2500's can't tow?

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Chrisdidwht

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I have towed over triple what my 2000 1500 was rated for. It pulled it ok but didnt stop it worth a flip. And after a few years of doing that kinda stuff it bent the frame. Not bad but you can tell its been abused.
Even towing 6000# with a 1500 can be iffy if its on C rated tires and such.
After doing sway control, weight distribution hitch, Helper air bags, tandem brakes, and E rated tires, it makes a huge difference but its amazing how much more comfortable it is to tow with a 2500 and 3500 vs a 1500.

Ouch. Yeah I also have a 91 swb rwd 1500 Chevy with a 350 but I would never tow with it. I don't even have a hitch on it.
 

Cng2500hd

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Happy to help and other then mine having factory CNG equipment mine started out like yours.
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first thing I towed. I only dragged it around my property.
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this is one I hauled in. I had no problem.
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once I got home with my new car hauler.
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first big haul on my new trailer. I will soon be upgrading to a try cool 40k transmission cooler and I always have my scangauge2 set to transmission temp when I tow so I know my trans is cool and happy. I do have a Curt's extra duty receiver hitch and trailer brake controller on my truck and I always get the trailer sitting level with the weight evenly distributed.
 

Chewy11B

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From Uhaul Site "Must weigh at least 3,500 lbs. (curb weight), and must equal or exceed 80% of the combined weight of the trailer (2,210 lbs.) and the vehicle being towed (up to 5,290 lbs.)".

That is why they wouldnt allow it
 

Chrisdidwht

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Happy to help and other then mine having factory CNG equipment mine started out like yours.
You must be registered for see images attach
first thing I towed. I only dragged it around my property.
You must be registered for see images attach
this is one I hauled in. I had no problem.
You must be registered for see images attach
once I got home with my new car hauler.
You must be registered for see images attach
first big haul on my new trailer. I will soon be upgrading to a try cool 40k transmission cooler and I always have my scangauge2 set to transmission temp when I tow so I know my trans is cool and happy. I do have a Curt's extra duty receiver hitch and trailer brake controller on my truck and I always get the trailer sitting level with the weight evenly distributed.

Nice, are you rwd also? Yeah I think I might do a little bit more work to my truck before I start towing. Like I said I bought it off an old guy for 600 bucks. He just loaned it to anybody for free for years. They trashed the truck. It was dead when I bought it. I threw a battery in and a water pump. It seems to be driving ok. Still needs TLC. I used to rent a truck and trailer from a local rental yard to move my Monte Carlo around. They would always give me an 05 reg cab long bed 3/4 ton F-150. It was a POS. The engine sounded like it was clapping. Hardly had any power. I'm thinking my truck has to be safer than that thing.
 

Supercharged111

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Nice, are you rwd also? Yeah I think I might do a little bit more work to my truck before I start towing. Like I said I bought it off an old guy for 600 bucks. He just loaned it to anybody for free for years. They trashed the truck. It was dead when I bought it. I threw a battery in and a water pump. It seems to be driving ok. Still needs TLC. I used to rent a truck and trailer from a local rental yard to move my Monte Carlo around. They would always give me an 05 reg cab long bed 3/4 ton F-150. It was a POS. The engine sounded like it was clapping. Hardly had any power. I'm thinking my truck has to be safer than that thing.

I don't remember F150 brakes sucking the way our 1500 brakes do. Gutless =/= dangerous.
 

Chrisdidwht

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From Uhaul Site "Must weigh at least 3,500 lbs. (curb weight), and must equal or exceed 80% of the combined weight of the trailer (2,210 lbs.) and the vehicle being towed (up to 5,290 lbs.)".

That is why they wouldnt allow it

I looked up the t100 curb weight. It said anywhere from 3200 to 4100 lbs. I figure this one has the v6 instead of the 4 cyl and it's an extended cab. Plus it's auto and rwd so probably close to 4000 lbs so the hypothetical weight would be around 6200 lbs. My truck weighs 5000 (weighed it at the dumps). Plus doesn't the fact that it's an 8 lug not 6lug account for anything?
 

Chrisdidwht

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I don't remember F150 brakes sucking the way our 1500 brakes do. Gutless =/= dangerous.

It was an F-250. (Mistyped it). But I agree my short bed reg cab 1500 can barely stop itself. But it's a 91. I think the 1500s brakes got better towards the end of the run right? Off topic but anyways. I still never felt safe in that ford. Not saying Ford trucks are bad but this thing was a ticking time bomb and they were still renting it out. My gmc feels way more solid.
 

stutaeng

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It was an F-250. (Mistyped it). But I agree my short bed reg cab 1500 can barely stop itself. But it's a 91. I think the 1500s brakes got better towards the end of the run right? Off topic but anyways. I still never felt safe in that ford. Not saying Ford trucks are bad but this thing was a ticking time bomb and they were still renting it out. My gmc feels way more solid.

Does you truck have hydroboost braking? I thought only the big block and diesel 2500s (8 lug) got hydroboost? I may be wrong. I think the complaints from weak brakes are the vacuum-assisted. Hydroboost braking works very well, from my experience.

In any case, for your loads, trailer braking is required. Get yourself a brake controller if you don't have one already. Also, a trailer weight distribution hitch is required.

But yes, 8 lugs of that vintage are beasts. Would pull that load all day long. I see these trucks all the time towing/hauling from landscapers, construction and metal scrappers around here.

Are you running LT-series tires? Those came stock from the factory. People sometimes replace them with P-series due to cost, but P-series feel really "spongy" with weight on them. Make sure they are properly inflated.

Happy towing!
 

Cng2500hd

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Mine is a rwd like yours. I bet you truck will be a reliable truck with some upgrades and regular maintenance and with a few more upgrades and a good waxing yours will look as awesome as mine lol its just an old work truck to me it looks awesome.
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my truck as of Monday.

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