Towing

top down · Veteran Member

Towing

cranks38 · Addicted!

What car?
.

top down · Veteran Member

58 wagon 8 cyl

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Dont think any car had a tow rating until maybe the 70s or later.

long stroke · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Daryl, what do you plan on towing.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

They manged to tow this big trailer up the mountain with a 53 Lincoln Capri 205 HP flathead disguised as a Mercury Monterey in the Long Long Trailer with Lucy and Desi. The Mercury with only 125 HP couldn't do it but was used throughout the film in other easier towing scenes.

The Long, Long Trailer | New moon trailer, Vintage campers trailers, Vintage travel trailers

norontcan · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

DonSSDD wrote:
Dont think any car had a tow rating until maybe the 70s or later.

I have the 1965 Pontiac, Buick, Beaumont, Acadian towing options booklet which covers topics such as hitch type, tires, adjustable shocks or automatic level control, and other options ( eg radiator and generator ) to make towing easier and safer.

Lots of tables but properly equipped it says that a 283 full size Pontiac can pull a trailer of up to 3500 lbs

Also interesting is that a 283 Beaumont, equipped properly, has the same ability.

-- Edited by norontcan on Tuesday 13th of October 2020 09:29:52 PM

Prefectca · Poncho Master!

The trailer is a 1953 new moon 36ft trailer made by Redman trailers. It probably weighs about 3 tons. The Lincoln would have a 337 cubic inch flathead of about 210 hp. I dont think that there were any tow ratings on vehicles back then. The Lincoln was disguised to look like the Mercury Monterey when it was found that the Mercury didnt have enough power to pull the trailer in the mountains. I think tow ratings came as a guide to try and avoid dangerous situations to make the roads safer.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

norontcan wrote:
DonSSDD wrote:
Dont think any car had a tow rating until maybe the 70s or later.
I have the 1965 Pontiac, Buick, Beaumont, Acadian towing options booklet which covers topics such as hitch type, tires, adjustable shocks or automatic level control, and other options ( eg radiator and generator ) to make towing easier and safer.
Lots of tables but properly equipped it says that a 283 full size Pontiac can pull a trailer of up to 3500 lbs
Also interesting is that a Beaumont, equipped properly, has the same ability.

Does it mention brakes, I think this would be the achilles heal on these vintage vehicles if they had drums all round, I mean the drums could barely stop the car let alone a dead weight trailer added. Then I'd worry about the transmission and overheating it. Realistically we saw lots of cars towing trailers back in the day, espcially wagons and they seemed to be doing fine except on grades I can recall them having to pull over in those passing lanes especially on the Trans Canada which was mostly two lane except for those passing spots usually on a long grades. Heck there are still two such places on Hwy 93 up to Georgian Bay and a few on Hwy 27 same area in Ontario ski country.

-- Edited by 73SC on Tuesday 13th of October 2020 11:58:21 PM

long stroke · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

73SC wrote:
They manged to tow this big trailer up the mountain with a 53 Lincoln Capri 205 HP flathead disguised as a Mercury Monterey in the Long Long Trailer with Lucy and Desi. The Mercury with only 125 HP couldn't do it but was used throughout the film in other easier towing scenes.

Ray, interesting that you mentioned that wonderful film with Lucy Ball. I have always loved that film and have it on DVD. Brings back many memories as a punk kid. It is amazing some of the stuff you come up with. Cheers.

jmont64 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Good friend of mine in central Alberta has three 64 Beaumont convertibles and the one was bought by a doctor with a 4 speed specifically so he could tow. Cant remember if he needed it for a boat or a trailer. Good reason for that option!

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

DonSSDD wrote:
Dont think any car had a tow rating until maybe the 70s or later.

Wonder when government and insurance regulations kicked in to ticket vehicles exceeding their tow rating?

