STILL don't need a truck...

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: That would fit on my motorcycle. I'm not kidding. You do not need a truck.

Lots more freedom to load as you will on a bike.

In reply to HiTempguy:

Like I said, I don't know that I would ever tow that much, but I absolutely believe it can, having done some towing with it. Note that I was wrong, it was actually 7600 lbs.

Factory brochure for the '87 wagons. Rating is in the grey box at the upper left:

Image source for higher res: http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/chevy/87capr/bilder/8.jpg

Per the end of the manual, required packages are the RPO F40 HD suspension package and the RPO V92 tow package, which consisted of a hitch, 3.08 posi, trans cooler, and wiring, essentially. It also notes that it is only rated for this capacity if you lock the transmission out of OD. Amazingly, there is no mention of a brake controller. Code G67 was also theoretically included, which was rear air shocks. Mine had the originals on it when I got it a few years ago.

I'm not trying to get into a pissing match here; I just thought it was pretty interesting and kind of cool. Like Kenny said, bubble caprices could be optioned similarly, though the bubbles were a few hundred lbs heavier, and I believe were limited to 7000 lbs. Again, the RPO code was V92, and on the later wagons did not include the posi (RPO G80) but did require, interestingly, alloy wheels of all things. It lumped in RPO code V08 (Or V03 depending on the year? Up for debate.), which was a mechanical fan, larger trans cooler, and engine oil cooler. Bubble wagons with V92 got a 2.93 rear end.

Towing at those maximum numbers also is mentioned in the manual as requiring 35 psi in the rear tires, disabling rear ride control if so equipped, using a weight distributing hitch with anti sway, and locking out OD. Without weight distribution and anti sway, the limit is 5000 lbs for both the box and the bubble generation.

As with anything, there is some question as to what items came with what RPO code, and it changed somewhat by year, but that's the gist of it, and what most people and most factory documentation agrees on.

fidelity101 wrote: I didn't need a truck, I just wanted one.

Yah. Justify this for owning a truck, justify that for not owning a truck. In the end you own one or you don't because that is, like, your opinion, man

fidelity101 wrote: I didn't need a truck, I just wanted one.

Ya just like most (not all) truck owners. And just like most vehicle owners in general...........you don't really need the vehicle you are driving, you just want it. That's cool.

Things I've fit in my MR2:

27x40" picture frames, a set of Hoosiers, jack, tools, etc; plastic shelving from Lowe's, enough gear for a full day at the rifle range, a weekend worth of camping gear, an LS1 block, and a partridge in a pear tree.

My Camaro and Supercoupe are practically moving vans in comparison.

If those still aren't big enough, I have friends with trucks. As far as I'm concerned, a truck would just take money and driveway space away from more interesting vehicles.

Things I've fit in my truck:

2 round bales, at once.

Yard of topsoil.

Yard of river rock.

50 landscape ties.

10 fence panels.

Slide-in camper.

1946 Indian Chief.

1952 Matchless G9 Super Clubman.

1980 Honda CX500

1983 Honda CX650E

1983 Honda GL650 Interstate

Lots more....

I love my truck.

gearheadE30 wrote: In reply to HiTempguy: Like I said, I don't know that I would ever tow that much, but I absolutely believe it can, having done some towing with it. Note that I was wrong, it was actually 7600 lbs.

That's freaking cool. I'm sure it's every bit as much as the half-ton trucks of that era were rated for.

Now, towing 7k lbs with a mid-80s 305 in one of those wagons would be an exercise in patience....

i keep saying i dont need one, then i get one anyway. the s10 is almost a truck and i refuse to haul anything in my wagon. dents, dirt and broken plastics no thanks.

Yes, can we PLEASE be done with the "he/she doesn't need a truck/suv/high-hp car" blah, blah, blah...

I glad to see several posts to that effect. Drives me crazy when people claim to know what a person "needs", especially so when it's a complete stranger.

"That soccer-mom doesn't need that Yukon XL to drive her kids to school" meanwhile they're avid campers and skiers that tow with it with 4 kayaks on the roof and a weeks-worth of gear in the back.

In reply to Tom_Spangler:

Yeah, they came with the 140hp/255lb-ft olds 307.... it was very, very slow. Mine has a lot more power now.

In reply to dropstep: yeah, I bought one that was kind of beat up on purpose, haha. No broken plastic or dents yet, but I've poked a few holes in the headliner.

gearheadE30 wrote: As with anything, there is some question as to what items came with what RPO code, and it changed somewhat by year, but that's the gist of it, and what most people and most factory documentation agrees on.

I honestly still don't believe it, but now I am willing to entertain the fact it could be true. The only real way to know is to see the door jam sticker with axle weights, gvwr, and gcwr.

This dude doesn't need a truck.

Neither does this dude.

I can't believe this thread is still going! All I wanted to do was post a joke/creativity moment and look what happened....