how much can it haul?

[bad_turbo]

I am moving from southern cali to new jersey within a month. I have a 99 suburban 3/4 ton 4x4 I was planning on loading up and towing a 6x12 enclosed uhaul trailer. The trailer costs $800 to rent. OR.... I was thinking I could buy a 67-72 chevy 3/4 truck(not sure if I need a 4x4), since I will need a second vehicle out there anyways, buy an open car trailer(so I can sell it when I get out there to get my money back) and put the suburban on the trailer all loaded up. I can put the fridge, dryer and big dresser in the back of the truck. Is this too much for the truck to handle though? I would rather put the wear and tear on an old truck than my newer one. I trust them more to make that kind of trip!

[67ChevyRedneck]

Sorry, but there may be a few problems with that idea. Suburbans are super heavy. I think they weigh around 7,000 pounds??? someone correct me if I'm wrong. I have a 24 foot long car trailer and I believe that it weighs 2400 pounds. That is a buttload of weight to be hauling well over 2000 miles. I hate to say it, but, buying a 35 year old truck and expecting to jump in it and haul all that weight all that distance is a little crazy. Too many things to break. If you just buy some old beater with a 3sp manual or turbo 350 chances are you are going to have a heck of a time keeping up with traffic, too low geared. It would be 55mph the whole way, not to mention about 10mpg. The only way I would do it was if I bought a modified truck with a rebuilt 350 and a 700R4 or 4L60 that has been driven regularly. I am totally for you buying a 67-72, but I don't suggest you do what you are proposing to do. And, from experience, I grew up in the country part of NY, THERE ARE NOT GOOD ORIGINAL TRUCKS IN THE NORTHEAST. NONE. If you want a 67-72, and I really do suggest buying one!, buy one from California before you go. Good luck and have a safe trip when you do go!

[stelth2002]

I have to partially disagree. The burb will be reluckant to get 10 loaded to the max with a 496. Buy a solid 3/4 ton truck with a turbo 400 and get er done. Hes right youll be going 55-60, but in the burb you probably wouldnt want to go much faster than 70 with a load like that. The difference traveling 2k miles at 60 vs. 70 is about 4 hours. I think its an ok idea, if your looking for a 67-72 truck.
About the tranny. even if he had a 700 or a 4l60(quite simialar) theres NO way that he should be pulling that load with it in overdrive. SORRY

[bad_turbo]

thanks guys for the comments. I know it sounds a little crazy. My suburban is all stock with the big block motor, and it weighs 8500lbs. If I buy the truck out here, I can't come up with any other way to get everything back there. I'm driving by myself. The wife and kids are flying out. The suburban gets about 12 mpg towing in overdrive.

[dwaite72lnghrn]

I think it is TOO much. You are looking at 11,000 lbs in trailer and sub plus what is in the bed. You are looking at a C30 in good condition, You will need a 12,000lb trailer to do it, $4000 if you buy it and no resale when you get here. What all are you bringing back? If it is just the refridge then $800 will buy a lot of refridge when you get here. JMHO But I do see alot of people pushing the limit everyday, I just don't do it.

[bad_turbo]

were not hauling too much stuff. Fridge, dryer, big dresser, baby crib and about 10 boxes 15x15 inch. Your right, though, might need a 1 ton.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I agree that OD would probably be off almost the entire trip, but a 700R4 DOES have a lower 1st and 2nd gear than a turbo 350, not sure about the 400. If your willing to buy a 1 ton with a 4 speed manual may be your best bet. Make sure the engine, drivetrain, and brakes are good. If your going to be hauling all that weight a 71 or 72 with disk brakes is a must, or a 67-69 with disks, but most didnt come with them stock. I can't imagine stopping 10-12000 pounds with drums....talk about skid marks in the pants!!! Drive it around as much as possible to make sure no little quirks come up. Once again, good luck and have a safe trip!!!

