Towing capability
 

Hey everyone, been on here for a while but this is my first post. We are buying a toyhauler and my question is has anyone towed a 14,000 lb trailer with a stock 305. I have a 65 1500. I've had this truck since I was senior in high school when my wife and I started dating. We are not buying another truck truck to pull this camper. Are there any mods that you would suggest to make it easier. Your comments are very welcome and appreciated

Re: Towing capability
 

The usual mods many of us do is upgrade to the 4412 Holley 500cfm carburetor, dual exhaust and Electronic ignition. My preference is the GM HEI, a few have even done a 4bbl conversion. :upyes:

Re: Towing capability
 

Thanks bigblockv6 but that really doesn't answer my question. I need to know if this truck with its current configuration is able to safely tow a 14,000 lb trailer. I know about those mods and have done the carb and dual exhaust. Those are nice upgrades but that's not going to make it pull the load I'm asking about if it can't already do it

Re: Towing capability
 

I think you'll have no problem getting it moving, but my concern would be getting it to stop. 14,000 lbs is a lot of pounds to brake down from 60-0 or heck even 40-0. Maybe upgrading the brakes would be a good idea. Cecilia has a hard enough time stopping with an empty trailer on her butt.

Re: Towing capability
 

Thanks a lot. Been toying with the idea of 4 wheel disc. Also was thinking of making it a dually. Will be putting airbags on it this weekend. My biggest concern is will it be able to pull it. I can fix the suspension and brakes. Don't want to put a lot of money into it and then have to a motor swap. I've had 3 of these and this is my baby. I want to keep it as close to original as possible

Re: Towing capability
 

While I'm sure your truck with the 305 would tow a 14,000 pound trailer, I wouldn't recommend it. If you could always stay on flat ground (hard to do in Colorado!) you could probably get away with it most of the time. Personally, I wouldn't even think of towing a trailer that heavy in the mountains without at least upgrading to disc brakes in the front, a power booster, and dual brake circuits. Just be prepared to go REALLY slow up the hills!

Re: Towing capability
 

Gimmie1965, my suggestion for a serious power increase and keeping the V6 is to upgrade to a 401M V6 then you'll have plenty of power to pull 14,000 trailer. The 401M V6would be basically a straight drop in as long as it has the 6 bolt flange on the crankshaft for the flywheel.

Re: Towing capability
 

I've have thought about that also. Not quite that big. There's a junkyard in pueblo thats about 45 min south of me that hat 3 351m at one time. Was thinking about going down to see if he still had them

Re: Towing capability
 

With "1500" that means you have a C10 that is a 1/2 ton pickup truck? It won't handle 14k. I have a 1972 C20 (3/4 ton) that I converted to a C30 (1 ton) with a 4:10 dually rear end, big brakes off a 1989 1 ton truck (front disks, rear drums), vacuum booster, 5k rear air bags, trailer brakes, LS1 engine, 5 spd NV4500, digital dash, ETC (make that a LONG ETC!), lol. I have pulled 14-15k with the truck and I've had 8k on the steel flat bed and I would not recommend anyone doing that with similar setup as mine, much less on a 305 1/2 ton truck. Even with my big brakes, brakes are still the weak point.

Re: Towing capability
 

I thought the GMC 1500 series was 3/4 ton. But even if it is, pulling 14,000 lbs uphill with a 305 would be a very slow process. My 1500, that I am sure is rated at 3/4 ton, needs downshifting to get up some California hills without a load, and spends most of the time in third (counting the granny as 1) when going uphill with any sort of load. If your toy hauler is a trailer (not 5th wheel, which I have not seen behind these old trucks) there is another potential problem. Where the bumper with its hitch plate is welded to the frame might not be heavy enough metal to pull such a big a load. At least that is what the welding shop told me when I put a 2" receiver on the old truck to pull a horse trailer - this is not a problem with the bumper, but how it is attached to the frame.

JRMunn