Is my truck big enough?

smokeonthewater

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Dec 3, 2009
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Re: Is my truck big enough?

I've already said it once..... read my post.... all this speculation is just that... get the numbers for your truck and the load you want to pull... see if they jive.... THEN you can decide whether you want to pull it or not
 

reelfishin

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Mar 19, 2007
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Re: Is my truck big enough?

It sounds to me like your going to fall pretty close to the borderline as far as rated tow capacity. A few things come to mind right away, the first is the condition of the boat and trailer. If the boat is 1979, there's a good chance it's carrying some water weight, (water absorbed to whatever degree by hidden flotation foam below deck), and second, the balance and condition of the trailer. Are the trailer brakes in perfect condition? Is the wiring all reliable, and is the boat properly set on the trailer.

Next, since your truck is 11 years old, is it and it's brakes in good order?
Does it have a transmission cooler installed, and if so is it large enough?
Has the transmission been kept serviced and in good working order?

When both were new or in new condition, I'd probably not be too concerned but when towing that kind of weight, you want everything to be up to snuff.
I would venture to guess that so long as you can hitch up that boat, and the tongue weight is sufficient so as to tow with out swaying all over the road, and the truck has enough rear spring capacity to handle that tongue weight, you have a pretty good chance of being OK on the road provided that the brakes are all in good order.

Rear springs can be changed and upgraded if needed, within reason, the boat or axles can be moved to obtain an ideal 60/40 weight ratio, and a transmission cooler can be added.
The next thing to look at is your tires, both on the truck and the trailer, your not getting buy with passenger tires in this case, the trailer will need proper tires, each tire needs to be rated to well handle 1/2 of the total load, (keep in mind the weight transfer that will occur when braking and what would happen if you were to lose one tire and the second tire on that side couldn't handle the load). The truck will need proper rated tires as well. Having the right truck tires will make a huge difference in how it feels and tows.

Last, but probably of the least concern is engine size. Too small of an engine won't stop you from towing, it'll just make the rig slow, and with a load like that, your not out to win any races anyhow. I would say that either one of GM's V8 engines that year should be fine. I owned a 4.8L 1500 4x2 truck for a few years and it did fine towing up to 6500lbs but I also added an aftermarket trans cooler and heavier factory rear leaf springs, as well as an electric brake controller.

One big aspect you have to consider is the ability to pull that boat up a launch ramp, which may be your biggest challenge. That boat gets a lot heavier on a 15% or better grade on a wet concrete ramp. You can also lose rear traction as the weight of the boat on the trailer shifts rearward which in effect will lighten the load on your rear tires.
I've had vehicles that tow just fine on the highway, yet were worthless when trying to launch a boat on a ramp.
Your best bet if your not mechanically inclined or at least somewhat knowledgeable about trucks and trailers, is to take that to someone who sets up vehicles for towing on a regular basis. Most RV or trailer centers are good for this. I'd say try the GM dealer but from having worked in dealers for many years, I'd say that's a hit or miss proposition. Not all mechanics are knowledgeable about trailer towing, most won't be unless they do it themselves.
 

northernmerc

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Apr 6, 2009
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Re: Is my truck big enough?

You should be OK if everything (including brakes and hitch parts) is in good condition. But check your truck's tow rating to make sure that you don't exceed that. My experience with GM 3/4 tons is that they will tow that load without a problem.

A short tow on level ground also is much easier on a truck than a long tow in the mountains.
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
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Oct 21, 2008
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Re: Is my truck big enough?

i assume the trailer has brakes on it?
that is what you want to use to slow you down, the trailer brakes.
maybe even use the transmission too. I have an O/D (overdirve) and and off button, that i use sometimes to slow me down.

a 5.7 is about as big of an engine that you can get in a truck, I assume this is a gas engine?
 

jtmarten

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

i assume the trailer has brakes on it?
that is what you want to use to slow you down, the trailer brakes.
maybe even use the transmission too. I have an O/D (overdirve) and and off button, that i use sometimes to slow me down.

a 5.7 is about as big of an engine that you can get in a truck, I assume this is a gas engine?