[bad_turbo]

Now I just need to find a 1 ton truck near socal for sale!

[86SILVERADO]

I have a 10000lb 18' long tralier that I haul my John Deere 855 around with for my business in my 67 C30. Some advice on the trip.....
This is how I always do it:

Pros:
1. You may be able to score a nice rust free cali truck to bring back here.
2. You could put the 800 into something that would be yours rather than throwing it away.
3. No wear and tear on the suburban

Cons:
1. Slow going in potentially bad weather that time of year.
2. Everyone flying past you while you are doing 55 MAX on the highway. The Whole way.
3. Trailer brakes being the only thing stopping that kind of load.
4. Unless you find a dually, a rear blowout and you are all done.
5. Not sure exactly the percentage of towing weight that would factor into the gvw of the truck but even with a 10000lb truck I am pretty sure you will be overweight and could be a big fine if pulled over.
6 Buying a used vehicle which takes at least a year of two before you will be able to really trust that you have gotten the major unexpecteds out of the way.
7. You are a family man not some kid with nothing to lose.
8. Your 99 suburban is much more likely to make the trip than any 67-72 out there.
9. The extra expense of setting up the new truck to tow the trailer which could be the cost of the brake controller, hitch and wiring plus installation.

In my book so far the "cons" have it.

[YellowMenace]

This thread has me kind of bummed. I bought my 72 to tow my car to drag races at pretty great distances. I plan to go to most, if not all, of the Fun Ford Weekends (yeah,yeah,yeah, flame on) next year. I have done a lot of work to make the truck capable and reliable for this task. After reading this thread I'm beginning to wonder if this was a good idea.

Here's what I've done:

new ball joints
new tires
new springs all around (HD in rear)
new shocks
new brake shoes and pads
new calipers and wheel cylinders
rebuilt 350 with hyper pistons and pink rods, mild cam, full roller rockers, and edelbrock intake
HEI ignition
new engine harness
new rear bushings
new dual exhaust
rebuilt 700R4
rebuilt driveshaft with new carrier bearing and new U-joints
bought but not yet installed posi and 3.73 gears with new bearings including axle bearings.
bought but not yet installed vintage air
01 Silverado 40-20-40 seat
rebuilt tilt column
new internally regulated alternator
American Racing spun alum. wheels
bought but not yet installed cab and bed bushings
bought but not yet installed door rubber and window rattle kit
new windshield
Prodigy trailer brake controller
frame hitch

I'm sure I've forgotten some stuff.

I'm hoping that with all the money I've poured into this truck, it's a different situation than this thread is talking about.

So with all the refresh and upgrades, do you guys still thing that long distance towing with these trucks is a bad idea?

What else should I do to ensure reliability?

The trailer is about 1900# and my mustang is about 3200#

[67ChevyRedneck]

Woah, I think you missed the point. bad_turbo wants to buy a truck, only have it for a couple weeks, and pull over 12 THOUSAND POUNDS with it about 2500 MILES!!!! My 67 was my daily driver, junkyard tranny with high miles blew, but it has a COMPLETELY rebuilt front suspesion, power disks, 350 crate engine, 650 edelbrock, 700R4...next tranny WILL NOT be from a 'yard.....when I did all the work I had small problems off and on for a couple of weeks, nothing major or expensive. I drove her locally and got the kinks worked out. I put 6000 miles on it before my JUNKYARD tranny blew. I ran out of money after I did the engine and front suspension. This was last year during my last year at college and I drove 400 miles round trip to home and back about once a month. I also drove it to myrtle beech one weekend, I think I put 600 miles on her that weekend. If the work is done right, and you don't use cheap parts like I did, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the reliability of these trucks, especially with all the new stuff your truck has. Drive it for about a month before you start towing and stay local. Then tow and drive away!!! My earlier response wasn't meant to deter bad_turbo from buying a 67-72, but to let him know that jumping in an original truck that you just bought and towing something that heavy, let alone driving it, all that distance isn't a great idea. I personally would do it if the truck I bought was full of new goodies like yours! Enjoy your truck and tow away!!!

