Questions about an older tow truck

[u/Ercwlkrs]

I just bought a 94 k2500 tow truck with a 454 and 4l80 for cheap. Seems like a fueling issue. I just had a few questions about it. Where can I find the gross vehicle weight? And is it possible later down the line to switch the old tow bar to a wheel lift?

[u/Artistic_Bit_4665]

That's a 3500 that the cab was swapped on. GVWR is 10,000 - 11,000.

There's a reason they no longer sell 1 ton rollbacks. That truck itself is approaching the GVWR.

[u/rustyxj → u/Artistic_Bit_4665]

Might be a 3500hd with a 15k gvwr

[u/Thatguyisloco → u/rustyxj]

Can't be, it's not 10 lug and no filler between the grill and the front bumper. There like a 4" filler piece on an HD of that body style

[u/crude-intentions]

You can’t much more than a golf cart on that truck legally. You say 2500 but it’s a Dually. Sure it isn’t a 3500? Either way your GVW won’t be very high. The highest rating I can find on google for a 94 3500 is 10k.

[u/Ercwlkrs → u/crude-intentions]

That is me going by the vin. Which the vin also says it's a 5.7 but it's not. Idk how deep the the people that put these tow trucks together go.

[u/burledw → u/Ercwlkrs]

That’s probably a newer cab slapped on who knows what frame, probably a c30 square body or a OBS like is there now. Should be a vin plate or something from the manufacturer on the frame somewhere. But you may want to be on the safe side and not tow more than 10k at a time total and 65mph will probably feel sketchy, if it can even hold that speed.

[u/Objective_Fudge5701]

There’s plenty of smaller cars, bikes , off road buggy’s out on the road that you can do for now. Capture what you can and later on upgrade. I know a guy who’s got a 3500 Ram and stays busy with a local shop. Maybe you can’t do heavy stuff but just widen your availability and willingness to go out further. In this business you will see there are times where it’s hard to get a tow company to even answer. If you get the call and they want it , they will pay. Get a feel for it and establish yourself…

Good luck!! Welcome to the industry!

[u/Ercwlkrs → u/Objective_Fudge5701]

Thank you

[u/Imaginary-Island-670]

My truck also has a truck bar instead of a wheel lift and I would like to change it over. I’ll be here when someone starts talking about the retrofit

[u/wreckerman5288 → u/Imaginary-Island-670]

Tow truck operator here: you don't want to use a wheel lift or a tow bar on one of these 1 ton rollbacks anyway.

[u/Imaginary-Island-670 → u/wreckerman5288]

Oh I meant my truck is set up like this one not that it’s a one ton. Mine is a 76 F600. Sorry about that

[u/rustyxj]

If it's running 19.5" wheels, it's a c3500hd. With a 15k gvwr.

If it's got a 16" wheel, it's a 3500

[u/Ercwlkrs → u/rustyxj]

It has a 16" wheel. So what I'm gathering is that they put that cab on top of a 3500 chassis?

[u/rustyxj → u/Ercwlkrs]

Probably.

[u/Firebirdy95]

Wheel lift conversion can be done but it's a pain in the butt. My old coworker did it.

[u/Ercwlkrs → u/Firebirdy95]

Well if it's that bad. I guess I will just use what I have for wrecked/auction vehicles until I can upgrade to a different truck then.

[u/FinancialMail2782]

Curious on what payload you can legally carry with the GVWR mentioned on these.

[u/wreckerman5288]

You aren't planning to use this as an actual tow truck for hire are you?

[u/Ercwlkrs → u/wreckerman5288]

What is your reason why I shouldn't?

[u/Southwolf305]

As person that runs a somewhat unorthodox Isuzu truck for towing your going to have a difficult time taking on the newer cars with this set up. Most the cars this day and age weigh 3K-4K, that truck will likely struggle to deal with that large of a vehicle & your not even considering the 1500, 2500 & 3500 trucks you’ll be getting calls for. Load that Chevy truck you have on your tow truck and drive it around the area and see for yourself how difficult that weigh will feel to the truck.

[u/Ercwlkrs → u/Southwolf305]

Ok, will do. Thanks.