I just finished watching Barrett-Jackson and it got me longing for a 1960s or early 70s stationwagon. I was just wondering if a full-sized stationwagon of this era would be able to pull a 31 foot Airstream? Let me know what your thought s are?
I too have been watching BJ. That all white 57 Olds with the split rear window got my attention. I recall the first time I saw one in Toronto in 1957. Really liked it even at the age of 7 years old.
Back in the 60's our friends towed their 27' International with a 67 Plymouth Fury 2 door hardtop (383ci).
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Your talking my language .I tow with a 68 IH travelall like they did back in Wally Byams caravans.Im big on the vintage station wagon TV for sure.
In my youth ,we had a 63 ford ranch wagon 390 v-8 ,very fond memories.
I owned a 68 biscayne chevy wagon (307 V-8 abit too small for towing )
but good sized wagon.A big favorite of mine a 1971 LTD country squire wagon we had (green) not my favorite color but it had the 429 V-8 and had plenty of power .Go to vintage tow vehicals on the forums (search function )Safari57 has a 57 pontiac safari ,and there are some really good photos of vintage vehicals and a red and white ford 57 ranch wagon as well .
I just finished watching Barrett-Jackson and it got me longing for a 1960s or early 70s stationwagon. I was just wondering if a full-sized stationwagon of this era would be able to pull a 31 foot Airstream? Let me know what your thought s are?
Rod
Rod,
I suspect with some strategic upgrading the answer would be yes. My great uncle pulled his Sovereign with a Big Buick Road Monster for several years. There is one member on here Overlander64 IIRC that tows with a classic car. I think he pulls a smaller trailer but the principle is the same.
Aaron
Aaron
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....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #2449 AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
I just finished watching Barrett-Jackson and it got me longing for a 1960s or early 70s stationwagon. I was just wondering if a full-sized stationwagon of this era would be able to pull a 31 foot Airstream? Let me know what your thought s are?
Rod
Rod,
I use a 1977 Lincoln Continental to pull our 1979 23' Safari. We also pulled our, in desparate need of rehab, 1954 29' Liner from Tampa to So Cal with it. From the 1950's to 1980's, the tow vehicle of choice was a full size car.
Bill
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Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
I had posted a friends 62 Impala wagon for a while here and only recently removed it. He still selling it. He did many things to upgrade, modernize and make safer the drive rain and suspension for pulling his 31' AS and then hi 40" Royal Spartanette. Can't find the disc with the pics on it right now, but if interested PM me, I'll get you his contact info.
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-"Nothing is particularly difficult if you break it down into small jobs" - Henry Ford
-"just because the monkeys off your back, doesn't mean the circus left town!"
The answer would be "yes". That is what they use to pull the trailers with back in that era. They did not use F-350 diesel truck and SUVs. If you step back and look at it, the reason why we use these "larger" trucks of today is beacuse they are equal to the big cars of the past when it comes to frames and engines. The passenger cars of today don't have the frame or weight of the cars of the past. I use a 1962 Galaxie Conv. 390/4speed or a 1968 IH Travelall 1000C to pull. I also have a 2002 Excursion diesel for the long haul in a hurry trips.
I also have a 1978 Ford Country Squire Wagon (the last of the big ones) that I'm trying to decide if I want to make a hitch for it. It has a 351 auto trans, and I'm sure will do fine. I'd rather have the larger engine, but I feel the 351 will be OK for most trips.
I'd suggest going over the car of choice. Either rebuild or replace a bunch of stuff before starting out. If you don't, you will be doing the rebuild or replace on the side of the road or in a town where you know no one.
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Paul Waddell Region 2 VAC Guy WDCU "Past Prez" (In the words of Richard Nixon "You won't have me to kick around anymore!")
I did upgrade the travelall to front disc brakes and retro fitted some good
sway bars and dual shocks as well .Although I did tow for a few years with the drum brakes in the front 12" in size ,the 12" discs do a fantastic job
in the stopping department ,some good upgrades can be implemented .
