F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

So, I know its sacrilege but **** happens. heres the situation. My grandparents want to sell our cottage after next summer and my car is the only one with enough ***** in my immediate family to tow the boat. Yes, other people have trucks and whatnot but I cant call them every time I want to go somewhere with it. So the situation is what it is I'm willing to put a hitch on my Camaro if it means keeping my boat. My question is, Where the hell would you even get a hitch kit? if I lower my car on eibach pro-kits will it bottom out? and most important of all, is there a kit which you can completely remove? in such a way that I would only install it the rare time I need to tow something.

Anyways, as wrong as it may be I need your help if you know anything about some hitch kits for third gens. I know they're out there, my dad had on on his '83 t/a and i've seen pics of others. anyways, your help is appreciated.

Al Hasse

U-Haul, not sure about all locations, but the ones labeled as Hitch World do trailer hitches.

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

Are they removable? do you know if they do them in Canada?

Sonymaster20

iTrader: (3)

Any thoughts of buying a cheap truck?

Anyways, Theres a guy in one of these threads who has an iroc-z with a hitch so he can drive the car and tow his trailer of stuff to the track.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/cama...ow-iroc-z.html

Al Hasse

The one I had on my 83 Olds was since it was bolted to the chassis. Their site says none available for 3rd gen, but they might be able to help if you take the car to them. Closest one to you that does hitches is The U-Haul Center Queensway.

kcb37

I would advise against it.
Not that I don't like a hitch on a Camaro (which I don't, but it's your car so that's irrelivent)
I say that cause it's a boat, and if you launch that with your car, you going to have fun trying to get it off the boat launch. I think you would probably be lucky to not drown your car.
Buy a cheap truck. If your car will pull it, I am going to assume it's not that big, get a 4x4 S10 with a 4.3

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

thats a good point. never thought of it that way. usually the way we launch them at my cottage its not a problem, the slope is so shallow. but in a public landing, the ramps are steeper and they're made of cement, so once my tires get wet or lose traction its going to get interesting. I doubt I'll drown the camaro since once the boat floats off the trailer, theres no more weight pulling the car into the lake, but getting it out of the lake will be a mess. Its tricky, but It can be done, my dad used to do it. However, getting another car/truck is pretty much out of the question. theres no way I can afford that. I'm not even sure if i'll put the hitch on, I just want to know how I would go about doing so if I so choose to pursue it. I might just borrow a truck, trailer it home and let it sit untill i can afford my own truck or whatever.

*maybe I'll put some sandbags in the back of my camaro? add traction?*

GoodlookinRS

iTrader: (1)

If i was you one of the first things i would do is put air shocks on the back. So you can set it up and not be scraping everytime you go over a bumb. Then how big is the boat? We have a 20 ft and its pretty heavy. We pull it with the durango but with the ramps by me its really steep and we basicaly always have to put it in 4 wheel drive. So i would be care full.
kevin

Flip 2

iTrader: (1)

Think about that truck. I have towed with my 'bird. It was not happy. Worst was a dodgy 1200 miles from LA to MT towing a sorta big U-haul (you haul, our trailer steer!)
I got a decent hitch for it in Calif.
I think the orig factory shop manual puts a 1000 lb max. for towing.
Sub frame connectors are probably good, but they won't help for those steeper ramps. I would use 4 wheel drive (Toy truck) when I had my boat. Sometimes two wheel drive trucks would strain, and spin tires.

FueledSoul

iTrader: (18)

I spotted this one when i was out with my 4thgen. . .

here it is in action

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

Draw-Tite made a hitch for our cars. It bolts to the car using funky threaded pieces that slip into slots in the rear chassis. You could unbolt it, but I don't know how you'd get those pieces back out.

We're limited to 1000 lbs tow weight including the trailer and 100 lbs tongue weight. I've exceeded both when I pulled my HiLo trailer and a two PWC's on a trailer with my Camaro 'vert back before I had a truck. I have Eibach Pro-Kit springs. Yes it squatted quite a bit.

For a small boat on occasion, you could do it. It isn't that our cars don't have the power to pull a trailer, they don't have the chassis to handle it. Get a truck.

Lon

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

How big is your boat?

There are Class I hitches for our cars, but no Class III. Your simple 2-wheel trailers are commonly used by the autocross guys, for their race wheels/tires, tools & a cooler.

