what size trailer?

[littlepopelp]

hi everyone, iam 16 years old and mow about 25 lawns and have a 48in bobcat a 33in troy bilt (pos) and 2 toro push mowers and weed wackers, blowers....ect. im not sure what size trailer to get i really want a 6x12 (weighs 750lbs.) but i only have a 1996 4 cylnder s10 which has trouble hauling its self already. what is the biggest size size trailer do you think i could get with out hurting my truck and also being able to pull the trailer on the highway. i will be putting around 1000-1500 pounds on it. thanks for the advice im hoping to get

[stslawncare]

welcome to lawnsite! a s-10 can handle a 6x12 with a mower or two on it and a few push mowers no problem, after that u might be getting into trouble. Also try the search, many people of all ages have asked this question reguarding what a 4 cyl truck can pull.

[GLS]

Anyone will tell you that pulling is not always the problem...you also need to be able to stop the load. Be sure to get brakes on the trailer.

[plow kid]

Originally posted by stslawncare
welcome to lawnsite! a s-10 can handle a 6x12 with a mower or two on it and a few push mowers no problem, after that u might be getting into trouble. Also try the search, many people of all ages have asked this question reguarding what a 4 cyl truck can pull.

I hate to turn this into a pissing match but I have to, Have you ever driven a Chevy S~10 Scott? or drove one with a 6.5x16' tandem landscape trailer? or a 6x12 that you "recomend" ?

I own a 87 S~10 with the 2.5 inline four cylinder 4 speed stick 4.56 rear axle ratio. (for towing) I have pulled a 6.5x16' tandem axle landscape trailer with mine and the trailer had a 3000 pound load on it. A S~10 is not a race truck, it will get the job done if you keep the engine in it's peak power rpm range 2800-4900 rpm brakes on a trailer are a must, get them on both axles. They (s-10's) can handle a 6.5'x 14' if it has tandem axles with brakes on both axles. They are good trucks, but I am glad that I bought a 1 ton last week. Just the assurance that I can stop a 16' landscape trailer with 6000 lbs on it without trailer brakes if they stop working was worth the cost of the truck. ~NaTe

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by 0ryan0
need to be able to stop the load. Be sure to get brakes on the trailer.

There is the best thing I have seen written in a while.

S10 4 banger it will, but how much insurance do you have?

Read this, we are having a trailer weight discussion.

http://lawnsite.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=230465#post230465

[stslawncare]

nate, whats up with all the personal attacks? every post i have made lately u have to come back with a personal attack? this guy posted the question asking our advice, i gave it. CAN YOU PLEASE STOP WITH THE ATTACKS?

[PRECISION LC]

what ever size you buy, you should be able to haul it. i bought some after-market horsepower boosters, and some helper spings to haul more wiehgt.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by PRECISION LC
i bought some after-market horsepower boosters,

Pardon the interruption, but what is an after market horsepowers booster?

[PRECISION LC]

anything that can increase you horsepower. For instance i have a K&N FIPK air flow system(16hp & 18 tq gain), ADS horsepwer chip (25hp & 30tq gain), FlowMaster Exhaust (12hp & 15tq gain). This is basically anything you can add to your truck to get more horsepower and torque.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Hahahaha, I thought you ment like a B&M roots blower. LMAO.

Gotcha.

[PRECISION LC]

i wish i had a blower, but $3000 for a 50% gain in alot of $$ if your not racing.

[stslawncare]

thats interesting i have never heard of that, does it make a noticible difference?

[littlepopelp]

thanks for all the advice, how much are trailer brakes anyways?

