how much can it pull?

[Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK]

I understand the rated weight from factory is pretty small on my 1500.

But if I do upgrades to my (Im talking all out, do any upgrade short of converting it to a dually) GMC1500 long box could I tow 19000 pounds gooseneck?

I was thinking for sure upgrading front/rear to airbags, my Diff is already pretty low (max 60MPH) and beefing up the 305 to a big block with a larger transmission. Obviously I will also need to look at brakes.

Me and my wife are looking at building a 45' tiny house, the trailer comes in at roughly 19000 pounds and I really hate new *anything* I understand in the end it would probably be cheaper to get a new truck, but I really dont want all the stuff that "comes with it" I.E electronics.

Essentially can I take my 1500 and upgrade it to something like a 3500? (Im In Canada - so I will take care of the legal bit I just want to know if its possible or if I should be looking for an old medium truck).

[James the III]

Originally Posted by Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK

I understand the rated weight from factory is pretty small on my 1500.

But if I do upgrades to my (Im talking all out, do any upgrade short of converting it to a dually) GMC1500 long box could I tow 19000 pounds gooseneck?

I was thinking for sure upgrading front/rear to airbags, my Diff is already pretty low (max 60MPH) and beefing up the 305 to a big block with a larger transmission. Obviously I will also need to look at brakes.

Me and my wife are looking at building a 45' tiny house, the trailer comes in at roughly 19000 pounds and I really hate new *anything* I understand in the end it would probably be cheaper to get a new truck, but I really dont want all the stuff that "comes with it" I.E electronics.

Essentially can I take my 1500 and upgrade it to something like a 3500? (Im In Canada - so I will take care of the legal bit I just want to know if its possible or if I should be looking for an old medium truck).

I'd get a c-30 cause after you change the rear axle(your 1/2 ton axle will not cut it you need a full floater), the engine, trans, springs, bulk up the bed bracing, and such..
you could've just got a c-30 or 50

[saxart]

There is no way a 67-72 C-10 will tow anywhere near 19,000. Actually, even half of that amount would be considered "grossly overloaded".

Not only are you looking at needing to upgrade the rear axle, engine, transmission, and suspension, but even the frames on these trucks are way too flexible to consider towing something that heavy.

Are you talking about moving the building supplies for this house, or will the house itself be built on a trailer that is mobile? You may find it more economical to just hire someone to move it if you don't foresee it being a move that needs to happen a lot.

[James the III]

Originally Posted by saxart

There is no way a 67-72 C-10 will tow anywhere near 19,000. Actually, even half of that amount would be considered "grossly overloaded".

Not only are you looking at needing to upgrade the rear axle, engine, transmission, and suspension, but even the frames on these trucks are way too flexible to consider towing something that heavy.

Are you talking about moving the building supplies for this house, or will the house itself be built on a trailer that is mobile? You may find it more economical to just hire someone to move it if you don't foresee it being a move that needs to happen a lot.

Ya it's a new fad, tiny house.. just don't call me a mobil home.. lol

same thing new name.

[95 S_Trucker]

I wouldn't tow 19,000 with a well equipped 1 ton truck, not even a brand new one. You need a medium duty with that much weight.

Pics of tiny house? we have a camper, but always like to see tiny houses.

[trac209]

Towing a tiny house of 19000# with a 1/2 ton will end up a Massive Wreck.

[72_swb]

Originally Posted by trac209

Towing a tiny house of 19000# with a 1/2 ton will end up a Massive Wreck.

I agree. Not a good idea

I did once haul 13k on a 20' gooseneck behind my 2000 half ton. Did fine but I wouldn't do it on a regular basis

[Shinysideup]

A 1 ton chassis dually with a diesel is in your future.

[projectking]

Originally Posted by Shinysideup

A 1 ton chassis dually with a diesel is in your future.

This!

[StingRay]

Since these old trucks predate oem GCVW ratings or frontal area ratings legally you will default to the type of hitch you run. Chassis GVW is the towing limit with a straight bumper pull. With a fifth wheel, goose neck or a weight distributing hitch it's 2 times GVW. That's it in Saskatchewan. you will also have to insure for the combined GVW and have the correct license. Check this stuff out for yourself. It's all available on line.

Summary of Minimum requirements: correct hitch, bar and ball, correct tires, sufficient vehicle GVW, correct license and insurance.

I've pulled 10K short distances with my old 72. Strong fresh 350, built TH350 and a 3.73 rear end. It was a very well balanced load and I had the right hitch. I can tell you I wouldn't want to be in the hills or on a long haul with it.

I grew up with a 69 GMC 920 Longhorn Custom Camper that hauled a 2800 lb camper, a boat, 7 people and everything you needed for a month in the BC Southern interior. Dad ran it through the mountains every year for about 12 years and it was a beast. I can tell you it was nowhere near 19K. I can also say you'd never try that weight with that truck either. We blew tires often back then.

