Towing with an old truck, thoughts?

[WillAWay]

New to all of this.

Recently bought a globetrotter 27' and now need a truck. Planning to travel the country with it over the Fall/Winter.

A family member is willing to swap my small sedan with their 2005 GMC Sierra 2500 HD. It's a bit rusty but runs fine. Is there such a thing as a truck that's just too old to safely tow?

Bringing it to a mechanic soon to get it checked out and evaluated for towing but thought I'd check with all of you as well.

Thanks in advance.

[Oreg52]

I've owned a 06 Silverado half ton since new. It's led a pampered life and is now used to tow my 25' FC. Just completed a 2700 mile trip and with the exception of being a little slow (50-55 MPH) over the mountain passes it ran fine.
But... You said yours was a little rusty. Rust Belt Chevy and GMC trucks have a severe corrosion problem with their brake lines. At a minimum I would have the brakes and suspension checked/rebuilt before towing any trailers

[stunami]

I have a 1999 Ford F-150 towing a 2001 19' Bambi. In my case, the engine, transmission and brakes are all strong. I've had no problems, However there is always an increased risk that some random 20 year old part (starter, alternator, radiator, etc) will choose to break down while I am on the road. In your case, a 15 year old truck, if checked would by a mechanic would probably be fine, but you could be on borrowed time.

[KirkH]

If it's mechanically sound you can tow your trailer very well with that truck. Guessing it's the 6.0L gas L480E trans. I would get trans flushed and new filter, check cooler size and possibly upgrade. If it's a 3:73 gear truck tow in D not O.D. Do the brakes and lines and maybe pull the rad and have it cleaned and fresh coolant added. Those are the big maint items for that truck, the 6.0 in an anvil. Black Bear and others offer towing programming to deal with the torque limiting nanny GM installs and will make for a better towing truck.

Now if it's a D max, same steps as above, add a Fass fuel filter, hit the tow haul button in D (O.D.), set the cruise and enjoy effortless towing.

Oh and check the hitch, if it has lived in a salty region it's good to make sure it's solid.

[JeffofCT]

Do as others suggested and have it checked out and preemptively change some critical parts before they fail. Then take it out on a couple shake-out trips with some decent tow-time and see how it does.

[Bill M.]

I tow with an old truck. (2007) I carry the title in case I need it. I try to get major problems taken care of during the 6 months we are not on the road. I just had to made a decision: an expensive repair (transmission and brakes) or buy new truck. I made the repair. Or, as my wife pointed out, maybe just the first leg of doing both options.

I think only you can decide if you are comfortable with the older truck. I would make the swap if I were you. If nothing else you will get some experience towing with a 2500 to let you know what you want if you do end up buying a new truck fairly soon.

[mkcurtiss]

The whole deal is, things will occasionally break, just because they are old....That is not to say that things will not break on a newer vehicle, but not as much, typically.....so you have to agree with yourself, "I am not going to get angry when some random thing breaks, because I saved $40,000 on the purchase price of my tow vehicle"....no doubt, you can do lots of repairs to your older vehicle, and not even get close to the money thrown down a hole on a new vehicle, but just know that things will break when it is very inconvenient!

[BayouBiker]

I agree with the others and would not start recommending improvements (other than replacing worn components) until you go pre 2001-2003. You do want your steering and suspension components tight, so no worn ball joints, shocks, bushings, bearings etc. Check the alignment also. Transmission advice looks good. If the transmission fluid is obviously bad, change the differential grease also. Test cooling capacity and look at the coolant age. Make sure you have a trailer brake controller.

