Towing Capacity of Extended Cab 1/2 Ton 2wd?

[fishmunger]

I'm thinking about buying one of these trucks to tow my boat. My boat + trailer is just under 4000 lbs. It's a pretty expensive boat and I need to tow it frequently for my business (commercial fishing). I currently tow it with a 2003 GMC Sonoma. The Sonoma is a bit small. It pulls just fine with the 4.3 v6, but sometimes I worry about stopping if someone pulled in front of me. It is rated to tow 5500 lbs, but that is if my trailer has brakes and a weight distributing hitch (it doesn't). I really really don't want to put brakes on my trailer for maintenance reasons.

I'd like to get a 3/4 ton 4x4, but that might be overkill. And my good friend is the original owner of a super clean and well-maintained 1992 1/2 ton 2wd that he'd sell me. I'd like to know if that would be up to the task and within the factory tow ratings for a 4000 lb trailer with no brakes. Maybe someone could check their owner's manual for me? I can't seem to find the answer on-line.

Thanks in advance!

[YBNORML]

According to the manual from my 1998 ext-cab 2wd, towing capacity varies depending on engine/transmission/axle ratio. I don't know if the numbers from a 92 to the 98 are the same, but these are from my owner's manual.
Hope this helps.

[Boog]

If your sonoma pulls it ok then the 92 full size will too. You will still have the braking issue however. Electric brakes on the trailer will really help to stop it. Shouldn't cost but a couple hundred to outfit it. The brakes on the 88-94 or so full size 1/2 tons are not that great for stopping just the truck alone so be sure to check that out on the one you are looking at.

[tommie]

he may be trying to stay away from trailer brakes because it is a boat trailer.... trying to keep the maint. down.... because of water intrusion to the trailer brakes.... i could really see the concern f it is salt water also...

honestly, if this is your business, i would want the truck/trailer to stop correctly... if the truck can't do it on its own, i would want to have trailer brakes.... trailer brakes are cheaper than an accident....

[Boog]

Originally Posted by tommie

he may be trying to stay away from trailer brakes because it is a boat trailer.... trying to keep the maint. down.... because of water intrusion to the trailer brakes.... i could really see the concern f it is salt water also...

honestly, if this is your business, i would want the truck/trailer to stop correctly... if the truck can't do it on its own, i would want to have trailer brakes.... trailer brakes are cheaper than an accident....

That's the point I was making Tommie. Really there's no maintenence to speak of with electric trailer brakes. And I would think a boat/trailer that heavy would have been outfitted with brakes from factory. I wonder what the regs are on trailer brakes.

[fishmunger]

I get what you guys are saying about the trailer brakes. I'm just really trying to avoid them because I've had lots of friends with bigger boats that had em on their trailers, and they were maintenance nightmares. Dipping in and out of salt water means you're constantly having problems.

My Trailer weighs 1200# by itself, and the boat is 2400# more. Not that big as far as boats go.

Would the brakes on a 3/4 ton be much better than a 1/2 ton? Or am I better off with a newer truck like an '02 or something?

[fishmunger]

YBNORML,

does your manual make any mention about needing trailer brakes or a weight distributing hitch to pull those loads?

thanks

[dajn]

i bought a small tandem trailer a few weeks ago that weighs 1500 pounds. I pulled it to menards with my 2000 1500 suburban and had two pallets of wood pellets put on it. so the total weight was 5500 pounds or so. driving home at 60 mph, I had zero problems. hardly noticed that I was pulling a trailer. so I quess what I'm trying to say is maybe look for something with four wheel disk brakes. with four wheel disk, I really don't think you would notice your boat behind you.

[88 Beater]

You can't use electric trailer brakes on a boat trailer if you back it into the water to get the boat on and off. Putting electric brakes underwater - especially salt water will cause lots of problems. You need to use a hydraulic setup if you're going to put brakes on. Maintenance really isn't that bad. I'm surprised you're not required to have brakes on it. Here in NV, I think any trailer with a capacity over about 1500 lbs has to have them.

[Zeke]

This might help clear up trailer brake requirements, of course you have to take into consideration what the laws were when trailer was made and how your state enforces the law. Just from observation of trailers being towed in Alabama their enforcement is not near as strict as Arizona.

When you say your boat plus trailer is just under 4000 lbs is that actual with all your equipment etc.? I bet if you take everything out/off with no fuel it would be just under 3000 lbs and that is how they could sell it without brakes.

If you are worried about stopping and brake maintenance get hydraulic disc trailer brakes, easier to maintain and repair, plus you can rinse them off when you rinse your boat. Some even use GM brake parts making it easy to maintain. A bigger truck will help braking, part of the reason a dually has a higher tow capacity is the extra braking you have with 6 vs 4 tires.

California trailer brake law: Required over 3000 lbs. GVW / on at least 2 wheels
from this website:
http://www.roadkingtrailers.com/brakelaws.htm

[fishmunger]

Thanks for that info!

My trailer did not come with the boat, it's newer, maybe explaining the no brakes thing (they could have been taken off too I suppose)

So I guess what I'm trying to figure out here is, how much difference do you think a 'new' truck makes braking wise? Is technology that much better?

I'm not trying to spend more than $5k on a tow vehicle, but 8k would be the absolute max. I figured I could get a nice 92-98 3/4 ton 4x4 for that, or a newer 2000-2004 1/2 ton. What do you guys think would do me better?

I attached a couple pics of my truck and boat. Boat is a 1978 Panga that I'm rebuilding from the hull up to use in the CA commercial sea cucumber diving business. I'll have the boat done and ready to fish in a couple months so I'm hoping to have my trailering sorted by then.

Thanks again guys

[Zeke]

A 1/2 ton should pull that. But if you want to have time to find just the "right" truck you could spend about $550 and put brakes on the back axle.

http://www.easternmarine.com/titan-s...-kit-4843300-0

[88 Beater]

Originally Posted by fishmunger

So I guess what I'm trying to figure out here is, how much difference do you think a 'new' truck makes braking wise? Is technology that much better?

4-wheel discs, bigger discs on front and better ABS on newer trucks does make a big difference. You could retrofit bigger discs and rear discs to an older truck too though.

[gregory5000]

I have a 2001 GMC, short bed auto, with a 4.8, that has 4 wheel disk brakes. I have had 4000 pounds hooked to it many times. It stops just fine. It will shorten the life of the brakes, but it will work. I had a 90 that I would not haul that much because the brakes were not that great.

[fishmunger]

Thanks for the link to the brakes Zeke. That kit looks pretty sweet actually. So that's a hydraulic surge disc kit?

Gregory5000, was your short bed a regular or extended cab? Do you know what year the trucks started coming standard with 4 wheel discs? Or has it always been an option? Have you towed the same load with your 98 K2500 and thought it any better?

thanks