I've seen many people on here ask about towing and what not. This is a pretty good guide IMO. There are probably other ones all over the net, but this one has some good pictures and diagrams.
http://www.hitchinfo.com/index.cfm?event=viewpage&contentpieceid=5143
If anyone has another site that's good, please post it.
That is a good site, covers all the aspects that most of us will run into.
"If your trailer weighs more than 3500 pounds, you should invest in a weight distributing hitch."
Smacks of "We want to sell you one" to me.
makes me want the factory hitch for my saab
Step 1. Buy a caprice wagon/astro van/Jeep Cherokee/other reasonably heavy vehicle. Insist that buying a "real" tow vehicle like a 3/4 ton diesel truck is "silly", "not practical", or "outside of my means".
Step 2. Post to GRM asking how you can set up aforementioned vehicle to tow a school bus on a 30 ft gooseneck trailer.
Step 3. Get laughed at.
DaveEstey wrote: "If your trailer weighs more than 3500 pounds, you should invest in a weight distributing hitch." Smacks of "We want to sell you one" to me.
While yes the company who made the site is indeed a trailer hitch company, it covers most every basic thing someone should know when towing something for the first time or want to tow with a vehicle that may have never had a trailer hitch to begin with.
It's a good site for beginners. There is someone on here almost once a month with a towing question.
93gsxturbo wrote: Step 1. Buy a caprice wagon/astro van/Jeep Cherokee/other reasonably heavy vehicle. Insist that buying a "real" tow vehicle like a 3/4 ton diesel truck is "silly", "not practical", or "outside of my means". Step 2. Post to GRM asking how you can set up aforementioned vehicle to tow a school bus on a 30 ft gooseneck trailer. Step 3. Get laughed at.
It seems to me that it usually goes the other way; towing a miata in an open trailer, and being told you need a 3/4 ton Diesel powered crew cab long bed 4×4 or you'll be sorry.
If my mom can tow a 5 horse trailer in the mountains with her f250 super-duty, I'm pretty sure that an XJ or RoadMaster wagon could tow a single car trailer (with properly set up trailer brakes ect) through the places that most of us would want to take them.
HappyAndy wrote:93gsxturbo wrote: Step 1. Buy a caprice wagon/astro van/Jeep Cherokee/other reasonably heavy vehicle. Insist that buying a "real" tow vehicle like a 3/4 ton diesel truck is "silly", "not practical", or "outside of my means". Step 2. Post to GRM asking how you can set up aforementioned vehicle to tow a school bus on a 30 ft gooseneck trailer. Step 3. Get laughed at.It seems to me that it usually goes the other way; towing a miata in an open trailer, and being told you need a 3/4 ton Diesel powered crew cab long bed 4×4 or you'll be sorry. If my mom can tow a 5 horse trailer in the mountains with her f250 super-duty, I'm pretty sure that an XJ or RoadMaster wagon could tow a single car trailer (with properly set up trailer brakes ect) through the places that most of us would want to take them.
No no no... if you didn't buy a Sierra 3500 dually, you have completely failed at towing.
It may be overkill, but I'd rather be on the road with the guy that has the Miata on a trailer behind the 3500 dually than the one with the 3500 dually on a trailer behind the Miata.
I just bought an V10 E-350 to tow my miata.
I recently bought a Sierra C3500 dually, so I win? What's the prize? It's a 1979 model so it definitely is a Grassroots tow truck. Not pulling a miata though, just my Camaro in an enclosed trailer, so they match up.
If you are considering a tow vehicle, get one that is at least up to what you are towing or better. Don't go too small/light, for your own (and others around you) safety. You don't have to go for overkill. But right now, with gas prices going higher, the overkill vehicles can be found for bargain pricing.
mguar wrote: Guess there must be a skill to towing
Very true, good safe towing does take some skill. There are some people that can tow anything and others who should tow nothing.
The stock turbo on my 95 Dodge dually with the 5.9 cummins was getting tired, so I threw on a phatshaft 62 and some injectors while I was at it. Dynoed at over 755 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels....not smokey either unless you make it smoke on purpose.
I had the Dodge down for some maintenance and a buddy called.....he was in a bind and needed to move his 1/2 4x4 Chevy truck through a hilly area of middle TN. I grab my 89 Suburban, 1/2 ton and TBI 350, and off we go. The suburban did fine, but let me tell you I MISSED the Dodge. Four E rated tires out back, big brakes, and all the torque sure is nice. A dedicated tow rig like that may be overkill, but the peace of mind sure isn't.
moxnix wrote: I just bought an V10 E-350 to tow my miata.
Have fun with that gas bill.
DaveEstey wrote:moxnix wrote: I just bought an V10 E-350 to tow my miata.Have fun with that gas bill.
From research I did before the purchase the V8 and the V10 should get close to the same mileage when towing. When not towing the V8 gets better mileage but I don't plan on driving this much when not towing.
That hasn't been my experience with them but maybe it was just my application (hauling horses). After a weekend pulling to a show in Vermont I have an undying hatred of the V10.
I hope your experience proves me wrong.
mguar wrote: The trailer only weighed 800 pounds
Unless the trailer was built by yourself, no, it did not if it was an enclosed trailer. I guess if it was a rickety death trap with a single axle made with the least amount of aluminum it might...
moxnix wrote: From research I did before the purchase the V8 and the V10 should get close to the same mileage when towing. When not towing the V8 gets better mileage but I don't plan on driving this much when not towing.
Unfortunately, the V10 is a worthless piece of garbage anyways. I drove a 2009 F350 extended cab dually Ford with 4.10's for a year, and that thing got about 8mpg in the city unloaded and was slower than a TBI powered chevy 1/2 ton.
In my mind, a proper tow vehicle is one that you can tow at the speed limit except in the most extreme of conditions (terrible weather, huge mountain passes). Putting along at 90km/h and blocking traffic is not "acceptable" towing.
moxnix wrote:DaveEstey wrote:From research I did before the purchase the V8 and the V10 should get close to the same mileage when towing. When not towing the V8 gets better mileage but I don't plan on driving this much when not towing.moxnix wrote: I just bought an V10 E-350 to tow my miata.Have fun with that gas bill.
My 04 F250 crew cab 4wd got 8.9 mpg towing a Miata in a 20 ft enclosed trailer. It got 8.9 mpg NOT towing a Miata etc etc. I just installed a cold air kit and actually got 11 mpg on the highway not towing. Fuel mileage is not the forte of the Dearborn Valdez
DaveEstey wrote: "If your trailer weighs more than 3500 pounds, you should invest in a weight distributing hitch." Smacks of "We want to sell you one" to me.
All the literature on our Trailblazer rated it with a 5,000# towing capacity. Or 3,500# as factory and I need a WDH. So I tow light little sports cars instead.
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