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Picked up a new toy hauler / project today!

DR

DR

1/2 ton status
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Posts
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Location
Coolidge, Az
So, I picked this up today to turn in to a tow rig.. I have a nice injured leg so its going to be a few weeks before I can start on it. Its a two wheel drive / "pre runner" dually. It has 3" suspension lift and 2" body lift. It was minus engine and tranny. I have a good running nice new 350 Im going to put in it for now. I have a 454 sitting in the garage waiting for the money to be rebuilt. It will replace the 350 eventually. I haven't opened up the diff yet to see what gears, but its a 14blt ffdrw. The sub is badged as a "trailer special" Not sure if it came with those badges or not. WHat do you think I should run for a tranny? Im thinking 700r4...

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DR said:
WHat do you think I should run for a tranny? Im thinking 700r4...
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For a tow rig, I'd run a Th400 or 4l80e. 700's can be built to handle the stress, but they are costly to get done correctly. Better to start with something stronger.
 
if me and can find the parts go 400 with gear vendors overdrive unit for gear spits. other wise 4l80 and 4.56 or 4.88 gears.

i use to pull a good size 10k equipment trailer with a 350/4l80/14ff with 4.10 and 245/75/16 tires. it did o.k. but i think 4.56 or 4.88 would have made it far far better.
 
I would also run the 4L80e also unless you can't afford it then stick with the TH400. If it was two wheel drive og. it may have been a trailering special not sure they ever did a 4x4 one. They did not ever do a dually one so that's an add on. Depending on what you are going to to tow I would find a wrecked Dodge with a cummin's and swap in the drive train, tons of power and a four or five speed trans. Keep the Chevy running gear and body and you have the best of both worlds.

or buy my one ton and get he 454 and th400 and propane set up fron it :)
 
I have a Durango as well but with the 5.2L no way would i attempt that, but you do have the 5.9 so :bow:
 
Power wise... No issues at all. It is a little light for that load though... It got pretty wobely at highway speed. Had to keep it at 50 or slower.
 
Yea there should be plenty of power even my 5.2 gets up and goes pretty good. So i can imagine the 5.9L. well now u have a real tow rig. Once that bad boy gets rolling you can move a house with that thing.:D
 
Yea... We have pretty much all of the parts together now. Just gotta put it together! Its going to be a while before we can afford to build the big block. Its gonna be stuck with the 350 for a while... I cant wait to get it running though.. I will keep the pics coming as it goes together.
 
Go with the 4l80e if you can afford the aftermarket controller......or get one and put a manual valve body kit in it, and shift it like a manual.

You will love having Overdrive. I have a 91 3/4 ton 4x4 burb with a 350, and have gotten 17+ mpg unloaded on the freeway.
 
GM made a 4x4 trailering special Suburban. There is an '80 3/4t Sub around here with that emblem. I believe is says 13,000# towing capacity and has a 400 sb TH400/NP205 & 14BFF w/ 4.56 gears.
 
johnnychimpo said:
GM made a 4x4 trailering special Suburban. There is an '80 3/4t Sub around here with that emblem. I believe is says 13,000# towing capacity and has a 400 sb TH400/NP205 & 14BFF w/ 4.56 gears.
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Yea, that is exactly what this one says. 13,000lbs. It has all new bagdes lying in it. Along with a lot of interior pieces. It looks like he was going to do a lot of work to it someday. There are boxes full of new parts from GM that never got installed lying in there. We also have a doner burban that we are going rob the rear air out of. (one thing this one didnt have) Scored a nice set of rims and decent used tires for it today. ...
 
yep local tech school had a 12k truck for years.

thay are out there from time to time in the 12 and 13 k ranges but few and far between.
 
kgblazerfive said:
13,000 wow that 3000 more then my one ton.
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Not saying it will do it... But thats what it says! I click some pics of the badging next time Im over there. (its in my sisters back yard right now) Its really shocking since best I can tell it came with a 350. Guy said he bought it from his dad who bought it new. It had a 350 / 400 with a gear vendor. I would have at least expected a big block.
 
Wonder what they did for springs think mine is like a 13 with a overload or maybe a nine pack. Would be cool to find one here since Utah lift laws are based on weight.
 
DR said:
Yea, that is exactly what this one says. 13,000lbs. It has all new bagdes lying in it. Along with a lot of interior pieces. It looks like he was going to do a lot of work to it someday. There are boxes full of new parts from GM that never got installed lying in there. We also have a doner burban that we are going rob the rear air out of. (one thing this one didnt have) Scored a nice set of rims and decent used tires for it today. ...
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Here's a link & a pic from Dremu's awesome site. With the trailer weights for a 1980 Sub.
http://brochures.slosh.com/

burb12.jpg
 
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