What's this Long Horn capable of hauling?

[Ken B]

So, I'm thinking of picking up a vintage in bed camper and or a vintage travel trailer. I have no idea what my truck was rated to tow or how heavy of a camper I can put in the bed. My truck is a 1970 C30 Longhorn with a healthy 350 with a 4 speed and 4.10 gears. The truck is all original with only 86,000 miles on it. Runs and rides like new. It has the leaf spring rear suspension with aux. helper. Can anyone tell me what diff. is in my truck? Thanks for any help.

[GASoline71]

That's a big ol' Eaton rear diff.

You could probably haul a house with it. Nice truck!

Gary

[Ol Blue K20]

Almost anything you want. That's a beast, I believe it's rated at10,000 gross vehicle weight. The axle ratings are in the driver's door jamb.

[Already Gone]

I archieved this pic for reference. As you can see this is a Longhorn hauling a trailer that I would think weights 1500 lbs with a C10 on it that probably weight 35/3800 lbs and the rear end of the Longhorn is still level. With your 4 speed and 4:10's you could pretty much pull or haul anything you want.

[Redline novdog]

x4.Beautiful truck by the way! If all mechs are in order that is what that truck was made for pulling/hauling. Loader' up!! Might want to an aux fuel tank.LOL

[Motorfist]

Sweet truck Ken! These guys are right, that is an Eaton rear end (ho72 in the c30's) and likely 4.10 gears. The trucks can do a lot of work too.

I put new rear spring packs in my c20 Longhorn and I have to work pretty hard to get the back end to squat to level. I haul a 25' travel trailer with a bed full of motorcycles in the summer and 4 snowmobiles in the winter. I've hauled other trucks for hundreds of miles at a time and even enough sod that I probably should have been fined.

My only advice is if you start hauling heavy trailers make sure to install a trailer brake controller for stopping safety.

[tommys72]

That won't haul enough. You should just sell it to me, and get something different. Haha
That's a gorgeous truck Ken!

[yuccales]

Great looking truck!

[Kw69]

I don't know what the payload is on that truck, but will say it's absolutely beautiful. If u can find out the GVWR minus the actual weight of the truck that should give u your payload. If u want to tow a camper then figure 10-15 percent of the campers weight being your pin weight. So if your GVWR is 10k and ur truck is 6000 lbs full with gas and persons, then ur remaining payload would be 4k. But this is an example only, ur truck will vary I'm sure. My 09 HD 2500 has 2997lbs payload cause it's fully loaded, true 4 door, and 4x4. But with family and 5th wheel pin weight I am still within my ratings. One thing is the newer 1/2 tons boosts that they can pull 10 k. However with there payload being so low in some not all cases...they run out of payload so quickly. Since u got the C30.. U should have a healthy payload and tow rating. Hope this helps.
Kris

[davischevy]

Here's my C20 Longhorn, 402, 700R4, 3.73 rear, towing over 3 1/2 tons. Mine had an overhead camper on it previously.

I don't think there is any way to over load that C30 of yours with a camper. In fact I was looking at overheads today.

[FirstOwner69]

Take Kw69s advise and don't exceed the GVWR if you are going to buy a cab-over camper. Weigh the truck wet and loaded then add the weight of all occupants. Subtract that total from the GVWR to determine the maximum wet and loaded camper weight. Be sure you have fresh load range E tires.

The main problem you will face finding a cab-over camper is that most you'll find with a rear overhang will have an 8 foot floor, so it won't fit against the front bed panel. If you don't fill that void and hit the brakes really hard the camper will likely slide forward and destroy the taillights and damage the rear of the bed.

[stsalvage]

Originally Posted by davischevy

Here's my C20 Longhorn, 402, 700R4, 3.73 rear, towing over 3 1/2 tons. Mine had an overhead camper on it previously.

I don't think there is any way to over load that C30 of yours with a camper. In fact I was looking at overheads today.

the 700R4 was not ment to go behind any big block hope you have the metal sprage shield where the clutches go into cus they will explode If you have the Corvette servos and the Corvette updated case with all the right updates the 4l80E is so much more stonger then the 700R4 Its just a th350 with a overdrive the 4LE80 is the 400 with the over drive buy the 750.00 computer and that trans will work harder and last longer

[Ken B]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Take Kw69s advise and don't exceed the GVWR if you are going to buy a cab-over camper. Weigh the truck wet and loaded then add the weight of all occupants. Subtract that total from the GVWR to determine the maximum wet and loaded camper weight. Be sure you have fresh load range E tires.

