Been reading over here off and on since Steve started the site. Anyway I finally found the truck I have been hunting for. I don't know a lot about towing. I used to tow a Bobcat in high school for my job, but just small campers and boats since then. I don't have much $$$ right now due to the purchase of the tow rig, but I am browsing for a trailer Anyway here is the truck. 89 V3500 TBI 454/400/205/60/14B. 33" SSR's on Welds. It has a 6" suspension not sure if it should be lowered down to 4" or so for towing the K5. What do you guys think? Gonna be towing my K5 at the bottom of course.
Nice truck!!!! Are the SSRs E rated? If not I would think about getting some tires that are E rated. They hold up alot better for towing duties that C rated tires. Some D rated tirs have the same ratings as E, you just have to look at the carrying capacties on the spec sheet for each particular tire. On the lift, I would lower it to 2" and run some 285 or 295 tires on some narrower rims. IMO, tow rigs don't need a big lift and/or tires. Kinda defeats the purpose. Especially if you tow a 5th wheel or GN trailer.
AH HA! So you are the lucky SOB that snagged that V30 over in Napa.waytogo That is a pretty cool truck, I have my eye on a K30 3+3 4x4 SRW that is in Oakdale, 8" lift on 36" TSL radials that is for sale. Like most vintage 4x4 chevy guys feel, there is something about those crew SRW's. Your SSR's are fine, they are a D rated tire but have a weight rating of 3,640lbs IIRC, thats plenty and is about the same as my E rated Michelins on my Ram. The heigth shouldn't be a problem towing your K5, or almost any other hitch pull trailer that is still under the trucks' GCWR. Goosenecks and 5th wheels might be harder to pull.
Yeah it will be a bumper pull whenever I get a trailer. I'll prolly only be towing a couple of hours each way 4-5 times a year with my deployment schedule. I really don't want to lower it below 4" I would like to stay around a 33" tire to keep the RPM's in check a little bit. RJF yep there is just something about the old crew cab's that gets me.
that's sweet... wouldn't mind one of those myself... wish my 1-ton was a crew, I could live without the 4wd... as far as the lift goes, I'd keep it where it's at. get an adjustable drop hitch (rather than the big drop bent arm ones) and pull away...
