89 C3500 towing capacity....

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DeckArtist

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Mine has the 454/4spd/4.11 combo and huge helpers out back that may be factory. Wondering what the towing capacity was back then?
 

DeckArtist

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Thanks Lanny....not far from what I thought. My neighbor said he had a friend back in Louisiana pull a single wide with his....won't be doing that, bought this one to haul cedar logs to my sawmill when I get busier. Was just curious on the rating, I doubt any load I pull would be any heavier.
 

Sparkysikes

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My 93 is rated @ 10k gvwr (5600 pound truck and 4400 load) and 10k towing. That's assumed gooseneck or fifth wheel. My truck was used for hauling cars and constantly was around 16 to 18k in tow. They'll do it but not fast. The guy I bought from said he hooked up like normal with a early 2000 Dodge cummins and was like yep chevy's going to pasture. That's why I got the good deal.

Hope this helps
 

stutaeng

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My 93 is rated @ 10k gvwr (5600 pound truck and 4400 load) and 10k towing. That's assumed gooseneck or fifth wheel. My truck was used for hauling cars and constantly was around 16 to 18k in tow. They'll do it but not fast. The guy I bought from said he hooked up like normal with a early 2000 Dodge cummins and was like yep chevy's going to pasture. That's why I got the good deal.

Hope this helps

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the curb weight of the vehicle + "tongue weight" of trailer. Not actual weight of trailer.

That's the GCWR, which is obviously higher than 10,000 lbs for your truck.

OP, do you know your rear axle ratio? I think they used 3.42s standard on those trucks back then, but could be optioned with 3.73, 4.10 or 4.56s.

Towing would depend on ratio.
 

Gibson

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A 3500 would never have had 3:42s, a SRW would have come standard with 4:10, with 4:56 optional.
Towing capacity was figured with just a few gallons of gas and 1 person in the vehicle, (the driver,).
All other additional weight in the vehicle subtracts from the tow capacity, and the tongue weight has to be factored in to the tow vehicles GVW.
 

Sparkysikes

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Yeah mine came with 4.56:1.

I changed it to 3.73's it didn't make as big a difference in fuel economy but way quieter at 65-70 mph. Now 75mph sounds like 60 before
 
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