I have an 71 Electra 225. Looks like a junker, but in the last year i have replaced/rebuilt everything from the front end to the drive shaft, so mechanically, it's great. Previous owner towed all kinds of stuff with this car, so there is a trans cooler installed, trailer brakes, and a giant hitch welded to the back(on the frame). Only thing i don't know is, Whats my limit????? Anybody have any info. I've called places, looked in the owners manual, and searched online. Please help. Thanks -Chris
I've towed up to 4500 pounds with no problems with mine. I do have heavy duty coilover shocks to prevent rear end sag. but it depends on engine and how well you trust the hitch.
Thanks I've got adjustable air shocks for the rear, and so there is no sag, but the trailer i have is weighted for 7000 pounds(including it's own weight). I plan to pretty much max it out on weight, on a drive from San Diego, CA to Fayetteville, NC. Wish me luck Chris
With load control bars and an anti-sway bar receiver set up I wouldnt be afraid of a car on a car trailor as long as the brakes were hooked up on the trailor.
"load control bars and an anti-sway bar receiver set up" o No: Guess i have a few things to research ou:
Buy the 1000 lb bars it will be a few dollars more but much better for towing. Most trailor places can get one or should have a set up in stock.
I would say about 5,000 pounds. 1350 is my trailer weight and when my GS was fat and street legal she weighed 3500 pounds, then an addition 100-200 for tools and jack etc. never had a problem towing with my '73 Riv or now with my 73 Centurion, though my GS had since gone on a low carb...aah a low steel diet and is down under 2,900 pounds. Just have to get all the sway control bars and anti-pitch bars and adjustable hitch don't skimp buy all heavy duty stuff, and most of all have good brakes on the trailer and tow car.
I don't know where you would find an in print answer for that one? A friends family had a 70 225 rag top and used to tow a nice ski boat with it. That was just such a cool combination I though! Years back I had a 79 225 coupe than I really miss at times but it had the TH400, posi rear, and the 5 on 5 bolt pattern of the half ton pickups. I would think if you frame and hitch are in real good shape you should have enough wheelbase, weight, engine and brakes to tow a pretty good load. As stated above, I wouldn't even try this without the weight distribution bars to keep the butt end from sagging and be sure the trailer brakes are in order too. By rights, it should tow in the range of what a half ton truck can but that really isn't too much IF you go by the book on the older trucks. Ken
Thanks for the info. Looks like that will take out some of the bouncy-bouncy I've been dreading on the trip. 300 bucks though. Ouch. Chris
Forgot to say thanks I know this was over a year ago, but I need to say thanks. I towed a 5700 lb trailer from San Diego to Fayetteville, NC to Washington DC. The first leg took me 4 days sleeping on the side of the road in the couch(back seat). Using the weight distribution system as you guys suggested worked wonders. I was able to keep it around 65 to 70 mph the whole way. Thanks to my 215/75-15 BFG TA KO's I was able to not only manage looking like a mad max assult vehicle, but was one of the few cars able to push through a nice snow storm over the Tennesee/NC mountains. I got anywhere from 6 to 11 mpg on the trip out of the 17 tanks of gas or so. Spent over 1000 bucks for it too. It was definately worth it. A rip off moving company would have charged me more then the fuel plus the new tires and other part replacements i did. Now I own the ugliest, most mechanically sound buick on the east coast(uh........or at least the top ten). Thanks again. -Chris
I agree that 5000 lbs +/- no problem. Weight distributing hitch and anti-sway control mandatory. Trans cooler. Drive reasonable speed below 70 mph. I averaged 8 mpg pulling an 18' travel trailer from Michigan to Florida and back.