WOW! Thanks for the quick replies! Keep them coming! Scottanlily, the one wagon that you mentioned that really stood out for me was the 1971 Ford LTD Country Squire. My dad had one of those too when we were kids. It was a 400M, 9 passenger, white with black/blue plaid cloth interior, power windows, 8-track, but NO A/C. I remember taking that wagon down to Disneyland back in 1977. That was a hot ride without any A/C. With the windows down, it was like being inside a blow dyrer. I remember another time when we were pulling our tent trailer (it was a beast at about 3500lbs), we were on a nice long, straight stretch when my dad looks over and says to me, "Do think think we can get it up to 100(mph)?" Well, according to the speedo, we did! That Country Squire is what got me hooked on the whole wagon thing! Thanks for bringing back such great memories!
Just be sure to mind your gross tow vehicle weight, and especially toungue weight and brake and sway controls. 31 feet is a lot of trailer! My Volvo station wagon COULD pull my 31 foot streamline, and DID a long ways home when I bought it, even up a long steep grade. Being brand new to trailering, I minded none of the above, but did okay until someone cut me off and I had to brake hard with the trailer brakes set too light. I wound up fishtailing all over the 101 freeway, fortunately hitting nothing but the soundwall at one point, scuffing the rear corner. I bought a big Suburban after that!!
Frankly, I don't know how ol' Ricky did it back in the day!
-SilvrSausage
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It seems I love the mountains and deserts more than my friends do. I sure miss them!
1971 Streamline Imperial project "Silver Snausage", 1985 Coleman tent trailer, 1964 Little Dipper, 1975 Northwest "Proto Toyhauler", 2004 Harbor Freight folding, still seeking my Airstream.
Back to wagons, I was thinking about a mid 60's GM (Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, Buick). Or even a Ford Country Squire. I think it would have to be no newer than 1972. I saw a few "resto-mods" or "Pro-Touring" station wagons that I like. Do you think a newer (say 1990s) Corvette/Camaro 350 engine or a GM crate 350 would have enough juice to pull a 31fter? Disk brakes would be a must! But if I wanted to have an 'Air-Ride' suspension, would it be strong enough to handle a trailer? I guess I could just lower the front end a little and have good old-fashined air shocks in the back (just like dad's 1971 Country Squire). I saw a 1966 Caprice wagon this past summer with a 427 in it. It was beautiful!! I was drooling, but I have to finish my 1972 Blazer 4x4 first (and sell it) before I could afford to buy something that nice. Let me hear what you think.
You've seen my '57 and heck, I'm still a kid. My dad had 57 Plymouth, 59 Dodge, 62 Chev, 64 Chev, 66 and 69 meteor wagons and always hauled a trailer of one sort or another. I loved them all.
Rod ,yeah the squire was cool ,my dad pulled 90 + in the 63 at one point
it had the power. On the idea of towing ,you'll just need to get a Weight distribution hitch of some type ,Equalizer is a favorite and it will level the wagon and trailer with leverage to both the trailer and tow vehical frames.
so no air shocks would be needed .the tongue weight of your trailer on the ball will be transfered across both frames to distibute the tongue weight
so no sag and drag will happen .both the trailer and the wagon will be level when setup correctly and thus provide better safer happier towing .A type
of sway control will also be needed ,friction sway controls can be added
as well .there are other expensive alternatives as well that excell on a higher
level of control ,so it would be your choice on what setup to get.Im in favor
of the GM wagons ,say 59 to 69 .A refit engine would be a great idea .Im
thinking more of a 383 stoker smallblock as torque is the name of the game towing .The high performance engines are good if they are built for torque.
Sell that blazer and get going .A very rare 59 brookwood would be very cool
has the 59 biscayne /impala look in a wagon ,cats eye tail lights and all
very cool ,the 60s ford or chrysler full size wagons are great as well .
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