Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Calendar
Go Back   NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds > Tech Forums > General Tech

Notices


Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 10-20-2009, 05:49 PM   #1
Mark42
 
Mark42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 443
iTrader: (0)
Towing with the F body.

Now don't everyone jump on my case because I want to tow with the Firebird.
There are going to be a few times a year when I won't have the Sienna to tow our boat. So I'm going to add a class II tow hitch to the Firebird. It won't show except for the receiver, and it works with dual exhaust.

The owners manual says the tow limit is 1500 lbs under normal conditions (ie not mountians, not hot, not hauling butt).

Just wondering if anyone has towed a small boat with their f body and how did the car handle?

This is what I'm towing, boat, motor and trailer come in at about 1400 lbs. So its close to the limit. And the rig looks big in the picture, but the boat is only 16'. I was towing it with the Town Car in the background and it was a walk in the park, but I sold it to buy the Firebird.



And this is what the hitch with receiver looks like.... For those who don't know about hitches, the silver ball mount bar comes off when not in use.


Last edited by Mark42; 10-20-2009 at 05:53 PM.
Mark42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2009, 05:54 PM   #2
deadtrend1
11 second club / Moderator
 
deadtrend1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: West Berlin, NJ
Posts: 7,148
iTrader: (11)
PM JL8Jeff
__________________
2001 Trans Am WS6 •SLP Loudmouth II •UMI Suspension •12.857 @ 109.57

1996 Trans Am WS6 •Pacesetter Longtubes •Strange 12 Bolt •Spohn Suspension •11.152 @ 123.85
deadtrend1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2009, 06:01 PM   #3
maroman88
12 Second Club
 
maroman88's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: West Milford
Posts: 8,373
iTrader: (11)
http://www.njfboa.org/forums/showthread.php?t=33127
__________________
88 Camaro
95 Impala SS
97 Trans Am WS6
98 Blazer ZR2
00 Corvette
04 CTS-V
04 Grand Cherokee
06 GMC Sierra
07 Sublime Charger Daytona
12 Tahoe LT
17 Malibu LT
maroman88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2009, 06:07 PM   #4
Mark42
 
Mark42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 443
iTrader: (0)
Yep, ramps can be a pain. Need to get a Torsen LSD and 3.42 or 3.73 gears installed. Got and open diff and 3.08 in there now. Not too good.

When I order the hitch I'll include a trans cooler too. Should help extend the trans life when not towing.

Put 3.55 gears and a Trac-Loc in the Town car, along with 255 50 17's. Never had a problem on the ramp after that.
Mark42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2009, 06:15 PM   #5
JL8Jeff
Hippy Mod, Bergermeister Meisterberger, Moderator
 
JL8Jeff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ewing
Posts: 6,216
iTrader: (3)
My boat/motor/trailer come in rougly around 1000 lbs or less and it's no problem with the SS suspension. 1500 lbs might move the rear around a bit.
__________________
69 Z28 JL8 4 wheel disc brakes - being restored
09 Silverado Z71
JL8Jeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2009, 06:21 PM   #6
Mark42
 
Mark42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 443
iTrader: (0)
Quote:
Originally Posted by JL8Jeff View Post
My boat/motor/trailer come in rougly around 1000 lbs or less and it's no problem with the SS suspension. 1500 lbs might move the rear around a bit.
Yeah, I expect to be traveling about 55-60 tops on the LIE. Why push your luck?

BTW, what brand hitch did you use? Draw-Tight, Curt, Reese, etc? Does it fit well?
Mark42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2009, 06:29 PM   #7
JL8Jeff
Hippy Mod, Bergermeister Meisterberger, Moderator
 
JL8Jeff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ewing
Posts: 6,216
iTrader: (3)
I have the Hidden Hitch with the flat drawbar. I think it's class III or IV.
__________________
69 Z28 JL8 4 wheel disc brakes - being restored
09 Silverado Z71
JL8Jeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2009, 07:37 PM   #8
Mark42
 
Mark42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 443
iTrader: (0)
Quote:
Originally Posted by JL8Jeff View Post
I have the Hidden Hitch with the flat drawbar. I think it's class III or IV.
I looked at the Hidden Hitch its a nice receiver hitch, and with the flat draw bar it really is hidden! But all my draw bars are 1-1/4" so I'm going with either the Curt or Draw Tight just for draw bar compatibility.
Mark42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

  NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds > Tech Forums > General Tech


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

» Sponsor List














All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.