Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

[Johnshan1]

Anyone know the towing capacity of a '96 Chevy K1500 1/2 ton, regular cab, 4x4, long-bed, 5.7L V8?<br /><br />Not sure if it has a trailer towing package, but it does have a transmission cooler (its an automatic), and a 10,000 lbs trailer hitch. Thanks<br /><br />-John

 

[roscoe]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

It should be 7000-8000# if set up correctly, but a Chevy dealer can tell you for sure.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

Thats what I kinda figured, I towed a load of 2200 lbs the other day for a 200 mile trip and I could not even feel it behind me, I would keep checking to make sure I still had the trailer. Sure beats towing with a 4 cylinder truck.

 

[heatherjoy]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

so thats it? 8,000 lbs? what if this dude said he was gonna tow 12,000 lbs with it?

 

[Lark40]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

Heather,<br /><br />You need to read through the many previous posts which deal with people wanting to overload their vehicle's rated towing capacity.<br /><br />To make it short, 80 percent of the respondents will tell him/her how dangerous and crazy it is, and that the insurance company will refuse to pay a claim. Amazingly, a few respondents will boast of having overloaded even worse without an accident.<br /><br />The tow ratings for all vehicles are readily available in the orginal literature, which dealers can look up, if the owner has lost them. There is no excuse for anybody endangering themselves and others.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

If he said he was going to tow 12,000#, I would tell him, "no way". And he should check with a dealership. There are so many vehicle set up packages, there is no way to be sure what he has without reading the vehicle codes.<br /><br />It does scare me to hear he was towing 2200# and didn't know it was there.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

Being a 4X4 lowers it somewhat also. I had a 1995 with the same set-up, but not 4 wheel drive and my rating was 5000#. Best to call the dealer as suggested. You should be able to tow 2200# and really not strain it at all. I towed a toon with it all the time and never had a problem.

 

[Mikevn1500]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

I have a 96 Chevy 2wd W/T and I know when I have my 2200lb boat on it! Like punching it to make it up some of these southwestern Pa hills . Stopping is always fun too ,it does ok but i'm still very carefull any time I have the boat on. I think I have like a 6000lb rating. I would never be able to pull that much weight with this truck and feel safe about it. I guess I had too many 3/4 ton Fords when I was younger.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

Hey Mike, you can reduce the pucker factor by putting brakes on the trailer. I know, $500, but it sure helps put your mind at ease. I tow 1600 with my Safari/Astro and feel much better with the brakes. Of course the trailer dealer thought I was nuts when I told him what I wanted, but they decided to take my money.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

Hey Roscoe- I KNEW I was towing if you would read what I said: "I could not even feel it behind me" I didnt say I didnt realize I had a trailer there <br /><br />You can actually feel 2200 lbs behind you? You gotta have that 4.3L V6.<br /><br />The work truck I have for the company is a '97 GMC 4.3L 2wd and it feels like a car not a truck, my fiance has a '96 GMC Jimmy 4x4 2 door and it does wayyyyy better than the work truck when we hook up a trailer to it.<br /><br />Now with my truck, 2200 lbs I cant even feel it back there. Between the 5.7L V8 and the off road suspension its great, the brakes are great as well, (maybe I have a larger brake setup since its 4x4?).<br /><br />As for tow rating, I still cannot find anything about it, gonna have to hit the dealer up I guess, have no real need to as I know its rated for at least 6,000 lbs (the Jimmy has a 6,000 lbs rating and as someone said, no way would I touch it.) and I doubt I will ever tow anything over 3-4,000 lbs.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

I solved the issue at hand: 7,000 lbs tow rating.

 

[Mikevn1500]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

You got it, 4.3L. I agree 100% about the Car like feel to my truck. My wife has a 92 S-10 Blazer 4x4 and I must admit (not to her) it seems to pull my boat better. It also has a 4.3 but it runs out much faster than my truck.I may look into getting brakes,but I will probably use the Blazer more and have it set up instead of my truck.The paint on the Blazer matches the boat better anyhow(Old faded red both of them)

 

[Vector501]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

I currently own a 4.3 L V6 in my 2000 silverado regular cab. It is a manual transmission which may make all the difference in the world but this bad boy can haul...

 

[roscoe]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

I have driven several vehicles with the 4.3L.<br />Trans and rearend gears can make a huge difference.<br /><br />I once had a truck with 4spd auto and 2.08 gears in the rear, what a dog. It would drop out of overdrive when hit by the turbulence of a passing semi.

 

[bluewater19]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

I have never seen a 2.08 rear end gear by gm. would that be a 3.08? still a guttless highway gear real crappy for towing with a 4.3L. 3.42 or 3.73 is what usually comes on a 4.3L with tow package.

 

[mannyq]

Re: Towing Capacity Of Full Size Chevy

My owners manual - same year and specs except short bed (don't remember rear end ratio but it was 3.##) and offroad package states up to 6000# max with weight distribution hitch and with addition of engine oil cooler. If you don't have offroad package they recommend heavy duty shocks. I'm towing approximately 5400# including trailer without problems, I just spend more time in 3rd gear instead of OD unless highway is flat or downhill. I have added an additional tranny oil cooler with switch/fan behind radiator. Still should add oil cooler.