K5 Towing a Camper?

[496truck]

Can it be done? Any and all thoughts welcome.

Specifically the truck in my sig. I don't want to buy and maintain another vehicle, or I'd just buy an RV. If my K5 will tow a small camper safely than it will keep all costs down. We are thinking of buying a 16'-18' camper. Something around 4k pounds loaded. It'll be a full height with beds that fold out on each end, not a pop up.

I know the truck has the power to pull it. It's the short wheelbase that has me concerned. Does the camper become a big windbag and start pulling the truck sideways during a big gust?

 

[British Slave]

My BIL pulled a camper about 20 foot with a 78 Blazer. had no problems. He did have an equalizer hitch.

 

[tRustyK5]

We used to have a 21 foot camper trailer we towed everywhere with my old '81 Jimmy. ~5200 lbs loaded. Jimmy was lifted 4" and on 35's.

I used a proper Class IV receiver hitch, and the 500 lb weight distributing bars. It towed nice, and I never had any issues with sway. We didn't keep the trips short or 'easy' either. Longest trip was from Vancouver BC to Huntington beach CA and back. Many trips through the mountains here in BC too. I probably towed that trailer approx 8000 miles.

Make sure you have the correct tongue weight, use the weight distributing bars, have electric brakes on your trailer and have them set-up right, and drive like a sane person...

i never once had an issue with sway. I had three or four times when I had to stop very aggressively. My trailer would always brake harder than my Jimmy did, so i never had any issues of the trailer trying to pass me.

 

[imiceman44]

I will add my voice to that: 20 foot race car trailer about 8k lbs total behind a 78 stock blazer on 31" tires, did fine with sane driving, after 6 years, switched to crew cab for more comfort.

 

[nsxxtreme]

Can it be done? Any and all thoughts welcome.

Specifically the truck in my sig. I don't want to buy and maintain another vehicle, or I'd just buy an RV. If my K5 will tow a small camper safely than it will keep all costs down. We are thinking of buying a 16'-18' camper. Something around 4k pounds loaded. It'll be a full height with beds that fold out on each end, not a pop up.

I know the truck has the power to pull it. It's the short wheelbase that has me concerned. Does the camper become a big windbag and start pulling the truck sideways during a big gust?

If you have 35's and 4.10 gears as in your sig it will work fine in the city and around town. And will do fine on hills as long as its not at highway speeds. Braking I thought the blazer was more then adequate as long as you have trailer brakes.

I tow a 4k lbs boat with mine. I have 35's and 14bsf axle also with 5.13's. I used to have a 10 bolt rear axle with 4.56's. After about a year it ate the gears off the ring gear. You upgraded your axle so that will be fine. But if the motor is stock going up any kind of highway hill will suck IMO. Be prepared to drop it in second and do 45 mph or get enough momentum before you reach the hill and hope it carries you over.

 

[K85 Octane]

interesting replies
thanks guys from me too

I'm looking to do a 16-18' box trailer, outfitted with a couch, tv, crapper, quad, and other toys