To buy a heavy hauling truck or not to buy

Recently been hauling around a ton with a fairly heavy but small tandem axle scrap trailer with 5 foot sides
My somewhat daily driver which is a 74 chevy 1/2 ton with an inline six. Has been pulling it well enough. Yesterday i pulled the first of many heavier loads to come about 2900 pounds. My truck barely pulled it off. It didnt squat but i couldnt accelerate quickly enough and couldnt get over 35mph.
The options ive come up with are acquire a second pickup but a 3/4 ton the one im considering has a 454. 2nd option is to rebuild my exisitng inline six in hopes of getting more power. 3rd option is replace the inline six with a 350. Any thoughts

If you want to pull more weight you need more truck, not just more motor. Stopping is just as important as going. Look for a one ton truck to pull with. Keep your half to run around in. Just my opinion

you need a ford inline 6 lol

Any 1/2 ton with a V8 should be ble to pull 2900 lbs + trailer weight. If I were you, I’d look for a bit newer 1/2 ton. A 3/4 ton with a 454 is going to be a gas hog. As mentioned make sure your brakes are up to the task.

The most important part of my hauling rigs is the trailer brakes, followed by vehicle brakes, suspension of the truck, and finally the horse power. With that being said, I run one ton diesels so you can imagine the trailer brakes used.

I would buy a heavier truck. The weight of the load you mentioned almost equals the weight of a 1/2 ton truck. Without sway bars the trailer can whip the truck. A four wheel drive, v-8/diesel, and one ton truck will improve the weight ratio tremendously. You can always buy a cheap fuel efficient car for daily commuting.

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Originally Posted by MattInTheHat

you need a ford inline 6 lol

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I like the Ford 300 CID's they have some awesome low end torque.

I kind of have a thing for squarebodies

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Originally Posted by scrapdaddyj

I kind of have a thing for squarebodies

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Then my ex would have been perfect for you.

What is the empty weight of your trailer, and does it have brakes?

My little '01 Toy Taco has been pulling huge loads. In defense, Florida is flat and I only have to go <10 miles.... But I have taken 5K loads.... slowly.

The weight of the trailer is 1800 pounds and no, it doesn't have brakes.

You might want to check your states laws on what trailers are required to have brakes.

I own a GMC sierra 2000, I can tow 6800 pounds with my 4.8L, It provides me a focking good fuel economy. These trucks last 500 000km and mine is just 180 000km

You should switch to newer model and you will save a lot of fuel in a year

305 or 350 . or as other said the ford straight six or 302 . . dont buy that 454 unless you want to be well know at every gas station in town .

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Originally Posted by freonjoe

The weight of the trailer is 1800 pounds and no, it doesn't have brakes.

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That tandem axle car trailer that I had build weighed in at 1100 lbs, both axles had electric brakes, plus I had an electric winch mounted near the front. It was an awesome trailer to pull and could handle one heck of a load.

Some of you may recall the big tractor I had loaded on the trailer and the wood blocks between the frame and axle, for the night time trip.