Can My 305 Tow?

[armybyrd]

Ive got a '83 reg cab stepside with a 305 and th350 tranny. Would this truck be able to tow a 3200lb car(Corvette) on a car trailer? I dont plan on doing much towing but I am in the military and will be moving soon.

[68Timber]

Yes it can. Is it stock?

[71swb4x4]

Stopping will be a challenge. Please add a brake controller to the truck and make sure the trailer has electric brakes.

Check your hitch over real well and make sure it is rated for the load you will be pulling.

[suxtobu65]

^^ +1

Before you ever ask if your truck will tow something. Ask if your truck can STOP what you want to tow!!

Getting going is the easy part.. Stopping is the issue!! When in doubt, don't do it!

[armybyrd]

Wasnt sure if the 305 was enough power to tow anything. Anyone know how much my truck should be able to tow? I understand the potential stopping issues-anything I can do to help with that or is a brake controller my only option?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

305 explained- the 305 is the engine designed to do the work of a 350 but for less gas.
If a dodge caravan can tow a boat then why can't a truck?
Posted via Mobile Device

[C-10 simplex]

i would say the important question is what diff gear do you have? This is more important than 305, which technically could do the job.

[armybyrd]

Not sure what diff or gears do I have-how can I find out?

[C-10 simplex]

Do you have a spid sticker under the hood on one of the fenderwells?


And/or what is your gvwr rating on the driver's door?


In short, yes it can probably tow it, but it might be slow.

Also, 1/2 ton really isn't the best thing when towing a car trailer, but this sounds like a one-time deal.

[lap15]

About 10 years ago on a very hot July day I help out a buddy who was in a bind and needed his Corvair towed 150 miles. All I had was my '86 C10 with a 305, sm465 4-speed and 3.08 rear. The trailer was homemade and very heavy (about 5000 lbs and the car about 3000), we had NO trailer brakes and just a universal frame mounted hitch on the truck. I was in no hurry which was good because top speed was about 50 on flat roads and about 25 on hills. The truck did great and the 305 ran like a champ! If your truck is in good mechanical condition, you drive carefully and are familiar with the route you're taking you should have no problems.

[Redcap]

You can tow with just about anything. It might not be safe or efficient, but it can be done.

[cmyc5575]

Originally Posted by redcap

you can tow with just about anything. It might not be safe or efficient, but it can be done.

but we would rather keep it safe for the drive and all other cars on the road!!!

[Keith Seymore]

This was my regular race rig for many years (car weighed about 3600 lbs at that time).

Also used this when I moved from Detroit to Phoenix.

I just echo the comments above regarding trailer brakes: stopping is way more important that going.

K

[Zebb]

Stopping is the biggest issue.
Right now all I have for a work truck is a Mazda B3000 and occasionally I have to haul my 16' haulmark with no electric brakes. Good thing it's a stick. It hauls it just fine but not all that fast sometimes. I don't load the trailer anywhere near it's capacity and make sure whatever is in it gives me the proper tongue weight. Now as far as the brakes go that's another story. It has nowhere near enough braking power. I'm sure I make everyone mad around me mad driving so cautious. I only use it local and wouldn't drive it up to highway speeds without electric brakes. If I had a 1/2 ton and the trailer had electric brakes I wouldn't hesitate to move your car.

[C-10 simplex]

Lower gears----i.e., 3.73, 4.11 etc. can help with compression braking.

i guess the big issue is does the trailer have brakes?

[Goldfinger]

we towed a 12k car trailer truck combo 250miles with my 305/700r4 2.73. It'll tow anything just make sure you watch your gauges in case you have a cooling issue. Plan your stops.

[huahuamick]

Great thread! Also my favorite view.

[bk2life]

Originally Posted by armybyrd

Ive got a '83 reg cab stepside with a 305 and th350 tranny. Would this truck be able to tow a trailer?.

to actually answer your question, yes.
No one has even asked if you have towed anything before, let alone 4500 lbs of weight. So I won’t bother you with brakes, gearing, this that or anything that’s been said 5 times.
Have you ever towed anything? If the answer is no, then you might need to ask your self can “I” safely tow this…

[cmyc5575]

Originally Posted by bk2life

to actually answer your question, yes.
No one has even asked if you have towed anything before, let alone 4500 lbs of weight. So I won’t bother you with brakes, gearing, this that or anything that’s been said 5 times.
Have you ever towed anything? If the answer is no, then you might need to ask your self can “I” safely tow this…

The other replys tho are for safty issues, so all the questions need to be addressed when something that has double the weight behind it, IMO should be asked.

[riz]

My parents towed an 18-1/2 foot camping trailer with out 77 Impala with a 305 pretty much most of my childhood years. Dad had a brake assist, other than that it hauled it like a champ !

RIZ

[andrewmp6]

Have you ever seen a s10 or ranger pulling a car on a trailer before?Juts looking up the towing weight on your truck door tag and don't go over it and drive normal you'll be fine.

[hatt]

Originally Posted by C-10 simplex

Also, 1/2 ton really isn't the best thing when towing a car trailer, but this sounds like a one-time deal.

Wow, now a half ton is too little to tow a car. We're getting a little carried away these days.

[Desert1957]

Originally Posted by hatt

Wow, now a half ton is too little to tow a car. We're getting a little carried away these days.

I totally disagree with this statement, Here's my 305 towing. No problems with power (2.73 rear at the time), I did have a working trailer brake controller, no problems at ALL stopping.



Desert

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by armybyrd

Wasnt sure if the 305 was enough power to tow anything. Anyone know how much my truck should be able to tow? I understand the potential stopping issues-anything I can do to help with that or is a brake controller my only option?

A brake controller isn't your only option, but a trailer with brakes is a must. I assume you will be renting a trailer from U-Haul or the like, many of these have surge brakes, which work without needing a brake controller. It is mounted in the coupler, the inertia of the trailer pushing on the truck applies the brakes, the harder you stop the truck the harder the trailer brakes apply. Most veteran haulers frown upon surge brakes, not because of their functionality as a braking system, but because of their weird quirks, such as a sometimes violent bang after you take off from a stop (the surge actuator releasing and taking up the slack from being compressed during braking), and the fact that the brakes tend to apply when backing especially uphill (usually going slow and steady, not gassing it, will limit this).

One of our trailers has surge braking, a retired U-Haul trailer actually, which was beat on for years as a rental, and now beat on by us, still works wonderfully. Sure it's annoying at times, but it always stops fine when needed.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

One of our trailers has surge braking, a retired U-Haul trailer actually, which was beat on for years as a rental, and now beat on by us, still works wonderfully. Sure it's annoying at times, but it always stops fine when needed.

My open trailer (shown above, post #13) has surge brakes, with four '55 Chevy drums.

Dad and I built that trailer in 1967 and it is still in use. Getting a fresh coat of paint as we speak.

K