We tow our '51 Flying Cloud so weight I suspect is similar to the Caravel but ours is a 21'. We use a '57 Pontiac stationwagon with later model V8. Equilizer hitch and friction sway control. You don't even know the trailer is out back. Low teens gas mileage, okay for comfort but outstanding fun factor driving. My neighbor intends to tow the 18' 1958 Silver Streak Chico we sold them with their Jeep Cherokee as the boat they tow is similar in size/weight and with friction sway control only they have no issues. I gave them an equalizer I had in stock as I'd prefer to see them use one since I had a spare.
There are lots of very nice, very comfortable vintage TV's available for reasonable prices. They are not as deluxe as later models but worth considering.
Ok, I'm ashamed to admit this, but I pulled our '61 Bambi all over Iowa using an '85 Toyota longbed 2WD pickup with the 22RE engine and an auto using a 2" ball on a dock bumper. The trailer brakes weren't hooked up, and I stayed on the primary roads, no interstate for me. The truck pulled the Bambi just fine!
Later, I pulled it with a '98 Astro AWD. I pulled it on a bare ball also, and it was a white knuckle ride the whole time. As soon as I put a Reese Dual Cam on it, it towed like a completely different rig. The Astro's suspension was too soft not to have WDH (not to mention the junk soft-sidewall tires it had on it).
I have since towed a variety of 13-18' fiberglass trailers using Toyota pickups with the 22RE, 3.0L V6, and the 3.4L V6 and they do just fine. I really prefer the 3.4l V6 and I've had it in a '97 T100 and now in an '02 Tundra. I have also towed two '53 Flying Clouds with the '94 extended cab 4WD Toyota Compact truck with the 3.0L V6 and an auto. It wasn't a ball of fire, but it was respectable.
I now occasionally tow the 25' Bigfoot with the Tundra, and the Tundra V6 does a pretty respectable job here in the flatlands with the Bigfoot (WITH a Reese Dual Cam, brakes, and a Prodigy of course).
Roger
__________________
AIR 2053 “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” Robert Heinlein 2006 Bigfoot 25B25RQ towed by a 2001 Born Free 23RK moho
Our '67, at 17', is pulled with our '99 Tahoe. I have to check the mirrors just to remind myself that I hitched it up! 2" ball, chains, lights and brakes, gas and go. Love being in the woods, making biscuits in the oven and drinking hot coffee in bed.
In honor of Alki and her battle with cancer we will be participating in the 2008 American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Please click here if you would like to see her page and donate to the cause: Donate
We always towed our 1968 Caravel with a Honda Pilot (with Equalizer hitch) and were quite happy. V6, 240 hp, 220 ft-lbs torque, tow rating 3,500. Nice car to drive, but the wheelbase is a bit short for anything longer than the Caravel.
We don't have that tow vehicle any more, so when the Caravel comes out of the refurb shop we will probably use the big honkin' Nissan Armada, which will certainly be more tow vehicle than we need to pull only about 2,700 lbs. Gotta love Caravels for being lightweight!
We tow our '61 Caravel with a 2004 Ford Ranger 4 x 4 or a 2003 Dodge Durango. I think the Ranger does a better job but that is probably because it is mine. When we lived in Colorado we were at 9000 ft, so we were always going up and down with no issues using either vehicle. We use the friction sway bars that came with the trailer. I think they are original.
Quick Links
Linear Mode