The main problem you will face finding a cab-over camper is that most you'll find with a rear overhang will have an 8 foot floor, so it won't fit against the front bed panel. If you don't fill that void and hit the brakes really hard the camper will likely slide forward and destroy the taillights and damage the rear of the bed.

That is exactly what I am finding out... Whatever camper will fit perfectly in a Longhorn is going to be HEAVY... I have owned at least a half dozen vintage pull behind campers but never an in bed camper. I'm not sure how much a pain in the rear it is to take it on and off the truck.. I have always wanted one though. I do prefer the camper to be period correct...

[Ken B]

Originally Posted by davischevy

Here's my C20 Longhorn, 402, 700R4, 3.73 rear, towing over 3 1/2 tons. Mine had an overhead camper on it previously.

I don't think there is any way to over load that C30 of yours with a camper. In fact I was looking at overheads today.

Wow your truck is a beauty! Longhorns look oh so nice hauling something heavy.

[Ken B]

Just thought I'd post this up...

[Sicklajoie]

Love your truck Ken!!

[cypressbog]

I had a yard of topsoil in the back of my 68 C-30 with the Eaton HO-72 and auxiliary springs and it barely made it squat. I blew an 8 ply rear tire tho, I've got 10 plys on it now.

[kingstrider]

Wow that's a beauty!

[67ChevyRedneck]

These trucks are capable of hauling just about anything you want to put behind them. Depending on load size, braking and handling is where they're lacking in performance, but paying attention and good driving skills can make up for some of that.

Great looking truck by the way!

Wherever you find the bed camper, you could always ask to load it to make sure your truck can haul it?

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by cypressbog

I had a yard of topsoil in the back of my 68 C-30 with the Eaton HO-72 and auxiliary springs and it barely made it squat. I blew an 8 ply rear tire tho, I've got 10 plys on it now.

A yard of top soil isn't a whole lot for these trucks, as the volume of the bed will hold 2.5. I've done that with my 68 3/4 ton numerous times. Now a yard of gravel is another thing, squats my truck down real quick.

[CastIron]

I keep clicking on this thread just to look at the beautiful longhorns...

[Spartan]

Find some vintage advertising of a longhorn with a camper on it. Should give you an idea at the very least what it will look like.

Some campers will have leveling jacks or attachments for them on the sides...set the jacks...obey safety procedures and drive away.

Of course finding a vintage longhorn camper might be the real challenge.

Btw...awesome truck add napco and it would be my dream rig.

[Ken B]

Yes that is going to be the main issue, finding a camper that fits into the back of the truck properly.. I'd be willing to bet that if I do find one it is going to be a jazillion miles away.. Although my truck has pretty low miles and runs excellent I'm so used to doing 75 on the highway, 55 in the Longhorn seems like quite a workout... At 55 I'm turning 2800.... No complaints though, I enjoy every minute of it!
So, what is the Napco conversion?

[Mike C]

Take a pic of the data plate posted on the door jamb of the drivers side. It will show GVWR of the platform and that of your truck how it came equipped from the factory.

As noted above, tires are one of the biggest limiting factors along with brakes. I would highly recommend a disc conversion, and hydroboost a good choice for a "tonner".

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by stsalvage

the 700R4 was not ment to go behind any big block hope you have the metal sprage shield where the clutches go into cus they will explode If you have the Corvette servos and the Corvette updated case with all the right updates the 4l80E is so much more stonger then the 700R4 Its just a th350 with a overdrive the 4LE80 is the 400 with the over drive buy the 750.00 computer and that trans will work harder and last longer

I have already burned this one up once due to incorrect setting on the TV cable. If the one in this Longhorn goes again I will probably replace it with a 4L80E. If the 700R4 won't take it, this time it's gone. I have a built 454 in the plans so we will see.

I have a 700R4 behind a 454 in an El Camino that has 40,000 miles on it since I finished it. I have flogged that thing regularly without a failure (yet).

The 4L80E is a much stronger tranny, but In the last ten years I have replaced 3, 700R4's and 3, 4l80E's. One of the 4L80E's was in my wife's car with less than 60,000 miles.

I know I didn't make a point here, but, That said, I will probably use a 4L80 in my future builds.

I' not going to baby it. If it goes it's gone.