The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Top speed when towing...

I bought a 66 c-60 that belonged to a fire sept. and so far my top speed in 4th gear is approx. 55 mph. Anybody know how fast I will top out at when towing 11000 LBS with a 327 block?

I think I'd be worried about how well I could be stopping once I got 11K going 55 mph.

Hmmm. The brakes respond very well and are in fact very sensitive.

The springs and axles are rated for 23000 lb payload.
Weren't these trucks rated to tow at least 11000 lbs? Why the concern about braking other than the obvious?

You've clearly never found yourself unable to stop a towed load before. If the truck is rated 23,000 you are probably fine stopping it from any speed the stock motor will achive. But I say that assuming your brakes are in tip top shape.

There's a bit of differecne between the traction and braking ability when you have 11,000 lbs over the axle, and when it is pushing you down a hill. Those big buggers had more baking capacity on the rear end than the front & without a load over the axle you're more likely to lock them up with a heavy towed load.

Besides all that, isn't there a requirement for brakes on larger trailers in NY? I know there is here. With proper trailer brakes it's less of an issue.

This is a quick guide to state trailer brake requirements. http://www.rockettrailers.com/TrailerBrakeLaws.htm Also, you need to check the tag in the door. If the Gross Combination weight is 26,001 or more, it is considered a commercial vehicle and is subject to USDOT regulations.

I think the NY CDL weight limit may be something less than 26,000 lb, check into it if it bothers you.

In West Virginia it's truck GVWR greater than 26,000 OR trailer greater than 10,000 OR combined GVWR over 26,000. Since the truck is 23,000, any trailer greater than 3,000 would put you into CDL here. I'll have to get a CDL if I ever decide to tow a trailer greater than 3,000 with my GMC 4000, GVWR 23,000.

Correction. In rereading the CDL manual for WV, it appears that if the trailer is less than 10,000, a CDL isn't required unless the truck itself is greater than 26,000.

Federal law is 26001 or greater gross combined weight of the truck and trailer. States can make laws more stringent than that, but they cannot make them more lenient. If you gross over 26001, you fall under federal motor carrier laws. About the only exception for farm commodities in certain states, but you must be careful how your state interprets the law.

Thanks, excellent logic. I have a brake controller in my F-150. Anybody know what's involved to wire it in my 66 C-60? Can it be done inexpensively? Any reading I can do to
do it myself?

I don't have a big trailer but the modern brake controllers don't have any interaction electrically with the tow vehicle other than providing a power source.

Unless you are planning to haul commercially, you don't need the CDL. A non-commercial Class A or even a B (like the farmers, RV and firetruck drivers are supposed to have) will do and you don't have the added hoops to jump through. My understanding, anyway.

Adding an electronic brake controller to your Big Bolt is pretty simple -- I put one on my '65 Firetruck. Just follow the directions that come with the unit. If you need a source, check the links page for trailers. I got mine (plus a nice integrated pigtail) from lowcosttrailersupplies.

r,
John

Federal motor carrier laws were written to exempt farmers and rv's. If a person is hauling something that he just purchased or is transporting something to where it will be sold, he is classified as a private carrier, but is still regulated by Federal motor carrier safety regulations. If you stay close to home and know the local troopers, you will probably never be bothered. However, if you are involved in an accident, it becomes a serious. I have operated trucks for over 45 years both as a private carrier and as a motor carrier. I have seen people unknowingly get into some pretty ugly situations. "Commerce" is interpreted pretty broadly, and it is difficult to convince a court that you were transporting something merely to take it for a joy ride.

Is there a govenor on the carb. None of these trucks were built for speed but rather towing a load at a safe speed