1970 CST-10 Boat Towing

[beeftip]

To tow or not to tow...

3 speed manual
Manual Disc Brakes
Coil rear springs
No idea what the final drive ratio is
350 V8
Hitch is attached to frame and appears beefy

I have no idea what shape the suspension and bushings are "really" in. I know I can load the bed with a 1/2 ton of crap and everything handles fine.

Willing to upgrade to Power Disc on the front.

I walked into a nice deal where I'm trading my web development services for a boat. The truck is just sitting around anyway, maybe I can use it to tow the boat. I'm as green as it gets when it comes to trailering a boat regardless of the tow vehicle.

Boat and trailer weight will not exceed 3,000 pounds. Trailer will have surge brakes.

The biggest question is can I safely stop with power discs on the front? Next biggest question is getting up hills. What if I just keep the drums and get a power booster?

I appreciate all honest opinions on this. If I'm a moron for thinking of attempting it, then say so. Lord knows we don't need anymore idiots on the road. I've got no problem selling the truck in order to get a more suitable tow vehicle.

[Cyclone44]

I tow a 28 foot pontoon with my 69 and it's a 6 cyl. 3 spd. manual...No problems at all...

[Jtrux]

Originally Posted by beeftip

To tow or not to tow...

3 speed manual
Manual Disc Brakes
Coil rear springs
No idea what the final drive ratio is
350 V8
Hitch is attached to frame and appears beefy

I have no idea what shape the suspension and bushings are "really" in. I know I can load the bed with a 1/2 ton of crap and everything handles fine.

Willing to upgrade to Power Disc on the front.

I walked into a nice deal where I'm trading my web development services for a boat. The truck is just sitting around anyway, maybe I can use it to tow the boat. I'm as green as it gets when it comes to trailering a boat regardless of the tow vehicle.

Boat and trailer weight will not exceed 3,000 pounds. Trailer will have surge brakes.

The biggest question is can I safely stop with power discs on the front? Next biggest question is getting up hills. What if I just keep the drums and get a power booster?

I appreciate all honest opinions on this. If I'm a moron for thinking of attempting it, then say so. Lord knows we don't need anymore idiots on the road. I've got no problem selling the truck in order to get a more suitable tow vehicle.

My first truck was a 77 F100, 3 on the tree, 303 with 3.00 rear end and it pulled my friends boat all day without any problems. Give yourself more room for stopping and you'll be fine, that's what it was made to do anyways.

[Longhorn Man]

if original, and not optioned otherwise (listed on the SPID) then you should have a 3.73 rear gear if memory serves.
My opinion... hook up to it, and go out and learn to drive it. You have brakes on the trailer, if they work, then stopping it should be just as easy as stopping without it.
3000 pounds is nothing. You'll feel it back there... but the truck can do it no problem.
Rear suspention condition, it'll let you know if this is an issue. drive it slow at first, around the neighborhood, maybe down a main road. If it sways a lot, then you'll know to address the issue before gettin on the freeway.
Just aproach it with common sence, and you should be fine.

[haysonj]

Just make sure your surge brakes are adjusted right or they will be of no help. My boat weighs over 4000 and I added electric brakes on the other axle. Now I can stop the truck with the trailers brakes.

[PanelDeland]

Adding power brakes shouldn't do anything but decrease pedal effort,if the brakes are good anyway.Disc's might be a good plan if you do much towing or driving in an urban high traffic area.When you start learning to tow drive around in some areas without much traffic and then take it to a parking lot that is empty.Try backing up and turning the trailer.The easiest way to learn to back a trailer is to hold the bottom of the wheel and turn it the way you want the trailer to go.Go easy and watch your front fenders as well as the towed vehicle.Don't try to turn too tight.Find a ramp somewhere and learn to stop on the ramp,then take off.When you can do that without the truck rolling back you should practice a bit more before backing a boat into the water.
The oly way to learn to tow any kind of trailer is to just do it but you should always pick ayour poison.The above will not teach you to tow but will help you get started.

[Huck]

Should be fine but don't expect too much from the surge brakes. Many states have outlawed the use of surge brakes and require electric as they work a whole lot better.

[steelhorse]

Should be fine.If you want a cheep brake upgrade find a 73-87 parts truck and switch out the front suspension with brake,you can even use the booster/master with a little modification.

[Shyguy]

These trucks are designed to be used to tow and haul stuff.

Others have given great comments.

You need to make sure that about 10% of the combined weight of the boat and trailer are on the tounge or you will have a lot of problems with swaying, especially at speeds over about 50 mph.

Also air shocks in the back would be a good idea.

Danny

[67ChevyRedneck]

Boats and trailers existed in 1967-1972 and they didn't haul themselves...

[woodridge]

Now that was profound.

[69long"n"low]

Ill say. i work on boats all day i had to use my 69 to tow a 4400 pound boat on the bumper with 4 wheel drums it towed it just fine. Big thing take it slow and take the corners wide

[Longhorn321]

Originally Posted by beeftip

To tow or not to tow...

I've got no problem selling the truck in order to get a more suitable tow vehicle.

Since you are so un-attached to this truck, I say sell it (cheap) and quickly (to me). Seriously tho, if you are talking about the truck in your avatar, I would hook it up and drag it down the road and see what it's like and then make the needed adjustments and then head for the lake. BTW if the truck in your avatar is the one you are referring to in your sig, I don't think it's ugly at all. Is it "green" or yellow?

[Longhorn321]

Wanna trade for a '69 Longhorn? I don't think the Longhorn would know that boat was back there!

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

I'm not particularly proud of this, and I deffinetly don't recommend anyone else do it, but I hauled 5600lbs of scrap metal on a 2000lb trailer with my c10. Power discs, 350/350, 307 gears.

It pulled and stopped good...not great, but good. (I did not know the load was that heavy till I got to the scrap yard!) I stress, DO NOT pull that much.

More sane wieghts it'll pull like no body's business.

[mrein3]

When I first got my truck it was a 3-on-the tree manual. I used it all the time to pull my boat. Since then I've changed the manual out and put in a th350 automatic. It isn't impossible with the manual but the auto sure is a lot easier at the ramp.

Don't worry about the pulling. It is the stopping you need to worry about. My bass boat is 2400 pounds without any gas in the tank or tackle in the bins. I'm guessing that with 40 gallons of gas and the trailer I'm rolling along right at 3000 pounds. Long story short you should be ok with manual disc brakes and manual tranny. If you swap in a power booster it will be much easier for you to stop it.

[cdowns]

i towed an 19'bostonwhaler all the time and even with it loaded up with a bunch of extra stuff my 71had no problem with a 1500mile tow with no brakes on the trailer

[beeftip]

Thanks for all of the encouraging replies. I'm think I'm going to add a booster and take the advice of practicing before hitting any major thoroughfares.

It seems to me from your replies that my ability to drive intelligently is going to be the biggest factor in my success towing a boat with my truck. Good to see that common sense can still prevail. Now if I could just find me some, I'll be okay.