Towing capacity?

oneness

oneness

Member
I have a 1988 Chevy Cheyenne 3/4 ton pickup, 5.7 litre engine, automatic transmission with overdrive. I'm towing a 7x14 enclosed trailer, approximate gross trailer weight when the water tank is full is 5500 lbs.

This past week is the first time I've had to haul water to a jobsite, and it was a for a 4 day job...many trips to the local utility reclaimed water depot. I've noticed several times that when I'm towing the trailer with a full tank (225 gallons) I get a brief stutter when shifting from 1st to 2nd (automatic).

What I'm trying to find out is what the towing capacity is for this vehicle...Anyone have any ideas where to find this? I'm seriously considering changing my tank with a 500 gallon tank that I have...but that will add another 2200lbs to the trailer. The trailer is rated for it, but can the truck handle towing it?

I've seen some of you guys talk about having a 250 gallon tank and how that's just plenty...I don't see how unless your jobs are only 45 minutes of actual washing each and you fill up between jobs, or unless you're running 2GPM. I suck that tank dry in about 45 or 50 minutes of fairly steady washing. For a job that took 28 hours total, about 10 hours of that was time spent driving to and from the water depot.

I will also be checking into whether or not our area offers hydrant meter rentals...that would have saved me a lot of time, and them a bit of money.
 
Mark,

When most of us talk about our water being plenty, we are usually filling it up with a garden hose as we wash..............not just running from the tank alone.

Check the label on the drivers side door jam and see if that mentions towing capacity...............otherwise, contact your local Chevy dealer.
 
Mike: The truck you describe has a R7004 automatic trans, I havre the same tranny in my diesel blazer. Mine started shuddering, almost like a 2 step shift just before my trans went out. Mine went out with less than 1000 miles on a rebuild, turns out the "mechanic " that installed the trans neglected to replace the detent cable, this controls the shift and kick down. The Cable costs 36.00, the trans was 1800.00. I learned the hard way...Tip: always tow your trailer with the shifter in the lower drive position, not overdrive. Just for the record, the trans were using is a piece of Sh-t! according to most trans specialists Ive talked to. If I could manage without my truck for a few days Id have it converted to a turbo 400, those are bullet proof. Good luck with the overdrive..........Mike
 
The 88's have 700R4 Tranny's I've had 2 of them and one 91 with the same tranny. If its been recently rebuilt it sounds like a shifting servo may be malfunctioning.
 
Mikes right they are trash. I had to replace them in all three trucks. The one that went the longest went 160,000. Next Truck you buy get a manual tranny.
 
After talking with my father, who has been in the automotive repair industry for the last 30 yrs. owning a shop for the last 9, recomends an AUTOMATIC trany. Reason being, you will tear up the cluch in no time with that weight. Also makes waiting on an incline much better, expecialy with that weight.
 
oneness,ever think about a second trailer just for water?
helper just goes for water.
Some paving co's and or construction co's have water truck's that they will park on site for a min amount of money.
Ive paid a plumber to install a water spigot into the sprinkler system of a condo acc. before.
It was worth it.
Paving co charge's me $100 per day to park a 5000 gal water truck on site. It has it's own pump to fill my tank.
i charge double my cost's to bring my own water, even if im not the one to bring it.
install a tranny cooler. Make tripple sure the tires are properly inflated.
use the automatic like a standard and shift it yourself.
 
I have a Ford, and routinely haul 450 gallons behind my truck. I turned 100,000 on it on Friday, and have never had any problems with the tranny. I don't worry about being in or out of overdrive, and I don't shift myself.
Here is what I do. I am religious about having my tranny checked whenever I get my oil changed. If it looks like it is bad, I change the fluid. I don't hot rod the truck. Especially when I have my trailer on, I drive like an old lady. I also hit the freeway as much as possible to avoid hte stop and go traffic. I am to the point, that if I barely need a helper, I take one, so that I can use the car pool lanes. :Shrug:
If and when I do need a tranny, I will not go to the cheapest shop in town. I will get the best tranny that I can find,a nd the shop with the best repuation that I can get. I only want to stop once to get my tranny replaced.

Scott
 
If you drive a manual properly you won't have problems with the clutch for a long while. Automatics are nice but not made for pulling heavy loads thats why big trucks don't have automatics. Clutches in manual trannys will far out last clutch packs in the autos. I guess its all personal preference but I'll stick with straight drive from now on when it comes to pulling. Besides it cost more for a tranny rebuild than it does to replace a clutch.
 
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I think it also depends on where you live............around here Scott's truck would probably be dead on the side of the road at 80K...........because of hills.
 
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