I got a new trailer, but can I tow it?

[boxygen]

Well to make a long story short my dad needed to do some towing so he bought a trailer to do so with the intention of giving to me when hes done. He is generous but it isnt entirely a selfless act. He will benefit from me being able to move my tractor to different properties in the family. Anyway, he consulted me on what to buy and he ended up with a 7000lbs 16+2 dovetail car hauler with brakes on both axles. Great right?
My tractor is a Mahindra 2415 TLB that weighs about 4000 lbs dressed with the loader and backhoe on it, maybe a little less. My truck is a 95 GMC 1500 4x4. I didnt check the door sticker for GVWR or axle ratio but its a light duty half ton at best. It has 4-leaf springs, a 5.0 TBI engine and a 5 speed manual transmission. Its an incredibly reliable drivetrain but probably puts 125-150 hp to the pavement on a good day, the 5.0 engine and 5.7 are like night and day.
It does have headers and a low restriction 3" exhaust which made a huge difference but its no powerhouse. It doesnt have a towing package or HD anything. It has your standard drawtite reciever and 4 prong trailer wiring harness. Its in great shape, and it is truely what I consider the last of the simple and reliable trucks. It has met all my needs until now. I didnt own my tractor when I bought the truck.
IF I were tow this trailer with my truck I would install a brake controller before. Thats my question for you guys, can/should I use this truck to tow this setup. I know you guys get this question a lot, always with a slightly different setup and most always people seem to think their trucks are something they are not. Im on the other side of the fence, this is a great truck, but it wasnt meant to tow a trailer.
This truck is the kind that goes to homedepot and the dump and firewood about 3 times a month and sits in the garage the rest of the time. I think I drove it 3000 miles last year. Its in good shape, its paid for, cheap to insure, register, is as simple and cheap to repair as a briggs and stratton lawn mower. Everything you want in something you dont drive everday. I know for a fact that I've outgrown it and would love something newer and bigger (extended cab) to take the family to camp with. That is in the works, but probably 1-2 years away.
So is this safe, or should I wait until I purchase a new truck to haul the tractor on my own. My younger brother (who lives with me) owns a 3/4 ton truck that will certainly tow it and it looks like he will never move out and he owes me big time and would let me use it anytime I needed it, so this isnt my only option in the short term. And I dont NEED to tow my tractor anywhere, it just happens this trailer fell out of the sky in my yard There are some pretty good experts here, and I trust your opinions.

 

[PBinWA]

You should check the door stickers first and look for stickers on your trailer hitch to see what it is rated for.

For limited towing you may be fine. I'd recommend considering a weight distribution hitch as they do make a big difference. You also need the brake controller.

There are better experts on here than I, they should be along shortly.

 

[Groo]

I picked up a 27' 8.5' wide enclosed trailer with a 1500 Avelanche, and started thinking oops before I even got 2 miles down the road. I did pick up a WD hitch and brake controler, so I will have those before I have to tow it loaded.

I think you'll be in the same boat as me. more truck would be nice, but it will work.

FWIW, the 305 was standard in my aunts 1 ton van, so the engine itself can handle the load, just don't give it too mach gas in the lower gears, and you should be fine.

use your brother's truck while you can.

 

[George2615]

Like PB said, you need to check your trucks towing capacity. Maybe Diamondpilot will pop in after he looks up your truck in his towing book.

Since you don't have the tow package you lack the following.
HD cooling system, heavier spring package, brake controller and 7 pin trailer plug wiring.

The truck owners manual should list tow ratings for your setup, if it's still in the glove box. Also check the tag on your tow hitch. It should have a maximum tow rating and tongue weight info.

I'm going to guess your tractor TLB package is 3500 lb plus a 7K trailer which probably weighs about 2K empty which puts you at about 5500 lb plus fuel, tiedown chain and binder weight for a total of under 6K.

Without a weight distribution hitch the rear end of the truck will sag with the proper tongue weight on the trailer. Not enough tongue weight will make the trailer sway back and forth like a dog wagging its tail.

If the 3/4 T truck is available for your use then that is the way to go. It will handle that load without a WD hitch and has the suspension and enough cooling capacity to do so.

