Dear Third Gen forums,

Now I've looked high and low for the maximal carrying capacity of a third gen Camaro (from 1989), can't find it on the registration or on the pages I usually find this information about cars (seeing as it's not a car originally sold in my country, or at least in very minute numbers), neither can I find it on any English-written website I've looked at. So what'd be a good estimate here, what kind of loads can I expect to move with the Camaro?

 

That data should be on the drivers door. Open it and look for a label on the end of the door, the end that opens outward and has the latch on it. Stated as gross vehicle weight or such.

RBob.

 

Thanks, man! I'll have a look for it.

 

The rear coils springs directly hold up the unibody (no frame). The rear hatch makes the cargo area very small, and placed way out behind the rear axle.

3rd gens are a poor platform for carrying heavy loads.

 

True enough, can't expect a third gen Camaro to carry a V8 in the back, unfortunately.

 

So how are the chances on pulling a very small trailer with a V8 in it after assembling a tow bar on the Camaro? Would it be able to pull it? I've read some negative things here and there so I'm not really expecting much but might as well doublecheck.

Edit: Might there actually be a way to modify the rear axle and what not to make it more suitable for pulling stuff? At first I was thinking surely a strong big and (relatively) heavy American car like the Camaro should be able to pull some things at least.

 

They aren't that heavy. Main reason is the lightweight unibody chassis and light rear suspension.
Main reasons third gens are bad tow vehicles:
Light rear springs
Poor mounting points (no frame) for hitch
Also bad for carrying:
Again, light rear springs
Hatch area is mostly taken up by gas tank hump
Hatch area is lightly supported
Big glass hatch to shatter when heavy metal object bangs into it

Not all American cars are big and heavy.
Do you also imagine a chevy citation or an AMC pacer are good tow cars as well?
You guys have jeeps there, yes? That's what we buy for tow vehicles!

 

Alright, thanks for the information, better lend someone else's car for the times I have to tow stuff then, no worries there I suppose. However, me and my dad have definitely been wondering what the designers had in mind when they designed the gas tank hump, I mean, what's up with it? Why not flatten the area out more? Because of the big rearwheel axle thing going on under it or more so to create a convenient place for shopping bags all the way down the end?

 

These cars have the power, and the TPI especially makes a great truck engine. But the "frames" of these cars aren't designed to take those kinds of loads...

Personally, if you're just moving a smallblock engine from one spot to another one time I dont think it'd do any harm. You would need to get a hitch installed and that would be the main reason I wouldnt want to do it.

 

True enough, thank you for your reply.

 

Yes, Thirdgens weren't really meant to tow, but they did make trailer hitches for them and people have towed with them. I have seen many in person over the years, however many of the general responses on forums are sometimes more emotional than factual. A good source might be to talk to some that tow small trailers for drag racing, auto-cross or road racing. My thinking is that they would be more mechanically inclined as well as more experienced with what you are planning to do.

From searching it looks like the hitches produced are rated at 200 lb tongue weight and 2000 lbs towing. I highly doubt the 2000lb towing capacity though and it's not a GM figure (I probably wouldn't do it).

The rear springs aren't involved that much with a trailer if it is set up correctly. The trailer should be balanced where most of the weight is on the trailer wheels and a limit for you of what looks like 200 lbs. onto the hitch. That's about the weight of a person so I don't see that being out of line, but I wouldn't go with anything more I could carry to the hitch. You should also take into account the weight of whatever you pack in the rear of the car. You don't want a light front end or too light at the hitch either (see link below). You also might want to consider how many steep hills you're going to encounter. -If you're towing on flat level ground you might even be able to tow the Space Shuttle like a Toyota can.

I think that some welded subframe connectors may help. Possibly both the perimeter and Alstons that connect in the center? One or the other is a good idea even if you're not towing with it. If you add sfc's make sure that they are installed correctly.

As for the gas tank hump. This was the first year that the F-Body was designed using computer modeling, and part of the goals were to reduce as much weight as possible. Part of the design imo was to take advantage of the strength & weight advantages from forming the metal into compound shapes. My thinking is that they not only designed this area for room for the suspension, but also for structural rigidity and collision factors. They would have wanted to make more room back there for marketing reasons so I'm pretty confident they made the best compromise they could as far a room goes.

