towing capacity ??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

lewi · 10-07-2004, 02:04 PM

I am considering buying a toybox trailer. I currently tow about 5000 lbs and don't have to slow down in the montains, doesn't shift down with the 350 trans on all but the steepist of grades. My thoughts are towing closer to 12,000 to 15,000 lbs loaded and how the truck will handle that. I have a new tranny cooler, 4 core radiatior, and rebuilt tranny and rear end. The moter is new 383 running 9 to 1 with edelbrock 600, headers and so on.

My question is ......Is anyone else already doing this? My other option is to keep the enclosed trailer I use now and buy a motor home, but that is alot more expensive.

Longhorn Man · 10-07-2004, 04:07 PM

Acording to the book....and asuming you have 3.07 gears, with a 350 you can tow 6500, and with a 402, you can tow 7000...another asumption is that your ride is a half ton.

Robert1970C20rstbukt · 10-07-2004, 06:36 PM

The max. GVW rating on my truck is 7200lbs, mines a 3/4 ton. I think it's 11000 for a 1 ton, then you get into the medium/heavy duty 40-60 trucks after that.

Longhorn Man · 10-07-2004, 07:41 PM

The GVW is the weight the truck can max out at, not what it can tow. You would want the CGVW for that number. (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight) Not all trucks in the same class had the same GVW, my one ton has a GVW of only 9000 pounds.

lewi · 10-08-2004, 04:09 PM

You guys are on track. After checking yeaterday it looks more like 10,000 to 12,000 pounds loaded for the trailer. I am wondering what the weight rating is based on, the braking power of the truck only? With electric brakes and a torque oriented 383 where would I have problems with the wieght???? Does anyone else tow heavier trailers??? Is it a drivetrain issue??

lewi · 10-08-2004, 04:12 PM

I see huge trailers and or 5th wheels being towed by pick ups all the time, I'm just trying to figure out if the "Old Girl" is up to the task?

Longhorn Man · 10-08-2004, 08:45 PM

Well, the specs I listed are from dealers books, and the capacity goes up with towing gears, and also goes up with bigger engines.
In all reality, that sucker will probably tow what ever you hook up to. I have towed a 5 ton GMC Flexible bus (think big city inner city bus...rear mounted 318 V-6 detroit) for almost 5 miles about a year ago. I was haul;ing it about 45 - 50 MPH...he was doing all the braking.

Tynee · 10-08-2004, 09:44 PM

Andy, do you by chance have pics pulling that bus down the road? I bet that looked FUNNY!

68w/sbc406 · 10-08-2004, 09:48 PM

that would have made a good chevy/GMC comercial

Longhorn Man · 10-08-2004, 11:05 PM

no, no pics.
It was at work, all the shop trucks were out except the flat bed which is an F-150 300/5 speed which has something like a 2.73 in the rear axle...that thing can hardly take off without a load...let alone a 5 ton brick tied to the bumper, so i had to take my truck. The dude was on a test drive after replacing the heads. The f;eet manager didn't want us to deck the block, just said replace the heads. It blew BOTH head gaskets on the test drive, and couldn't pull it's own weight.
I wanted to tow him faster, but he would tap the brakes and almost make me kiss the steering wheel, so I held it at 50. Got some funny looks as I was buzzin down the road with a 40 foot chain and a huge friggen bus on the back.
No pics.

this was while I was between camers. I think it was right after leaving the Fuji digi-cam in the rain.

Longhorn Man · 10-08-2004, 11:35 PM

It was one of these suckers.

10-07-2004, 02:04 PM	#1
lewi Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Redding California Posts: 223	towing capacity ??? I am considering buying a toybox trailer. I currently tow about 5000 lbs and don't have to slow down in the montains, doesn't shift down with the 350 trans on all but the steepist of grades. My thoughts are towing closer to 12,000 to 15,000 lbs loaded and how the truck will handle that. I have a new tranny cooler, 4 core radiatior, and rebuilt tranny and rear end. The moter is new 383 running 9 to 1 with edelbrock 600, headers and so on. My question is ......Is anyone else already doing this? My other option is to keep the enclosed trailer I use now and buy a motor home, but that is alot more expensive. __________________ 1971 Chevy Cheyenne 383/350 LWB 2wd Built to use, and look good.

