The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Towing with a stock 41 Chevy 1/2 ton

I've been thinking about it'd be nice to be able to tow a trailer with my 41 but I have some questions.

First of all safety. I have the original style drum brakes all around, but they've been rebuilt the wheel cylinders have been rebuilt and also the master. The drum on the front are brand new. However that considered what kind of trailer/load could I stop safely?

Also what kind of trailer could I pull/stop? Would a 16' car hauler be to big? I have a 216 with 4 speed trans and 4:11 gears

Next how can bolt on a hitch receiver? It'd be kinda nice to bolt one on and keep a stock bumper also but might not be able to have my cake and eat it too. Could at least interchange a tow bar and a bumper? Has anyone done this and could ya explain how ?

You could pull more than you could safely stop. I'd stay off the freeways (as you probably already do with the 216/4:11) and keep it small, like a teardrop trailer. Surely you can get your hands on a modern truck for hauling cars...can't you?

There'll be folks who say to upgrade to disc brakes and dual master cylinder and those are fine. But if you have access to a modern truck for heavy work, then keep the '41 stock, dude! Have fun with it, look for some retro stuff to tow, like a varnished wood boat or teardrop trailer, get the stares and live happy!

Yes I can my dad has a truck, I was using the car hauler more for weight example. I Wouldnt have a need to actually haul a car with it. So the small stuff like small single axle stuff, would that be safe?

I never have understood why people rebuild master and wheel cylinders then connect 70 year old tubing to them.

id be suprised that 70 year old lines would even hold fluid

I have pulled my small single axle trailer a few times with my '37. It was loaded down with antique single cylinder engines. Total weight 1000 to 1100 lbs. My 250 pulled it easy and stopping wasn't any problem. I do have manual disks which may or may not make any difference. Drive carefully, keep your distance, and you shouldn't have any problems. Your top speed won't be all that fast anyway. My truck only has a small receiver type hitch, one of the older style flat bar receivers, probably the lightest tongue weight made. On the '37, the rear bumper is mounted to two brackets coming off the frame rails. I simply moved the curved bumper brackets back behind the frame mounts, this gave me the room to keep the stock bumper.

Joe

Figure out how to make a proper hitch without using the bumper, receiver type above or below bumper, hooked to frame. Electric trailer brake axles can fit most anything, give added security to 1940 brakes.

Definitely not loaded car hauler except around town with electric brakes for sure.

Ed

Ok good to know! Thanks guys, I don't if I'll ever do it but it's nice to have the knowledge before trying anything so thank you very much. If I do I'll keep it limited to small single axle stuff

Here's some good info...

http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/trailer-brakes/

Here's what they say for Tennessee, "Every trailer or semitrailer of a gross weight of 3,000 lbs. or more must be equipped with brakes that may be applied by the driver of the towing vehicle from the cab and must be of a design such that in case of an accidental breakaway of the towed vehicle, the brakes will be automatically applied."

So pulling even an enpty car trailer (because the GW is over 3000 lbs.) will require brakes and break-away system in your State.

I Maryland (my State) a trailer with no brakes must weigh less then 40% of the tow vehicles weight. So a 3,200 pound truck could tow a max trailer load (total weight of trailer and load) of 1,280 pounds without brakes.

Mike B

I have a 66 C30 with 292 it's been about 12 years since I towed with it but I towed a 32 foot travel trailer twice. I installed an electric brake controller It stopped just fine. I was also very cautious about stopping distances and gearing down going down big hills. I did have a short in the brakes once going down a big hill so I put the truck in low gear all the way to the bottom seemed the people behind me were not very happy but better than not being able to stop.