Toyota h8r

save your money and get decent mid size or compact truck....the added stress on your camaro wont be good on it lol. I mean what happens if you hit a slick shot on the landing ramp and your nice camaro slides in for a swim with the fishes!

but really....i saved up and got me a cheapie s10 4wd blazer for 500 buz. Shes not pretty but she puts out

racing geek

iTrader: (5)

I see all kinds of cars I autocross against with hitches that they keep on their car all the time. Like Stephen said, they only have a really little trailer (it's like 4'x3') for their extra set of wheels and race rubber and maybe a cooler and other little stuff. Heck I saw a C5 Z06 pulling a Mazda Miata on a trailer one time. That was a funny sight because the Miata sat higher then the Corvette.

I wouldn't think a boat as big as the one in the picture would be a good idea. I think it would be too heavy for our cars so I would have to agree with everyone else... buy a cheap truck.

My family has a 25' boat that we haul with our '99 Dodge Durango and we usually don't have to put it in 4 wheel drive. Then again we don't typically have to deal with steep ramps.

Good luck and post some pics if you follow through.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Little ones like HERE are common for the autocross crowd.

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

wow thanks for all the replies. My boat is actually really light. Its just shy of 15' and made of wood (which, when talking about boats is actually lighter than aluminum and fiberglass). I can pick up the tongue easily and push it myself, so I'm guessing the tongue weight is less than 100lbs. the boat should weigh around 300-400 lbs and the motor is around 200 lbs. Its been towed by a 3rd gen before, but now that I have foreign landings to deal with, its sketchy. maybe i'll ask someone with a truck to launch it for me when i get there lol. I don't think I'll be able to find a descent S10 or some small pickup here for a low price, but who knows. I'll take a look. Even then, I don't think my mom would be happy considering theres no more space to keep it, We've got 3 cars on the driveway each like 3 inches apart, a '47 pontiac in the garage and the boats not even here yet. ah well, we'll see.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

Tongue weight is generally 10% of the overall trailer weight (if the trailer is well balanced). There is no need to guess about tongue weight though. Just take a bathroom scale and set the jack post on it.

Lon

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

Well since the boat is hand built and the trialer is from cdn tire like 30 years ago, theres no way to know where the COM is, but its probably close to generating 10% of the weight on the tongue. as for the bathroom scale, well the boats at my cottage and its not even completely put together so yeah, I wont be able to do that trick for a while.

ljnowell

Im the second owner of an 88 camaro, the original owner installed a hitch on it over 10 years ago. He pulled a small trailer with a riding lawnmower and accesories, 4 wheeler and dirtbike, etc. In fact, if you were interested, I would probably take it off and work something out with you, as it has to come off to make room for my new exhaust.

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

how does it mount? welds or bolts? i might actually be interested, maybe post some pics?

ljnowell

It bolts on the back of the car. I will take a picture and post it up for you.

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

sweet

super_kev

iTrader: (4)

Make it simple... rent a U-Haul pickup truck for the day (usually $25 around here, not sure about Canada) and be done with it. No stress on the Camaro, no purchasing a tow-hitch, and you'll probably save money in the end.

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

you need to be 21 to rent a vehicle and i'm only 19. my parents don't have credit cards cause they're sketched out by them or something. but its a good idea.

chevyracingrox

i wouldn't recommend a hitch on a unibody

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

Subframe connectors!

402 GTA

You probaly wouldnt have any problems towing or launching a boat that small.

chevyracingrox

if you put subframe connectors on it its technically not a unibody anymore so then you'd be fine.

L69norm

Draw-tite p/n 24643
See:
http://www.lam-part.com/prodDetail.c...to%201992),MX1
Funky nuts:
http://www.etrailer.com/instructions.aspx?pn=24643

online170

Theres a guy around the corner near my house, that has been a welder for like 50 years. Hes retired now, and owns his own little shop, he does little fix it jobs on most cars and trucks, and makes hitches.

I wouldnt bother with a kit, just find a place that makes them and have one made for your car.

15' boat wont be an issue. My freind used to pull a boat about as big as the one that fueledlsoul posted, with a 92 cutlass 4 door 6cyl. It used to go 7 hour long trips on very hilly roads to lake nippissing. No problems launching either, just a little tricky.

Go ahead and get a hitch, thats not the issue. Id be more concerned about brakes and rear suspension. Airbags is probably the best solution, and they arent as expensive as they used to be. Also, i noticed you have a T5. Hope its up to the task.

