The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Towing capacity of 1971 C-20

Does anyone know, or know where I can find, the towing capacity of a 1971 C-20?
Thanks
Ken

A lot depends if it was std or automatic. In those days automatics really weren't cooled very well and weren't designed for much towing. If it's a standard, it's kind of a common sense thing. If you have enough radiator to keep it cool and enough brakes to stop it, you should be ok. A 3/4 ton should have deep enough rears to pull what you want to pull.

It will tow MUCH more weight than the brakes will stop safely. What engine are you running? My 72 C-10 with a 350 4-barrel and a turbo 350 trans would handle 7,000 lbs. easily, but I had to have good trailer brakes and plan ahead for stopping with a max load. If you've got the 3/4 ton suspension and rear axle, pulling power won't be a factor, but those drum brakes will get you into dangerous territory in a hurry!
Jerry

Thanks for the replies. It has 350 with a TH350. That 7000 pound range was my guestimation as well. The discs on the front sure help with the stopping power. Reason for my question is a friend of mine has the truck in Sweden and he is trying to find something kind of official to show the people at the inspection station when he goes to register it in Sweden. Seems they have minimal knowledge of info on older trucks.

There is a wealth of info on the 1971 Chevy trucks at the Old Car Manual site.
The problem I found was that I had trouble reading some of the spec pages. They were a little blurry.
You might have a look, they are the original brochures from 1971.

http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/main.php?g2_itemId=48202

Thanks for the link. Great info on that site. I am new to this forum, but I really appreciate the replies and help I've gotten. Thanks again. Ken

Here is a bit of trivia from Sweden. In Sweden any trailer that will be pulled by a car (or pickup) has a max legal speed about 50 mph and must have brakes, and every such trailer (especially the brakes)are inspected every two years. The towing vehicle itself has a rated towing capacity from the factory primarily based on the weight of the towing vehicle, the towing capacity of a vehicle has less to do with the size of the engine or capacity of the tranny.
My own 53 1/2 ton is rated to pull a total weight of about 2,800 lbs, that means the total weight of the trailer and load and that the trailer has of course brakes and has passed inspection.
But before I would ever pull such a trailer, I would have to install a proper hitch with 12 volt electrical connections, and that would also have to be inspected. Won't happen on my ´53...

Where did you find the info regarding how much you can tow with your '53? That is what I am looking for is a rating from the factory. Thanks, Ken

I looked again, that rating is the max weight I can pull on a trailer with a normal drivers license (the total weight of truck, trailer, load cannot exceed 4500 kg). I was given this figure when I registered and inspected the truck in Sweden.
But I do believe they base the towing ratings on the weight of the towing vehicle. I believe they will allow a vehicle to tow a little less than the gross weight, total weight of vehicle with max load. That is unlikelý to be anywhere near 7000 lbs.
Is your friend fluent in Swedish? If I can help, send me a PM.
Karl

Thank you all, I finally got the problem taken care of.
Ken