How Much Can I Tow With My 1997 Gmc 1500

hal101 · June 27, 2010

i have a 1997 gmc 1500 4X4 305ci 69,000 miles

how much can i tow with it

KMGZ400 · June 27, 2010

look in the manual

pwall · June 28, 2010

From this thread:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=50551

I would guess about 7000lbs, although since you have the 5.0 and not the 5.7, it would be less. Fair estimate would be around 5000-6000lbs.

Since you have asked, I'll assume you don't have the manual. ;)

And welcome to GM-Trucks.com btw!

hal101 · June 28, 2010

From this thread:
http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=50551

I would guess about 7000lbs, although since you have the 5.0 and not the 5.7, it would be less. Fair estimate would be around 5000-6000lbs.

Since you have asked, I'll assume you don't have the manual. ;)

And welcome to GM-Trucks.com btw!

Can I increase the amount I can tow or do I need to buy I diferant truck?

txab · June 28, 2010

How much weight are you wanting to tow?

hal101 · June 28, 2010

How much weight are you wanting to tow?

i want to tow a 5th wheel travel trailer

my wife wants the biggest i want a smaller one

some i have looked at are like 15,000 lbs but i am sure they must make smaller ones

amtz.zero · June 28, 2010

How much weight are you wanting to tow?

i want to tow a 5th wheel travel trailer

my wife wants the biggest i want a smaller one

some i have looked at are like 15,000 lbs but i am sure they must make smaller ones

15,000 lbs. is way too much for that truck.

hal101 · June 28, 2010

How much weight are you wanting to tow?

i want to tow a 5th wheel travel trailer

my wife wants the biggest i want a smaller one

some i have looked at are like 15,000 lbs but i am sure they must make smaller ones

15,000 lbs. is way too much for that truck.

any idea how much it could

jro909 · June 28, 2010

i'd say no more then 5k

txab · June 28, 2010

If you're going to haul 15k then get you a new truck. You need pulling power and stopping ability. Your truck will not provide enough of either. If I were to pull that kind of load I'd look into running a Duramax

rodram · June 28, 2010

Here are a few details about your truck...

1997 K1500 5L .....

GVW 6600 lbs

Maximum Payload 1375 lbs.

Maximum Tow Capacity 5500 lbs.

So.... you can see that 1/2 Ton 4wd trucks of this vintage are limited as a trailer towing unit.....

The maximum tow capacity of 5500 lbs is a number that GM assigns to the truck to rate the combination of engine, transmission, cooling system, and brakes. You can't give your truck any mods to improve that.

The maximum payload is the maximum weight you can put in your truck, and that includes people, gear, tank of gas, plus any hitch/pin weight of any trailer. That 15,000 lbs trailer you talk about will have a hitch weight of 1200 to 1500 lbs itself. I'm not sure that any manufacturers actually make small enough 5th wheels to haul with a 1/2 Ton like yours. Some of the brochures for new trailers will state that certain models are 1/2 Ton pullable.... but they are referring to 2010 model trucks and newer that have higher rated tow capcities....

I have an old 1987 model 5th wheel that is 5500 lbs (... and rides nice behind my 1997 2500) but I have not seen new ones this small.

The new 1/2Tons have increased tow capacities and increased payload capacities, but you are still limited when it comes to big 5th wheel units... .The 2500HD (and 3500HD) are real nice units for towing big trailers, but you have to decide if you want to pay for one and want to drive one for the other 350 days of the year that you are not camping/trailering.

jro909 · June 28, 2010

i would probably factor age of the truck such as powertrain, condition of springs and all that as a factor...needless to say i'd invest in a newer truck if your looking to tow something of that nature...even a GMT-800 with the 5.3 3.42 gears can handle 8k on the hitch

hal101 · June 28, 2010

Here are a few details about your truck...

1997 K1500 5L .....

GVW 6600 lbs

Maximum Payload 1375 lbs.

Maximum Tow Capacity 5500 lbs.

So.... you can see that 1/2 Ton 4wd trucks of this vintage are limited as a trailer towing unit.....

