Casey in Ky
Member
Realistically, what can you tow safely with a 1995 Chevy 1500, reg cab, 5 speed? Starting to consider it might just be better to downsize tractor...
- Thread starter Casey in Ky
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Paul from MI
Well-known Member
Depends somewhat on axle ratio"s, etc. Figure a tandem axle trailer with 3500# axles is going to weigh about 2000#, so you are probably limited to around 3000-3500# actual tractor weight. Remember the GVW rating of thge truck is reduced by whatever tools, spare tires, etc. you take with you. GVW of the truck should be on the sticker on the door frame.Not saying you can"t haul more, but if you get into an accident it can be a problem. D.O.T. usually leaves this size truck/trailer alone but all you need is one having a bad day!!
Paul
Paul
just for a ballpark idea, figuring a ton roughly for the trailer and a stock 1/2 ton your pretty much limited to say a N or NAA series ford or a TO series fergie, or for newer stuff a small kubota type tractor, anything more is geting too much weight, you can go a little bigger if you have plenty of experience hauling this kind of stuff
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Depends on engine, rear axle ratio, and transmission first gear ratio. An automatic is prefferred by the truck makers because the torque converter gives nearly a 2:1 ratio on top of the 3:1 in the transmission.
On my '98 F-150 with 4.6L V-8, 5 speed with 3.92 first gear, and the original 3.08 axle it was rated at 6500 pounds Gross Combination Weight (GCW) or 2200 pounds of trailer. With a 4.11 axle I rate it at 9900 pounds GCW and 4700 pounds trailer and load. I've pulled more, weighing 11000 pounds across the scale once. 9900 pounds GCW is comfortable, I wouldn't want to climb mountains with that load.
I figure with a typical 5 liter engine you want the produce of the first gear ratio and the rear axle ratio to be at least 16, but 20 is better. I had a '86 F150 with a 6.5:1 first gear and a 3.50 rear axle and it towed well, but needed an overdrive for the 5L engine.
I had a '65 F350 with a 390, a 7.5:1 first gear and a 5.13 rear axle from a bigger truck and I never did find its towing limit. Probably limited by traction and not enough weight on the duals. With traction, probably 20,000 pounds.
Gerald J.
On my '98 F-150 with 4.6L V-8, 5 speed with 3.92 first gear, and the original 3.08 axle it was rated at 6500 pounds Gross Combination Weight (GCW) or 2200 pounds of trailer. With a 4.11 axle I rate it at 9900 pounds GCW and 4700 pounds trailer and load. I've pulled more, weighing 11000 pounds across the scale once. 9900 pounds GCW is comfortable, I wouldn't want to climb mountains with that load.
I figure with a typical 5 liter engine you want the produce of the first gear ratio and the rear axle ratio to be at least 16, but 20 is better. I had a '86 F150 with a 6.5:1 first gear and a 3.50 rear axle and it towed well, but needed an overdrive for the 5L engine.
I had a '65 F350 with a 390, a 7.5:1 first gear and a 5.13 rear axle from a bigger truck and I never did find its towing limit. Probably limited by traction and not enough weight on the duals. With traction, probably 20,000 pounds.
Gerald J.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
What engine? transmission? diff ratio? tires? extra trans cooler? extra engine oil cooler? pickup have factory towing package? Just asking about a "half ton pickup" leaves all the possibilities open; some will pull good sized load, some will barely pull themselves. Tom
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
Gravel roads, highway, interstate, hills, mountains, flat roads, summer, winter rain? Intended speed, 45mph or 70mph?
Five or six bolt rims on the truck?
Five or six bolt rims on the truck?
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
conventional bumper tow trailer and tractor was a combined 8,000lbs. I towed that with my 1996 Chevy short box, regular cab, 4x4, 4.3L V6, with a 5spd standard shift and 3:73 gears. It didn't like it, but I hauled that load 10 miles each way. I would stongly suggest upgrading to a 3/4 ton if planning on pulling loads that big very often.
That should help you since a 1995 is the exact same truck and even the V6 will pull all the truck is capable of, just not as fast down the road.
That should help you since a 1995 is the exact same truck and even the V6 will pull all the truck is capable of, just not as fast down the road.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
We had our old 1958 Chevy Viking licensed for 26,000 lbs.
235 cubic inch engine, 4 speed tranny, plus 2 speed rear. Top speed was about 55 mph.
I guess our light weight was around 9000 lbs.
It was never a good idea to stop when going up a hill if you were loaded.
Anything over 100hp in a pickup truck really is overpowered isn't it?
235 cubic inch engine, 4 speed tranny, plus 2 speed rear. Top speed was about 55 mph.
I guess our light weight was around 9000 lbs.
It was never a good idea to stop when going up a hill if you were loaded.
Anything over 100hp in a pickup truck really is overpowered isn't it?
farmer boy
Well-known Member
We have a 1997 4x4 auto 350 that will tow a 16' 5th wheel, steel(not aluminum) livestock trailer full and the only time it really loads up is when you hit a big hill or when you stop(no brakes, not recommended) probably weighs in the 10-11000 lb range. This is only hauling about 45 km. I would never go much farther cause I don't trust the truck and the no brakes thing can be dangerous if you don't know the roads your travelling.