What?? A 5.7 is a small engine for a 3/4 ton truck. Most 3/4 ton trucks have diesels or big blocks, 7.4s, 8.1s, etc., not the 5.7 small block.
 

reelfishin

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

I think in 1999 the Choices were 5.7, 6.0, 7.4, and maybe the 8.1L in gas, and a 6.5L in diesel. Most that I've seen have had the 6.0L here.

Either way, any of them should be able to handle a boat under 8500lbs in all.
If my 5.2L Dodge van can tow 10K all day long, I don't see why the more powerful 5.7L small block Chevy can't. My concerns wouldn't be with the engine size or horsepower, that can be fixed with gearing, I'd worry more about brakes and suspension, and the hitch itself.
 

northernmerc

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

What?? A 5.7 is a small engine for a 3/4 ton truck. Most 3/4 ton trucks have diesels or big blocks, 7.4s, 8.1s, etc., not the 5.7 small block.

In the newer GM 3/4 tons, the 6.0 litre is very common. It will pull a heavy trailer all day long in moderate terrain, but it does slow down for long grades in the mountains. That's where one also needs a tranny gauge for monitoring what's going on with the transmission.

My old GMC 3/4 ton (1995) with a 454 pulled a heavy load up the Coquihalla, Rogers Pass, and Kicking Horse Pass in B.C. with no problem. No overheating issues. I don't notice much difference on the grades with the newer 6.0. On the way down, you need good brakes and drop the truck down a gear or two.
 

JoLin

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

if your gvwr is 6000 then you have the light duty 3/4 which is very close to a 1/2 ton.... I bet you have 6 lug axles instead of 8 lug.... The heavy 3/4 has an 8600 lb gvwr After you add for the weight of the fuel and gear don't forget the weight of the trailer..... what you need to know is the tow capacity of your rig and the ACTUAL weight of your trailer and boat.... you also should measure the tongue weight... Next when you look at the tow capacity you will see that for max rating you will need a weight distributing hitch and you will need to verify that the hitch is also rated that high. Next is trailer brakes... they are absolutely needed for that load. You also need to look at your tires... I HIGHLY suggest an e load rated tire and they need to be in good shape..... a blowout in the rear of a single rear wheel truck with that kind of load can be real bad in a hurry

For tow capacity call your local gm dealer and give them your vin number.... they will tell you the capacity.

For weight of the boat take it to a truck stop and weigh it.... If they aren't busy unhook on the scale with the jack on a different pad than the tires... pull your truck off and get the weight.... you will then have total weight, and real close to the correct tongue weight and axle weight

+1. There's simply no other way to do it safely. I just love all those who are telling you "you're good to go" based on... nothing.

My boat and trailer combo tips the scales at roughly 7500 lbs ready to roll. My truck is a 3/4 ton that weighs 6000 lbs without fuel, passengers or "stuff" in it.

My tongue weight is within limits.
My trucks GVWR is 15000 lbs. My total weight (about 14000 lbs) is within limts
My truck's tow capacity is 8400 lbs. The weight of my of my boat and trailer (7500 lbs.) is within limits.

Any other way of figuring it out is just a lot of BS.
 

kyle f

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

What?? A 5.7 is a small engine for a 3/4 ton truck. Most 3/4 ton trucks have diesels or big blocks, 7.4s, 8.1s, etc., not the 5.7 small block.

For real, my 1/2 ton has a 6.0L, and my 3/4 ton I had was packing 7.3Ls of Turbo Charged Diesel.

Basically after reading all of this, I think many have missed th emost obvious point of all. If you don't feel confident and safe, you don't have enough truck. You can take all the science and ratings (which is somethign you should know and follow) and toss them out the window if you don't feel safe. Possibly getting all the info will make you feel better, but I would always prefer to have extra stopping and pulling power than not enough.
 

Mkos1980

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

Heres my 06 2500HD with a 6.0L and 4L80E 2 days ago. Cat scales put it at 12,685
 

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dirtyoldman

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Apr 30, 2007
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Re: Is my truck big enough?

I'm not at all worried about the truck. A 350 is plenty of engine, and 3.73 gears ought to be OK. If you are doing a lot of towing you can swap them out. I don't think they made a light 3/4 ton that late into that model, but even so you are not going to go GVWR with a boat, since they are usually light in the tongue.

