Towing capacity for 1990 suburban

[outlaw28]

Hi, I'm new here but have used this forum for some previous troubleshooting. I recently picked up a 1990 3/4 ton suburban. It's originally from florida and in nice shape. I bought this to pull an enclosed car trailer.

It is the 454 tbi, th400 2wd, 14 bolt full floater rear with GT5 (4.10) RPO. Also has the Z82 tow package RPO code. GVWR is 8600 lbs. I searched around and can't seem to find any definite info on trailer weight and towing limitations. It has a strange pivoting hitch that is currently locked out to work as a normal hitch but I know it is a 10,000 lb rated class IV hitch. I'm looking to haul a 24'-28' enclosed car trailer but want to know how much weight can be legally pulled. Since most trailers this size are in the 3500 lb+ range I want to make sure I'll be able to haul a car and cargo. Also any idea on the GCWR of this truck? The truck was previously used to haul a 7000 lb airstream and was a race hauler before that. I can send the vin if anyone can figure it out that way.

Thanks
Ian

 

[outlaw28]

anyone? is this thread in the wrong spot? ive searched high and low i can't find a definitive answer.

thanks
ian

 

[Big Ray]

Sorry, I haul people with mine...

I did find this from this site

Search Results: ​

Year Make Model Engine Tow Capacity 1991 Chevrolet/GMC V2500 Suburban (4WD) 6.2 V-8 Diesel 6000 lb Notes: Maximum gross trailer weight includes passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle plus any cargo in the trailer. The additional weight must be subtracted from the maximum tow rating. Requires 4.56:1 (4.10:1 with 7.4 V-8 and V2500 with 5.7 V-8) axle ratio, Z82 Trailering Special Package, weight-distributing hitch. Maximum tongue weight 1000 lbs. (950 lbs. for R2500 and 6.2 V-8 diesel; 750 lbs. for V2500 and 6.2 V-8 diesel). 1991 Chevrolet/GMC V2500 Suburban (4WD)

5.7 V-8 7500 lb Notes: Maximum gross trailer weight includes passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle plus any cargo in the trailer. The additional weight must be subtracted from the maximum tow rating. Requires 4.56:1 (4.10:1 with 7.4 V-8 and V2500 with 5.7 V-8) axle ratio, Z82 Trailering Special Package, weight-distributing hitch. Maximum tongue weight 1000 lbs. (950 lbs. for R2500 and 6.2 V-8 diesel; 750 lbs. for V2500 and 6.2 V-8 diesel).

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Terms: LWB: Long Wheel Base SHW: Short Wheel Base TD: Turbo Diesel WB: Wheel Base
Notes:
* See your local vehicle dealer for specific information not listed here or for questions.
* It is not recommended to use alternative fuels while towing a trailer.
* It is highly recommended that you use a weight-distribution hitch or sway control
if your tongue weight is 10% to 15% of your tow capacity.
* If you are towing a fifth-wheel trailer, a higher tow rating will be

 

[runamok151]

You're in the right spot. Doesn't it have tow and gvwr info on the door tag?

 

[outlaw28]

GVWR is 8600 lbs. think GAWR for the rear axle is 5600. it previously pulled a 7000 lb air stream. these burbs are pretty popular with the air stream and vintage rv crowd. Im going to be pulling an enclosed race trailer. can't go over 9,999 lbs anyway but i would like to know if im legal pulling an enclosed loaded up close to 10k lbs total trailer and cargo weight, say 8-9000 total. im sure this truck can handle it, just can't seem to find a GCVWR listed anywhere for it.

 

[diesel4me]

It would have been on the drivers side door sticker most likely...if they fall off ,cant be read,or if the doors get swapped,the only other way to tell might be try a dealer with the VIN or an online look up,and see if they still have records that far back available..

 

[outlaw28]

there is a door tag, only has gvwr ad gawr. i will keep searching, was hoping to find someone with same truck that may have had the info. i think it may have been in the manual but that is long gone.

 

[dremu]

Lots of detailed info can be found in the original sales brochures, which conveniently are available in scanned form on http://brochures.slosh.com/

Go 1990, "Trucks 1", and Suburbans start around page 76.

8600 GVWR was the max for that generation, and the highest GCWR was 16000 with 4.56 gears (so yours with the 4.10's has a GCWR of 14,500.)

For more specifics, see the Suburban section of the 1990 trucks

http://brochures.slosh.com/1990/ctv1-84.jpg

and the 1989 Suburban-specific one

http://brochures.slosh.com/1989/burb3.jpg

Oddly, it looks like 6000 is the max recommended trailer but maybe that's for the weight-distributing hitch, which might be what you have.

Hope that gets you started. You can read through the other years as well as you can use the specs for any identically-equipped Suburban (454, 4.10:1) from 1973-1991. For this purpose they're similar enough as makes no difference. I know sometime back in the 70's there was a whole catalog just for trailering, so if the above isn't enough for you, dig around for that.

-- A