towing with a tbi 350. anybody else do such madness?

[1BEATK5]

i finally towed somthing with the new (to me of coarse) crew cab. and i was actually impressed. cruised at 70 with no problem on flat ground and up the hills in the coast range 55-60 no problem. even got 12mpg average during the whole trip.
that was 60 miles to pick up the trailer with about 1200lbs i the bed= complete 14b/d44 combo with springs, both tanks full, 100lbs of tools, air compressor, and the dog. i had to add the dog cause he is um............. fat.
then 60 miles back with all the gear and the empty trailer. i'm guessing 1800lbs for the trailer. the ramps are atleast 300.
i plan on towing the wrangler on a slightly heavier trailer, and just wondering if anybody else has or has had a similiar setup? the tj is about 4500lbs. so thats about 6500lbs with only maybe 300 extra in the bed for gear. i dont really plan on keeping the axles in the bed though.
future plans are some mods and then later a vortec head 383. but the 383 will be a while. also need some gears. probably 5.13s and 38s
how heavy have you guys had a 350 and been comfortable?
anybody with a 465?
any other suggestions?

 

[bftank]

i had a 1500 95 gmc with a 4l60, stock size tires and 3.73 gears. we used it to move from fargo, nd over the appalachians to norfolk, va. the bed was fully loaded. the trailer was a pj 10k 20 footer at 3000 lbs, on the trailer was a '74 chevy longbed with bbc, 4 speed and 36" sx's, around, under and in the truck was all our other crap.

i figure the 74 weighed 5000 conservatively, the trailer 3000, misc. crap 1500. total conservative towed weight 9500

the truck weighed 5500 with about 500 in the bed i would guess. so total combined 15000.

we made it nothing broke or overheated, very grateful the trailer had brakes on it. would prefer to never do it again. this would have been less stressful with a one ton like you have.

personal opinion, i would run it the way it is until something in the drivetrain gave up, and save money for a cummins, nv4500 combo. a 383 is going to be slightly better than a 350, not as good as a 454 when it comes to towing. hope this is helpful

 

[dhcomp]

I have a 91 burb. Even with stock tires, it struggled with the 350. Most i have towed was probably 5k, but it was up grades, and it wasn't fun.

As long as you aren't in a race, it gets it done.....but you get bored being that guy doing 25 in a 55 ......

 

[1BEATK5]

i will be going up some hills. thats the only thing im not looking forward to. but i just don't want a 454. especially a tbi 454. i have driven and worked on alot of them. gutless fuel suckers. and they just don't last as long as an sbc. i'd also feel more comfortable spinning a sbc at 3000rpm all day on the freeway and i bet a vortec head 383 will make more torque than a stock 454, and get better mileage.
what gears do you have in the burb? is the engine stock?

 

[dhcomp]

i will be going up some hills. thats the only thing im not looking forward to. but i just don't want a 454. especially a tbi 454. i have driven and worked on alot of them. gutless fuel suckers. and they just don't last as long as an sbc. i'd also feel more comfortable spinning a sbc at 3000rpm all day on the freeway and i bet a vortec head 383 will make more torque than a stock 454, and get better mileage.
what gears do you have in the burb? is the engine stock?

3.73's, but teh stock tire was tall at like 31.7"

Now 3.73's and 33's and its a dog. Hopefulyl swapping to 4.10's soon.

 

[1BEATK5]

i dont think tbi engines need super low gears, that flat torque band might not require it as much as other engines do. but i'm goin to find out. 5.13s should get the revs up. even with 38s. i'm just hoping that some engine mods will make atleast a noticable untill a 383 is reality

 

[munepit]

I have a new 350TBI,700R4,208 burb. I just installed, well not me, but, 5.13s in my 14 bolt and love it. I haven't towed anything yet but, it would tow just fine. I have 38s also. Going bigger in the next 45 days. 39.5 rockers if I can find them(Eric). Just around town at a stoplight, when I hit the skinny pedal, I can go maybe 15ft before it shifts into 2nd. I love it!!

 

[1BEATK5]

i dont have o/d. but atleast there is no slippage

 

[mudbuggy]

Normally arounrd this time of the year I begin the trek of bring home firewood. The past years I have used the ramcharger (short wheelbase, 318,727, 10" with 33", 4x4) hauling 3 and 4 cords of red and white oak wood home (60 miles one way). This year since I got the suburban I haven't thought twice about stopping before I got the trailer full. Granted I've got the 350, 700r4, and 10" with 33" tires, but I have so much more stability that's crazy what I would pull before. Just be cool on the pedal and it's real smooth. I would do this as a full time gig, but I figure it's better then letting all of it sit down there and rot. Besides, I like the smell of wood burning in the crispness of the cool evening