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

interesting Idea, having someone fab up a hitch for me. I don't really know anyone in the GTA who does that kind of thing. mind you, i don't know anyone who does that period. anyways, I know the brakes need to be looked over, we'll see how it runs when i finally get her running in the spring, and the rear suspension, you think it will bottom out? Also, why wouldn't the T5 be up to the task? didn't they used to put T5's into light trucks and whatnot?

kcb37

They did put them in some of the S10's. But unless I am wrong they were a little stronger. They are also a different case. Then in 91 and 92 they started using the same as the fullsize trucks. NV3500.
If you have the factory tranny for you car you also have a Non World Class T-5 which means it's the weaker one.
The T-5 that was put in my car is also a NWC T-5. I knew it was going to go before I bought it, didn't think it would as quick as it did.
The gears and all still seem to be fine, but the synchro's are bad. I can change the fluid and it will last about a week, then I just quit using the clutch again.

Long story short, your best bet, I didn't think about, unibody, weight rating of the car. Yours boat should be fine for weight, although 100 pounds of tougne weight is a very light trailer. The unibody will have a lot of flex, and once the body is twisted...
My fear of pulling a boat with a car like that, is it's only rwd, meaning if your tires get wet regardless of weight or not, it's not going to want to move forward.

I would strongly suggest saving a few hundred, even if you get an s10 that the box is about to fall off of. I had a 91 Sonoma with a 4.3 5 speed 4x4 that I pulled an 84 1/2 ton Dodge on a strap. 4.3's are by no means real powerfull, but for a little truck they are awsome engines. Pulled that Dodge no porblem in 2hi. Your boat would be like nothing.

online170

speaking of 4.3's.

Instead of getting a truck, why dont you get an Astro, or Safari van/truck thing?

I had one from 1993, ran like a top, but i honestly could not give it away. No body wants it.... I had to give it to scrap.... Powerful little V6's, because they are literally a 350, with 2 cyl's chopped off. Some even came in AWD. You could probably get one for $500. I bet insurance would be cheap too.

In any case, i was saying the T5 will give you issues, because its known to be a weak transmission. Towing is going to put alot of forces on the tranny, especially if youre engine is powerful enough to do the job. It wont quit right away ofcourse, but it will eventually give you issues.

firbster

i was aswell planing to but a hitch on my 3rd gen , i have one on my honda accord V6 now but i would like to use the Z in the summer months, I have a sportbike that i tow not to frequently and i use the trailer when im camping .. no more that 1000 lbs total, you guys got me a bit nervous now as i have a T5 , now i see people with T5's that list 350sbc with 300+hp ,, hows does the tranny hold up ? am i gonna run into problems with mine.. and since im asking .. is the T56 a bolt in swap or is more in depth??

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

I'm in the same boat, my 350 should be making more than 300 at the crank. it should be ok but it does put more stress on the tranny. I believe its once you go past 400bhp that you have to either make sure you've got a WC T5 or swap something else in. I would like to dump a T56 in if my T5 goes, but thats like... 3 times as expensive.

jamon8

iTrader: (3)

sell the car!!!

this is thirdgen not

whats your sign

firbster

whats your point!! differant strokes for differant folks.
----------
how can you tell if your T5 is a WC or not... i thought there was only one T5...

kcb37

They started making the WC T-5's in 86. So if your car is an 85 or older with the factory tranny it's a non world class t-5.

gcgarner

If the boat is that small (approx. 500 lbs.), any of the cars in your immediate family should have the "*****" to tow it. Keep the trailer hitch off of your third gen. That's just tacky.

firbster

mines an 84 .. so that answers that ... now does a T56 bolt right in or is there mods that have to be done???

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

.......what?

anyways.. yeah, the boat is around 400-500, the motor is another 200, the trailer is another prolly 200? anyways, its quite the job for my family's toyota matrix. I know its tacky to put it on a 3rd gen, but I might not really have a choice. its either put a hitch on your third gen or sell your boat. which would you do? considering the boat was built by my grandfather and my dad, then worked on by me, i'll take the taky hitch if it means keeping something sentimental. I'm still in school, It costs me more to go to school for 8 months than most 3rd gens are worth, so I cant just go out and buy another truck for the hell of it. I clearly said in the first post i didnt want to do it, but i didnt ask for your opinion on whether or not i should, I just wanted to know, if it came down to it how i should go about doing it.

liljon285

I got one lol, but i dont use it i bought the car with it.

kcb37

Your best bet is to have a friend tow it home for you, or borrow someone's truck, then let it sit until you have the money to buy something to pull it with.
I understand what your are saying, but at the same time, before you buy a car you have to think about what you have and what you are going to use it for.
Towing, get a truck.
Something to drive and have fun with, get a sports car.
If I had to get rid of something today, it would be my Camaro, in a heartbeat.
It's a sports car, I can't use it for anything other then to drive around. Now my truck on the other hand, I can use for everything.

