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aviontt · 09-10-2003, 05:28 PM

Any one towing with a V6 Astro or GMC safari if so what size Airstream or Argosy...25' pushing it? the truck is rated at 5500# Just looks out of place......

rfield54 · 09-10-2003, 05:47 PM

I had an Astro AWD V6 and I wouldn't have wanted to tow more than 3500 lbs, 4000 max. If your talking mountain passes . . . well, "have you had a V8 today" as the add goes. A dry Bambi is 3600 lbs, that might work. I'd stay 19' or below. Just an opinion.

Silvertwinkie · 09-10-2003, 05:54 PM

I agree, however the Arogsy is lighter than the Airstream so you might get away with a larger Arogsy than a comparable Airstream.

I second the V8 though. Can never hurt.

Eric

aviontt · 09-10-2003, 05:55 PM

Not sure where I saw it but some CRAZY person was towing a 25' Landyacht with a 2wd Astro although they do have the V8 kit for this rig. www.racecraftconversions.com it just looks too BIG...

rfield54 · 09-10-2003, 05:57 PM

One other thing. IMHO, there's no such thing as too big a tow vehicle versus too short a trailer. Anyone who disagrees should probably back off on the steroids. Anytime someone pulls a trailer, they are to some degree compromising the safety and stability of the tow vehicle , PERIOD!!! The more lopsided the ratio, the bigger the "degree".

Pahaska · 09-10-2003, 05:58 PM

I agree that a 19' Bambi is about the maximum for the Chevy V6. I towed a 24' TrailManor with my S-10, Vortec V-6 with 190 hp, at about 3700# to 4000# with that engine and it was certainly adequate, but not overkill by anyone's imagination.

59toaster · 09-10-2003, 06:16 PM

Those vans are Uni body. Yes your read that right...they have no conventioanal frame. They have a sub frame for the front suspension and engine cradle. The rest of it is frameless.

85MH325 · 09-10-2003, 06:27 PM

Toaster... the Astro and Safari have truck frames under them. Besides the Ford Aerostar, they were the only minivans rated to tow 5000 lbs. I just traded my '98 Astro AWD in on my Excursion and quite frankly I had a tough time seeing it go. It was very competent, both in bad weather and towing. I towed a '77 6 Meter Minuet with my Astro with a 4.3 V-6 and an auto. I had a Hi-perf Reese DC with 600lb bars, and the Astro didn't even know the Minuet was behind it. I also towed my '61 Bambi with it. The AWD version has a rated tow capacity of 4700 lbs max; the 2WD version 5000lbs; the difference being the weight of the AWD.

I certainly wouldn't tow anything much larger than a vintage GT or Safari with it, but it is a competent hauler, provided you stay within reasonable limits.

Roger

3Ms75Argosy · 09-10-2003, 09:19 PM

Here's a picture of our Astro.... and a V8 is coming soon (it's being built right now). Before you ask, the Astro really did quite well on the freeways and small hills - locally. HOWEVER, I really wouldn't want to pull it any distance in any mountains with the v6. A trip to the islands with our 3500 boat was just fine however with 6 people in the van...very stable platform to tow with.

The eight is so that I can climb the 2 mile 10% (or greater, it really goes straght up) grade to our campsite. Most of the time the camper is there - despite the v8, I really would like a slightly bigger tow car.
Marc

Silvertwinkie · 09-10-2003, 09:42 PM

I don't think towing an Argosy with a V6 Astro is terrible. I might not do it, but it seems reasonable only from the standpoint that the Argosy was suppose to be a lighter weight unit. That said, if an S-10 Blazer could deal with 5k lbs (and it's a V6), I think a comparably equipped Astro or Safari could do the trick.

Mind you it might not be one of my favs, but I think it could do it. I agree much more than 5k and you might start to find it falling a bit short without doing some mods to it. Then again, you're talkin to a guy that is considering towing a 6300GVWR Safari Six Sleeper with a '96 Impala SS sedan rated to tow 5000lbs before I modded the car out.... I'll let you know how it goes to see if I know jack or if there is hope.....

Heck, I've seen on this forum folks that tow 34' Classics with Intrepids...

....sorry, my bad...couldn't resist..you know one of us was gonna do it, so there it is....

BTW...nice Argosy!

Eric

3Ms75Argosy · 09-10-2003, 09:57 PM

Well, actually, I REALLY TRIED to get my wife into the whole Buick Roadmaster/ Caprice Wagon thing....but she ran away screaming!

