Towing with my "toy"

[Old Jay]

Ok, first thing is hello everyone. Im new to the site, and truck for that matter. I own a 1988 chevy c1500 regular cab long bed with the 305. I've searched for this answer but couldnt find anything. Everything mainly relates to 2500s, 3500s, duallys, diesels, 4wd, etc.

My question is, how much can my truck tow/handle? I ask because i found a wrecked 04 cobra for a good price and was thinking of picking it up? Can my truck handle it? Or would i be better off finding the cobra in parts (engine, tranny, etc separately)?

 

[98chevy2500SS]

I did find this:
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_th..._automatic_transmission_no_door_tag_available

and this:
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080905011605AAFGCqH

I know it does not say anything about a 305, but just assume it is lower since the engine does not have as much power as the 350 does. If the car is not too heavy, you could probably get away with it.

 

[1997]

tow ratings dependent on rear axle ratio.
taller gears = less tow rating, assuming other factors don't change.
assuming its stock, check the glove box for rear axle code.
3.42 ballpark rating would be around 5500 lbs, 650 tongue weight.
you require brake controller + trailer brakes anything above aprox 2k.

 

[98chevy2500SS]

I agree with @1997, your truck is most likely rated at 3:42, unless it has the tow package, which got you the 3:73 gears. As @1997 said, check your glove compartment for the codes to tell you, or you can jack up one side of truck and count how many revolutions the drive shaft turns while you turn the tire. IIRC, you only need to turn the tire once, place tape on one side of the tire, then place a piece of tape on the bedside so that you know where have been. I did this trick to figure out my gear ratio and I found out I have 3:42 gears. The only trailer I will pull with it, is a lawn mower trailer, anything as big as a car trailer with a car, might stress it out.

 

[Supercharged111]

A 5k car hauler is within the limits of a half ton all day. I hauled my Z06 up north a couple weeks ago with the wife's 5.3 Envoy (also 3.42 gears) in OD the whole way and it was happy as a pig in ****. A plow puts more stress on a half ton than a trailer it's rated to pull.

 

[Ironroad9C1]

Yep, you will be fine, with 3.42s you can tow 6k . just remember to tow in 3 instead of OD