Towing a travel trailer ?

[akitagandy]

I have a 65 c10 LWB it is all new every bolt, bearing and bushing, Got a sbc 350 10;1 compression 280 cam and 700R4 trans. Working on custom ceder flat bed, I would like to know how much Travel trailer I can pull

[Coley]

With stock suspension and brakes, probably 3000 lbs.

However, there is a lot more to do this than a quick number tho'.
You need to post up a lot more information regarding specifics of your truck including tire type/size/rating...alterations, radiator size (2 row? 3 row? 4 row?) anticipated towing conditions (mountainous), etc

Coley

[Richard2112]

Originally Posted by Coley

With stock suspension and brakes, probably 3000 lbs.

However, there is a lot more to do this than a quick number tho'.
You need to post up a lot more information regarding specifics of your truck including tire type/size/rating...alterations, radiator size (2 row? 3 row? 4 row?) anticipated towing conditions (mountainous), etc

Coley

^^^^^This^^^
It's more about what size load you can control without it controlling you. And that is a lot more than load rating in general.

[kwmech]

Single axle teardrop weighing under 3500 lbs

[harpo231]

gear ?

[bs46488]

Thumbs up for the custom cedar trailer. Not something you see every day.

Add some pics of the trailer as it starts to come together.

[akitagandy]

I have a 3 row radiator, rearend is 373 posi, been lowered 3/5, air shocks, tires 305/60/15 radials

[akitagandy]

This what it will look like only with ceder

[PanelDeland]

As above you'll probably get 3000# or so but the trailer will make a difference. Will it have trailer brakes? How tall is it? Will you be towing in windy conditions? Can you lock out OD while towing? Do you have enough cooling for the trans? Is the Trans built to use for towing? Lots of variables that need to be checked.

[Coley]

PanelDeLand makes a very good point about the trailer brakes.

In our neck of the woods, by law...any trailer that is over 1500 lbs has to have its own braking system...connected (of course) with the tow vehicle.
There are a lot of great electric brake systems out there and this is a very smart move to include in your trailer mechanics.

I have a small camp trailer (see pic) and I think its about 1800+ lbs and when I'm braking I definitely know its back there 'pushing'....it has its own brakes and I'm glad I have an in-cab electric brake for it.

Coley

[kwmech]

You could almost fit that in the back of the truck

[61_FL_Apache]

I always run an external trans cooler.

[truckster]

Everyone talks about tow capacity and pulling power. A lot of people forget about brakes and stopping power.

[68C15]

I'm not sure about a travel trailer but I'd say it'll pull an 18' car trailer with a 67 C30 dump bed on it. Just watch out for ice. And make sure the trailer has working brakes. You may want to avoid my advice

[61_FL_Apache]

A little light reading from AAA about trailer brakes.

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

In MISSISSIPPI
Every trailer carrying over 1 ton, when operated on a highway, shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of the trailer and to stop and hold the trailer.

Brakes on a trailer should be designed so that the driver of the towing vehicle from its cab may apply them.

Brakes on a trailer should be designed and connected so that in case of an accidental breakaway of the towed vehicle, the brakes shall be automatically applied.

Every new trailer, except a trailer of 2 axles of less than 2,000 lbs. GVW towed by an automobile, hereafter sold in this state and operated on the highways, shall be equipped with service brakes on all wheels of every such vehicle.