Towing capacity of 1500 2wd suburban.

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Vbb199

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It's got a oil cooler, trans cooler, shift kit in the trans (700r4), 3.42 rear gear, towing package from the factory, and the old 350 was replaced with a HO 350 (333hp/381 ft ibs)

Anyone have an idea how for how much I could tow with this? I went thru all of my rpo codes in search of answers.

I'll take a guess to say 6500, but I thought that was for a stock 700r4 driven truck.

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It's got a oil cooler, trans cooler, shift kit in the trans (700r4), 3.42 rear gear, towing package from the factory, and the old 350 was replaced with a HO 350 (333hp/381 ft ibs)

Anyone have an idea how for how much I could tow with this? I went thru all of my rpo codes in search of answers.

I'll take a guess to say 6500, but I thought that was for a stock 700r4 driven truck.

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Im not entirely sure of your capacity seing as you have a 700r4 and 3.42 gears.

My truck is a 95 c1500 with the z82 trailering package, 5.7L, G80 positraction rear diff with GT4 3.73 gears in it, and with the trans and engine oil cooler and according to trailers.com the towing capacity is 7500 lbs.

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Run a trans temp gauge, it's a must for the 700r4.

Other than the potential for killing 700r4's and 10bolts... spring capacity, brakes and tires are the biggest limiting factors. Tounge weight and trailer brakes are a big factor too.
 

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I am hesitant to put anything more than a lawn mower trailer behind a 700r4, but keeping it in 3rd and watching temps can probably go for occasional 5-6k trailer pull.
 

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Yup, the 700 is vulnerable as hell towing.
 

Vbb199

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Kinda what I figured
It's all set up from the factory but I don't feel good about loading down the 700

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Vbb199

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I am hesitant to put anything more than a lawn mower trailer behind a 700r4, but keeping it in 3rd and watching temps can probably go for occasional 5-6k trailer pull.
If I were to pull the 700 out and take it down the road to a friend who builds transmissions, and give it a fresh start with some heavy duty parts, would that change your outlook?

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Vbb199

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Im not entirely sure of your capacity seing as you have a 700r4 and 3.42 gears.

My truck is a 95 c1500 with the z82 trailering package, 5.7L, G80 positraction rear diff with GT4 3.73 gears in it, and with the trans and engine oil cooler and according to trailers.com the towing capacity is 7500 lbs.

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Mine also has the z82 package.
Along with the infamous G80 posi lol

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yevgenievich

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If I were to pull the 700 out and take it down the road to a friend who builds transmissions, and give it a fresh start with some heavy duty parts, would that change your outlook?

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It is just a light duty design. A lot of people build them, and can actually last for some time. And then for some it blows up if you look at it wrong.
In your situation, would probably leave it alone, add temp gauge and be easier on it when loaded. 89+ 700r4 with good parts is usually the longer lasting. Earlier ones were weaker
 

bucket

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A th400/241 combo is a direct swap for the 700 if/when it dies. Same drive shafts too.

Everything else is generally ok for medium loads, as long as the load is balanced well and the trailer brakes work.
 

Vbb199

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A th400/241 combo is a direct swap for the 700 if/when it dies. Same drive shafts too.

Everything else is generally ok for medium loads, as long as the load is balanced well and the trailer brakes work.
She's a 2wd
But I didn't plan on loading it down real hard. I'm talking occasionally haul a car or truck I buy, and a load of lumber lol

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Vbb199

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It is just a light duty design. A lot of people build them, and can actually last for some time. And then for some it blows up if you look at it wrong.
In your situation, would probably leave it alone, add temp gauge and be easier on it when loaded. 89+ 700r4 with good parts is usually the longer lasting. Earlier ones were weaker
I'm the guy that "if you look at it it blows up" I've had 2 die back to back in a 6.2L 84 diesel.
TV cable was set right too. They're cursed. I'm scared to even mess with them lol

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She's a 2wd
But I didn't plan on loading it down real hard. I'm talking occasionally haul a car or truck I buy, and a load of lumber lol

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Doh! I had forgotten about being 2wd already.
 

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We've discussed this a fair amount on some of the builder sites and forums and honestly your towing capacity is legally limited to whatever the GVWR rated capacity of the vehicle is. If you have upgraded the engine, and drive-train it does not increase the strength of the frame or it's capacity to haul, tow, etc etc and that is what determines your tow rating in the grand scheme of things.

Imagine taking your k30 4x4 crew cab and doing a Cummins swap with all the accouterments and finding out you are still only allowed to tow the limit of your k30 chassis. That is what guys are running into now though, so just to inform you that if you go beyond the legal limit you will suffer the wrath of the police if they suspect you are running heavy or overloaded.
 

Vbb199

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We've discussed this a fair amount on some of the builder sites and forums and honestly your towing capacity is legally limited to whatever the GVWR rated capacity of the vehicle is. If you have upgraded the engine, and drive-train it does not increase the strength of the frame or it's capacity to haul, tow, etc etc and that is what determines your tow rating in the grand scheme of things.

Imagine taking your k30 4x4 crew cab and doing a Cummins swap with all the accouterments and finding out you are still only allowed to tow the limit of your k30 chassis. That is what guys are running into now though, so just to inform you that if you go beyond the legal limit you will suffer the wrath of the police if they suspect you are running heavy or overloaded.
Didn't know that, but I appreciate the advice for sure!
I'm kinda ******, and usually not 100% clear on my questions. Lol

But like I told the guys, I didn't plan on towing something like the 8000+ pound k5 I'm building, I just kinda wanted to get a feel of the limits of the 700r4, so as to say
"my 240k mile 700r4 with a shift kit (should) safely tow 5000 pounds correct?"

"but if I rebuilt my 700, could it go up to something closer to the gvwr of (example 6500)?"

I'll have to look around on the truck and see what the gvwr is.

The gvw was 6800. But that was from the RPO.

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