Towing Capability
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Towing Capability
My in-laws are planning for a move from Albany, NY to Charlottesville, VA in December. My father in-law has a 2wd 2002 GMC 1/2 ton extended cab truck w/ the 5.3 V8 and an auto. He is concerned with his wife driving her '99 Kia Sportage the distance, and wants to tow her car behind his truck. The Kia is 4X4, so I figure the easiest for him (good guy, but not mechanically inclined) is to rent a car hauler where the whole car is on the trailer, vice just the front wheels. Since you guys are smarter than I, I figured I would ask if he should be OK with this set-up. Not sure what hitch he has, but I am going to strongly recommend he have, or get a class 3 hitch. Is there anything else he needs to double check (wiring, suspension, ect..)? He is a pretty good, albeit fast driver, but I don't want to see him do something that might cause them to get in an accident. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank in advance.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
You are correct. That's too far to tow a car safely on a dolly. A car trailer will work best. If the trailer has surge brakes, great. If not, he will need a brake controller installed in the truck to go with the trailer brakes. No matter what, he will also need a class III receiver installed if it doesn't have one.
Any trailer that weighs more than 2000 should have brakes on it. In some states, it's the law.
Any trailer that weighs more than 2000 should have brakes on it. In some states, it's the law.
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Thanks for the feedback. I had totally forgotten about the brake controller (I have one and tend to forget that if you don't pull anything, you probably don't have one). One other question, should he have to get any helper springs for the rear? I'm not sure what the tongue weight is with the trailer set-up. He has plans on getting a boat in the near future, so as I have informed him, none of these add-ons is a "waste". Thank again.
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Can't remember off-hand if it's a stick or an auto, but wouldn't it still be beneficial to get the trailer vice the dolly or tow bar? Cost for trailer rental is only $20 more than the dolly. Thanks.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Marengo, Iowa
No need for helper springs as long as he loads the trailer right. I ran a 90 1/2t ext cab chev for a while, and towed with it somewhat regular, and it was fine. No helper springs, no real changes to the truck itself, but it had a receiver hitch on it, never even considered the bumper since it had the hitch on it, makes it much easier to keep the trailer leveled out.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Running Springs CA
I towed a 3500 lb trailer over a 4200 foot mountain pass with a stock 4.3 V-6/auto 1500 Chevy. It had absolutely no trouble. The factory bumper is rated for 5000lb. Rental trailers over 1500lb have surge brakes.
Jim
Jim
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From: Isanti, MN
Originally Posted by jimandmandy
I towed a 3500 lb trailer over a 4200 foot mountain pass with a stock 4.3 V-6/auto 1500 Chevy. It had absolutely no trouble. Jim
Now for my worthwile contribution(I think!)
Even with an auto tranny, if the transfer case has a neutral setting, you should be fine towing it with all four on the ground, as far as you need to go. But, it would still be preferable to have the wheels off the ground.
BTW, can someone explain the concept of surge breaks? I thought all trailer breaks took a 7 pin connecter and a brake controller. I'm confused!
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