Lots of towing going on with inadequate equipment by todays standards. People used what they had to tow what they wanted. You were allowed to be sensible or stupid. Up until the early 50s or so, no requirement for a drivers license in PEI. The term tow rating probably wasnt in use by anyone at the time.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

long stroke wrote:
Daryl, what do you plan on towing.

x-2 need to know this + auto or "stick" before any statements from me???

top down · Veteran Member

I plan on using the 58 to tow my 2800 lb boat, usually short trips around southern Ont. As far as the wagon, have not decided on a motor/trany yet, thought I would put disk brakes on the front. Would the X frame be an issue. The car is solid underneath, lot healtier than my 05 pickup.
Thanks for the advice.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

If the car is stock engine, transmission, rear end, it would have a powerglide or
3 on the tree and probably 3.36 team end. You have 2 things that are important, pulling and stopping. Pulling wise, if you stay away from big mountains and keep speed around 100-110 kph max, this combination would pull the trailer. Youd want good springs, rear especially, and good shocks all around, maybe air adjustable on the back. Sway bar on front upgraded to 1 inch and all new suspension bushings, I prefer poly. Youd need to have a good transmission and if a powerglide, a transmission cooler. Id also suggest disk brakes for towing for the front, drums may work but disks are better and more readily available in good quality than drums. Just drive defensively.

These cars were used all the time for towing just about anything, I think the minimum rear ratio to have would be a 3.36.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Given you have not settled on an engine lean towards something That can make good torque in the rpm range you will be operating in. Of Course axle ratio and tire size will affect this as well.

Magician40 · Poncho Master!

My 64 CS tows my center console dingy, our 19ft Tunnel boat, 18ft motorcycle trailer and trips to the dump. I have a solid frame hitch approx. 4,000lbs.
I have drum brakes that use sintered shoes and they stop great. the 18ft. trailer has 4wheel electric brakes. Station wagon coil springs in the rear. The car is a 327 300hp. M20 4sp. 3.55 rear end. Anytime you are towing be very aware of the surrounding traffic and your speed.
Brian

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Magician40 wrote:
My 64 CS tows my center console dingy, our 19ft Tunnel boat, 18ft motorcycle trailer and trips to the dump. I have a solid frame hitch approx. 4,000lbs.
I have drum brakes that use sintered shoes and they stop great. the 18ft. trailer has 4wheel electric brakes. Station wagon coil springs in the rear. The car is a 327 300hp. M20 4sp. 3.55 rear end. Anytime you are towing be very aware of the surrounding traffic and your speed.
Brian

x2 pulling is one thing....stopping is another!

top down · Veteran Member

Thanks guys. Lots of good input. Many of which I thought of doing.
I will probably be asking a lot more question in the future as the replacement best parts to go with.

Glenn Musgrave · Addicted!

Lots of good advice for you above. Growing up in a family of campers in the 60's my recollection is most travel trailers were not larger than 15 ft., many were 12 ft. They were anchors compared to the trailers of today. I agree with Don the consideration back then was focused on if your car had enough power to pull it, don't recall any towing capacity ratings. Just checked the User's Guide and sales brochure for my 62 and no mention of trailering at all, which seems to confirm the suspicion there wasn't any ratings. As for braking, any trailer with any amount of weight in today's world will have electric brakes that, i my opinion, when properly adjusted will allow you to safely stop even with drum brakes on your car. In later years my Dad hauled a 19 ft. 1979 Mastercoach, another very heavy built trailer, with a 1978 Nova 305 2BBl. Power to move a reasonable sized lite weight trailer of today with a small block Chevy shouldn't be an issue. Sensible driving and properly adjusted brakes should take care of the rest. Good luck.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

2 choices on trailer brakes. Either "surge" brakes with M/cyl on trailer tongue [ Hydraulic] and slip joint on tongue to apply brakes when trailer tries to push ahead. or electric brakes with controller "tapped into tow vehicle hydraulic brake system, or more recent is all electric controller with motion sensor! Both work well but surge brake requires you to "pin" the slide tongue when backing up or they lock up!!!! Electric fan and trans. cooler [if automatic] and a "GOOD" rad.a must!!