with your local DMV . Yes the Chassis should be up to the task for what you want to do. You will want some form of trailer brakes as well. Again most localities require trailer brakes for trailers over so many feet in length. Thus you will have to add the proper controller as well. Hope this helps.
Matthew
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[fluffyfreak]

It does Matthew, thanks! Guess I need to lock down which trailer I'm gonna get first, then go from there.
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[Desert1957]

Originally Posted by fluffyfreak

Since the gearhead portion of my brain overruns the logical portion of it I find myself in need of a more robust tow pig than my c1500 suburban (2 minitrucks and the needed trailer I think would be a bit much even with a s/c'd 6.0 ls) so im considering areg cab C30 dually static dropped. Would be pulling either a gooseneck 40 footer or if I can find one for the right price, a 3 car hauler. Can this truck handle this load? Im mainly concerned about braking and the such. As far as power I gotta few ideas floating around. Thanks for the help in advance

Not sure if your talking enclosed on the 40 footer, 3 car hauler will definitely not be enclosed.

40 Footer won't hold 3 cars, Its will have to be a "Gooseneck" style trailer. This means you loose the first 8 - 10 Foot of floor space for the 5th wheel part of the trailer. The remaining space will not hold 3 cars.

I have seen plenty of 3 car haulers with Duallys, not my first choice for Tow vehicle.

If your going to purchase a stacker trailer IMO would not use a Dually, need something bigger. maybe even an RV Motorcoach.

What are you hauling? Show vehicles, Drag Racing?

Sounds like big $$$$$$ investment.

Desert

[Desert1957]

This what your thinking about?


Desert

[fluffyfreak]

Yep, exactly what I want if I go with a 3 car hauler. I have 2 minitrucks and a suburban that are all bagged and 1 (maybe 2) bodydropped. A stacker trailer and a tiger home would be the bomb diggity, but I'm not retired yet! Plenty of of guys I know use those rigs you pictured to haul 3 rides but most all of em have crewcabs, my main question was about the older chassis holding up to the weight. As far as the goosenecks go I neighbor has one with a 40 ft deck that he'll sell me for a good price
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[fluffyfreak]

Oh and no enclosed, just open, unless its something like this a d i have the finaces available http://www.racingjunk.com/Cargo-Encl...R-TRAILER.html

[fluffyfreak]

http://www.dreamhauler.com/3-car-trailer---outside.html :drool:

[andrewmp6]

I wouldn't try it in a older truck they are not rated like the newer ones on a legal side.And your gas mileage will be like 8mpg probably pulling that much weight.If you had a newer diesel 1ton or bigger then i would try it.

[Bowedup]

I have a 40ft Husky brand gooseneck, & I can tell you that thing is heavy. Empty trailer weighs 8,600lbs. It takes a stout motor to drag it with a load. I pulled it with an '04 Dodge dually & the pair empty came in at just over 16,000 on the scales, made it hard to actually load the trailer down. I think an older C30 will be a fine chassis if you add some overload springs & a mountain of torque under the hood (stout big block or diesel conversion). I had to drag my trailer empty one time with my old '84 F350 with the 6.9L diesel, even with 5.13 gears it would only run 52mph flat out.

Here's a pic of mine heading to a tractor pull a few years ago, tipped the scales at 36.458lbs on this load.



Scott
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[fluffyfreak]

I'm not expecting to get amazing gas milage or anything guys. I know im gonna be spending a lot on gas. I juat wanna know if the older chassis is up to the task. I plan on a supercharged bigblock if I go this route
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[fluffyfreak]

What transmission should I go with, turbo400 or 4L80?

[Zane M]

Originally Posted by fluffyfreak

What transmission should I go with, turbo400 or 4L80?

If this is primarily a tow rig, I would go with a heavily built TH400.
Towing the weight you are planning on, you aren't going to be using overdrive anyway.

[07XCSBZ71]

I had a 88 R30 flatbed std cab. I pulled a 3 car like the one pictured with it, it did fine. I had a mild warmed up 454 with a 4spd. I got 8-9 mpg. I was only towing 3 Corvettes, but it still did good. I bought a 85 C30 std cab and plan to go the same route as I did with my 88 except 8.1 5spd.

I would go S/C 8.1 with a 4L60E if I was wanting auto. I think it would be a mean set up.

[comegetsome2003]

i own a 91 square dually.....its bagged with 3800# bags over the axle in the rear.....it will handle the weight of the goosenecks we have but i havent loaded down a wedge with 3 cars on it.....im sure it would hold it but you sure wont get in a hurry pulling it....my truck already has a Cummins swap and it really doesnt like the weight like i hoped it would......my Duramax is a 06 model.....has 5 inch exhaust, intake, and EFI live tune and it will pull alot more weight than my Cummins.....if i was you and you just wanted to tow with the truck id find me a 02-03ish model Duramax dually and pick it up.....you can find them for 10k or alittle more and have alot more truck

[jimbonice]

C-30's are rated at 10,000 lb GVW at stock ride height. I think you'd be pushing it.

[fluffyfreak]

Originally Posted by jimbonice

C-30's are rated at 10,000 lb GVW at stock ride height. I think you'd be pushing it.

I found 12.5k searching the interweb. Im thinking imma look for a 88-98. Im not so concerned with being able to run over 80 on the high as much as I am about being able to go up hills, and stop. As well as not blowing up the motor and trans

[jimbonice]

If you're looking for a square, they're 10,000.

[83GMCK2500]

In the late 70s early 80s squares there were some "Trailering Special" packages that had up to 15,000 GVW. I have a 10k or 13k emblem from one, and I know there was a 15k.

[jimbonice]

I've got a "trailering special" 11,000 lb "gcw" emblem that came off a single axle truck. The dually's lost towing capacity because of the extra weight of the rear axle. GVW versus GCW is the difference between total trick and cargo capacity, and total truck and towed vehicle weight. I'm not disputing that there may have been higher advertised weight ratings; I'm guessing they have been in chassis cab models.

[arrover]

This thread made me curious so I went out and looked at my truck. It's an 1982 crew cab, single rear wheel.

[bucannon]

Originally Posted by fluffyfreak

Im mainly concerned about braking and the such.

Hey i swapped 3/4 ton suspension and brakes into my C-10. You could get a 1 ton drop spindle and use 1 ton control arms. Then run 1 ton brakes, that should stop it! also get an electronic trailer braking controller in the truck, then you can run electric trailer brakes. the chassis can handle it for sure, add some bracing and/or boxing to the frame if you want to.