 

[jk96]

George,

I also own a standard cab 1995 GMC 1500 - 5.0 engine. The truck has been the best vehicle I've owned so far and is pushing 210K on the odometer, but it's not made to tow much. I've hauled my DX45 with cab and loaded tires one time with it when my 3/4 diesel was in the shop. It will probably be the last unless it's only a few miles and not on the highway. In my opinion, this truck was not even close to being up to the task. Springs are too soft, brakes were not strong enough, and the engine is way under powered for the load. I was luckly to hold 45 to 50 on the interstate by the time I reached the top of some longer grades. I may have been pulling a few more pounds than you need to but not by much I don't think. The newer 1/2 tons have been improved dramatically for towing since 95. I just didn't feel safe using the 1/2 ton, especially after using a 3/4 diesel.

jk

 

[Ken45101]

Part of it depends on where you will be towing the rig and the terrain.

Five miles on 35 mph flat roads with light traffic is a different situation than towing it 100 miles on mountain interstate highways.

I assume you mean 7000# GVW on the trailer?

I have one like that and used to occasionally haul a Kubota M4700 with loader and bush hog, probably about 5000#. The tow vehicle was a Chevy half ton, I think with the factory tow package. It was kind of nerve wracking, it just didn't feel like I was in total control. I didn't do it often. I did not have a weight distributing hitch, that probably would have helped.

Let me leave you with this thought: it's not what the truck can PULL, it's what the truck can handle in an emergency stop, especially on a curve and/or wet road

 

[newbury]

IF I were tow this trailer with my truck I would install a brake controller before. Thats my question for you guys, can/should I use this truck to tow this setup.

Can - Probably
Should - !!No!! - use the bro - install the brake controller though.

My younger brother (who lives with me) owns a 3/4 ton truck that will certainly tow it and it looks like he will never move out and he owes me big time and would let me use it anytime I needed it.

Why are you even asking?
Especially if it's his Dad also!
Lean on your Bro, buy him a brake controller too.
That way either of you CAN tow it (don't tell him).
I don't know the ratings on your '95, but they probably are almost 7K
check
Trailer Life Magazine: Follow the Road to Adventure
and you may be able to have them email the specs for your vehicle.
Also if you drop the BH in the back of the truck (or at home) you can probably shave about 800lbs off the tow weight (I realize it's still in the Gross).

 

[Bird]

If you believe Edmunds, the V-6, 160hp, 2WD can tow 7,500 lbs. Or if you believe this online dealer so can the 4WD. They may be rated with automatic transmissions.

Is it ideal? Of course not, but how far, how often, what kind of terrain, etc? It might be OK for occasional use towing.

 

[Builder]

I tow ~6,000 lbs with a chevy 1,500 4x2 with the base v-6 engine. It doesn't like it, but it does it. I think it's rated to tow 7K off the bumper.

I think you'd be OK, but before you buy anything, hook the trailer up, drive the tractor on it and check the "squat factor". Also, see if you can find the GCWR for a '95 1500 and see what that is. I'm guessing ~14K.

Check you hitch and make sure it's properly rated.

If your trailer is 7,000 lbs and your tongue weight is 15% (pretty typical) 15% of 7,000 lbs is 1,050lbs. I would think an unloaded 1/2 ton oughta be able to handle that kind of tongue weight, but some of the older trucks were rated incredibly low for towing. My '89 F-150 4x4 was rated at like 13-14K GCWR, but I towed a 7K trailer with a Kubota 245DT FEL & backhoe on it. I had helpers installed on it, too..

If you're right on the border of max GCWR, you could install an add a leaf or air bags.

Sounds like the cheap/easy way is to just borrow bro's truck.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I suspect you'll find that max towing with your 1/2 ton Chevy is 4,500 IF you have a 3.42:1 ratio rear end. Or 5,500 IF you have the 3.73:1 gear. That total GWVR.

I'm in the same boat with a 5.7 extended cab (no towing pkg, cooler, etc.) wanting to pull my L3400 + goodies for a total of 5,000 + 16' trailer. I'm sure I have enough power to pull it far enough to burn up the tranny, but not nearly enough brakes to stop it.

I suspect I'm in the market for a 3/4 ton too, like it or not. ???