Hi all -

I am sure this is being posted in the wrong section, so I appologize in advance, but I could not find anything covering this in the FAQ section, nor could I post to it to ask - sorry.

I am relocating soon and need to tow my '86 Z28 from FL to Atlanta. Already knowing that I need a drive on style of car trailer, where can I find out how much my Z28 weighs, so I can calculate it's weight and the trailer's weight to see if my truck can tow it or not?

All of the tech info I have been able to find on-line contains the data for all things '86 Z28's, except for weight data. That, and my door sticker is also so deteriorated, I can't read it off of that either.

Please help, I just need a ball park number (high if necessary), the car is not modified in any way, manual trans, T-tops, and CCI carbed V8.

Thanks -

Eric

 

Should be 3400-3500 lbs.

 

Any 16' tandem axle car trailer with electric brakes will do fine. I wouldn't recommend a single axle trailer although it may be just enough.

Car and trailer weight will be the towed weight. There's also tongue weight. Typically tongue weight is 10% of the vehicles maximum tow weight. If the truck can tow 10,000 pounds then the maximum tongue weight should be 1000 pounds. You can adjust the tongue weight by repositioning the car on the trailer. You can even put the car on backwards so most of the weight is over the trailer axles but you don't want the tongue weight too light. Long wheel base trucks also tow better than short wheels base trucks. You can also add a weight distribution hitch which allows the trucks front and rear suspension to carry the tongue weight.

Even if the car is maxed out at 3800-4000 pounds, adding roughly 1500 pounds for the trailer only gives a maximum weight of 5500 pounds. Most pickup trucks can tow this however it could be a strain on many SUVs. I knew of a Ford Ranger that pulled a horse trailer for a while until the transmission destroyed itself.

 

Thanks Stephen.

I already inquired to U-haul about a drive-on, two axle trailer (not a dolly) to tow her on.

Towing vehicle is a 2WD '05 Ram Quad Cab Hemi powered P/U. I figure towing wise she ought to be OK, but I still need to double check w/ Dodge just to make sure.

......and no, don't ask how this GM guy wound up with a Dodge (even one with a sudo-Hemi ), it's a long story and it's going away once we get to Atlanta.


Thanks -

Eric

 

eric, don't tow in overdrive....you'll burn the trans up.

 

Oh no, no sir absolutley not!

Besides, we don't want "tranny-flambe'" going up the road!


That funny little button on the end of the gear shift lever that says "Tow/Haul" doesn't mean "haul @$$ " either! Hahahaha!


Thanks for the advice either way though, I'm sure there are some out there not familar with towing in OD being a no-no.


Eric

 

That truck should be more than enough to haul a car trailer. It's when you get into smaller trucks that it gets questionable. I tow mine with a lowered 91 454SS 1/2 ton short box pick up. The 4L80E tranny and 4.10 gears give it a 10,000 pound towing capacity however the lowered suspension needed helper air bags to keep the springs from bottoming out.

I always tow in OD but the 4L80E with an external oil cooler is far from being abused. Even towing up a hill, the tranny doesn't downshift. Gotta love the big block torque. The longest I towed was 1300 miles round trip weekend a few years ago and never had a problem. Those 16 hour one way drives are a killer though.

 

I'm dreading this one, even though it's now where nearly that long. First time I've ever had to tow w/ the truck and or the car on a trailer behind anything though.

We're going from the WPB, FL are to just north of Atlanta, and I plan on taking it nice and slooooooooooow the whole way there.


Thanks -

Eric