1985 C10 Towing!

[Zach079xxx]

Hey guys, I have a 1985 GMC Sierra Classic half ton 2WD long-bed. Its got a rebuilt 350 transmission with a shift kit that I had rebuilt about 2 months ago. It is powered by a 350 crate, which I am getting built here in the next week. I have a couple questions. A buddy of mine lives in Ohio and he wants to move back to Virginia where I live, its a 6 hour drive one way. He's a mechanic, nothing crazy but has tools and some things he wants moved. I planned on renting a 6x10 enclosed to help move him. Whats your alls opinion on towing, how much weight I should carry, things like that. And lastly if my truck will do ok with it. I'm not sure if I wanna run my truck 12 hours round trip after a fresh rebuild. U-Hauls are crazy in price! Would cost over 800 dollars to move. Then again, it would kill me in gas as well in my truck. Looking for options. The man I purchased it off of said he has had 1 ton in the bed before....

I attached a picture of the way my truck sat with 2 bobcat scoops of mulch in the bed and 1 on the trailer. It sitting sideways on a hill, so that might change it also. I wonder how much weight that is?







Ready.. set.. go..!

[Tom]

It will tow whatever its rated too, which is at least 5000lbs. You'll be fine.

[Zach079xxx]

Not sure of what it's rated for. I've never driven it down the interstate either I use it for strictly highway no interstate. What's your view on interstate traveling that much after an engine build / 500 mile break in? I installed a class 3 Reese hitch W.D is 6500 W.C is 5000. What do those stand for?

Originally Posted by Tom

It will tow whatever its rated too, which is at least 5000lbs. You'll be fine.

[dieseldawg142]

yeah, 5000 would be a good number, whats your gears?
i would be watchin all my gauges & not the trailer-kinda low break in, there many hills between where you got to go?
and like any old square (mine's an '85 too) it will consume prodigious amounts of fuel in 12 hrs. buddy ever thought about renting a pickup? it's not 800 bucks.
want fun? pull a 4000lb boat threw mountains in a 1/2 ton with a powerglide ...
wd is a weight distributing hitch

[Zach079xxx]

I have 3.08 gears. Not sure of the route if it's got hills, I've never driven it. A uhaul is 30 a day then 89 cents per mile. My buddy cannot afford that

Originally Posted by dieseldawg142

yeah, 5000 would be a good number, whats your gears?
i would be watchin all my gauges & not the trailer-kinda low break in, there many hills between where you got to go?
and like any old square (mine's an '85 too) it will consume prodigious amounts of fuel in 12 hrs. buddy ever thought about renting a pickup? it's not 800 bucks.
want fun? pull a 4000lb boat threw mountains in a 1/2 ton with a powerglide ...
wd is a weight distributing hitch

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Life is an adventure. DO IT!

[Zach079xxx]

I'm really considering it! Just worried about my motor being ran that far right after a rebuild

Originally Posted by TwoFiftyShifter

Life is an adventure. DO IT!

[jdl71]

Originally Posted by Zach079xxx

Not sure of what it's rated for. I've never driven it down the interstate either I use it for strictly highway no interstate. What's your view on interstate traveling that much after an engine build / 500 mile break in? I installed a class 3 Reese hitch W.D is 6500 W.C is 5000. What do those stand for?

Weight distributing and weight carrying. Without a lengthy explanation, there is a 99.9999% chance what you are doing will be weight carrying, the lower rating. The other is for heavier trailers (usually campers) that have much heavier tongue weights and use the spring bars, special hitch head, etc.

[cadillac_al]

You have 500 miles on the rebuild? I would change the oil and take a road trip. It should be broken in enough anyway. Your friend is a mechanic with tools so you shouldn't have to worry about break downs.

[jdl71]

Besides that, it's a small block chevy. Keep some oil in it, and don't let it overheat more than a few times and it will be fine.

[Zach079xxx]

Lmao only overheat a couple times ehhh? Lmao! And no, it's being built this coming Monday then I will need to do a break in

[jdl71]

Yeah, it was slightly tongue in cheek, but I think you get the idea. Those motors are reliable as a hammer. Even if neglected it seems like they continue to run. Sometimes poorly, but running none the less. Lol

[73kay]

I went to college in eastern Ohio and traveled to dc and pretty much all over va. There will be some serious hills in western pa and wv depending on the route. With those gears it will kinda suck a bit going uphill but I have 3.40 and you'll make it but it will just be slow.

Make sure you have trailer brakes. I was towing a c10 longbed around town and I was taking a turn real slow I thought and I started to lose control. Let off the brakes and regained control. Totally stupid but I learned to not cut corners even around town.

Bottom line: slow and steady and make sure your trailer is braked. The drive is pretty and nice. There are probably 5x major hills and a tunnel or two if you take the pa turnpike. Good luck to Ya!

[73kay]

My load: 1200 lbs trailer with about 4500 lbs c10 Lwb. Total: 6700

[Edahall]

I noticed on your photo that you've got oversized tires. This will really cut back on your pulling power and braking. With that setup (3.08 gears and oversized tires), it's going to be very sluggish. You'll be spending a lot of time in 2nd gear.

I would be looking for a different rear axle or smaller diameter tires before even considering this trip.
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[Zach079xxx]

They're 33s. I have my rally's still in the garage mounted with tires