10-07-2004, 06:36 PM	#3
Robert1970C20rstbukt Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Beeville, Texas Posts: 1,943	The max. GVW rating on my truck is 7200lbs, mines a 3/4 ton. I think it's 11000 for a 1 ton, then you get into the medium/heavy duty 40-60 trucks after that. __________________ RJD 1984 Chevrolet C30 welding truck 454/SM465 1977 GMC C15 pickup 350/TH350 1970 Chevrolet C20 pickup 350/TH400 1970 Chevrolet K20 Suburban 454/TH350 1969 GMC 8500 478M V6/5 spd winch truck

10-08-2004, 04:09 PM	#5
lewi Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Redding California Posts: 223	You guys are on track. After checking yeaterday it looks more like 10,000 to 12,000 pounds loaded for the trailer. I am wondering what the weight rating is based on, the braking power of the truck only? With electric brakes and a torque oriented 383 where would I have problems with the wieght???? Does anyone else tow heavier trailers??? Is it a drivetrain issue?? __________________ 1971 Chevy Cheyenne 383/350 LWB 2wd Built to use, and look good.

10-08-2004, 04:12 PM	#6
lewi Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Redding California Posts: 223	I see huge trailers and or 5th wheels being towed by pick ups all the time, I'm just trying to figure out if the "Old Girl" is up to the task? __________________ 1971 Chevy Cheyenne 383/350 LWB 2wd Built to use, and look good.

10-08-2004, 09:44 PM	#8
Tynee I miss this truck. Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lexington, KY U.S.A. Posts: 2,863	Andy, do you by chance have pics pulling that bus down the road? I bet that looked FUNNY! __________________ '07 GMC Acadia SLT. Sweet ride. '08 Crew Cab Z-71 short bed. Really like this truck A LOT.

10-07-2004, 04:07 PM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Acording to the book....and asuming you have 3.07 gears, with a 350 you can tow 6500, and with a 402, you can tow 7000...another asumption is that your ride is a half ton.

10-07-2004, 07:41 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	The GVW is the weight the truck can max out at, not what it can tow. You would want the CGVW for that number. (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight) Not all trucks in the same class had the same GVW, my one ton has a GVW of only 9000 pounds.

10-08-2004, 08:45 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Well, the specs I listed are from dealers books, and the capacity goes up with towing gears, and also goes up with bigger engines. In all reality, that sucker will probably tow what ever you hook up to. I have towed a 5 ton GMC Flexible bus (think big city inner city bus...rear mounted 318 V-6 detroit) for almost 5 miles about a year ago. I was haul;ing it about 45 - 50 MPH...he was doing all the braking.

10-08-2004, 09:48 PM	#9
68w/sbc406 Got Light Emitting Diode? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 2,485	that would have made a good chevy/GMC comercial __________________ 1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's(the family car) 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler

10-08-2004, 11:05 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	no, no pics. It was at work, all the shop trucks were out except the flat bed which is an F-150 300/5 speed which has something like a 2.73 in the rear axle...that thing can hardly take off without a load...let alone a 5 ton brick tied to the bumper, so i had to take my truck. The dude was on a test drive after replacing the heads. The f;eet manager didn't want us to deck the block, just said replace the heads. It blew BOTH head gaskets on the test drive, and couldn't pull it's own weight. I wanted to tow him faster, but he would tap the brakes and almost make me kiss the steering wheel, so I held it at 50. Got some funny looks as I was buzzin down the road with a 40 foot chain and a huge friggen bus on the back. No pics. this was while I was between camers. I think it was right after leaving the Fuji digi-cam in the rain.

10-08-2004, 11:35 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	It was one of these suckers.



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