Half-Ton Hauler

[velojym]

I guess this might qualify as a project. I was considering turning my '86 into a light cargo truck, along with the occasional trailer haul.
Being a half ton, I can get decent trailer capacity while still remaining well below the DOT tickle zone (5 tons). This would GREATLY simplify
being able to do business with this truck. The sort of cargo I'd haul wouldn't really be beyond the legal limit of a half ton truck, but I'd install overload springs to help the handling when so loaded. A lightweight flatbed (or not... I may just keep the stock long bed on it) and a weight distribution hitch, and possibly a brake-equipped trailer... though that may or may not be overkill.

I drive an 18 wheeler for a living, but I get quite a few requests to haul cargo with my pickup when I'm home. Some of the hauls include airplanes and their related parts (which is why most of the loads wouldn't be all that heavy), and maybe some mulch, etc.
I'd consider just getting a bigger truck, which I may one day do, but this is what I have now, and I think I could make a pretty decent little hauler out of it as it is.

If anyone else has done something like this, sing out. 

[team39763]

I was considering trying to build something like that, but I need a few more examples and ideas.

[756man]

A brake equipped trailer is never overkill, just good common sense. Don't know why you would make such a comment, especially being a truck driver by trade.

[Irish_Alley]

I would just upgrade your axle to 3/4ton and op for a higher gearing that came with the 3/4 or 1ton at least 4.10. Then go with a brake equipped trailer 2 axles. granted I don’t and never have driven a 18 wheeler but I have hauled a couple trucks hauled a car on a trailer with out brakes and it seems it has to do more with the truck hauling it having good brakes my buddies 98 1 ton does wonders doing that but my 79 granted it has 38s I wouldn’t dare try to haul a truck if I didn’t have the brakes on the trailer

[velojym]

A brake equipped trailer is never overkill, just good common sense. Don't know why you would make such a comment, especially being a truck driver by trade.

I've hauled plenty of stuff where trailer brakes weren't needed at all, and could very easily be just added expense and
something else to go wrong. A 1000 lb light sport airplane isn't really a power *or* braking burden for this truck. This is why I would dare
say something so silly. Sorry if I offended.

Still, I'd go with a braked trailer anyway, as I'd rather have it and not necessarily need it than vice-versa, and I've never really been sorry
I had one hooked up anyway.

As for large trucks, forty tons has a way of needing as much braking capacity as you can possibly cram into the vehicle. The only time I've done without trailer brakes is when moving trailers around the yard, and that was just a matter of not connecting both glad-hands.
If I were needing to run at full cgvwr, I'd want as much brake as possible in my pickup rig, too.

[Irish_Alley]

I didn’t know they were that light since that’s the case I would just have brakes on the trailer and not worry about the axles at all

[velojym]

I didn’t know they were that light since that’s the case I would just have brakes on the trailer and not worry about the axles at all

We have to keep the weight down on 'em, with a max gross of 1320 lbs (including people, baggage, and fuel) for legal light sport planes.
That was my original primary job for the truck, but I still want a bit more capacity for building materials and bulk stuff. It'll be a while before I can
dedicate it to a personal aircraft as a mobile FBO of sorts, and my wife has plans for the ol' homestead. (read: Sweetie... there's some heavy lifting to do...)

[velojym]

Oy. I know it's been said time and time again, but I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I'm gonna have to get a
one ton truck. Heck, UHaul turned me away from a trailer rental because their database claims Earl can't haul a single
car trailer.
grumblegrumblegrumble...


Dunno, I'm getting kinda attached to this truck. Maybe I oughta just bite the bullet and get my own danged trailer anyway.

[Lucky Jeff]

As far as Uhaul is concerned, they can piss off.. Do not go by what they say. I was told that I couldn't rent a tow dolly to tow my grand cherokee with my quad cab long bed 4x4 Diesel Dodge because their computer said it didn't weigh enough. So I told them fine, I am hauling a Honda civic. "ok, here you go," idiots.

If what you are towing is really that light, then I don't see a problem with it. Trailer brakes are always nice though. Older trucks have never been known for their braking ability. The thing that would concern me most would be fuel mileage. It's difficult to make money nowadays towing without a diesel. It's tough even with a diesel...

[Irish_Alley]

When we rented from U-Haul the trailer said Max speed 45i told them you know were going on the highway were the limit is 60 the girl said I didn't hear you.  Lol

[velojym]

Yeah, fortunately she got the car home safe. It went into "demo mode" and everything worked fine when I drove it. Hmph.

I've been poking around, looking at possible salvage swaps that'll hopefully increase power *and* economy. I'm not in a real hurry right now,
but I'm wanting to eventually sell my Trailblazer, and want to get Earl's restomod mostly finished before I do that (and before TBs lose their value too badly, too).
The 5.3/overdrive swap looks like a good one, though I'm tempted by that 6.0.

The current 350 pulls pretty strong for now, though. I'll most likely, due to budgetary constraints, first find a good overdrive transmission, and I may just build myself a 383 to drop in when the time comes.

[howlinwolf]

i have a 78 chevy flatbed, and when i rented a dolly to pick up a car, they just let me ahve it, gave my hitch the highest rating because its welded to the bed and the bed is welded to the frame... who knows.

[velojym]

Events, and advice from my better half and Dave Ramsey... I need to get rid of one of our vehicles.
Logic aside, I have to sell either my c10, which is paid for, or my '05 Trailblazer, which I still owe over $8000 on.

I'm kinda attached to my pickup, but it ain't starting right now. Worked fine yesterday, but won't even try to crank right now.
Headlights work fine, interior light comes on strong, battery is showing good on my multimeter, so I'm gonna check the fuse block.
I'm scared to check the wiring, because whoever put the current engine in left a mess under the hood. Wires running alongside the
exhaust manifold, exposed. I did find a chunk of melted loom, but that was while I could still start the truck.
Not knowing the history of the engine, I don't feel I can trust it on a long road trip (the sole reason the trailblazer would trump my pickup on what to keep), and there's quite a bit of lag when I shift into reverse. So, I'm thinking about a relatively low mile engine/transmission swap from a newer truck, either a 5.7, 5.3, or.... hehehe... a 4.2 (which I wouldn't have considered before, but I'm pretty impressed with the one in my TB).

I'm guessing I listed them in order of difficulty, given that I'm already running a 5.7.

The advantages with the latter two seem like they might be worth the trouble. Also, showing up at a car show with a modern inline 6 would
be pretty cool, too.
I could park next to the guy with the old F250 with the Cummins.

[Irish_Alley]

Check your battery connection and started wires

[velojym]

Check your battery connection and started wires

It's a real rat's nest in there. I may have to hang on to the Trailblazer for a while yet. When I get a chance, I'm gonna see if I can
patch it up enough to get it running in the meantime, but I won't be comfortable with it until I've torn into it and get everything straight.


Right now time is the major issue, until I get off this night shift second job. The money's good, though, which is why I'm able to consider
swapping out the engine and tranny.
I'll probably get some "before" pics in the next week or two and set up another thread when I get started... that is, when I can find a place to work on it. Turns out the city I live in frowns heavily upon "project" vehicles, even when they're in the garage... which mine won't be.
I may have a friend with some hangar space at the airport, though.