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Towing with a k5...???

Jonny-K5 said:
but i dont think the 1.5-3.0" of extra wheelbase would make a huge difference.
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that's why I made the comment about the shortbed not being much better . 800 bucks ain't a bad price I'd buy it DD and maybe you could build a tow bar setup for your Ex cab and flat tow it. that way you would just be pulling the the weight and not trying to suport it it on the back of the blazer Not to mention the 2000 pounds of trailer
 
my tahoe (112" wb) has towed once or twice with a loaded trailer (1955 chevy on a flatbed) and it isn't that good at stopping, that is always my main concern. Pulled 12% grades no prob with a 4500lb load + trailer at 55mph but wouldnt stop for shiit. If you feel comfortable that it can stop, then do it. Short wheelbase is fine for me because i drive a trailer everyday and I have to make a lot of u-turns.
 
14 bolt+ trailer with good brakes = stopping power;) The lift prolly isnt ideal but ill live with it while towing. Besides its not like im towing it all the time, just now and then and not for great distances. dont like the idea of flat towing, no brake assist and wears your tires out.

reason for crossover is more stable steering, and with the axle moved forward is a nessecity. also its not just 1.5" the back would be 4" back too.

As for the sway bar, i said id make it work;) id prolly find a way to run one in the rear too...
 
Also the hitch from a 3/4 or 1 ton will work;)
 
yellowK20 said:
well I guess it's time to invest in a good brake controller
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definetly. ive heard alot of good stuff about the prdigy series, i forget who its made by but alot of guys on here use it and love it so that makes it good enough for me:p:
 
I wouldn't worry about it too much. I regularly tow my boat (4000lbs...boat wet, and trailer) 50 miles each way to the local lake. Last year I towed it to the coast (300 miles each way) with no problems. The one thing you HAVE TO REMEMBER is that your tow vehicle has a short wheel base and a high center of gravity. ALWAYS keep that in mind, don't speed, make smooth dilerberate inputs and you'll be fine. Except when that old geeser pulls out in front of you without looking that is.:eek1:
 
I have towed 8K behind my 10" lifted 35" boggered k5 a half dozen times or so. It wasn't too bad, but it wasn't too great either. For my defense, it's a 3/4 K5 with excellent braking.

You can do it, but only if you have a fair amount of towing experience, have the brakes setup really well, and stiffen up the rear springs. Don't lift it, thats dumb if you plan on using it to tow often. I wished every time I pulled something with my K5 that I had no lift and a set of Michelins.

Here is the question....do you want to hold on to the wheel with both hands all the way there and back, or do you want to cruise in comfort?

I've had both, and there is no way I'd ever go back after using my 2001 Ram Cummins with a nice LONG wheelbase, huge brakes, and 810ft lbs of torque. It's a one handed drive with 7K, 8K , 10K, eveything I have towed.
 
Jonny-K5 said:
another think to consider is the stock hitch is only rated for 5k with a W-D hitch. pulling 8k lbs just isnt safe, no matter what. im not sure if you can get one rated for 10k for a blazer.
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You can get a Class 4 hitch (10,000 lbs rating) for a Blazer. Whether towing that much weight with a K5 is wise is another matter. I have a Class 3 on mine, which is rated for 5000lbs gross/500 tongue normal or 6000lbs gross/750 tongue with a weight distributing setup (yeah, I was exceeding it's specs with 5800 gross and about 600 tongue without a weight distributing setup - the ass end didn't even sag much :p:).

Personally, if I was to tow 5000+ on a regular basis I would get a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, preferably with a diesel. That's what they're made for.
 
I'd say for the cost of the blazer, try it.

If it were me :rolleyes: I'd leave the height stockish and still install your 3/4 ton stuff. With overloads added on the rear.
Use a load leveler of some sort for sure though.
A good set of load rated tires would be a must to.

If everything's set up right (blazer/trailer) then sure, I'd do it.
 
My K5 has a class III weight-distro hitch, the factory Z82 tow package, tranny (temp and pressure) gauges, notably more power than the original 305 wheezer, and a beefed transmission. It tows something like a pair of trailered horses or a '63 Ford Galaxie 500XL ragtop on a trailer without complaining or acting squirrelly (front sway bar, good shocks, stabilizer).

