93 GMC Sonoma and towing...

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Kawi250Kid

Member
May 23, 2001
72
0
Me and a few friends are looking to buy a trailer. We were talking about an enclosed trailer and how nice it would be. I have a 1993 GMC Sonoma (S10), with a 5-spd manual, 4.3L V-6, short bed. Are there any enclosed trailers that my truck can tow? To get to one of our favorite places to ride, Gorman, we must go up the GrapeVine (pretty steep hill). Thank you for any information you can provide for me.
 
T

TOFAS4YOU

Member
Jan 4, 2002
50
0
TOWING

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET AT LEAST 6X 12 I WOULD BE MORE WORRIED ABOUT STOPPING JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT YOU MAY NEED A TRAILER WITH BRAKES:aj:
 
K

Kawi250Kid

Member
May 23, 2001
72
0
Trailer...

Thank you for the quick response tofas4you.
Is it difficult/pain in the butt to set up my truck for a tailer with brakes? Will a 6x12 hold 3 bikes with cabinets? We will be using the trailer for bike security and sleeping on over night trips. Any idea how much they cost? The three of us are aiming to get one by mid-May.

I'll stop asking questions... for now:p I know next to nothing about trailers.
 
H

Highbeam

~SPONSOR~
Jun 13, 2001
662
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Look in your manual or for a sticker on the truck that tells you the truck's maximum tow rating, it will be a weight rating in lbs. You may even have to talk to the dealer about this. It is a legal limit that if exceeded will put you in legal trouble in the event of a wreck. This maximum towing weight also is what the truck will be able to tow and stop comfortably. Assume you will use trailer brakes for anything that is enclosed. These brakes are no big deal and the people you buy the trailer from will be able to do the wiring and trailer brake setup for you. The engine and tranny that you have will be able to tow a fairly large trailer, you might be surprised how big. One more thing, you will need to have a receiver hitch mounted to your truck if you don't already.

I would recommend having the trailer store set up your truck as they are the pros.
 
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TOFAS4YOU

Member
Jan 4, 2002
50
0
trailer

YOU SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH ROOM YOU WILL NEED TO STAGER THE BIKES IN THERE I RECOMEND USING THE ATK BIKE SHOE I OWN TWO AND MY BIKES NEVER COME OUT OF PLACE I HAVE A6X10 I HAUL TWO BIKES AND HAVE A SMALL CABINET IN FRT .I PAID JUST OVER 2000.00 FOR MINE IN 1999. BUT DUE SOME RESEARCH NOT ALL TRAILER COMPANY ARE THE QUAILITYITS ALSO A MUST TO GET A SIDE DOOR I WISH I HAD BOUGHT A BIGGER TRAILER SOMETIMES BUT THEN I WOULD OF NEEDED TRAILER BRAKES .JUST REMEMBER THE BRAKES ON YOUR TRUCK ARE MEANT TO STOP THE TRUCK IF THERE ARE BIG HILLS THINK ABOUT GETTING TRAILER BRAKES THEY WILL PAY FOR THEM SELFS LATER .IF YOUR NOT FAMELIER WITH WIRING TRUCKS THEN GET A PRO TO DO IT:aj:
 
K

Kawi250Kid

Member
May 23, 2001
72
0
Where can i find a website kinda like autotrader.com that deals mainly with trailers? I dont want to get a brand new one. My friends and I would like one that needs a little work (new paint, tires...) because we would be repainting it with a custom paint job anyways...
 
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Trigger1911

~SPONSOR~
Jul 4, 2001
432
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Your truck should have a towing capacity around 5000 pounds. A 6x12 trailer weighs about 1200 pounds. With 3 Harleys its 3000 pounds.

My 6x12 PACE enclosed holds 3 full size Harleys so dirt bikes are no problem. You only need trailer brakes on trailers CAPABLE of towing over 3000GVW(gross vehicle weight), not a 3000 pound trailer. A new 6x12 PACE at Home Depot is $2500 with ramp rear door and a side door, interor lights and a skylight/vent. It has no brakes but you dont need them. You wont touch that deal anywhere!! I am a landscaper and they hold up great. I have used them all.
 
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Highbeam

~SPONSOR~
Jun 13, 2001
662
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I have to disagree there Trigger about the brakes. The manual on my full size chevy pickup states any trailer with a weight of more than 1000 lbs must have it's own brakes. My warranty would be void if I towed 3000 lbs without trailer brakes. Sure I've exceeded the 1000 lbs but I wouldn't want to plan on it. Maybe the state law only rewuires trailer brakes on 3000 lb+ trailers but since my vehicle is only designed to handle the 1000 I would be liable in a wreck. Safety is pretty important to me and trailer brakes are pretty cheap and simple.
 
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TOFAS4YOU

Member
Jan 4, 2002
50
0
WITH A SMALLER TRUCK I WOULD DEFINTLY RECOMMEND TRAILER BRAKES THE STOCK BRAKES ARE ONLY DESIGNED TO STOP THE VECHICLE IT WOULD BE A GOOD INVESTMENT NOT ONLY WILL YOU STOP BETTER BUT IT WOULD SAVE PREMATURE WEAR ON YOUR TRUCK BRAKE ALSO PREVENT OVERHEATING BRAKES DONT WORK WHEN THEY ARE OVERHEATED!:aj:
 
K

Kawi250Kid

Member
May 23, 2001
72
0
Thank you for all the replies! Unfortunatly i had a different friend look at my truck today (i was asking him about trailers) and he knows alot about chevy/gmc. He told me that my truck only has the 2.8L V6. I was and still am very bummed. All this time i've thought i had a nice big engien in my little truck because the dealer i bought it from told me it had a 4.3L.

