Wanting to tow with my 71 LB C10

[Shon]

I have a 71 LB C10 that I want to tow my car/trailer with. it has the 350/350 combo and 3.73s.
I am guessing I need either air shocks or air bags to help the suspension and I need a Class IV hitch set up, any recommendations?

Also, the truck is a manual set up with front disc/rear drums, I want to run a brake controller for the trailer, should I convert to a power brake set up? if so, where is a good place to order the stuff from?

Thanks, SH

[haysonj]

The brake controller is for electric trailer brakes and is not affected by the truck brakes although it would be better to have power brakes when towing takes less foot pressure to apply brakes. Air shocks would help if you have a lot of tongue weight but stiffer springs and anti sway bars are better. I put the Draw-tite hitch on mine it is a direct bolt on application rated at 7500 pounds

[Shon]

Trailer has the electric brakes and I will have a brake controller, i feel safer that way....

any suggestions on teh stiffer springs, like part numbers or companies to start looking into?

Originally Posted by haysonj

The brake controller is for electric trailer brakes and is not affected by the truck brakes although it would be better to have power brakes when towing takes less foot pressure to apply brakes. Air shocks would help if you have a lot of tongue weight but stiffer springs and anti sway bars are better. I put the Draw-tite hitch on mine it is a direct bolt on application rated at 7500 pounds

[chris71]

Originally Posted by Shon

any suggestions on teh stiffer springs, like part numbers or companies to start looking into?

someone told me that the heavy duty springs on the C10 were actually stock C20 rear springs (3/4 ton) i have seem in LMC that they have 3/4 ton heavey duty springs too. if this is the case then you can get stiffer springs through just about any of the major companies or site vendors

[Shon]

Originally Posted by chris71

someone told me that the heavy duty springs on the C10 were actually stock C20 rear springs (3/4 ton) i have seem in LMC that they have 3/4 ton heavey duty springs too. if this is the case then you can get stiffer springs through just about any of the major companies or site vendors

I had heard that too.

[Shon]

Any suggestions as to the hitch I might need:

Draw tite part numbers:
41504 http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/search?q=41504

41903 http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/search?q=41903

75034 http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/search?q=75034

[haysonj]

Originally Posted by Shon

Any suggestions as to the hitch I might need:

Draw tite part numbers:
41504 http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/search?q=41504

41903 http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/search?q=41903

75034 http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/search?q=75034

I have the 75034 and it is good up to 5000 lbs my trailer weighs about 1200 and a truck only weighs about 4000 so I see no problem Just make sure you have the 1 inch shank on your ball

[badpeanut]

I tow a 16' car trailer about once a year with my '72 1/2-ton two-wheel drive with 350/TH350, 3.08 gears, leaf rear suspension, and front power disks/rear drums. I have a hydraulic brake controller plumbed into the brake lines and electric brakes on one axle of the trailer; this setup works well. The leaf rear suspension needs no extra help.

Your 3.37s will pull better over the hills than my 3.08s.

[chevguy7]

PO of my truck used to have a camper on it. He had adjustable air shocks on the truck for when he drove with the camper. Do get electric brakes for the trailer.