Here are some links I came across while searching that might help. Like you mentioned before, the information varies and the decision of what you ultimately do is up to you. I'm sure if you searched along these lines you would find out more.

http://camaroforums.com/forum/82-92-...h-38969/page2/

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...ler-hitch.html

http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-1989_Chevrolet_Camaro.htm

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-p...gue-weight.htm

I think I've seen better styles than this but it's what they list that fits:

 

Many thanks for the information and the links, man! And regarding hills, the Netherlands literally has none except for in the deep south, and I'm not even joking or anything. They call our country as flat as a pancake for a reason. By the way, would really appreciate if you guys took a look at my other topic if you're into power adding or (relative) fuel economy.

 

Alot mis-information going on here.

A 3rd gen can abosolulely tow light loads, but don't expect to hook up a Class IV hitch and haul 10,000 # with it.


here is some basic information on towing

A trailer hitch typically bolts to the chassis of the vehicle. In North America there are a few common classes: I, II, III, IV that are defined by the SAE. Some manufacturers market Class V hitches, but there is no such thing according to SAE J684.

Class I – up to 2,000 pounds (910 kg) – light loads
Class II – up to 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg) – light loads
Class III – up to 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg) – larger loads (campers, boats, etc.)
Class IV – up to 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) – larger loads (campers, boats, etc.)


I would see no problem installing a Class 1 hitch since the tongue weight of a 2000# loaded trailer (trailer weight plus the load) is only 200 #
for what you want to do it's pretty straight forward.

Curt makes a Class I Class II receiveer hitch. for these cars, it bolts to the rear sub frame.

http://www.autoanything.com/towing/73A3874A0A0.aspx

good luck !

 

I don't tow with mine since it is drag race car but I did school myself on towing to know what I need to do to safely get the car to the track.

 

Ok, yes, you can tow. You can tow with anything.
Do you want to tow with it?
There isn't a hatchback Citroen or something available?
Why go through all the trouble to make a sports car into a tow vehicle? That can't tow much more than you can stick in the back of a Golf?
I would think a third gen in Holland would be special, wouldn't want to mess it up with a hitch. It can't be your only vehicle right? Just don't see why you would want to do it.
The only justification I can see for a hitch on a third gen would be if you tow tires to the track with you.

 

DRAG WEEK !

 

FWIW
I bought my 3rd gen when it was only 5 years old so I have one thing most all you don't have... "The Owner's Manual" when I have a chance I will look up towing capacities.

when these cars were new people used them for every day transportation and some people towed.. with them plenty of reasons.. (Moving, lumber, yard work, etc etc)

as I said you can't install a Class IV hitch or a 5th wheel but that is not the point..

To run around parts with a small utility trailer however is really not a big deal,

AND some people still only have one vehicle,so you make the best with what you have.
if that means he needs / wants to do some light towing.. so be it.

 

Fair enough, my dad does have a Ford Mondeo after all, but a towbar also offers extra protection and utility. On top of everything, how cool would it be if the Camaro can pull it's own brand new V8 before the V6 gets replaced with it?

And FRMULA88, thanks for taking a look at the owners manual for me, don't have one myself.

 

http://fepower.net/Photos/Drag%20Wee...05/Mach1tr.jpg

 

 

Sweet, it's all optimalized for the handling then? Does the Corvette also have this 'feature'? Thanks for your reply by the way. Also, what's made different in 1991 to improve ground effect? The skirts and the front bumper, I take it?

 

It's a sports car, handling is its priority.
He means the "ground effects" (factory body kit) look better in 91-92, which many people agree with. There is no performance difference as the "ground effects" on these cars are purely cosmetic. No "downforce" on a street car like these.

 

Ive seen several 3rd and 4th gen camaros/firebirds with small hitches towing motorcyle trailers and jet skis. A small trailer with a lawnmower/junkyard v8/couple bags of fertilizer, etc... would be just fine.

 

Thanks for your replies, guys, and yeah should be possible then.