C20 for towing

Hoss said:

I see a lot of people on here saying not to do a Square for this project. I tow a 9,000 lb travel trailer with my 1985 C30 non dually, if you keep it running well it will serve you well. You can spend less than 10k on a good truck with no rust and less than another 5k on an upgraded trans cooler, trans rebuild, new tires, brakes, and a few upgrades for the 454. I could not and still cannot buy a modern 3/4 or 1 ton for towing for less than 25k leaving me another 10k to perfect my truck. Plus, every dollar I spend on upgrading my square will be reaped if I have to sell it. Not to mention the Mark IV 454 / TH400 combo is bombproof with the exception of the timing gear. I don't know for which years this applies but for my 1985 the camshaft timing gear was aluminum and nylon and when the gears get ground down enough you end up with interference and catastrophic failure. Do your self a favor and check the timing gears.

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Speaking from experience, the cam gear fails and you only waste 8 pushrods, lol. But it's a great excuse to upgrade from 5/16" to 3/8" pushrods.

The title does says R20... whatever that mean.

Hoss said:

I see a lot of people on here saying not to do a Square for this project. I tow a 9,000 lb travel trailer with my 1985 C30 non dually, if you keep it running well it will serve you well. You can spend less than 10k on a good truck with no rust and less than another 5k on an upgraded trans cooler, trans rebuild, new tires, brakes, and a few upgrades for the 454. I could not and still cannot buy a modern 3/4 or 1 ton for towing for less than 25k leaving me another 10k to perfect my truck. Plus, every dollar I spend on upgrading my square will be reaped if I have to sell it. Not to mention the Mark IV 454 / TH400 combo is bombproof with the exception of the timing gear. I don't know for which years this applies but for my 1985 the camshaft timing gear was aluminum and nylon and when the gears get ground down enough you end up with interference and catastrophic failure. Do your self a favor and check the timing gears.

Click to expand...

I think it depends on what you want/need and how much time/how many miles you actually tow. There is no denying the Cool Factor in a campground when someone pulls in with a well maintained older truck. Can a Square Body tow? Absolutely, that's what Trucks do!

But if a person really works their truck, tows longer distances and spends hours in the driver's seat it is truly hard to build a square that rides, drives, stops and behaves like a modern light duty diesel. The comfort level, the safety features, and the POWER of a modern diesel have to be experienced to be believed. Airbags, Traction Control!!!, 6 or 10 speed transmissions with all that Diesel Torque... I love, LOVE my 1987 but my 2019 2500HD is a lot more truck and is a lot more comfortable.


I used my '87 to tow yesterday, this is what I usually tow:




But when I really need to move something heavy, I use this:

Z28 Guy said:

The title does says R20... whatever that mean.

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Your truck is a 1987? For '87, the first year of the TBI, the C and K designations changed to R and V. Your 1987 2 wheel drive would be a R20.

Yes its a 87 model

Pulled the trigger on Forever Sharp Steering wheel. Bought a set a of Tinworks 6×9" corner cab mounts.

Pics of either???

Bought a cerwin Vega amp yesterday and some kicker 6×9 speakers...

Finally got a day off. Anyway...

Thêse sound great in 6.5s at best buy. Im sure the 6×9s will not dissapoint.

Z28 Guy said:

Pulled the trigger on Forever Sharp Steering wheel. Bought a set a of Tinworks 6×9" corner cab mounts.

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Good looking truck!

Z28 Guy said:

Pulled the trigger on Forever Sharp Steering wheel. Bought a set a of Tinworks 6×9" corner cab mounts.

Click to expand...

I like that steering wheel!

I appreciate the kind words guys. Here is a interior pic.

Hoss said:

I see a lot of people on here saying not to do a Square for this project. I tow a 9,000 lb travel trailer with my 1985 C30 non dually, if you keep it running well it will serve you well. You can spend less than 10k on a good truck with no rust and less than another 5k on an upgraded trans cooler, trans rebuild, new tires, brakes, and a few upgrades for the 454. I could not and still cannot buy a modern 3/4 or 1 ton for towing for less than 25k leaving me another 10k to perfect my truck. Plus, every dollar I spend on upgrading my square will be reaped if I have to sell it. Not to mention the Mark IV 454 / TH400 combo is bombproof with the exception of the timing gear. I don't know for which years this applies but for my 1985 the camshaft timing gear was aluminum and nylon and when the gears get ground down enough you end up with interference and catastrophic failure. Do your self a favor and check the timing gears.

Click to expand...

I completely agree with what he is saying above. I have 1984 C20 with a 305 and a heavy duty built 700R4 I tow 5K with it, from time to time and it does just fine. I might be a little slower on the hills than the modern rigs, but I really don't care about that. She's towed and hauled everything I've asked her to. What more could a guy ask for.

Redfish said:

I think it depends on what you want/need and how much time/how many miles you actually tow. There is no denying the Cool Factor in a campground when someone pulls in with a well maintained older truck. Can a Square Body tow? Absolutely, that's what Trucks do!

But if a person really works their truck, tows longer distances and spends hours in the driver's seat it is truly hard to build a square that rides, drives, stops and behaves like a modern light duty diesel. The comfort level, the safety features, and the POWER of a modern diesel have to be experienced to be believed. Airbags, Traction Control!!!, 6 or 10 speed transmissions with all that Diesel Torque... I love, LOVE my 1987 but my 2019 2500HD is a lot more truck and is a lot more comfortable.


I used my '87 to tow yesterday, this is what I usually tow:

You must be registered for see images attach

But when I really need to move something heavy, I use this:

You must be registered for see images attach

Your truck is a 1987? For '87, the first year of the TBI, the C and K designations changed to R and V. Your 1987 2 wheel drive would be a R20.

You must be registered for see images attach

Click to expand...

There is no denying the Cool Factor in a campground when someone pulls in with a well maintained older truck.

Click to expand...

I agree with that for sure. I've not camped with my truck, but I have driven it for long hours, to get feed, some of those drives are literally all day driving there and back. I personally do not find comfort to be an issue in the square.

People talk comfort of a squarebody vs OBS all the time. Ive had two 3/4 ton OBS trucks. Neithier was at the caliper of a truck i have now. Not only do my squarebody runs better with less electronics... my 87 turns more heads and people give me the thumbs up all the time. Only thing i hate about my truck now is that when i stop somewhere " Do you want to sell that truck" or " ill trade you my cateye" NO THANKS!!

Just a few thoughts- 95% of the time, and you can fact check me on this, the average late model truck owner does not tow any more than a light duty trailer with some lumber, a mower or UTV and some bales of hay.
I belong to the other 5%. I use my late model 2500 to haul vehicles, tractors, excavators, 5 tons of rock, 4 tons of livestock feed, 30' RVs, and on and on.
I was around when the Squarebodies were new and doing about the same thing. Speaking personally, modern technology has made my Silverado a better tool for me. Built in trailer braking, backup camera, better mirrors, stronger drivetrain, brakes, etc. However, that said, I could do it all with my 80 K15 or my 85 K10. I just choose not to.
Many of the updates and luxuries of my newer truck spoil me into believing they are necessities. They are mostly not. Repairs on my old trucks are easier, cheaper and more frequent. The fun factor is higher.
My old trucks are not tools anymore, though they are not retired from hard work.
I pump ten times and crank so I can have fun.
It all just boils down to preference.