My truck's finally home!!

[svgould]

After three long years in Wyoming, my truck is now here with me in Idaho. Here is a pic of me getting ready to make the trek! Now I just have to finish putting it back together...YIPEE!!!!

[Palf70Step]

Congratulations

[tomatocity]

Babys back! How was the trek? Did it tow well? Any tips for towing?

[tnblazerk5]

well at least ya got it home with ya now !! how did it pull with the truck backed on the trailer ?

[chevy71super]

Cool. I am interested in knowing how the SS did pulling the truck. I need to retreive one in Montana with my SS and there are 4 mountain passes between me and the truck. Continental divide twice. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

[GMan69]

Is that the ride height of your truck or is it sitting lower from being strapped down? 2 1/2" drop spindles and 4" drop springs? Looks good.

[Joe67]

Nice tow rig

[67ChevyRedneck]

Having trailer brakes is a must. My uncle drove my 67 to NY from SC back in 96 and I bought it from him. I moved to SC in 99 and a few years ago he towed my truck down for me on a 24' car trailer with a 97 5.7L 2wd X-cab silverado with trailer brakes. He said he had no problems and he was able to go highway speeds. I've used his truck/trailer to haul several cars and it pulled and handled well. I can only assume a newer truck, especially an SS, would have even more power.

Nice trucks! What exaclty needs to be put back together, looks pretty complete.

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Having trailer brakes is a must. My uncle drove my 67 to NY from SC back in 96 and I bought it from him. I moved to SC in 99 and a few years ago he towed my truck down for me on a 24' car trailer with a 97 5.7L 2wd X-cab silverado with trailer brakes. He said he had no problems and he was able to go highway speeds. I've used his truck/trailer to haul several cars and it pulled and handled well. I can only assume a newer truck, especially an SS, would have even more power.

Nice trucks! What exaclty needs to be put back together, looks pretty complete.

Be damn careful. I watched my brother almost die in a wreck when he was hauling a Caprice on a car trailer with his 90 454 SS. They are a short bed and they are unstable under braking. The short wheelbase makes them darty at best. He was coming down a hill and someone pulled over in front of him and he had to brake and change lanes and then it was a rodeo from then on. He made it, but the butt pleat in the seat said it all. They have the power, but a lwb is more stable, and I'd put the front on first to keep the weight off of the back which will lighten the hitch (@ss end of your truck) and make it more squirrelly. My opinion, but I almost lost my brother that night and I would be REAL careful pulling a car trailer with a short bed.

[Joe67]

If anything fast happens when towing a loaded trailer it can be a dangersous situation.

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

Be damn careful. I watched my brother almost die in a wreck when he was hauling a Caprice on a car trailer with his 90 454 SS. They are a short bed and they are unstable under braking. The short wheelbase makes them darty at best. He was coming down a hill and someone pulled over in front of him and he had to brake and change lanes and then it was a rodeo from then on. He made it, but the butt pleat in the seat said it all. They have the power, but a lwb is more stable, and I'd put the front on first to keep the weight off of the back which will lighten the hitch (@ss end of your truck) and make it more squirrelly. My opinion, but I almost lost my brother that night and I would be REAL careful pulling a car trailer with a short bed.

I should have looked at the pict better, I was thinking a 90 model SS 45s that is a short bed. I own one now (My brother in the above story passed away from another unrelated car accident) in his memory, but I'd think twice about hauling with it. Ignore my above post unless you too have aSWB and want to haul a car with it.

Mike

[svgould]

To answer a few of the questions.....The SS actually pulled very well, I ran about 70-75 MPH the entire way. On the bigger hills, the truck would down shift, but still hold the same speed (there are 2 big passes between here and there). Got about 11-12 MPG and actually found gas for $1.42/gallon in southern Wyoming. With the 71 backed onto the trailer the weight was almost perfect, but I also had about 600 lbs of other weight in the back of the SS.
The 71 is sitting at about ride height, not sucked down much at all with straps...yes its 2.5 spindles front and 4 inch springs rear. I need to put the interior in, start the motor, brakes, and other misc cosemetic things to complete.

Shane

[AKChevyman]

Well svgould if you need an hand drop me a line I am in the middle of my frame up. Plus I found a guy in Nampa the other day that has all the part we can get our hands and wallets around ;o)

[llegos]

Originally Posted by svgould

Got about 11-12 MPG and actually found gas for $1.42/gallon in southern Wyoming.

time to start digging a pipeline....thats over $1 cheaper than regular out here

[Tx Firefighter]

A good rule of thumb is 10 percent of the overall trailer weight should be tongue weight. Any less will greatly increse chance of it swaying to and fro causing troubles like posted above.

In my opinion, it's not the shortbed truck pulling the load that's an issue, it's the weight of the short bed truck. I pull heavy all the time with my two Cummins diesel short bed trucks. But, my trucks weigh about 8k pounds, so they are heavy enough to control the trailer, not the other way around.