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K5 and towing box trailer

badmix

badmix

1/2 ton status
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West Virginia
At a cross roads on what to do.

I'm moving from WV to Fla and either gonna tow a 6x12 cargo trailer or hire movers.

I just did a tune on K5 and it's running good. Changed rotors and pads.

Truck has 178k, axles are upgrade to Strange chromoly but still 10 bolt with 4:10 gears on 33s & 700r.

Trailer is 950lbs empty and close to 3000lbs full..

Does anyone see issue using K5 to pul this ?

Thanks
 
I used my blazer to haul a truck frame loaded on a Uhaul auto transport trailer. Probably about 25-2600 lbs, maybe a little more. It was iffy at best, not sure I’d do it again. With that said, we did make it just fine and took it slow.
 
I used a 6 x 12 enclosed trailer to move, made many trips @ 250 miles at a time one way. I do have longer wheel base k20 burb. 10 bolt with 33's and 4.10's should be just fine. Add a trans temp gauge, use the pressure test port for sender. You'll prob need 3rd gear for any hills.
Maybe servise the rear diff if it's been 10's of K miles since last done. Is the 10 bolt a g80 gov lock or open carrier ?
 
I would only worry most about a 10 bolt G80. Yeah an oil change will help keep it cool for the trip.
 
badmix said:
At a cross roads on what to do.

I'm moving from WV to Fla and either gonna tow a 6x12 cargo trailer or hire movers.

I just did a tune on K5 and it's running good. Changed rotors and pads.

Truck has 178k, axles are upgrade to Strange chromoly but still 10 bolt with 4:10 gears on 33s & 700r.

Trailer is 950lbs empty and close to 3000lbs full..

Does anyone see issue using K5 to pul this ?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I don't see a real problem. The rear axle really isn't that much of a concern if we are just talking highway use IMO. At this stage anything can fail at any time, highway use flat towing would be one of the lesser stresses I would think.

I'd be more concerned with loading the trailer properly so the tongue isn't over or underloaded, and I'd go slow enough and keep plenty of distance so that if you have to brake, you don't get yourself into a panic stop situation. Patience.
 
The first tow rating I could find for a blazer was in like 83. GM rated it to tow 5k lbs. then in like 88 I think they added up to 6500 lbs with a weight distribution hitch.

Towing 3k. I wouldn’t worry about much of anything. I have towed around 5k lbs pretty regular with my Jimmy. It handled it just fine
 
I towed #4500 behind my 87 Blazer a couple of times. No big deal, just plan ahead while going down the road. My son towed a 6x10 uhaul loaded with his 97TJ from SD to Phoenix. In snow. Just took it slow, as he is mister cautious.

I think loading the railer correctly with the weight is a huge priority. 60% in front of the axle.
 
I've made many local firewood runs with similar weight in my K5 using mostly backroads, but wouldn't want to attempt 1000 miles without trailer brakes or sway control. Surely you're thinking of freeways.

Is this a nice trailer you'll be keeping a while? Can't you add brakes for a few hundred $? 3000lb trailer is 300-450lb tongue, not counting all the other stuff you're likely to fill the truck with, so keep the caster and headlight angles and total payload in mind. IIRC, the old owners manuals recommend WDH for over 2000 lbs/200 tongue.

There's a lot of old threads on this...
 
if i owned the trailer, it was a one way trip, and I needed to take my time unloading, I would tow...

don't have the trailer? multiple trips? does all the stuff that would be in the trailer have a place to go when you get there? going across country- or more than can be driven in a day or two? mountians/hills/ bad weather to tow through? anymore- i would just pay someone to do it.

Im the only one in the family that keeps doing this the hard way- after the last move? I think the last move was the last move i do on my own. next time im paying somebody.
 
Yea i own it and its one way.

Price of cargo trailers are insane priced. I picked up a used 2021 6 x 12 for $3500. Needed light wiring looked at, factory did a horrible job, used those clamshell wire connectors And had weird grounds. I put in frame grounds and got lights working and cut out 20 of those clamshells and used proper connectors
 
As suggested, attention to trailer loading , monitor vehicle operating parameters, be patient. Your driveline should be no problem. The short wheelbase is a bigger issue with handling.
Single axle trailers are easy to upgrade with electric brakes, kits are under 200$ on eBay for your choice of lug pattern, then a brake controller. Thats a lot of peace of mind for the times you're being patient/careful but somebody else isn't.
Good luck on the trip, and the move. I think the truck will be fine, it's moving to Florida that's questionable, LOL.
 
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