But, thinking it was a 4.3L i've put quite a load of stuff on a 4x8 flat trailer, I've put 2 Honda 400EX's and enough gear for 2 people to camp and ride for 5 days, and made it up the Grapevine (or is it Greatvine??). I dont really think i had any problems towing it up... Slow, but, 3rd gear took me to the top without a struggle. I also didnt have any problems stopping, but brakes would help quite a bit i bet.

Time for a slightly different question... Do you guys think a 1993 GMC Sonoma (S10), with a 5-spd manual, 2.8L V-6, short bed pick-up could tow a 5x10 enclosed trailer with out any unesassary safty risks to myself, passengers, or other vehicles? Would a 94 KX 250, 02 YZ 250, and a 00 CR 125 would all fit in the 5x10? If i needed to i would be able to put gear in the bed of the truck. Would i possibly still beable to tow the 6x12? Is there much of a price difference between a 6x12 with brakes compared to a 5x10 with brakes?

Ok, I'm going to stop typing. Thats enough questions and useless babble for one post.:confused:

Thank you for time, thoughts, and support!
-Mike
 
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Trigger1911

~SPONSOR~
Jul 4, 2001
432
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Your 93 Sonoma CANT be a 2.8liter unless someone changed it. It wasnt a motor in GM's lineup after 89, I think thats the year.
 
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TOFAS4YOU

Member
Jan 4, 2002
50
0
DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT REGEARING THE TRUCK TO A LOWER GEAR,OR MAYBE UPGRADING TO SOMTHING BIGGER THE SMALLEST TRAILER I WOULD BUY TO HAUL3 BIKES IS A 6X10 AND THAT WON'T LEAVE YOU MUCH ROOM :aj:
 
K

Kawi250Kid

Member
May 23, 2001
72
0
This is getting more fun everyday :confused: My stepdad said it was a 2.8, one of my friends said it was a 2.8, and 2 other friends said it is a 4.3. I guess i'll have to take it to a chevy dealer or call them. Would the DMV Beable to tell me by running the VIN?
Thanks.
-Mike
 
H

Highbeam

~SPONSOR~
Jun 13, 2001
662
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Look under the hood. There is always a sticker that tells the displacement of the engine.
 
K

Kawi250Kid

Member
May 23, 2001
72
0
Look under the hood. There is always a sticker that tells the displacement of the engine.
Click to expand...

I took a look just now. After a few minutes i read this:
RKZ 2.8 Liter:whiner:
P362.8T5XASO
PBO-3C

With my new limitation, What would you guys recommend for an enclosed trailer. We wanted to beable to fit 3 bikes + riding/camping gear, and when unloaded, use it for sleeping. If i need to, i can put 1 or 2 bikes in the bed of the truck, but it seems kinda pointless to have an enclosed trailer just to put em in the back. What would you do if you were a 19 y/o kid on a budget?
 
K

Kawi250Kid

Member
May 23, 2001
72
0
Originally posted by CanadianRidr
Umm first things first I would sue the dealer for telling you it was a 4.3:think
Click to expand...
I doubt if that would do much. I have had no problems with the truck, and sueing the dealer will get me what? wasted days in a courtroom?
 
H

Highbeam

~SPONSOR~
Jun 13, 2001
662
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Come'on the canadian probably didn't mean to actually try to sue, maybe pay him a visit though. It's amazing what he might do to make it right for you. The 2.8 is inferior to the 4.3 in several ways like mileage, durability, parts availability, torque, and hp. That being said, the 2.8 will most likely suit you just fine.
 
R

RomKX5

Member
Feb 4, 2002
38
0
I have a 2002 Chevy S-10 4.3L V-6 rated at 190 HP. I tow a 5X9 flatbed trailer with a quad and a KX500 (plus gear and passengers). I never took it up the grapevine but never had a problem going to El Mirage. Your 2.8 is a good truck but to pull an enclosed trailer, I don't recommend it. I'm concerned about the safety of you, your passengers, and your bikes. If possible, get a V-8 truck, then you can pull a bigger enclosed trailer. I wouldn't try to tow an enclosed trailer with my truck. FYI, the manual transmission s-10/s-15 has less max tow capacity than the automatic (per owners manual) Sorry dude. Oh, well, this is your excuse to get a new truck :) Good luck.
 
K

Kawi250Kid

Member
May 23, 2001
72
0
Well, our newest idea and probably a much better one is to try and get an older Ryder Moving Truck. I helped a friend move and he had a 20' truck, i spent a few hours just daydreaming about how nice of a toy truck it could be made into with a few mods to the box.
 
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Highbeam

~SPONSOR~
Jun 13, 2001
662
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They have such a nice loading ramp too. The 20 footers with a van front end go for around 5000 in the front of the u-haul lot out here. When you were moving your buddy, did you kind of beat on the truck a little? come'on now... a little? the saving grace for the rental trucks is that usually the maintenance is done on a schedule. You would have to remove that darn top speed governor too. Good idea, pursue it.
 
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