Old Ford Mechanic
Well-known Member
Ron,you took the words right out of my mouth.You gotta have something in front of a trailer to stop it when its time to stop.I've been there and done that already.No worse feeling that trying to stop a trailer on a wet road with a truck that is too light for the job.
john in la
Well-known Member
Realistically there are very few laws that cover this. Federal law 567.4 says the manufacture must list a GVWR/FAWR/RAWR but says nothing about GCWR.
So all the law has to go on is these weights and the GVWR of the trailer. Where they will get you is on the spread and or hitch rating if you try to go way over board.
If you give us all the specific info I can answer you better.
Truck GVWR/FAWR/RAWR found on the door post; Trailer GVWR; Hitch size; weight of combo empty.
So all the law has to go on is these weights and the GVWR of the trailer. Where they will get you is on the spread and or hitch rating if you try to go way over board.
If you give us all the specific info I can answer you better.
Truck GVWR/FAWR/RAWR found on the door post; Trailer GVWR; Hitch size; weight of combo empty.
The standing rule used to be Don't exced the weight of TV . Most manufacters recomend brakes if trailer is over 3000 LB & most states require them. They also recomemend equlizer hitch with sway control also. I wouldn't pull out of driveway without brakes on trailer over 2000 LBS.
Depends on how well you like truck if you don't like it over load it, then you can get a new larger one.
Depends on how well you like truck if you don't like it over load it, then you can get a new larger one.
johndeereman
Well-known Member
my dodge book says 60 %of your load should be on the tounge so figure your gvw where would 60% put you at? dont want to overload the axle on the truck d.o.t. wont like that but who am i to say ive been hauling 12,000lbs plus with a 1500 dodge extended cab with a 318 auto just recently bought a 2500 dodge with a 360 havent done any towing with it the half ton hauled that load just fine im hoping to haul 2 tractors with the 2500
buickddeere
Member
No brakes on tht 5 ton trailer? I hope you are kidding? Anybody in particular you are looking to kill or maim?
john in la
Well-known Member
my dodge book says 60 %of your load should be on the tounge
WHAT
Do you want to check that figure again.
No hitch is made for 60% tounge weight except maybe a large 5th wheel.
More like 10%.
WHAT
Do you want to check that figure again.
No hitch is made for 60% tounge weight except maybe a large 5th wheel.
More like 10%.
If the gear ratio is rite and you have trailer brakes It will pull anything you can hook behind it. .5th wheel would be best . If you are over weight on your axels it could cost you big in repairs But that being said if you look inside of your door for your GVW You could double that rating before you hurt anything on the pickup If you use common sense . I pulled 81000lbs lack of common sense 3.5 miles with a toe strap behind my 97 dodge cummins. in lowlok used all 5 gears But had a driver in the truck and it had brakes and oon dry pavement
farmer boy
Well-known Member
Okay . I shouldn't say that. There are brakes but you wouldn't trust your life with them. 5 tons only happens once and a while. Brussels is the farthest we would go with that load. No big hills. Used once a month normally in the 4000 lb range. Very little on it. We used to use it more and then it always had good brakes on it. For 3-4 years we always had someone else to ship livestock. Like I said know the roads and slow down in advance. Again, once a month, right now even less, if it helps you feel safer out there.
If I had no other options I get the load balanced as well as I could and go with it. I've done worse....
I had 3000 # of steel on a 6 wheel wagon that probably weighed close to that much itself, behind a Ranger and no brakes on the wagon.
Stoping is your problem, not towing.
Balance it right and the truck will tolerate it. Just not fast.
Rod
I had 3000 # of steel on a 6 wheel wagon that probably weighed close to that much itself, behind a Ranger and no brakes on the wagon.
Stoping is your problem, not towing.
Balance it right and the truck will tolerate it. Just not fast.
Rod
buickddeere
Member
Brussels as in Brussels stockyards on the east side of the village? As in the Brussels with JR's diner beside the mighty murky Maitland river?
Going there this coming Wed night to watch my kid's team of 15 players get whipped. By a team of 8 players, two of which are girls. I went to highschool with the Brussels coach and another parent.
Going there this coming Wed night to watch my kid's team of 15 players get whipped. By a team of 8 players, two of which are girls. I went to highschool with the Brussels coach and another parent.
farmer boy
Well-known Member
That would be the Brussels I'm talking about.
buickddeere
Member
Where are you located? I'm near Tiverton
I would suggest you add brakes to your trailer if you are going to pull that kind of weight. There is nothing more frightening than being pushed thru an intersection due to an overloaded trailer. This is the reason both my trailers have brakes and I stopped buying 1/2 ton trucks for towing.
You could add air bags or overload springs to your truck and brakes to your trailer and tow more confidently. As far as the truck, it should have no trouble pulling the load but stopping especially in an emergency is another story.......
You could add air bags or overload springs to your truck and brakes to your trailer and tow more confidently. As far as the truck, it should have no trouble pulling the load but stopping especially in an emergency is another story.......
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