Help determine lift for towing

[varmit86]

The bottom line is GM designed any given truck to preform to a set standard, you can improve slightly but all of the components are calculated by the original standard.
If the changes we are all discussing are made a 1500 is never going to preform like a 3500, you have rear end, brakes etc all to be considered. if you are wanting a 1500 to preform like a 3500 buy a 3500.

 

[shiftpro]

Shiftpro, Why do you say a standard truck like ours cannot handle 5k -6k as long as it's on a(10k) trailer with good brakes?

Because I did it and **** my pants. A short haul, no highway speeds and no hills is ok I guess. Wag the dog...

 

[Customblue]

10.4, I understand weight and length help greatly. As well as a properly loaded trailer. I must've missed the op running a swb, lwb on my end (must be over compensating for something)

 

[bucket]

I still say that wheelbase isn't everything. My old Burb pulled this 15k load just fine. Many many times, I have pulled that trailer with that tractor on it, but with a company '12 F350 crew cab short bed truck. The old Burb pulled it every bit as good, if not a little better.

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But I don't think the OP is wanting to pull heavy loads, just a simple car trailer with (assuming) a car on it. With the right springs, tires and good brakes, there's no reason that a shortbed truck can't comfortably and safely pull that type of load.

 

[Bellaire35]

Thanks for all the feedback. I may just leave her alone for now and see how it handles the trailer. I am pulling loaded trailer with a single car. Most of my cars are Defenders, HJ45, FJ40's, 2 Door G wagons and other vintage 4x4's we restore.

The reason I bought this GMC is the fact they are harder to find, I enjoy the ride and had 2 in the past and regret selling them since. Prefer the SWB over the LWB so personal preference i suppose

 

[highdesertrange]

I find the difference in towing from a LWB to a SWB is night and day. the LWB is a much better choice IMO. what about that 1/2 ton semi floating rear axle and the transmission? one of those will be the first failure point if you ask me. highdesertranger

 

[77 K20]

Thanks for all the feedback. I may just leave her alone for now and see how it handles the trailer. I am pulling loaded trailer with a single car. Most of my cars are Defenders, HJ45, FJ40's, 2 Door G wagons and other vintage 4x4's we restore.

The reason I bought this GMC is the fact they are harder to find, I enjoy the ride and had 2 in the past and regret selling them since. Prefer the SWB over the LWB so personal preference i suppose

^^^ This.

Try it out first and see how it does. Does it squat a lot? Do you have enough power now? With a 2" lift will you stick with the same size tire or go up a size? Going up a size will "hurt" your gearing a bit and give you a bit less power.

After your initial towing you will then have a direction to go to make it better or decide you like everything as is. Then maybe just a 2" block in the rear would work.. hard to tell.

 

[4WDKC]

Yes it's true that longer tow vehicles tend to work better compared to a shorter one, but that's not to say you can't tow with a shorter vehicle. Crew cab trucks are often used to pull a trailer that's far longer than the truck itself and it works fine when it's all properly loaded. The same applies to a shorter truck and a shorter trailer.

my post was more about the weight and leverage being applied

Thanks for all the feedback. I may just leave her alone for now and see how it handles the trailer. I am pulling loaded trailer with a single car. Most of my cars are Defenders, HJ45, FJ40's, 2 Door G wagons and other vintage 4x4's we restore.

The reason I bought this GMC is the fact they are harder to find, I enjoy the ride and had 2 in the past and regret selling them since. Prefer the SWB over the LWB so personal preference i suppose

it may not seem like it but when you but a 3500lbs vehicle and load it on a 1500 lbs trailer you now have 5000 lbs being pulled by a 4500 lbs truck with a wheelbase that doesnt create as much leverage to help hold the truck and trailer stable.

 

[varmit86]

I still say that wheelbase isn't everything. My old Burb pulled this 15k load just fine. Many many times, I have pulled that trailer with that tractor on it, but with a company '12 F350 crew cab short bed truck. The old Burb pulled it every bit as good, if not a little better.

You must be registered for see images attach

But I don't think the OP is wanting to pull heavy loads, just a simple car trailer with (assuming) a car on it. With the right springs, tires and good brakes, there's no reason that a shortbed truck can't comfortably and safely pull that type of load.

I used to have a 97 Dually Suburban and pulled these kind of loads, True It handled it fine but day and night to my 3500HD CCLB Dually Diesel with the truck you don't really think about the load being back there. It is a lot more enjoyable of a drive.
All I am saying is the more you pull it is safer and more enjoyable if you use equipment designed to do what your using it for. Not that the other will not work on occasion.

 

[bucket]

I used to have a 97 Dually Suburban and pulled these kind of loads, True It handled it fine but day and night to my 3500HD CCLB Dually Diesel with the truck you don't really think about the load being back there. It is a lot more enjoyable of a drive.
All I am saying is the more you pull it is safer and more enjoyable if you use equipment designed to do what your using it for. Not that the other will not work on occasion.

That was kind of my point though. My shorter wheelbase Burb pulled that load just as good as the '12 crew cab trucks that the company owns. Pulled that load many many times with the crew cab and the Burb was just as stable.