Unladen weight 85 K20

[72c20customcamper]

Looking for a number to give to DMV title only has the GVWR of 6600 pounds. When the truck was painted the sticker was removed from the door jamb . I could just lop off 3/4 of a ton but would like it as close as possible . Cant drive it to the scales as I have no plates .

Want to put passenger plates on it so it needs to be registered under 6k


Sorry for double post but could a mod delete the 95k20 thread

[1976gmc20]

Seems like my 1973 K20 was a little over 4000 pounds empty but I don't know where I got that number.

It had the 7600 GVW. I had over 9K on it plus a 4K+ trailer going to Alaska. I did blow a couple tires

Your 85 could be lighter than my old 73 was.

[kipps]

Why not just tell the DMV that it weighs 5900 pounds? It's almost certainly within that number, and it sounds like they don't care as long as it's under 6k.

If it was me, and the truck was driveable, I'd just run it down to the scales anyway. Paint "Farm Use" on the backside of an old plate, and head down to a feed mill to buy a bag of chicken scratch. While you're there anyway, just happen to borrow the use of their truck scale. The most important thing is that you have liability insurance for even a short jaunt like this, but you probably do, since you're actively pursuing roadworthiness.

[Danmcg]

4359 lb's according to GM Heritage, page 14.


https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

[kipps]

Originally Posted by Danmcg

4359 lb's according to GM Heritage, page 14.


https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

Page 14 of the booklet, not page 14 of the PDF file.

I like this answer best. Print off that page and take it with you to the DMV as proof if needed.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by kipps

Why not just tell the DMV that it weighs 5900 pounds? It's almost certainly within that number, and it sounds like they don't care as long as it's under 6k.

If it was me, and the truck was driveable, I'd just run it down to the scales anyway. Paint "Farm Use" on the backside of an old plate, and head down to a feed mill to buy a bag of chicken scratch. While you're there anyway, just happen to borrow the use of their truck scale. The most important thing is that you have liability insurance for even a short jaunt like this, but you probably do, since you're actively pursuing roadworthiness.

State troopers would pull me over in a minute . Truck is roadworthy just need to get it registered and because DMV is only taking mail in registrations I want everything in order before I send it.

Originally Posted by Danmcg

4359 lb's according to GM Heritage, page 14.

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

Perfect this is what need

[special-K]

I saw the other thread where it was said this truck had a 6,600 GVW. I didn't think a 3/4t could have such a low GVW. I know there was a heavy and a light 3/4t. It seems to me, IIRC, the heavier GVW was 8,600#.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by special-K

I saw the other thread where it was said this truck had a 6,600 GVW. I didn't think a 3/4t could have such a low GVW. I know there was a heavy and a light 3/4t. It seems to me, IIRC, the heavier GVW was 8,600#.

Could be the at one time or another someone derated the GVW to put non commercial plates on it . I thought about it for my dodge 3500 to say 5999 so I can put passenger plates on it . Only problem I use it as a truck and if I get stopped with a load in it it’s a hefty fine .

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Danmcg

4359 lb's according to GM Heritage, page 14.


https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

So I was just about right with "a little over 4000 pounds"

Originally Posted by special-K

I saw the other thread where it was said this truck had a 6,600 GVW. I didn't think a 3/4t could have such a low GVW. I know there was a heavy and a light 3/4t. It seems to me, IIRC, the heavier GVW was 8,600#.

Back in 1973 there were two K20 ratings: 7600 and 8600, the difference being 8 or 10 ply tires. The truck was exactly the same. I remember because I pored through the specs when I ordered mine.

As far as 1980s, they seem to have made some lighter ones. My folks had a 1983 C20 Suburban and as I recall it only had a semi-float rear axle. That seemed like a cheat to me.

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Could be the at one time or another someone derated the GVW to put non commercial plates on it . I thought about it for my dodge 3500 to say 5999 so I can put passenger plates on it . Only problem I use it as a truck and if I get stopped with a load in it it’s a hefty fine .

Dang! So is a few 8' 2x4s and a couple sacks of peat moss a "load" ???

What about a camper?

