Towing Capacity Question?

BadBowTie98 · May 3, 2009

I have a 98 With the Vortec 350 mated to a NV3500 5 Speed. Short bed, reg cab. I plan on making a 500 mile trip with a tandem axle car hauler, and a 93 Camaro strapped to the back. What is the towing rating on a truck equiped like this?? Should I have no problem towing the car?? Any input is great!!! thanx!!

rodram · May 3, 2009

I have a 98 With the Vortec 350 mated to a NV3500 5 Speed. Short bed, reg cab. I plan on making a 500 mile trip with a tandem axle car hauler, and a 93 Camaro strapped to the back. What is the towing rating on a truck equiped like this?? Should I have no problem towing the car?? Any input is great!!! thanx!!

to tell you the tow rating, I would need to know a bit more:

- 2wd or 4x4

- 1500 or 2500

- rear axle ratio 3.42, 3.73, 4.10

Mike G · May 4, 2009

You will also want to disclose to us the details of the terrain for the 500 miles. Across the flat east, no sweat, through the hills of the west, a little more work...

--Mike

grampadirt · May 4, 2009

I know Robert(66nova) tows his racecar on a flatbed trailer with his '95 C1500 all the time,you might shoot him a PM.

BadBowTie98 · May 4, 2009

I have a 98 With the Vortec 350 mated to a NV3500 5 Speed. Short bed, reg cab. I plan on making a 500 mile trip with a tandem axle car hauler, and a 93 Camaro strapped to the back. What is the towing rating on a truck equiped like this?? Should I have no problem towing the car?? Any input is great!!! thanx!!

to tell you the tow rating, I would need to know a bit more:

- 2wd or 4x4

- 1500 or 2500

- rear axle ratio 3.42, 3.73, 4.10

It is a 4x4 1500 with 3.42's. Sorry it took so long to get back with ya. the terrain is pretty flat. Im goin from Mid Michigan to Indianalpolis. Thanx again!!

rodram · May 4, 2009

Using the Trailer Life 1998 Towing Guide:

- the tow rating for a C1500 5.7L 2wd is 7,000 lbs for 3.73 gears; and 8,000 lbs for 4.10 gears.

- the manual says rating for 4wd is lower than for 2wd.

- If yours is a 4wd and 3.42 gears then you are down around 5,500 to 6,000 lbs tow capacity.

There is no comment in the towing guide about automatic/standard trans for this vehicle.... and the towing guide does not address road terrain.

BadBowTie98 · May 4, 2009

Works for me! thanx!

rodram · May 7, 2009

also... you cannot overload the weight capacity of your truck.... the allowable payload will be your GVW minus your curb weight of the truck..... if your allowable payload is about 1500 or 1600 lbs (typical for 1/2 tons) then the weight of passengers plus luggage & misc stuff, plus a full tank of fuel, plus the hitch weight cannot exceed the allowable payload.

BadBowTie98 · May 7, 2009

also... you cannot overload the weight capacity of your truck.... the allowable payload will be your GVW minus your curb weight of the truck..... if your allowable payload is about 1500 or 1600 lbs (typical for 1/2 tons) then the weight of passengers plus luggage & misc stuff, plus a full tank of fuel, plus the hitch weight cannot exceed the allowable payload.

Yea I figured that, Its just going to be me and the car this weekend, so it should be all good. I'm going to be extreamly easy on it. even tho its a truck, I feel awful towing somehting behind my baby. lol. thanx a ton!!