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Lees than $200 Northern Tool

[roscioli]

Aftermarket horsepower boosters... :) LOL. Too bad they exaggerate the gains so much, an air filter that adds 15 horses, I see those all the time on EBAY. LOL. Brakes are just as important as pulling, even though you may not think it right away. I always ignore the safety factor when it comes to automobiles, which is so ridiculously stupid of me, but its just the 'ole "I am in charge, I can avoid it" BS attitude that everyone gets about cars. ANYWAY- Sorry for the rambling, and I have never tried to pull a trailer with any 4-cyl nevermind an S-10, so I don't know, but get the Brakes.
PS for Nate- I don't know if I am missing something, but Scott didn't seem to give any bad advice, maybe it was an earlier post that got this going, but if not, WOW.

[scagman]

That little truck will struggle hard pulling a 6 x 12. I dont care what anyone else says, you will be straining that tranny and engine very hard. Im talking from experience. I posted threads on the same question except I have a 1991 GMC Sonoma with a 4.3 litre V6. I bought a new 6.5 X 12 fully loaded landscape trailer and didnt know if it would pull it.

It does ok on flat roads, but when I came to a hill I had to have some serious momentum. Its not good for a truck to be going up a hill in 1st or 2nd gear towing a load especially with a big powerstoke diesel on your a$$ probably laughing.

I also had to put some helper springs on which helps, but still sqauts a bit. Towing this trailer with a 32", 2 21"s and a full load of grass was real hard on my clutch.

If you want to keep that truck around for bidding ect...... buy an older ford in the 80's 150 or 250 with a 300 6 or 351 V8.

I pulled that trailer for one day with the Sonoma, when I came home we went down to Fugate Ford traded in the Saturn and bought a 2000 Ford F-250 Super duty.

My advice is to buy a new truck or a smaller trailer otherwise you will end up with no truck.

[1grnlwn]

I pulled 20' tandem with a 60"' and 42" Zs 48" WB and all the other stuff for 1 year with S10 89' 4.3 liter. Pulled fine, quick stops like a snake. The really freaky ride was with 300 gal spray tank and a Z. I hope my 2500 has half the guts that s10 had.
Mark

[LAWNGODFATHER]

I have a buddy who has a newer s10 with a 4.3 16" tandum and he does fine pulling a 60"ZTR 60"Wb and a 36"Wb.

No trailer brakes, but I will make him get them here once the season gets off.

Pulls ok stopping in an emaergancy NOPE!!!

[stslawncare]

Roscioli i am not sure either whats up with nate, other people have said the same as you to me Roscioli, who knows, but oh well. i think ive been doing a good job and im not gonna stop.

[TJLC]

My first trailer was a 6x12 and I pulled it with an s-10 2.8v6. It felt underpowered. Now I have a 16' dual axle trailer that I pull with a full size chevy 4.3l v6. It does fine but I think my next truck will be a little more heavy duty. My advise is to buy more trailer than you think you will need because as I learned you will quickly out grow it. Good luck.

[Alan]

My own tow combination is a 91 S-10, 4.3 auto, 3.42 gears. I've never weighed the empty trailer, but loaded it grosses 3,550 lbs. That's with 60 Exmark, 52" H-P hydro walk behind, fuel trimmers and etc. on board. Vermont is not know for being flat but I don't feel underpowered with that setup. Trailer is 6 x 14 on a single axle. Axles carries 3200 lbs, 350 lbs on the tongue, which is about perfect balance for good towing. Brakes, of course and I don't see a lot of difference in stopping with or without the trailer. I have had a compact tractor with loader and rake and THAT is a bit too much for the S to snatch around. As for size, go as big as you can afford, too much is never enough.

[littlepopelp]

thanks again, i will deffintly get some brakes on whatever i get. when iam pulling the trailer should i get a towing hitch for it or pull on the bumper. right now all i have is the ball on the bumper.

[GLS]

I have a 1991 GMC Sonoma with a 4.3 litre V6...That little truck will struggle hard pulling a 6 x 12 I have an 89 silverado (it's full size, but has the same engine) and think it pulls the weight fine, even on hills. A manual sonoma might be different, I don't know, but the engine seems to do fine (not that bigger isn't better).