I can tell you that I've hauled around a lot more trailer with a lot less engine, and changing gears out is easy enough if it doesn't drive well loaded.

I would be concerned about brakes and consider putting brakes on the trailer.
 

woody619

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Mar 13, 2010
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Re: Is my truck big enough?

Thanks guys for all the info! The trailers in pretty rough shape at the moment. Got a quote yesterday for $3,000 to get it repaired. We didn't expect that much just to get the trailer road safe. Too excited to get the boat, i guess :) Definitely not road safe. Yet anway. We're getting quotes and it needs alot of work. When we get it road ready, I'll take it to the scales. It has brakes, but they're broken and rusted (you can see the cut cable in the picture), we'll get them replaced. Tires definitely need to be swapped out. The tongue is rusted out... and more Man... I didn't know it would be this hard to get it in the water for the first time.... aggh. Thanks again!

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smokeonthewater

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

Think long and hard before dumping 3k into a rusty trailer. I'm not sure I would repair that trailer... Unless that rust really is just on the tongue I would take it to the scrap yard....... You could just buy yourself another trailer... If you shop around and you can get a nice one for less than 3000.... I have found several 10,000 trailers over the last few months for 1500 or so.... add a few hundred for new tires.
 

smokeonthewater

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

Also make sure that trailer is actually heavy enough for the boat... looks kinda light to me..... Last ask for an itemized estimate... 3k sounds like alot to me to replace a tongue and do brakes, bearings and tires
 

Aviator5

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

You can get brand new galvanized trailer for $4000 for that boat.
 

Philster

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

A trailer for a 27' boat is 1200 - 1300 lbs.
 

ChampionShip

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Re: Is my truck big enough?

For real, my 1/2 ton has a 6.0L, and my 3/4 ton I had was packing 7.3Ls of Turbo Charged Diesel.

Basically after reading all of this, I think many have missed th emost obvious point of all. If you don't feel confident and safe, you don't have enough truck. You can take all the science and ratings (which is somethign you should know and follow) and toss them out the window if you don't feel safe. Possibly getting all the info will make you feel better, but I would always prefer to have extra stopping and pulling power than not enough.

All classic body style (88-98) and up to (if memory serves) 01 Classic Body style GMC trucks had engine choices that included 4.3L, 5.0L, 5.7L, 6.5L diesel, and 7.4L big block.

Classic style 3/4 ton's USUALLY had 350's with a 3.83 or lower gear ratio's to aid in pulling. LD 3/4 tons as stated have 6 lugs, HD 3/4 tons had 8 lugs and the 8600#gvwr.

Newer style GM 3/4 and 1 ton trucks (this includes 1500HD models) have a standard 6.0L and nothing smaller- only other options are the 8.1L big block, or the 6.6L Duramax diesel.

The 'long/short' of it: You don't want to be pulling that much weight with a 1/2 Ton truck. Yeah, it may get you home from across town, but even though it's rated for a bunch- doesn't mean it ought to be pulling that much weight. There's always room for brake upgrades and such, but, again you can never have 'too much truck' for your trailer.

-Champ
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
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Re: Is my truck big enough?

take that trailer to the scrap yard. the going rate for scrap here is about 5-10 bucks per 100 lbs.

you might get 100 bucks for scraping that
 

haulnazz15

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Mar 9, 2009
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3,720
Re: Is my truck big enough?

What?? A 5.7 is a small engine for a 3/4 ton truck. Most 3/4 ton trucks have diesels or big blocks, 7.4s, 8.1s, etc., not the 5.7 small block.

Not necessarily true. The base engine for 3/4 ton Chevy/GMC is the 5.7L, the base engine for F250's (until 2010) was the 5.4L, Dodge's base was the 5.7. The bigger engines you normally see in 3/4 tons are options.
 

bruceb58

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Mar 5, 2006
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30,591
Re: Is my truck big enough?

The base engine for 3/4 ton Chevy/GMC is the 5.7L,
Not anymore. Now the base engine is a 6.0L and has been that way since the body style changed back in 2000 or thereabouts. The body style for the 3/4T lagged the 1/2T by a year I believe. Before that it was the 5.7L.
 
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