The maximum tow capacity of 5500 lbs is a number that GM assigns to the truck to rate the combination of engine, transmission, cooling system, and brakes. You can't give your truck any mods to improve that.

The maximum payload is the maximum weight you can put in your truck, and that includes people, gear, tank of gas, plus any hitch/pin weight of any trailer. That 15,000 lbs trailer you talk about will have a hitch weight of 1200 to 1500 lbs itself. I'm not sure that any manufacturers actually make small enough 5th wheels to haul with a 1/2 Ton like yours. Some of the brochures for new trailers will state that certain models are 1/2 Ton pullable.... but they are referring to 2010 model trucks and newer that have higher rated tow capcities....

I have an old 1987 model 5th wheel that is 5500 lbs (... and rides nice behind my 1997 2500) but I have not seen new ones this small.

The new 1/2Tons have increased tow capacities and increased payload capacities, but you are still limited when it comes to big 5th wheel units... .The 2500HD (and 3500HD) are real nice units for towing big trailers, but you have to decide if you want to pay for one and want to drive one for the other 350 days of the year that you are not camping/trailering.

hey thank you for all of the great information

looks like i need a bigger truck or a much smaller trailer

amtz.zero · June 28, 2010

Here are a few details about your truck...

1997 K1500 5L .....

GVW 6600 lbs

Maximum Payload 1375 lbs.

Maximum Tow Capacity 5500 lbs.

So.... you can see that 1/2 Ton 4wd trucks of this vintage are limited as a trailer towing unit.....

The maximum tow capacity of 5500 lbs is a number that GM assigns to the truck to rate the combination of engine, transmission, cooling system, and brakes. You can't give your truck any mods to improve that.

The maximum payload is the maximum weight you can put in your truck, and that includes people, gear, tank of gas, plus any hitch/pin weight of any trailer. That 15,000 lbs trailer you talk about will have a hitch weight of 1200 to 1500 lbs itself. I'm not sure that any manufacturers actually make small enough 5th wheels to haul with a 1/2 Ton like yours. Some of the brochures for new trailers will state that certain models are 1/2 Ton pullable.... but they are referring to 2010 model trucks and newer that have higher rated tow capcities....

I have an old 1987 model 5th wheel that is 5500 lbs (... and rides nice behind my 1997 2500) but I have not seen new ones this small.

The new 1/2Tons have increased tow capacities and increased payload capacities, but you are still limited when it comes to big 5th wheel units... .The 2500HD (and 3500HD) are real nice units for towing big trailers, but you have to decide if you want to pay for one and want to drive one for the other 350 days of the year that you are not camping/trailering.

hey thank you for all of the great information

looks like i need a bigger truck or a much smaller trailer

Looks like it. Me? I would get the Duramax!

jro909 · June 29, 2010

Here are a few details about your truck...

1997 K1500 5L .....

GVW 6600 lbs

Maximum Payload 1375 lbs.

Maximum Tow Capacity 5500 lbs.

So.... you can see that 1/2 Ton 4wd trucks of this vintage are limited as a trailer towing unit.....

The maximum tow capacity of 5500 lbs is a number that GM assigns to the truck to rate the combination of engine, transmission, cooling system, and brakes. You can't give your truck any mods to improve that.

The maximum payload is the maximum weight you can put in your truck, and that includes people, gear, tank of gas, plus any hitch/pin weight of any trailer. That 15,000 lbs trailer you talk about will have a hitch weight of 1200 to 1500 lbs itself. I'm not sure that any manufacturers actually make small enough 5th wheels to haul with a 1/2 Ton like yours. Some of the brochures for new trailers will state that certain models are 1/2 Ton pullable.... but they are referring to 2010 model trucks and newer that have higher rated tow capcities....

I have an old 1987 model 5th wheel that is 5500 lbs (... and rides nice behind my 1997 2500) but I have not seen new ones this small.

The new 1/2Tons have increased tow capacities and increased payload capacities, but you are still limited when it comes to big 5th wheel units... .The 2500HD (and 3500HD) are real nice units for towing big trailers, but you have to decide if you want to pay for one and want to drive one for the other 350 days of the year that you are not camping/trailering.