Legally you'd need a C30/GMC930 to haul it with a 10K GVW. A big block would be the best stock type engine choice and a Th400 mandatory. 4.10 gears would also be needed. 55-60 MPH is pretty much it hauling with 4.10's.

I have a 69 C30 dually and with a strong 350, SM465 and 4.10's. I wouldn't try hauling anything like that long distance with it. I haul a 6k payload on the back regularly and it's working with that. The drum brakes are marginal at those weights too.

So start with a dually and add what you need. Personally a mid to late 80's truck with a big block, a Dana 70 and huge front brakes is a much better starting point.

Also consider on a carbureted 454 with low gears and a big load you will be getting 5 MPG (Imperial Gallons) with a heavy load that has a large frontal area.

Our last camper truck was a 77 3/4 ton 454 with 3.73's. I added a better intake, cam and headers for dad. Got the mileage up to 7 on regular gas and that was a large improvement.

Better yet find a nice 90's Dodge Cummins.

[ranger danger]

If you are really dead set on using a vintage truck for this, I would be looking real hard at a C50 or C60. Talk about kool factor!!!

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...play.php?f=239

[special-K]

The first question to ask should always be "How much will it stop?". A strong man can pull that thing with his teeth. But it will run him flat over if he tries to stop it. Look at the weight of the truck vs the 10 ton trailer and then look at the brakes. If you were wanting to move it around all that much you should just buy a used travel trailer. If you want to place it semi-permanent then hire a truck to haul it. I'd put my money toward my own piece of property before spending it on building a truck just to move something you have to pay ground rent on

[coreyjhen]

The 1969 Chevrolet dealer manual says no more than 6,000 lbs for either a C10 or a C20. You might be able to stretch that a little, but 19,000 is too far. https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a...D550/ry%3D400/

[coreyjhen]

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a...D550/ry%3D400/

[davepl]

That's GM3500HD or Ford F-450 territory I think. Nothing else comes close to 19,000#.

You couldn't do it on a 1500 safely if you had a billet frame and twin turbos. There's just a lot more to it to manage and STOP that kind of weight safely.

[truckster]

All I can say is that I think it would make for some interesting YouTube video...

[special-K]

I had a '92 single rear K3500 regular cab diesel with reading utility cap, bed/tool bins loaded, ladders/scaffold on top when I broke down. Truck weighed around 8,000#. An F350 rollback hauled me home and let me tell you that was scare-EEEE! The whole way back the front tires kept skipping along skimming the road. He'd loose steering all together, then ride the brake to drop it down.. My knuckles weren't white because I wasn't driving. But talk about some serious pucker factor. I was so glad to make it home. All the guy would say is "Heavy truck you have" and kept on driving

[Alex V.]

Yep, what they said. ^ After all the upgrades to every other system the 1/2 ton frame will be more than maxed out, and even a C30 will have to be 2/3 semi truck to do it. Medium duty with a screamin' Jimmy will handle it much better.

[Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK]

Been trying to sell my wife on vintage medium truck - long story short i was lucky to get this!

Thanks for all the replies, more or less confirmed what I was already thinking, I am not concerned about Licence as I intend on getting Class 1 for work(could even just rent a penske...easier lol). I am going to see what we can do to get that weight down, the avg modern Superduty truck I noticed is right around 10-13000. Pretty sure with a frame/brake/drive train swap (more or less everything) it should be able to do it lol. The truck is already pieced together from prev owners (I.E its a 69 with a 305...) so I do not have to worry about "soiling a survivor".

[trac209]

Oh man that tonka truck is so cool!

[AnotherWs6]

Go park your 69 next to a 2009 and then compare frames between the two. You'll figure out the answer all by yourself.

[46stude]

One thing nobody has mentioned yet:


No matter how much you beef it up, no matter if you put a dually rear & a Cummins with a jake brake, it still won't be legal.

It's a half ton truck to the DOT no matter how beefed up it is. Your registration will dictate how much you can pull from a legal stand-point. You get pulled over by a liscense & weight officer, they will park you, ticket you, & make you wish you'd just bought a 1-1/2 or 2 ton truck.

But no, a 1/2 ton won't do it. You'd be putting everyone around you on the road in danger.

[BILT4ME]

I pulled a 20,000 LB combine on a flatbed trailer once with my 69 K10. I had to go 100 miles and I did it at 20 MPH maximum on two lane blacktop roads. It was NOT fun. I also had a manual transmission so I could do engine braking.

You need a MINIMUM of a C50.

[palallin]

Watched two guys once pull real mobile homes (10' x 40' and 12' x 50') with 3/4 ton square-bodies. You do NOT want to repeat their performance.

[rsmarr1982]

Id get a 90's dodge with a cummins and swap bodies