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Towing a Trailer...

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2K views 17 replies 11 participants last post by  LeoP  
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#1 ·
Hello Everyone,

I'm thinking about investing in an enclosed trailer. I want a 5x8 enclosed, so I can fit two dirt bikes, and have somewhere inside to sleep. My question is whether or not my truck can handle it.

So here's everything I've researched so far...

My truck, is a 96 Chevy S-10, Extended cab, 4 cylinder automatic...according to the owners manual, it will safely pull 2200 pounds.

The trailer, weighs roughly 1100 pounds. Each dirtbike weighs approximately 220 pounds, each gear bag weighs approximately 50 pounds, same with an ice chest, and figure another 100 pounds in misc stuff...so I figure the grand total for weight, including trailer is, rounding up a little bit 1800 pounds.

In theory, my truck should pull/stop this trailer just fine.

In the real world though, do you think it's possible? I'm worried about my engine, as it has 209,000 miles, but it runs perfect. The transmission is actually new, with only 70,000 miles or so. Will this be too much stress on my truck/engine??? I'm only planning on towing this about 3 hours to the desert, and 3 hours back...not really any further then that. And there is really only two big hills...not mountains, hills that go up for maybe 5 minutes and that's it...pretty flat terrain.

Any comments/suggestions/opinions/other idea's will be greatly appreciated.
 
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#3 ·
you might want to think about a set of good quality aftermarket brake rotors for the front. The ****ty stock ones are going to warp after the first trip.
 
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#4 ·
Pat,

That's how my truck is, can't move under its own power and weight...The manual doesn't say anything about truck weight, other than the stock bumper can't handle more than 200 pounds...I was already planning on adding a hitch.

Andy,

I would agree with you too...I do have the best pads on there that Napa has to offer...and I'm good about not riding the brakes, especially when pulling a trailer. But I'll look into some slotted ones or something to help in that department.
 
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#5 ·
Well, I'm a big believer in over kill. I had a 1 ton, crew cab, dually that I used to tow with. After the last road trip, I got mad at it for being a pain in my butt and I replaced it with a 1 ton diesel Ford, standard cab, single wheel. The Ford actually pulled like crazy. So much better than the dually. But the dually didn't care about a cross wind half as much as the Ford did. I think you're going to notice alot more shear force wind with a trailer profile that's twice as big as your light little truck has. By the numbers, yes, it'll pull it. ...but I'm telling you the first time you get on the open road and a cross wind hits you, you're gonna suck up a fair amount of that seat cover.

Also, even though the four cylender will do it. It's going to put alot of extra strain on it. That little 2.5 liter was never designed to pull approaching it's maximum load capcity for three hours straight at highway speeds. It's gonna run hot, and with 200K on it, it's not going to like you very much.

Bottom line: Will it do the job? Yes, ......barely. No promises on how long it will do it, though.

Just my opinion. Take it or leave it.
 
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#6 ·
Alan....you pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. My truck can do it, but it won't like it. It's on a highway...so I'll only be going about 55MPH...I'd be in no hurry.

The crosswind thing is something I hadn't really thought about either...Hm. Would some of those stabilizer bars help at all?

I called up a buddy of mine and talked to him about it...he said, go ahead and fabricate up the hitch and get that all situated. That'll cost me about 100 bucks. Then borrow somebody else's trailer, and load it like I would load mine...then give it a real world test. If it does good, go buy the trailer. If it does bad, I'm out 100 bucks, not 2400 bucks. I think this is the route I'm going to go for now. Play it safe.

Thanks for the help!
 
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#11 ·
Bad66Chevelle454 said:
The crosswind thing is something I hadn't really thought about either...Hm. Would some of those stabilizer bars help at all?

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
They help with "body roll" on the trailer, but the wind will still want to blow the trailer into the next lane.

While driving a loaded tractor trailer accross Kansas, I had a crosswind so strong, my driver's side steer tire was to the left of the center line. My right trailer tandoms were to the right of the far right line. I drove for about 100 miles sideways down the interstate. (My truck usually pulled straight as an arrow, that was all cross wind)
 
C
#7 ·
Tongue weight is EXTREMELY important! ESPECALLY with a smaller truck!

Get some bathroom scales and put the trailer front on it. Figure out what it should be. I'm thinking about 200lbs to start? Not sure, get the facts.

I had a boat I towed with a light weight 1/2 ton once and got the tongue too light and it almost flipped the truck!

Steve
 
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#10 ·
JR,

That's my biggest concern...I know the truck will do it. I just fear that since it's such an old engine, it's just going to stress it too much and blow the head gasket or rod bearing or something. It runs perfect, still has tons of power, but lets face it, its old and has 209K on it....
 
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#13 ·
Yup, but remember, my trailer was 13.5' high and the truck was 70' feet long, and it only had about 8" of ground clearance because of the belly boxes on my trailer. That's quite a huge profile to catch wind with. Like driving a sail boat down the road. It won't be like that with your truck, but you will definately notice if you get a cross wind.

Just something to keep in the back of your mind while you're towing a box trailer.
 
#14 ·
I've pulled U-haul's 6x12 or 6x10 (whatever their biggest enclosed trailer is) behind my '97 S-10 Ext. Cab. V6 5spd. loaded (so it was probably 3500lbs. total). Then I pulled a 3000lb boat/trailer setup, but the manual tranny didn't like it. Going down the road was fine, pulling the boat out of the water stressed the trans too much. Like said above, you'll find the weak link at some point. Braking was fine.

A friend towed a Sea Doo with a similar S-10 to yours. Except it was a 5spd manual. He didn't have any problems. You just won't be able to hump that sucker up hills. I like the try before you buy deal with your friend. You'll never know until you try.
 
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#15 ·
I ruined an 6 Cyl 85 S-10 blazer towing one of those double axle u-haul trailers, towed it full from Phoenix to Ct, stopped twice to change the tranny fluid.:(
That truck was never the same, one thing after another after that trip.:sad:
Sorry to say this, but I think you'll be needing to either put some money into that truck real soon or need another one, if you start towing with it.
 
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#16 ·
Were you pulling more than the blazer could handle? I see what you're saying...however, my trailer wouldn't be overloaded, or over what the factory recommends I could pull. Plus its only a 3 hour drive....not a 3 day drive.

I'm still on the fence about all this. To me it sounds like everyone is pretty much saying "yes it will do it...but its a coin toss for how long."
 
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