Towing capacity ?

**Skarch** · 09-13-2007, 08:07 AM

What is the towing capacity of a bumper mounted ball on a 97 burban, 5.7L 4x4?

Since my reciever was stolen, I was thinking of dragging a car on a dolly just using the bumper this weekend, but needed to make sure that was going to be sufficient.

**Crawdaddy** · 09-13-2007, 08:25 AM

Hmm, from memory of looking at various bumpers' weight rating, I'd say that the weight rating for yours is probably somewhere between 1500 and 2500 pounds. Not very much, pretty much just a boat... I wouldn't trust a bumper mounted ball for anything other than tooling around the farm with a small trailer of sorts...

**unplugged** · 09-13-2007, 10:48 AM

The bumper on my burb is stamped with "400lbs tongue load max, 4000lbs trailer load max" Should be OK to tow a small car.

**TrailLeadr** · 09-13-2007, 01:16 PM

I've got the same year as unplugged, but 2500, and I've got the same load limit on my burb. 400 tongue, and 4000 trailer.

You should be fine. Just make sure your ball can handle the load too.

**TexasT** · 11-25-2007, 06:38 PM

$25-40 for a new receiver and ball? Why take the chance?

**Skarch** · 11-26-2007, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by TexasT

$25-40 for a new receiver and ball? Why take the chance?

No, thats not what got stolen. The part that actually bolts to the frame of the truck that the ball hitch locks into was stolen, the reciever. I still have the arm with the multi-ball in my garage.

And BTW, it pulled the 1990 New Yorker just fine.

**Crawdaddy** · 11-26-2007, 10:31 AM

Well, this upcoming weekend, I'm going to be pulling a 18' car hauler with a late 90's firebird on it. According to the different weights of the stuff I'm pulling, it looks like I may be a bit overweight for the rear gears I have. The trailer weighs about 2000 lbs, and supposedly the car weighs 3700, but we're not sure if that's empty, or loaded. That would put me at 5700, when I belive I can only pull about 3000 with the 3.08 rear gears. My uncle keeps reassuring me that if we just take the takeoffs easy, it'll be fine, but I'm a little worried...

**TexasT** · 12-01-2007, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by Skarch

No, thats not what got stolen. The part that actually bolts to the frame of the truck that the ball hitch locks into was stolen, the reciever. I still have the arm with the multi-ball in my garage.

And BTW, it pulled the 1990 New Yorker just fine.

Wow, now those were so determined thieves! I see you are in Arlington. Where were you when the thing was stolen, if you don't mind me asking?

**finalday7** · 12-01-2007, 07:13 PM

Crawdaddy Well, this upcoming weekend, I'm going to be pulling a 18' car hauler with a late 90's firebird on it. According to the different weights of the stuff I'm pulling, it looks like I may be a bit overweight for the rear gears I have. The trailer weighs about 2000 lbs, and supposedly the car weighs 3700, but we're not sure if that's empty, or loaded. That would put me at 5700, when I belive I can only pull about 3000 with the 3.08 rear gears. My uncle keeps reassuring me that if we just take the takeoffs easy, it'll be fine, but I'm a little worried...

Man I can't imagine 3.08 gears. I'm mad that I got stuck with 3.23. Have you ever thought about getting them changed?

**tbplus10** · 12-01-2007, 10:33 PM

The gear ratio debate is tricky, 3.08's and 3.23's give much better mileage, 4.10's and lower give better performance. It comes down to what you ask your truck to do most tow or commute, that'll determine the best ratio for ya.
Be great if they still made 2 speed rearends. Which brings up the question of why they ever stopped producing them.
I've been known to rent a truck at times for long tows to save wear and tear on my own vehicles.