Id feel comfortable pulling a small boat, snowmobile trailer like mine or even a pop up camper. Id hate to have anthing more than 1000 lbs without some serious work, mainly frame stiffening, brakes, and a really good hitch.
Who Tows with their G, and What?
- Thread starter Oldsmoletick
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I have towed 2000lb trailers with both a V6/200 Century wagon and a 307/350c Cutlass wagon. Both cars dealt with towing duties with no problems, they both had transmission coolers but were otherwise unmodified. The Cutlass was better as I would expect with its larger engine with more torque but they both kept up with traffic.
Over here any trailer over 560 lbs is required to have brakes and when towing vehicles are subject to a 60mph speed limit. Not a problem, all vehicles over 3500kg gross weight are by law fitted with speed limiters restricting them to 56mph (90kmh) so I would slot in behind a truck and follow it keeping out of the way of faster traffic, and knowing I was in the company of (mostly) competent professional drivers.
G bodies with their body on frame rwd construction make for a good towing vehicle IMO, better than a Jeep because of their lower center of gravity and are not encumbered with the extra load of 4wd transmission.
Roger.
Over here any trailer over 560 lbs is required to have brakes and when towing vehicles are subject to a 60mph speed limit. Not a problem, all vehicles over 3500kg gross weight are by law fitted with speed limiters restricting them to 56mph (90kmh) so I would slot in behind a truck and follow it keeping out of the way of faster traffic, and knowing I was in the company of (mostly) competent professional drivers.
G bodies with their body on frame rwd construction make for a good towing vehicle IMO, better than a Jeep because of their lower center of gravity and are not encumbered with the extra load of 4wd transmission.
Roger.
I tow a 4 bike motorcycle trailer, a boat, and an 18 ft car trailer around with my wagon.
There are no handling issues but I have performed upgrades to allow it to do so. This is a full frame rear wheel drive car but the problem is the brakes and suspension were never built for the task.
I have upgraded the front suspension to Monte SS + qualities. The rear runs cargo coils with Airbags in case I need them. Big sway bars on both ends. Class III hitch on the back. (That was a tough one to find) Late model blazer brake upgrade with EBC pads. It handles and stops fine even with 4000 lbs worth of car and trailer behind it. I think that is about the limit though.
The key to trailering with anything is making sure to load the trailer properly so as to put the correct amount of weight on the tongue.
The anemic worn out 305 is not up to the task at all however. But the 355 CI torque animal and the 700R4 sitting in my garage waiting for install ought to remedy that. 🙂
Roy
There are no handling issues but I have performed upgrades to allow it to do so. This is a full frame rear wheel drive car but the problem is the brakes and suspension were never built for the task.
I have upgraded the front suspension to Monte SS + qualities. The rear runs cargo coils with Airbags in case I need them. Big sway bars on both ends. Class III hitch on the back. (That was a tough one to find) Late model blazer brake upgrade with EBC pads. It handles and stops fine even with 4000 lbs worth of car and trailer behind it. I think that is about the limit though.
The key to trailering with anything is making sure to load the trailer properly so as to put the correct amount of weight on the tongue.
The anemic worn out 305 is not up to the task at all however. But the 355 CI torque animal and the 700R4 sitting in my garage waiting for install ought to remedy that. 🙂
Roy
Thanks guys!
Fastmax32168, Any pics of your suspension set up, mainly how you went about the bags? Maybe how the class III hooks up to these, I've never seen one before.
Fastmax32168, Any pics of your suspension set up, mainly how you went about the bags? Maybe how the class III hooks up to these, I've never seen one before.
I dont have any pics but the bags sit inside the springs and are inflated from a valve on the bumper for extra load carrying ability when needed. I used an inexpensive setup from air ride and I dont think I would do it again, I would spring for something better.
You cannot buy a new class III hitch anymore, I had to hunt one down through want ads on the internet. The freakin thing is so heavy I think it costs about $70 just to ship it!
Roy
You cannot buy a new class III hitch anymore, I had to hunt one down through want ads on the internet. The freakin thing is so heavy I think it costs about $70 just to ship it!
Roy
i have towed several elcaminos and trailers with my g body wagon, it has cargo coils and kyb gas adjust shocks all around
ceramic pads and shoes had zero issues
ceramic pads and shoes had zero issues
Fastmax32168 said:
Thanks! I see u haul offers one for the wagons, but not sedans, lol, (I would imagine they would be the same). Your set up sounds exactly like what I was thinking of doing.
woody31, looks like it works well, how are the cargo coils un loaded though, as far as height and ride?
Oldsmoletick said:
Both of you guys should know better... :wink:
You should NEVER reverse with a loaded tow dolly!!!
A friend and I towed a '70 Skylark from just south of Tucson, AZ all the way back to Minneapolis on a tow dolly with a '95 Toyota 4Runner. It was an adventure to say the least, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
"Both of you guys should know better... :wink:
You should NEVER reverse with a loaded tow dolly!!!" Yup, lesson learned!
You should NEVER reverse with a loaded tow dolly!!!" Yup, lesson learned!
Bonnewagon said:"Both of you guys should know better... :wink:
You should NEVER reverse with a loaded tow dolly!!!" Yup, lesson learned!
:lol: me too
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