However, I don't tow on a regular basis. I see solid 70s and 80s extended cab longbed 3/4 and 1 ton 4x2 and 4x4 diesels in the local classifieds every day of the week for pretty good prices, and I'd buy one of those if I was planning on towing heavy all the time. Here are a few examples:

'86 FORD F-350 flatbed, dually, toolboxes, ladder rack, 6.9 diesel, $2750/OBO.

'87 FORD 3/4 4x4 diesel, auto, ext. cab, longbox, runs good, $2500.

'92 FORD F-250 ext. cab, 7.3L diesel, 5 spd., longbox, $2300

Looks like it's a Ford day in the local rag! The flatbed dually sounds interesting. They might need a few rough edges hammered down, but any local paper should have several ads of a similar nature.
 
mudrig.jpg


Maybe my cummins is getting tired, but I didn't feel overly comfortable with this setup. There were alot of wheels on my 70 mile towing trip, and it was drizzling rain. But I was really sweating it. It was all my truck could do to strain it up hills, and It felt like it was pushing me down hills. If I had been using a lifted k5, I don't think I would have made it. just my 2 cents.
 
I tow all the time with Full size trucks and dump trucks and tractor rigs. And towing more than my dads 3,500 pound boat with my 4" lifted blazer i wouldn't do. You need a 3/4 ton truck. Sure the Blazer would be fine hauling a 7 or 8k load on a great day with sunshine and fairly strait roads and no other traffic on the road. But that is not reality.
 
james your cummins not likey??? hmmm ..... i am sure it was pushing you tho since you got no working brakes on that trailer.....
 
Just got back from having a load leveler system installed and 'YES' it does make a big difference!

I feel better now facing the 425 mile each way trip were going on soon.

Trailer sits more level as well as the truck.
Those PITA 'porpoise' bouncy/bumps are all but completely gone now.

dcp_3939.jpg

dcp_3941.jpg

dcp_3942.jpg
 
vtblazer said:
Just got back from having a load leveler system installed and 'YES' it does make a big difference!

I feel better now facing the 425 mile each way trip were going on soon.

Trailer sits more level as well as the truck.
Those PITA 'porpoise' bouncy/bumps are all but completely gone now.
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man that is one sweet setup it just became my desktop
 
I've got a fairly stock '91. Added electric trailer brakes and a 5k/10k hitch. Tow an old travel trailer (read heavy) occaisonally with a wd setup and it is very stable at 70mph. I upgraded to a four core radiator and an beefed up 700 R-4. The electric brakes makes it much more comfortable.
 
Im gonna give it a shot. Like i said, i wouldnt be towing often. Whats tyhe worse that will happen anyways? i decide i dont like it and am left with a pretty sweet blazer!:D
 
Can't beat a long truck with power and big brakes though.... since everyone else is posting pics...

Hipinion's Blazer...
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My blazer...
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And an oldy of when the K5 used to be the towrig...
48blazer_trailer.jpg
 
78Suburban said:
mudrig.jpg


Maybe my cummins is getting tired, but I didn't feel overly comfortable with this setup. There were alot of wheels on my 70 mile towing trip, and it was drizzling rain. But I was really sweating it. It was all my truck could do to strain it up hills, and It felt like it was pushing me down hills. If I had been using a lifted k5, I don't think I would have made it. just my 2 cents.
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I towed the same thing you got pictured . A big 3/4 ton 4x4 burb on a tandem axle trailer and it was hooked up to my old 74 blazer with a 6 inch lift and 36" tsl swamper :eek1: . I towed this from mt.hood to milwaukie oregon ( 85 miles). anything over 55mph the a$$ end would wag like a happy dog and stopping just plain sucked . I bet with 3/4 ton running gear and no lift and smaller 33" and under tires would have been alot better . Now I have the 1 ton cc w/454 and I have no issues with towing . Bottom line is if you are going to tow with a blazer , keep it stock height and try not to tow anything to much longer or heavier and plan your stops on hills . 1/2 ton brakes don't cut it for towing :eek1: .
 
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