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The Sonoma.....Bout time!

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R6MGS

R6MGS

Yoda
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Well as most of you know I've been looking for a good beater truck for too long now...but I've finally found myself a good deal on a 2000 Sonoma(4.3 auto)....Suppose to go pick it up Sunday....It is 6 years old...but was very well maintained, younger guy who did a few minor mods(I think those are aftermarket mirrors?)it's got somekinda upgraded sound system and some other typical stuff....But my son will like it....Anyway I am glad the search is over....Now I can get back to looking for more of the fun stuff.

Sonoma.jpg


BTW: I want to install a trailor hitch to pull a car dolly, or small car trailor....This will be my first ever hitch install so what do I need to know? How do I know what class of hitch I need? How are they installed?
 
Congrats!

As for the hitch, go to U-haul and get the best receiver hitch they have that will bolt to the frame (Class III?). Not that much more expensive than the "cheapies", and you won't regret it.

Mickey
 
Sounds good...But is the U-haul thing a rental?...or can you buy from them?
 
You can buy the hitches, I bought one for my van and I love it, about $130 depending on the vehicle and class of hitch.
You'll need a class 3 for a Sonoma.
If not uhaul, then draw-tie or other after market.
 
So the hitch just bolts right up to the frame? and I could do this myself?
And the wiring harness....how does that connect up? Will my truck have a brake controller or do i need to get one of those as well?
 
The hitch just bolts right on, yes. Torque wrench is the key, took me about an hour and most of that was moving the silencer box out the way. The harness I had someone else install, but he basically spliced into the the turn/brake/tail wires and a universal connector.
Don't worry about dollies, you have enough towing capacity for your MGs, (not sure about the curb weight of a C) and the brake controller ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif? I have no idea on that one, check your owners manual for the truck if you have one already. Tis nice looking truck btw.
4000lbs is the towing capacity for this truck, check trailer wieghts too.
 
As for wiring, check with U-Haul for the harness as well. They've got everything you need. You might even luck out - the truck may be set up for a plug-in installation. Check the owner's manual, and call the parts counter at the Chevy/GMC dealer.

Mickey
 
You'll only need the brake controller if the trailer has electric brakes, and you should be able to get that at U-Haul as well. Don't think tow dollies have electric brakes.

Mickey
 
I've been towing with my '92 Sonoma forever & all I've ever used is a 2" ball on the truck's OE bumper....now, I don't haul anything larger than an LBC (well, a VW Bug & a 323i BMW once) & the bumper still handles everything just fine.....just remember to get out of OD whenever you tow.

Down under the left rear corner is a factory connection in the wiring harness...you can disconnect it & plug an after market light brake pigtail in there (that's all I did & I bought the light pigtail from U-Haul) & then replug to the other side of the aftermarket pigtail...then, you can run an electric brake controller separately.
 
I shouldn't need an electric brake controller then.....But I would like a proper receiver hitch.....The bumper cover has to be cut away to allow for a ball and I'd rather install a real hitch. Hopefully mine has the same kinda connector as your Tony, that looks like a nice easy way to get the wiring taken care of.
 
Someone from another forum photoshopped it:

noma.jpg


/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif I kinda like that hood /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
Don't show that photo to your son! (Does look good though!)
 
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