[THI]

Originally Posted by special-K

I saw the other thread where it was said this truck had a 6,600 GVW. I didn't think a 3/4t could have such a low GVW. I know there was a heavy and a light 3/4t. It seems to me, IIRC, the heavier GVW was 8,600#.

In the 1980's the 3/4-ton 4WD was available in Light Duty (6,600 GVW) and Heavy Duty (8,600 GVW) versions - big difference was the rear springs and emissions. Over 8,500 GVW's were Heavy Duty Emissions. The 2WD versions were 7,200 GVW and 8,600 GVW

[kipps]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

My folks had a 1983 C20 Suburban and as I recall it only had a semi-float rear axle. That seemed like a cheat to me.

The semi-float 9.5" 14-bolt axle was not a light vs. heavy gvwr thing. All the 1980's c20 and k20 trucks got the 9.5" regardless of weight. The truck in my signature came with a 9.5 axle, 3.42 gears, and a 8600-lb rating.

The only thing that changed that was if a c20 was equipped with a 454 engine. It seemed that GM figured a 454-equipped c20 was being purchased for heavy towing, so they upgraded those to the 10.5 full float axle. In other words, the 9.5 was plenty strong enough for vertical loads, but the smaller ring gear wasn't considered adequate for the constant heavy towing loads.

This bears out in the modern axles as well. During the early 2000's, GM had two axles under the 2500hd trucks. One was a AAM 10.5 axle that was a near twin to the 1970's/80's 14bff axle. The other was a AAM 11.5 axle. Both axles had the same wheel bearings and hub assemblies. The difference was in the center section only. The 6.0 trucks got the 10.5, and the 8.1 and Duramax trucks got the 11.5. So again, the vertical load was not the issue, but the trucks that were more likely to be pulling heavy loads needed the larger ring gear size.

[kipps]

Originally Posted by THI

In the 1980's the 3/4-ton 4WD was available in Light Duty (6,600 GVW) and Heavy Duty (8,600 GVW) versions - big difference was the rear springs and emissions. Over 8,500 GVW's were Heavy Duty Emissions. The 2WD versions were 7,200 GVW and 8,600 GVW

From what I can tell by scanning the GMheritagecenter vehicle brochure for 1987(I assume the others are similar), the difference between a 6600 and a 8600 v20 was whether it had the "c6p" package or not.

The "c6p" package included thicker steel across the entire chassis, different front and rear brakes, and likely different springs.

My c6p truck had a catalytic converter, and I'm reasonably certain it was not a California truck. So I'm not sure how much difference there were in emissions between c6p and non-c6p trucks.

For what it's worth, every k20 or v20 truck that I've run across here in Virginia has had the c6p 8600-gvwr option. It appears that the 6600-gvwr trucks are a bit less common.

[72c20customcamper]

Evidently mine does not have the c6p package . Not on the spid nothing on the window sticker either . Not a big deal won’t be used as a work truck anyway . Camper loading sticker is illegible.

[kipps]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Not a big deal won’t be used as a work truck anyway

It will also ride nicer, with the softer springs and less unsprung weight(lighter brakes). For a daily driver that doesn't carry much, the ride quality is more important than the cargo capacity.

[Just call me Sean]

Just throw a piece of cardboard on the bumper with "COVID" written on it. It'll be fine.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Evidently mine does not have the c6p package . Not on the spid nothing on the window sticker either . Not a big deal won’t be used as a work truck anyway . Camper loading sticker is illegible.

When you first posted the pictures, I thought it was a half ton with larger tires.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

When you first posted the pictures, I thought it was a half ton with larger tires.

It's a 20 .

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

It's a 20 .

Yeah, I believe you. I was just basing off my 1973 with the massive front and rear hubs

[72c20customcamper]

Went with 4359 . See if the DMV accepts it wont know for 10 to 14 business days. We still have no in person transactions had to drop the paperwork in a drop box at the local branch

[72c20customcamper]

Never followed up . Dropped the paperwork off in the drop box on Thursday paperwork came in the mail on Monday. Not a bad experience at all . Just waiting for the title that's always taken 7 to 10 weeks .