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#25856 07/28/2004 1:23 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 | I have my 1966 c30 dump truck and am thinking about pulling a 32 foot camper anyone know the max gvw trailer it can handle. It was originally registered at 11,000 gvw for the truck.
Thanks for any info Dave | | |
#25857 07/28/2004 4:19 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 53 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 53 | do you have the owners manual? not sure if it says so in the 'little' truck manuals, but my '59 6400 series gives both gvw and gcvw for the various models in a big table in the back. 19000 and 32000 for the 6400.
i'm not sure if trailer weight is the absolute of gcvw minus gvw, or if it can be heaving if the truck itself isn't loaded, but that should give a good minimum i'd think. sorry to not have a 'real' answer, that's as much clue as i've got | | |
#25858 07/28/2004 5:17 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 | Don't have the owners manual yet but do plan to get one thanks for help and any to come
Dave | | |
#25859 07/28/2004 5:25 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | What engine are you running, and how many gears do you have? I think you would have plenty of weight-carrying capacity, if the trailer has good brakes. Be sure it's equipped with an electronic brake control, and a good, solid hitch setup. The gross weight can be considerably above the max GVW for the truck, if the brake system is up to snuff. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
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#25860 07/28/2004 5:49 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 | I'm running with a 292 an sm420 don't know rear end gearing already planned for electric brake controller just curious what the truck can handle last time I towed this trailer was my first time towing didn't have brake controller used a f**d f250 with a390 and 4 speed just towed about 50 miles and parked at camp has been there fo 8 years hoping to have some fun with camper first trip will be about 130 miles north close enough hopefully to work out the bugs and get the feel for towing.
Thanks Dave | | |
#25861 07/28/2004 6:55 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | A 32-footer will provide some interesting cornering situations if you're not an experienced trailer tower. Plan ahead! Also, if it's been sitting for years, be sure wheel bearings and brakes on the trailer are up to snuff before you hit the road. There's nothing like having to do major brake work, or replace a burned-down axle on the side of the road! It's not a good blood pressure treatment, unless you want to raise a chronically low-pressure situation! I spent several hours just north of Bakersfield, California in the mid-summer sun 30 years ago, patching up a burned out hub caused by a bent spindle.
For good towing, the tongue of the trailer should carry 10% of the gross trailer weight. If that squats the suspension too much, fit a load-equalizing hitch assembly, ands a sway controller. The sway control is a good idea, regardless of whether an equalizer is needed or not. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
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#25862 07/28/2004 7:49 PM | Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 | As long as the hills aren't too steep, you shouldn't have any problem towing a 32' trailer. Just don't get in a hurry. I would assume you have 4.56 gears in the one ton, so you probably will have a hard time knowing there's a trailer hooked on. 
Fred 52 3600 69 C-10
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#25863 07/28/2004 8:23 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 | Thanks for all the input I have a load equalizing hitch came with trailer but not the hitch that mounts to the truck so I have to find a good hitch for the truck also I am going to have the trailer inspected before trip so any repairs or adjustments I am going to do before trip when I hauled the first time I did not use the load equalizer because the hitch on the f**d was set to high also I don't have a problem going slow also remember the first turn I made 8 years ago I almost hit a post sticking up about 3 feet out of ground but my fatherinlaw was following me and hit the horn otherwise I would have bent in siding but that was only close call
Thanks again Dave | | |
#25864 07/28/2004 8:24 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 | Forgot to ask can the original altenator handle nigt running with extra lights or does it need beefed up it has external regulator
Thanks Dave | | |
#25865 07/28/2004 10:18 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | I've towed with an equalizer hitch since the mid-60's, with several trailers. Once you're set up correctly, they really help by transferring weight to the front axle. Use a carpenter's level to set the tongue to the correct height, and build the brackets for the receiver tube on the truck to the same height. With the receiver mounted properly and the weight transfer bars tensioned right, the tow vehicle should drop the same distance at the front and rear when the weight of the tongue goes onto the hitch. The trailer tongue should be level when it's connected to the tow vehicle, with the weight transfer bars tensioned. Unless you've got a lot of extra lights on the trailer, it shouldn't be necessary to beef up the charging system. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
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#25866 07/29/2004 12:32 AM | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | Originally posted by PGHDAVE: I'm running with a 292 an sm420 don't know rear end gearing I recently pulled a car trailer with car (estimate total load 4,000+ lbs) behind my '55 GMC 1/2-ton Suburban. It has a 270 and a sm420 with 3.08 rear gears. It was a little slow taking off and slowed down a lot going uphill. If you have original gears your experience should be much more pleasant than mine!
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more... It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | |
#25867 07/29/2004 6:21 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 37 | Again thanks for all the great info this is the best place to find the answers also thanks to the owners of th site
Dave | | |
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