Towing with my 86.... hints, tips, essentials?

[kapitein]

Hi all,

For the first time I will be towing with my 86 C20 454 TH400.

The truck is in really good shape mechanically, but im wondering if there are any words of wisdom when towing a camper with these rigs?

When fully loaded the camper is right around 5500lbs.

Extra coolers neccessary for the TH400 for example?

Would love to hear experiences, I attached a picture of my camper below

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[75gmck25]

1st priority - electric trailer brakes and a good controller. When you hit the brakes you want that trailer to drag you down like an anchor, not push the back of the truck into a jackknife. It weighs about the same as your truck, so it will definitely push the truck around.

Also verify the balance of your trailer, with the goal that more weight is forward of the axle, and about 10% of the weight is on the hitch. You never want the weight to be too far behind the axle, since it will tend to see-saw because the rear goes down and tries to lift the hitch off the truck.

The main modification I would recommend is a good external transmission cooler, and maybe also a trans temp gauge. The best coolers to use are the stacked plate coolers like those from Tru-Cool. I would use the largest one you can fit in front of the radiator, plumbed in series with the trans cooler in the radiator. Many of their coolers also have a temperature-sensitive bypass so that they allow the transmission to warm up properly in cold weather.

Tru-Cool LPD Transmission Oil Coolers. Protect Your Investment. | Tru-Cool

You can extend the life of your transmission and reduce the risk of costly repair bills with Tru-Cool LPD transmission oil coolers. By maintaining lower operating temperatures, you can significantly extend the life of both your transmission and the lubrication that keeps everything running smoothly.

www.trucool.com

 

[kapitein]

1st priority - electric trailer brakes and a good controller. When you hit the brakes you want that trailer to drag you down like an anchor, not push the back of the truck into a jackknife. It weighs about the same as your truck, so it will definitely push the truck around.

Also verify the balance of your trailer, with the goal that more weight is forward of the axle, and about 10% of the weight is on the hitch. You never want the weight to be too far behind the axle, since it will tend to see-saw because the rear goes down and tries to lift the hitch off the truck.

The main modification I would recommend is a good external transmission cooler, and maybe also a trans temp gauge. The best coolers to use are the stacked plate coolers like those from Tru-Cool. I would use the largest one you can fit in front of the radiator, plumbed in series with the trans cooler in the radiator. Many of their coolers also have a temperature-sensitive bypass so that they allow the transmission to warm up properly in cold weather.

Tru-Cool LPD Transmission Oil Coolers. Protect Your Investment. | Tru-Cool

You can extend the life of your transmission and reduce the risk of costly repair bills with Tru-Cool LPD transmission oil coolers. By maintaining lower operating temperatures, you can significantly extend the life of both your transmission and the lubrication that keeps everything running smoothly.

www.trucool.com

Thanks,

Electronic trailer brakes arent a thing here - we use an overrun braking system and this camper has something called an ALKO hitch and chassis with an anti-sway device. Its all on Google if your interest peaks you.


BTW, do you happen to know the max. safe nose weight for a Squarebody.

I had a Tru-Cool 40k on my previous 07 Burb - so I think I will invest in one of those again

 

[bucket]

Thanks,

Electronic trailer brakes arent a thing here - we use an overrun braking system and this camper has something called an ALKO hitch and chassis with an anti-sway device. Its all on Google if your interest peaks you.


BTW, do you happen to know the max. safe nose weight for a Squarebody.

I had a Tru-Cool 40k on my previous 07 Burb - so I think I will invest in one of those again

ALKO parts have been difficult to get here for a while now, and expensive too. They were bought out by Dexter (I'm guessing just the U.S. market?) and most stuff has been getting discontinued.

Anywho, 5500lbs is really not a heavy load for the typical 3/4 ton truck. Yeah it's a bit large of a trailer, but at lower speeds it doesn't really make that much of a difference unless it's a very breezy day. The most important thing since the trailer brakes are covered already, is tires. You want a good, strong tire with a higher load rating for the truck. A cheap tire or a lower rated tire can cause a lot of squirm and sway. If spending a lot of time at higher speeds, an aux trans cooler and a temp gauge are certainly not a bad idea.

 

[fast 99]

Agree with above, tranny can't be too cool when towing. Although might be excessive I have 2 coolers in series after the radiator cooler with a temp gauge. On a warm [not hot] day will exceed 200 degrees pulling a moderate grade. This is a tow truck. Total weight in tow is about the same as yours 10-11k.

 

[Grit dog]

That trailer just looks like it needs anti sway. Although they must’ve put all the heavy stuff forward based on where the axles are.
Trans cooler, trailer brakes and let er rip.
Truck suspension and drivetrain are sufficient for that trailer.

 

[Tonimus]

My Camaro on a car trailer weighs over 5k pounds. I pull it with a C10 Suburban with 3/4 ton running gear and a 454 with TH400. I do have an external trans cooler. I had no real issues. Pulled a little over 300 miles round trip. And it gets HOT out here.

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[Grit dog]

That trailer just looks like it needs anti sway. Although they must’ve put all the heavy stuff forward based on where the axles are.
Trans cooler, trailer brakes and let er rip.
Truck suspension and drivetrain are sufficient for that trailer.

You have surge brakes, correct? That’s how most euro light trailer are?
Idk how much towing experience with surge brakes you have but be aware of downhill towing and surge brakes. Easy to overheat them on long downgrades.

 

[Grit dog]

My Camaro on a car trailer weighs over 5k pounds. I pull it with a C10 Suburban with 3/4 ton running gear and a 454 with TH400. I do have an external trans cooler. I had no real issues. Pulled a little over 300 miles round trip. And it gets HOT out here.

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Good point although even if that TT is only 5500 it’ll tow heavier than a car on a flatbed. Plus I bet that TT is over 5500 loaded ready to camp unless it’s aluminum frame and really lightweight construction.

 

[Tonimus]

Good point although even if that TT is only 5500 it’ll tow heavier than a car on a flatbed. Plus I bet that TT is over 5500 loaded ready to camp unless it’s aluminum frame and really lightweight construction.

Per the specs on the camper, 5500 pounds is max loaded weight. Specs say 4200 pounds wet, no cargo. Yeah, it'll tow different for sure. But the car on the trailer was tongue heavy, which makes for its own challenges. Properly loaded, I think it'd pull fine, especially at the speed limits in the Netherlands.

 

[Grit dog]

Agree, the size of the truck in general will handle the trailer “ok”.
That said, that camper will “feel” much bigger than a Camaro on a Uhaul trailer even if they’re roughly the same overall weight. Tail wagging the dog especially with the long rear overhang and centered axles. And variations in tongue weight over bumps n dips in the road.
Back to the OP, the other question was what’s the max or safe tongue weight? OP hasn’t said what the tongue weight is on that trailer but based on the looks of it, the fact that it’s probably designed for a “large” euro suv to tow and it comes with anti sway installed (due to light tongue weight), tongue weight is least likely to be an issue or limiting factor.
But that’s largely a function of the hitch receiver on his truck. He will have plenty of suspension and axle capacity, especially with weight distribution, provided he’s not hauling a lot of weight in the truck bed. Assuming it’s a class IV receiver it’s fine. Those are typically 1000/10000 lb rated.
Honestly it’s more about the condition of the truck. Lots of variables in a classic vehicle.

 

[bucket]

I don't know, I've got a 30ft travel trailer and it pulls just as nice behind my Suburban as it does my 5000lb deckover trailer.