Heading from Oklahoma back to Utah, I had a class 1 hitch professionally installed on my 92 v8 305 5.0L RS Camaro, Transmission is rebuilt with a tranny cooler on it but the engine is the original v8.

I have no choice but to use this car to tow my stuff back to Utah (originally got it all here on a hylander) and I am using a Uhaul 4x8 850 lbs trailer and in the end with me, my friend, and the stuff I'm pulling in the trailer the total weight will be about an extra 1650 lbs. I was told by a mechanic and by Uhaul who approved of this car after checking it out that this car can handle 2000 lbs easy, including the unibody. Is this right? Is this too much weight? Will it rip my car apart going through the colorado rockies?

 

I need a response asap, leaving in a few hours! Gonna bump but also I forgot to mention that the mechanic who installed my trailer hitch didn't seem to think sub frame connectors were necessary under 2k lbs

 

I really wouldn't try it. Especially in the mountains. Just a accident waiting to happen.

 

It depends though... My tranny and engine seem to be handling it like it's not even there. Pulls like a feather. I'm just really concerned about the unibody handling it. It's mounted on the steel frame rails on the back but I know that the steel used isn't quite as sturdy as the body on frame cars. I imagine it would be fine as long as I don't exceed the maximum weight for my car correct?

I'm feeling so mixed about this.... We already spent the money and everyone said it would be fine who we talked to but reading online it's really 50/50 most people don't recommend solely because it's a unibody but other people with the same build as me said they have pulled an 1800 boat and trailer no problems for years. It's hard to tell if your car will handle it or not. Thus far there doesn't seem to be any bending or anything in the frame. If I were driving on flat ground the whole way I wouldn't be concerned but since I gotta go over a 10,000 ft mountain it's a little worry some.

My dad originally towed my car and 250 pounds worth of cargo down to Oklahoma for me with his 2009 v6 hylander that has a 5k towing package (my car weighs around 3,200) but even that car was struggling.

EDIT: I just checked and my dad's Hylander is also a unibody. If that thing could pull a car over 10,000ft without bending the frame couldn't mine?

 

Take it easy on the hills and sharp turns,you will be fine.

 

If it seems to be handling okay then proceed. I would watch tranny temps and check the frame periodically to make sure it's not cracking or anything like that.

 

Does anyone by chance know the exact limit this car can safely tow? Online I found only one website after hours of searching that says my particular one is 1500lbs regardless of engine size etc. Our load after calculating we have 500 pounds worth of passengers, 250 lbs worth of cargo, 850 in trailer, and 200 in tongue weight. So as you can see we exceed it by 300 pounds. Will this hurt anything? Some of the posts I've seen people saying they pulled around 3000 no issues.

Also I do have a tranny cooler installed in my car. I am also seeing some other things that are saying that as long as you don't exceed your vehicles gross curb weight then you should be fine. The mechanic told me this car can pull at least it's own weight externally. Anyone know how true this is? Also I don't know if you count the weight of the passengers?

 

Any updates on the tow?

 

Fullsize G-vans and I believe the older Dodge vans were all Unibody as well. I have had 7k behind my old 83 even when it had the 305 and 700r4.