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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 4 Wheel Drives => Topic started by: Halogin13 on June 12, 2017, 06:14:59 pm

Title: V10 towing capacity
Post by: Halogin13 on June 12, 2017, 06:14:59 pm
Hi all.. searched and read through threads till my eyes glazed over, and couldn't find a definitive answer..
1987 V10 Silverado 5.7L TBI 350, 400r.. 14 bolt rear end..
Thinking about purchasing a trailer, nothing huge like a 5th wheel, but what can I comfortably tow? I live in Ca, so hills n mountains are part of every journey..just looking to upgrade from our pop up tent trailer, cause now we're a family of 4 😊
As always, thanks in advance, and apologies if this thread is a duplicate
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: csdineley on June 13, 2017, 09:36:48 am
I think its between 6000-6500 lbs. But I'd shoot for 3500-4000 as a safety margin.
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: zieg85 on June 13, 2017, 12:48:36 pm
Hi all.. searched and read through threads till my eyes glazed over, and couldn't find a definitive answer..
1987 V10 Silverado 5.7L TBI 350, 400r.. 14 bolt rear end..
Thinking about purchasing a trailer, nothing huge like a 5th wheel, but what can I comfortably tow? I live in Ca, so hills n mountains are part of every journey..just looking to upgrade from our pop up tent trailer, cause now we're a family of 4 😊
As always, thanks in advance, and apologies if this thread is a duplicate

What is a 400r?  14 bolt in a V10 would have to been added?  What other upgrades have been done.  What gear do you have in the 14 bolt?
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: Irish_Alley on June 13, 2017, 03:42:33 pm
A V10 would be a 700r4 (aka 4l60) and a V10 should have really low gears for better MPGs not good for towing. But like zieg said the 14 bolt wouldn't of came in a half ton and I don't think the tg400 would either
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: Halogin13 on June 14, 2017, 07:44:42 pm
Sorry, autocorrect went nutty on me.. th700-r4, should be 3.06 gearing.. apparently trucks Has had an axle swap done.. I decoded the vin, and GVWR is listed at 6001-7000... wondering if I had a little more room with the axle swap for towing...
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: zieg85 on June 14, 2017, 08:52:11 pm
3.21 for a full float, or 3.42 for a semi float is the 2 highest gear ratios available in stock form
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: Irish_Alley on June 15, 2017, 07:12:11 am
since an axle swap has been done the vin and gvwr shouldnt matter. best thing to do is find your ratio by a couple different ways one way is without popping the cover the other you have to pop the cover off, but its prob a good time to replace the axle fluid anyway
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=30546.0

Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: big_al273 on June 15, 2017, 03:48:14 pm
if your going to get into towing don't forget to research your local laws and regulations regarding towing trailers, best way to avoid tickets is to know what the law says you can and can't do
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: Irish_Alley on June 16, 2017, 01:12:26 pm
curious but what local laws are around you big al?
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: ehjorten on June 16, 2017, 01:38:25 pm
Geesh...if you have 3.21:1 rear gears and a TH700-R4 tranny (0.70:1 overdrive)...I am guessing the truck is in your avatar and it looks like it may be lifted slightly with like 33" tires?  If that is the case you are barely turning 1,600 RPM at 70 MPH!  If you are going to be towing, you could really stand to put some lower gears in that thing!  I would say probably 3.73s.  The lower first gear ratio will help you get moving.
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: Halogin13 on June 16, 2017, 05:53:15 pm
Thank you all for your input... will research more specifics... essentially I feel pretty confident with the direction I'm heading.. we have an old 87 Starcraft pop up tent trailer, but want to move into the next larger version... still below 2k lbs dry weight... now to decipher my Frankenstein truck.

BigAl- Ca laws are pretty simple.. if you're towing, ya can't go over 55 😁
Irish-thank you!! That'll be the next thing I tackle!!
Ehjorten-yes it is, 4" lift, those are 35s 🤘
Zelig-swap was done by previous owner.. need to get in there to see what I have for gearing..

Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: big_al273 on June 16, 2017, 10:02:45 pm
curious but what local laws are around you big al?
Fun to say the least, In Ontario Canada you can tow RV trailers without commercial safeties but pretty much everything else (aside from little tiny trailers for cars) needs a commercial safety inspection certificate sticker on both the towing rig and the trailer plus if your doing anything commercial (for profit) you need to register as a Commercial vehicle operator and receive a C.V.O.R. (commercial vehicle operators registry) number that must be posted on the exterior of the vehicle as well as write Daily inspection reports, log hours of operation and various other regulations.
Basically the C.V.O.R. keeps tabs on who runs safe trucks and properly trained drivers and who's running ill-maintained rigs or untrained/improperly trained drivers, C.V.O.R. holders who get too many tickets on their trucks in a short time will have their C.V.O.R. revoked
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: VileZambonie on June 17, 2017, 06:26:11 am
4.11:1 or 4.56:1 would be ideal for those final gears.
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: Irish_Alley on June 17, 2017, 07:04:26 am
curious but what local laws are around you big al?
Fun to say the least, In Ontario Canada you can tow RV trailers without commercial safeties but pretty much everything else (aside from little tiny trailers for cars) needs a commercial safety inspection certificate sticker on both the towing rig and the trailer plus if your doing anything commercial (for profit) you need to register as a Commercial vehicle operator and receive a C.V.O.R. (commercial vehicle operators registry) number that must be posted on the exterior of the vehicle as well as write Daily inspection reports, log hours of operation and various other regulations.
Basically the C.V.O.R. keeps tabs on who runs safe trucks and properly trained drivers and who's running ill-maintained rigs or untrained/improperly trained drivers, C.V.O.R. holders who get too many tickets on their trucks in a short time will have their C.V.O.R. revoked

dang, but at the same time it sounds like a good idea for safety but sounds like a big pain. in Maryland you only have to get you vehicle inspected once as long as you keep up on paying the yearly registration. which is cool but you have some people who just dont care and will drive their trucks till the tires literally fall off
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: big_al273 on June 17, 2017, 08:09:47 am
ya it's a pain but it keeps the number of stupid maintenance related accidents low (at least for commercial vehicles) Cars and light trucks registered for personal use only only need an inspection when buying/selling or to certify that it's safe after an accident/repair and you see a lot more poorly maintained cars than big trucks thankfully, not that any junker on our roads is a good thing
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: ehjorten on June 17, 2017, 12:40:25 pm
4.11:1 or 4.56:1 would be ideal for those final gears.

I've got 35s on my V3500 with a 4L80e.  I have 4.11s for gearing and I can say that I am on the fence about 4.56s.  I could easily go to them as my truck barely kicks into overdrive and then locks up the converter at about 65 MPH, but I do like the low RPMs on the highway at speed!  Food for thought Halogin13.
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: Combat Veteran on January 22, 2018, 10:50:31 pm
Here's what my V10 does. 24' Yamaha, about 5K lbs. In and out of the boat ramp no sweat.
Title: Re: V10 towing capacity
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on January 24, 2018, 06:24:53 am
Take a pic of your rear axle.