[lsbrodsky]

Just a comment, looking forward, assuming you make the swap. Be advised that a newer 2500 is going to be a lot more comfortable and better handling. So, do not let an older 2500 make you think that 3/4 ton pickups are monsters.
Larry

[jcanavera]

I'm towing my heavy 30' Classic slide out with a very pampered 2003 6 liter GMC Savana passenger van. It's main duty in it's garaged life has been towing the Classic. It's got 53.000 miles on it and it's been treated with Mobil 1 since its first oil change. On it's second set of tires and still on the original brakes. The HD tranny that was supplied on this van included a factory mounted external cooler and I specified a 4.10 rear axle at build time. According to the owners manual I can tow in OD with proper monitoring of the road conditions. I will pull it out of OD if I get into hills but in the flatlands OD is safe to use. It's funny because as I was planning a couple of upcoming trips I had the age question pass through my head, but with proper maintenance and the fact that its home is in an attached garage, this vehicle has many more years of good service in it.

Jack

[Dspchef]

You’re truck doesn’t sound old at all compared to my TV. We tow our AS with a 91 Suburban 1500. Last year of the square body. It’s all stock with no modern updates except new parts when they need to be replaced. Tows like it’s 1991.

[KirkH]

Originally Posted by jcanavera

I'm towing my heavy 30' Classic slide out with a very pampered 2003 6 liter GMC Savana passenger van. It's main duty in it's garaged life has been towing the Classic. It's got 53.000 miles on it and it's been treated with Mobil 1 since its first oil change. On it's second set of tires and still on the original brakes. The HD tranny that was supplied on this van included a factory mounted external cooler and I specified a 4.10 rear axle at build time. According to the owners manual I can tow in OD with proper monitoring of the road conditions. I will pull it out of OD if I get into hills but in the flatlands OD is safe to use. It's funny because as I was planning a couple of upcoming trips I had the age question pass through my head, but with proper maintenance and the fact that its home is in an attached garage, this vehicle has many more years of good service in it.

Jack

Nice set up, that Van should last a long long time for you.

[Ted S.]

I tow with a 2005 Ford Excursion with a 6.0 PSD. The motor was rebuilt/Bulletproofed at Bulletproof Diesel in Mesa, AZ. It is garage kept and immaculate. Brakes, suspension, etc is all rebuilt, it’s going to get new paint and upholstery soon.

With enough love and money, every relationship can last forever.

[KirkH]

Couple of other things, parts for the early 2000's 2500HD's are cheap and readily available new or used. The GMT800 series are somewhere between today's 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton with about 3,xxx# payload and about 9xxx# conventional trailer towing with an 8 bolt full floating rear axle and 10 ply tires.

[ROBERT CROSS]

2006 Suburban 2500 8.1, just for towing duty.

Ck specs on the new Burbs...they are not what they used to be, GVWR 7500 vs 8600, GAWR 4300vs 5500. GAWF 3600vs 4300 all on P rated tires.🤔


Bob
🇺🇸

[Gene]

We tow with a 2007 Tundra with more than 130,000 miles, half of them towing. It runs like new and has had few problems. Some trucks and some manufacturers have been bad, but many are fine. Have it checked out by a good mechanic and make sure it has been serviced regularly. When you get it make sure the brakes are in good shape (stopping with a trailer can be an adventure, especially with worn brakes), change fluids, wash and wax. I’d love a new truck, but truck prices are absurd these days. Much cheaper to maintain an old one so long as engine, transmission and electronics are good.

[featherbedder]

My truck pur. 1999 titled as 2000 Chev 2500hd 4x4 lT trim, standard cab specked for slide in camper and all towing extras plus off road. 6.0 gas 3.73 rear gears, have replaced tires rear brakes and battery, transfer case. Has 72352 miles always kept in side last 19 yrs in heated shop no rust shows as new. I pull heavy off rd equip. and heavy items in bed, no damage as after market bed liner. I haven't any qualms about taking long trips or short or towing. A good portion of miles on truck was towing. I have always changed oil and serv. at recommended miles. Older trucks don't have some of bells and whistles as new do also more things to go bad. If truck you have access to is mechanical & no major rust go for it. new trucks are off the wall expensive.