Towing with an old truck

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
4,620
Reaction score
15,269
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
Mine was a daily for 30 years and 200000 miles.

Light hauling, trailering, and back and forth to work.

It's what they were made for, and that's what we did with them back in the day.

K
You must be registered for see images attach
This one always gets me when you post it lol. Did it tow that trailer (with the Chevelle in it I assume?) well? I don't know that I would've tried that with my truck (certainly not now with the 6-speed Tremec), even with the helper bags I've got
 

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
4,620
Reaction score
15,269
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
The one with the Haulmark?: yah - that was ill advised. I wouldn't do it again.

Not so much for the handling aspect, but with the little V6 and manual trans it struggled a bit.

K
I love seeing your pictures of all the towing though, so many guys don't think you can even tow a jetski with one of these, especially when they're lowered. I've had 1500+lbs in the bed of mine several times and it did just fine. I'd throw a light car trailer and a car behind mine, even now with the stick.
 

YakkoWarner

Full Access Member
Joined
May 29, 2024
Posts
288
Reaction score
391
Location
Central Texas
First Name
Wolf
Truck Year
1989
Truck Model
R2500 Suburban
Engine Size
454
I think the biggest challenge with a travel trailer isn't the weight but the frontal surface area/wind resistance. Your engine and transmission will be much happier if you go slower. I've towed a 20 foot 2500 pound sailboat-on-trailer rig 400 miles with a 30 year old truck, also towed a rental car hauler with a 1970's MGB a couple hundred miles with the same 30 year old truck. Didn't have any problems. Would not hesitate to put any of them on the hitch of the 1989 Suburban and go, but so far the only trailer the Suburban has towed is my small 5x10 flatbed that even a V6 compact Ranger is able to handle just fine.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
45,512
Posts
985,109
Members
38,582
Latest member
trotline
Top