[70 shorty]

I know this isn't what you want, but I'd buy the truck, put it on the trailer and tow it with the Suburban.

[dwaite72lnghrn]

I agree these trucks when taken care of can do everything a new truck can do. But I also think if Bad turbo was thinking about sub resale he would do better buying a c10/c20 no rust trailering that on a 7000lb (about $2000) trailer and selling it when he got east. His turnover cash on the c10 would cover any wear and tear on the sub. I don't think resale on a 3/4 sub in the east will be great but 4x4 could offset the size. My truck has pulled a 7000lb trailer with my GMC on it no problems I also pull a 23' travel trailer and I hope to put alot of miles on it in the future.
Yellow menace you are going to have a nice rig to pull what you have. But I wouldn't try a cross country trip in a new to me truck.
The new trucks with 8.1 or 6.6 duramax are only rated 12000lb trailer. again JMHO

[PanelDeland]

I'd rent a Uhaul and take my stuff.Then pick a 67-72 from there and go get it.I think you're asking for trouble driving a 30 year old truck with unknowns that far.And I certainly wouldn't do it with that kind of load.
JMHO

[YellowMenace]

Originally Posted by dwaite72lnghrn

I wouldn't try a cross country trip in a new to me truck.

I may not have been clear. I've done this work over the last 6 months or so. I drive the truck every weekend and occassionally during the week since the seat replacement. It's a little cold right now to drive to work without heat. I just bought the trailer last week so that I can start towing to local races from now til march when the first FFW race is in Orlando. This way, I plan to get some practice towing with the truck and trailer and get good at loading and unloading before the first long trip.

I felt that my situation was considerably different than the original subject of this thread but I wanted to get some feedback. I think that my experience may be a good proof point about what it takes to get a truck ready for a long tow.

I was also hoping for some experiences/opinions about pulling around 5000# with a 350/700R4/3.73 combo.

[bad_turbo]

Originally Posted by dwaite72lnghrn

The new trucks with 8.1 or 6.6 duramax are only rated 12000lb trailer. again JMHO

The Duramax/Allison combo is highly underated. Been towing a 3-car trailer with them for a few years now with minimal problems.

Thanks guys for all the opinions!

[dwaite72lnghrn]

Bad Turbo I agree on the Duramax ratings being under rated. And if you were pulling a fifth wheel trailer you could pull more weight, The duramax page has people with GCVW's running near 24,000lbs and up. But the manufacture rates them at 16,400 trailer 5th wheel which puts GCVW around 19,000. But a 5ver is so much nicer to pull than a hitch trailer.

[hgs_notes]

Take it from someone thats moved long distances too many times, rent a uhaul/ryder truck and haul your load. This is a big move and you and your family will be stressed enough. Rent a truck and trailer, pull your burb on the trailer and your stuff in the truck. Get to Jersey safe and sound with as few problems as possible. Going across two mountain ranges pulling about 10000 lbs of stuff is hard enough without trying to do it with a 30+ year old truck. Trust me, your family and you will thank me later.

HG

[GMC AMI]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

THERE ARE NOT GOOD ORIGINAL TRUCKS IN THE NORTHEAST. NONE.

Not completely true, the none part! I have seen a few and own one 68 that has only been repainted once. I think you will need at least a one ton or tow with the Burb IMO. Keep it safe, buy a truck, put your things in the bed and haul everything with the Burb.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I know that's not completely true, but 99% of the original unrestored trucks I ever looked at...that are originially FROM the northeast were crap. The good one's I did look at were quoted to be "southern" or "western" trucks. Mike_files has an excellent idea. The frige, dryer, crib, and dresser should fit in the bed of a truck. Buy a cheap tow dolly, put the boxes in the back of the 'burb, put the loaded truck on the dolley and hoof it!