Get it home, leave it until you can buy a truck.

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

i didnt know they were going to sell our cottage when I bought my car, so I didnt think I would be needing it. I can probably get a small mazda truck, its just the space and insurance and whatnot. i dunno. I don't have a problem bringing it home with someone elses car, just if I ever wanna go somewhere with it. thats why I want to get a removable hitch. I can use it when I absolutely have to but otherwise I would try to find another way to tow it and I don't mind taking the time to install and un-install the hitch every now and then cause i'll need it so rarely.

91CCFirebird

here is one:
http://www.curtmfg.com/index.cfm?event=hitch

Fastbird

iTrader: (5)

I had one on my 85 v6 camaro when it still had a 2.8L. Pulled a dual waverunner setup without a problem.

Used rear air bags to keep the back end higher. Also used Moog Cargo springs in the rear. Backing into the water was no problem either.

Used a draw-tite hitch.

online170

So did you ever find a place???

The only advice i can give you, is DO NOT get it done at U-haul. I dont know if youve ever dealt with them much, but if it takes them 2 hours to get a trailer from the other end of town that i have to pick up, that i already reserved and paid for, on more than 1 occasion, i dont thinki want them working on my car....

In any case, just a little search came up with these;

This site looks a little iffy. Their description is a little odd at best.
http://www.etrailer.com/products.asp...e=Chevrolet&h=

These guys look promising. In business since 1969, and its ALL they do. I would probably go here. Im sure theyve seen it all... And local to he GTA.
http://www.hitchntrailer.com/pages/main.html

If those dont work, get onto google, and yellow pages or something, type in Hitches, and start calling people.

Good luck.

Also, i totally understand the space and insurance thing. Thats why i had to give my 130k kms astro to scrap. It ran like a top, but 4 cars and 2 parking spots doesnt play out too well.... But if you have a boat, and a camaro (which im sure you dont use everyday in the winter) i think you can find space. Insurance is no big deal also, you can turn it on and off with a phone call. If you plan ahead, which you usually do for a cottage anyway, it wont be that expensive.

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

I havent done too much research into WHO would install the hitch, mostly because i was hoping to find a setup that i can install and un-install myself. some sort of bolt in setup or something. also that it wont be a problem untill summer anyways. sucks that you had to sell that astro, if the insurance works out the way you say it is, I might try to find a truck for under 1000, if anything i can offer it some tlc. but i'll be 20 in the summer so we'll see how insurance hits me.

online170

Well how is your camaro insured?

im around your age. But im insured through my parents. Ive been driving since 16, alot, and ive never had any incidences so they dont mind.

My parents "own" the car, and im insured as the principal driver. No one else on my dad's insurance has any accidents either, so it ends up being pretty cheap. PM me if you want specifics.

But basically the way it works for my bird is, we renew the sticker on the plate each year. This is kinda costly, but its a one time thing. Then we just call our insurance people and say, ok i want to start the insurance again for next week. When we are ready to put the car away, we call them up and "stop" the insurance. The policy exists, but we arent being billed sorta deal. SO i cant drive the car when the insurance is stopped.

So its a phone call away, you just have to go and pick up the pink slip.... Aparently its valid if they fax you a copy. So if a cop pulls you over you can just say your on your way to picking it up, but that may have changed.

So long story short, my insurance is very very cheap to begin with, plus i only end up paying about 3 months worth over the summer, for the duration that im driving my car.

Before you start shopping for a truck, you may want to consult your insurance broker, and figure out which is cheap to insure. This is why i recommended the Astro. They are basically trucks, but i think they qualify as mini-vans for insurance, and ends up being much cheaper.

F-Body_Fetish

iTrader: (1)

Well, Its not insured yet because I'm not finished building it. however, i'm not sure how i'll do it when i insure it. If i put it under my moms insurance, i become the primary driver on it anyways because it would be my moms second car and the second license holder on the insurance become primary untill you run out of drivers. Don't know how much of a difference it would be, and i might get my own so my mom cant try to threaten to "take me off the insurance" type thing. but yeah, it would only be insured for about 4 months during the year. I havent had any accidents or anything either, but i did pick up a speeding ticket driving to university in september.

If I get a truck, I might get an older smaller mazda truck, so the insurance is probably cheaper than a full size truck. but hey an astro might work too. we'll have to take a look.