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K5's tow capacity?

V

Vee

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thinking of using my K5 as a tow rig for a travel trailer. what do you guys think? I have access to a 26/27 footer (5k lbs dry weight), maybe too long for my Blazer's wheelbase (107") anyone know the tow rating for a K5, Goodwrench 350/TH350/14 bolt rear? brake controller and weight distributing hitch of course
 
I found 1 guys opinion on the web....... 18-20 ft trailer 5k lbs max........ does that sound more realistic?
 
The listed rating on my 80 in the manual is 5k max, 450 tongue weight. I am planning on getting a 22-25' light trailer to keep the weight down. Granted mine will be on 3/4t axles and I will be running a Prodigy controller to help control the trailer. Look for a trailer in the light/ultralight category and you can get a pretty decent sized trailer that still has a gvwr of around 4700, well within a Blazer's capability.
 
Just remember that under the max rating doesn't mean it will be fun. Regardless of weight, travel trailers are a lot of surface area for the wind to push around. Towing with a longer wheelbase vehicle is night and day difference. Towing boats with my blazer vs my burb is downright scary sometimes. Burb handles the weight so much better!
 
I should have also included that I will be running an equalizer hitch as well, still going to be a bit of a long trailer for the Blazer, but should work for as little as I tend to tow it.
 
I just bought a 24 ft travel trailer and pulled it home with the K5.
It pulled ok empty but I imagine once it gets filled up it would be way too much.

Also made the blazer look like a go-kart

Nate
 
just fine, but i only go a couple miles round trip, do about 35 tops, and take it real easy.

that was last year though, the truck is bigger now, since i restored it, so it will be interesting to see how it does this summer.
 
I believe GCW is 11,000lbs. Curb weight of a stock K5 is around 4400lbs, GVW is around 6100lbs. So that gives you about 5000lb loaded up with tongue weight. Keeping in mind a standard class III/IV receiver is only rated for 500-750lb tongue. A weight distributing hitch pretty much doubles your tongue weight. Air bags and trailer brakes will help a lot!!! I'd watch out for wind with a big box behing you like that....really want a much longe vehicle for that task.

I towed a K5 on a 14ft car trailer behind a 4wd xtra-cab 4cyl toyota tacoma down the highway 100 miles home. It wasn't fun but it towed it.
 
My 49 state 83K5 was rated 6200 lbs GVWR . And it sure didn't like a 3000 lb pop up , 1000 lbs of spare parts , and 3 full coolers .

Was doable , but kinda sucked the speeds I went uphill .Regeared to 4.56 with the 35's , and it still sucked uphill .

My rig was a 305 , yours having a 350 may be better , but with the speeds I saw 350 towrigs towing light buggies up to Moab , I gotta imagine its still going to suck .

Want to tow anything faster than 40 mph on a steep grade requires a rig with a decent tow rating , some wheelbase , and either a diesel or roller cammed motor :wink1:
 
Yeah, you won't set any speed records. You want to tow stuff get a big block or a real diesel. My '00 6.5 would be lucky if it could pull the hat off my head. A reg cab 8' box is even a little iffy for WB length with a good size trailer.
 
Just because it will pull it doesn't meen it will stop it. My F150 pulls my 3 horse trailer almost as good as my f250, but it gets pushed around WAY more when you try to stop, especially with 4500lbs of horse in there. Just one other thing to think about....Dave
 
My 84 SWB(almost a blazer!)will haul anything with no problem. The most I've hauled is about 3000#. My truck is a 6.2 N/A/700R4/NP208/3:42 pegleg. No problems stopping, going, turning, highway speeds, offroad, around town, small roads, etc. One day this fall I should be hauling a M1008 or D250 on a 22ft car hauler. Then I will use the M1008 or D250 instead of the K10.

Specs:
1984 K10 SWB
6.2 N/A
700R4
NP208
3:42 (10B + 10B)
Stock suspension
Will get 2000# bags in the rear someday
 
medicdave said:
Just because it will pull it doesn't meen it will stop it. My F150 pulls my 3 horse trailer almost as good as my f250, but it gets pushed around WAY more when you try to stop, especially with 4500lbs of horse in there. Just one other thing to think about....Dave
Click to expand...


In my neck of the woods a trailer combination over 3Klbs requires electric/air brakes. Each state is a little different here but that is the general rule of thumb. New Hampshire requires that you can stop in 30ft at 20mph!!

Brakes, bags, and a WD hitch are all good ideas...especially if you plan on towing anywhere near rated capacity.
 
When I had my 89 K5 back in college I did some stupid pulls with it. Never tried a Travel Trailer but had a 24' pontoon boat that yanked me around pretty good for the 200mi round trip to the lake. But by far the worst was when a friend of mine blew up his diesel and we were headed out for a week of sledding. Pulled an enclosed 6 place sled trailer with 6 sleds and full gear and some spare gas. Only had to make it 60 miles but with no weight distribution hitch there were a couple times I thought I was gonna end up in the ditch.

But from all that stupidity I have learned to fair on the side of safety. My 72 wont pull anything bigger than a 16' car trailer with my friends 76 Chevy Drag truck.

If anything ask the dealer if you could test-drag around a trailer. In today's market they will do just about anything to sell a travel trailer.
 
So the ole lady has given me the nod for a jetboat next year, looking at this one specifically. So the K5 must be able to tow it. I've never towed anything with this short of a WB before outside of atv's , so aside from a brake controller and airbags what else would I want to do? By next summer I'll be runnin 3/4 ton axles w/ rear disc and a HydroBoost setup. Was also thinking some ladder bars for the rear and replacing the front engine Xmember w/ the track bar setup.

http://www.boatshopak.com/xs%20price%20sheet.htm
 
Jet boat? You will be fine. I'm picturing a 19-22ft tahiti or sanger, something like that? You won't have any issues. Most boat trailers are surge brakes, so no trailer brake controller is needed, and you won't need airbags.....a boat like that will have very little tongue weight. You should be fine.

I towed our 98 Mastercraft Prostar 190 all over with my 94 Full Size Blazer. On long grades and stuff, the brakes left a little bit to be desired....but not bad. Definitely doable. A jet should be lighter than this boat too.

Wow, jsut looked at your link. I'm thinking another type of boat. But really, anything under about 4500 lb, you should be in ok shape. Get a good trans cooler, and you'll be in good shape. THe 3/4 ton brakes will help when you get there, but not necessary.
 
21 footer, 2200# dry weight, plus maybe another 1000# in gear/gas, more if loaded with dead animals lol

xs_chena-river.jpg
 
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