I think they'd make such the awesome pull toy, but even with the rumble seat for the occasional brownie meeting, she wouldn't go for it. HOWEVER, she did go for the 350 V8 in the Astro idea...so I'm not complaining (roller cam, mild build, will be fun!).

Anyway, thanks for the Argosy compliment. It's been a fun toy. I can't wait to finish my cushions that I've sew'd up myself (piping and all!). Between teaching myself to sew and braving the fabric shops (I used to hate going to them with my mom when I was small), I'm pretty proud of the job I've done. New cabinets, weatherstripping, and stripping the paint is next.
Marc

85MH325 · 09-11-2003, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 3Ms75Argosy
HOWEVER, she did go for the 350 V8 in the Astro idea...so I'm not complaining (roller cam, mild build, will be fun!).

Marc

You DO have a very nice looking unit! The only problem I can see with the whole idea of a V8 install in an Astro is that the engine and drivetrain with installation will be worth about twice or three times what the Astro is worth!

Other than that, I think it sounds like fun!

Keep us posted and send photos of the new 350 installed! I'd love to see it.

Roger

Silvertwinkie · 09-11-2003, 05:58 AM

I think the 350 is gonna do just fine (it better, I really gonna be pushig it to see myself). Heck you might even have to paint some flames on it, since it will really FLY!......

Never heard of an Astro with rollers before....

Can't wait to see some pics of it and the Argosy.

Eric

**jcanavera** · 09-11-2003, 09:14 AM

I towed a 28' SOB for two years with an '91 Astro EXT van. It was the last of the high towing capcity models with a premium gas V6 and a 4.10 rear axle. Towing capacity was 6000 lbs. and my aluminum framed SOB was 4800 lbs. dry.

I towed in third gear, did about 10-12 mpg while towing. The biggest issue was stability and while sway was taken care of by my Reese dual cam sway control, driving in windy conditions was a handful since the weight and mass of the Astro just couldn't keep me on a straight path when the wind hit that big sail behind me.

I eventually traded the Astro in on a full sized Chevy van. Prior to my 28' SOB I pulled a 21' 3,200 lb. Hi-Lo. The Astro pulled that without sway controls like a dream.

Jack

3Ms75Argosy · 09-11-2003, 12:13 PM

Hi all, all post pics of the 350 installed in about two months time. I plan on doing the install myself.... wish me luck! For those with the stock v6's, I really would suggest around 3500 pounds for the van's durability and your own comfort. As I said, the Astro does just great with my boat as is (4.3, 3.43 gears, 3rd gear, 235/60's - which are just a tad shorter/wider than stock). Great little workhorse, just not as refined as the foreign vans. I wish Toyota would scale up the Scion bbx and put the Tundra v8 (with rear wheel drive) in - THAT would be a true tow van.
Marc

3Ms75Argosy · 07-02-2004, 12:49 PM

Well, it took me longer than expected, but I finished my V8 Astro. Goes VERY well. I upgraded the brakes as well. I'll let you know how it tows soon, but I'm expecting that it'll be fine. Here's some building shots. First is me (about one horsepower) where the engine should be. Last one is it all installed - hard to tell anything has been changed.
Marc

aviontt · 07-02-2004, 03:58 PM

Nice lets see some more pics I also have an Astro it's a 1995 w 240k does not burn a drop of oil and tows my 24 '& 26 Argosy very well accept the steep hills

(And not at the same time)

71_safari · 07-02-2004, 09:18 PM

Nice work, should be a really competent tow vehicle. Have you beefed up the tranny?

Silvertwinkie · 07-02-2004, 10:11 PM

WOW!...what more can I say...nice job!

3Ms75Argosy · 07-03-2004, 01:11 AM

I'll post more pics after I hook up the trailer. As far as the tranny, I did put a big B&M tranny cooler on it, and change the fluid with the synthetic stuff. I was going to put a bigger servo in it, but the garage that did my final tune-up stuff told me that the v8 prom chip that I have will increase the line pressure in my 4l60E (electronically controlled). I'll watch the tranny temps closely though. The 4l60E is about the same as in the 1500 series trucks, so I think I'll be o.k.

I also put a high flow water cooler in, new radiator, and new heavy duty clutch fan. The van runs cooler now than before the swap. Just about everything is new. Again, I'd have loved to start with a Buick Roadmaster or other B body, but 1) the wife wasn't diggin it 2) my van was paid for. However, I did put a nice sum into it, but WAY less than a new car (or even a decent used one).

Thanks for the complements!
Marc