Good morning all, I am new to the capmer/rv world, wife and I are getting ready to retire and I have just completed building a 1955 Chevy 3/4 ton truck.... my question is what size travel trailer can I safely pull with it? The wheelbase has been stretched 22 inches and made into a Crew Cab with a normal short bed....8 lug wheels and disc brakes all around so stopping should not be a issue.Thanks, Stan

You are going to have to make that decision based on what you did to it. We have no idea what engine, transmission, rear end, springs or brakes you put on it. We have no idea how you stretched the frame, or the quality of the work and engineering. Trailers have brakes so you need to install a quality brake controller and a properly engineered hitch receiver. You could use guidelines from modern vehicles that have similar components to what you put in it. As a WAG, you are probably going to be OK up to around 8K lbs on a trailer, maybe a little more on a fifth-wheel. So many variables... Sounds way cool, though! Is it a first series or second series - model changed mid-1955.Brian

I "need" to see a picture of this truck. Assuming that you put a small block Chevy V-8 in it, I'll guess that you may be good to pull an 8,000# trailer with no issues. The frames on the trucks back then aren't as strong as they are today, so you need to be a little concerned about that. An 8,000# trailer would have 800# to 1,000# of tongue weight. As long as your truck will handle that weight, it should be fine. It sounds like you put modern axles under it, so it may do just fine, depending of course on what you actually did to it. A trailer properly set up with electric brakes should help the towing situation.

Can you post some pictures? That sounds like a neat project.

Thanks, it is a second series 55 with complete suspension upgrate from a later model 3/4 ton truck. Engine is a 455 olds and th200 4r which has been built to stand the added pressure of the big block olds and towing. frame was added from another 55 chassis I bought just for that purpose, it has been plated at all four joints and double welded. Also added air helpers in the rear so it could pull a little more weight, already has the electric brake system installed and a weight dist. hitch too. I would like to have something in the 32 to 36 foot range.....

Oh... the frame has also been boxed front to rear.... more strength and less flex....... we built the truck with this in mind.Fatmanz Kustomz

Trucks and trailers | Good Sam Community

69_Avion
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
It sounds like a real nice rig. When you get a chance, please post some pictures of it.
BBuchorn
Explorer
Sep 07, 2013
Man what a problem to have.;)
From what I see you have a huge amount of choices. I have a 29 ft Keystone Outback 298RE which is touted as 1/2 ton towable, (Barely). I pull it with an 08 GMC crew 5.3 v8 3.73 rear with heavy duty towing package. I added air bags and heavy duty Bilstein shocks. So far so good.
Look for a aluminum frame super light construction rig. my preference is for fiberglass and aluminum over Stick and tin. Keystone and Jayco are 2 good reputable manufacturers for a start.Fit and finish on todays rigs are really nice.
Good Luck on your choice, and have a long healthy happy retirement.
BB
JJBIRISH
Explorer
Sep 07, 2013
A lot of changes, more than I am qualified to comment on but… IMHO the frame would be rated close to the same as the OE frame, even though it was fish plated and double welded at the four joints it also still has a 22 inch longer WB… I am guessing the original WB was the 123 inch… a 31 ft. trailer would fit the 155” WB just fine as far as that goes… the old ¾ ton had a GVW of 6900 pounds and the 1 ton had a GVW of 7000 pounds on a 135”WB with a 9 foot bed… I think limiting your trailer weight to 7500 pounds or BELOW would be prudent and would max out the rear frame load assuming you have enough braking for the truck and it’s payload IMO, power no problem…

I wouldn’t worry about the th200 to much as long as it has good high capacity cooling and is driven like a TV and not a race car pulling a trailer, it will hold up pretty well…
I would not use OD on that tranny or the 400 while pulling the trailer, I don’t care how well it was built…
Fatmanz
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
VintageRacer wrote:
The only thing left to ask is what diff gear do you have in it? That trans has a decent overdrive, but only 4 speeds. I would choose a 3.73 diff ratio as a starting point, but 4.11 may be a better choice. Presuming you have fairly normal sized tires on it, E load range, about 31" - 32" in diameter. I wouldn't go lower than a 3.73:1.

Brian

I went with the 411 rear ratio because of the OD tranny, I do have a built TH400 on standby and a set of 373 gearsif needed. I have pulled goosenecks delivering cars quite a bit over the years but never an RV...big difference in weight, height and overall size..... the truck I built can pull the gooseneck with 1 car, I never tried it with 2....the shop had a Dodge Dually for that...... I built the TH400 as a backup, I am not "sold" on the 200 just yet but it is guaranteed, if it won't handle the load the tranny shop will do the swap free.... The truck has been built completely except for paint, as soon as we make a couple of runs with it the shop is going to paint it for me.... did not want to screw up fresh candy paint with mechanical mods......
VintageRacer
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
The only thing left to ask is what diff gear do you have in it? That trans has a decent overdrive, but only 4 speeds. I would choose a 3.73 diff ratio as a starting point, but 4.11 may be a better choice. Presuming you have fairly normal sized tires on it, E load range, about 31" - 32" in diameter. I wouldn't go lower than a 3.73:1.

Brian
sljkansas
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
Do you know anybody(s) that have TTs that you might be able to tow to a scale and get some weights and get a feal on how the truck tows? Maybe talk to a dealer and they will let you try a used trailer, if you show intent to buy.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
Weak point is going to be the tranny. I do not like 200r4's and for good reason. 700R4's were bad enough.

I know you can put some good parts in them but even then it was meant for light duty work only and not in the back of a BB Olds.

That Olds puts out a ton of low end torque and that is what is hard on tranny's. I've seen those engines tear up built T400's let alone 200's.

Sounds like a great truck and well thought out. 455 Olds, good choice of engines for towing; can't be beat. Even better than the BBC IMHO.

Like others have said; post up some pictures when you get a chance.
wmoses
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
You may have to rent a couple of trailers and see how they pull. With all the mods you did to the truck there is no way to know what the "actual" capability would be. We can speculate all we like at what it "should" be able to do but in the end it is all theory and several systems often have a way of working against one another if not done right. In that case the capability would be limited to the weakest link.

Looking forward to pictures, as is everyone else.
Fatmanz
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
Canyon-Cruiser wrote:
Looking forward to seeing pictures of your truck. Sounds very nice, well thought out and built.

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. Enjoy. I'm sure you earned it.

Thanks, I figure 22 yeears US Navy and 20 in the work force should be enough....LOL
Canyon-Cruiser
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
Looking forward to seeing pictures of your truck. Sounds very nice, well thought out and built.

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. Enjoy. I'm sure you earned it.