I've searched but cannot find...
Anybody tow a boat with a thirdgen? I just bought a boat and the total weight of boat/trailer is around 1300 lbs. I'm sure the 406 will have enough power but will the rest of the car hold up? I take the Camaro everywhere and I don't have funds for a truck right now. It would be short trips--I'm about 10 miles from the lake.

 

a hitch was a factory option, but i dont know how much it could pull

 

There are hitches available that bolt onto the chassis. Teh car is rated for 1000# towing capacity and 100# tongue weight. It isn't a matter so much of what your engine can pull, but what the unibody chassis can handle. Can you pull it? Sure. Will it stress the body, yes. In the short term for just a few trips you'll be fine. Save up the coin for a used truck.

Lon

 

thanks.
I have a hitch I removed from a car at the junk yard that I will be putting on this winter. Are there any warning signs that the unibody is failing? I already have small cracks behind side windows. I plan on some subframe connectors soon. I guess I'll take 'er easy until I can find a good (cheap) truck.
thanks.

 

you have 3 thirdgens and a 4th gen but can't afford a $1000 beater truck? I'd never pull anything with these cars, they tear themselves apart without extra load pulling on the back of them.

 

LOL I towed for YEARS with my 84 Z. I towed boats and double snowmobile trailers and it actually towed pretty well. I know its not really rated for it but i didnt really care at the time. Suprisingly enough though it held together for many years. My cottage was a 3.5 hr drive from home too so many many miles logged on it towing. Never even got a saggy door but it was a hard top. That car is looooong gone now. The municiple snow plow took care of it one year when I couldnt get into the cottage driveway

 

if you have a 406 i hope like hell you have SFCs and if so it shouldnt hurt anything.

 

my car is ****ed when i put 4 people in it. it bottems down so hard when i hit a bump i feel bad doing it, maybe because my springs are getting old and saggy, but non the less, i would never tow with it, the one flaw with these cars is the fram, or lack of it. im sure sub frame units are on everybodys to get or i have lists for their cars and that speeks something about the frame. i know people have towed before, but im sure it will open big problems for you that i dont know your ready for seeing you cant aford a shitty truck.

 

Me again...

The boat/trailer weighs 1400-1500 # loaded so I figure about 150# tongue weight. I'm saving for a truck but the Camaro might have to be used till then. Btw, only one Camaro left in the "collection" otherwise I wouldn't even think about towing with it. Trailer hitches do make for a nice sleeper effect though!
Thanks for the replies

 

How much to you think you will be using the boat this winter? I'm sure you can find a few nice cheap Silverados or F-150's in the Lansing or Flint area. If you can afford a boat then I'm sure you can afford a cheap truck. I never even knew these cars can pull a trailor, let alone a 1500lb. boat.

 

It amazes me what people tow behind cars and trucks for that matter.

Just because it can pull it doesn't mean its safe.

The one thing nobody thinks about is stoping!

These cars barely can stop themselves let alone with another 2000lbs draging behind them.

I have seen many many accidents caused by tow vehicles that are un able to properly stop the tow.

 

True. But considering the stock braking system on a third gen has the same diameter rotors as a 1500 series pick up I think you might be pointing at the wrong car. Towing with a 66 Chevy 2 with 8" front drum brakes? Ya sure good point.

Four wheel disc F bods stop very well when the brakes are in good order. Maybe not for ten stops in a row but for regular driving quite well.

As for accidents? Seldom the cars fault. Always the drivers fault.