[Bladewielder]

No offense guys but a trailer-towing S-10 is nearly an oxy-moron. Before you "hop-up" your S-10 at all go ahead and get a full size truck. Even one with only a V-6 is a class above any S-10. You will gain in pulling power, stopping ability, and longevity. Not to mention SAFETY. In no time you will be wondering why you had that toy in the first place.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Bladewielder no doubt about it.

3/4 ton or bigger is the best bet for saftey.

[littlepopelp]

i know i should get a full size truck but the fact of the matter is iam only 16 and im not the richest person alive. i was planning on geting a chevy z71 at the end of the mowing season but right now i dont have that kind of money

[roscioli]

Guys- Don't forget that this truck is a 4-cyl he said... There is a world of difference from the 2.8 to the 4.3, which is why some of the 4.3 folks said they didnt have a problem, its a ballsy engine. The 4-cyls I have never driven, but I can only imagine that they would be weaker than a 2.8, which is downright scary. If you don't mind beating the truck to hell, I think you would be ok, but if you want/need it to last more than a season or 2, don't tow with it in my opinion

[Alan]

Originally posted by Bladewielder
No offense guys but a trailer-towing S-10 is nearly an oxy-moron. Before you "hop-up" your S-10 at all go ahead and get a full size truck. Even one with only a V-6 is a class above any S-10. You will gain in pulling power, stopping ability, and longevity. Not to mention SAFETY. In no time you will be wondering why you had that toy in the first place.

OK,, you're obviously a smart fella, maybe you can explain to me how a full size truck with a 4.3 will have more "pulling power" than the S will?

Stopping power might be marginally better, but with trailer brakes that work there's not even that much difference.

Longevity? Maybe, but I doubt that too.

Safety, better explain that too.

Incidentally, I CHOOSE to tow with the S rather than our K-2500 (unless I'm hauling more than my normal mower load) because it is truck enough and far more manueverable than the full size can ever be. Granted I've got the 4.3, which is good power, but I could probably live with a 4 banger if it was all I had.

Oh yeah, I probably can't plow snow with the little truck either. Any insight you would care to share about THAT?

[beck]

Well after checking Chevy's web site, the gearing in the S10 to the 1500 is defferent.

[Alan]

Originally posted by beck
Well after checking Chevy's web site, the gearing in the S10 to the 1500 is defferent.

Really? Seems like they both use GM 10 bolt rears with a 3.4something ratio as the standard one with 3.73 and 4.10 optional. I suspect that the transmission you get is the same if both run the 4.3 (4.3 may not be available at this point in the full size).

A lot of the drivetrain is used in both series. I think the S brakes are smaller, that is reflected in the lower GVW and GCW ratings on the S. But we're not talking about enough load to get close to the ratings. With the 4 cylinder you do get a lower GCW, but that is from the lower power available more than the strength of the drivetrain overall.

Besides, we've got to look at the overall situation. Young guy, starting out, not a lot of loose bucks to upgrade the truck. His money goes into equipment that makes him money. Best that he run what he has rather than going into the hole to buy more truck right now.

If he goes to a trailer big enough to carry his equipment, has brakes on it, and goes with a solid hitch (get that ball off your bumper) there's no reason he can't do with what he has for now. If he knows how to drive and uses a little judgement he can do just fine.

By the way,, the "S" stands for STOUT!

[kerr lawn]

hey
i have a 1500 Gmc sierra v6 4.3 liter, i want a bigger trailer but will it be able to pull it. I have 72 toro z master, 48" bunton 18hp and a 36" 12.5 hp. I want to be able to haul all 3 around, but what do u think i need?
thanks guys, your awesome
peace
bryan

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by Alan
By the way,, the "S" stands for STOUT!

2500 stands for pulling that S-10 out of the ditch, off some cars bumper, etc.......

Don't overload a small truck.

Max towing cap is 3000 including trailer weight. I would not suggest towing that much.

Get trailer brakes on all axles.