Curious about vintage tow vehicles

[TomKirk]

You mustn't compare apples to oranges. Forget manufacturer's paltry tow ratings. They're nothing more than a cut-and-dry "selling point."

Instead, you must not only think in terms of trailer weight, but also trailer length. Never lose sight of the fact there's a lotta sail area on a 31 footer.

In your case, the tail will most certainly wag the dog, especially in a cross wind or when a big rig passes by and you get sucked into his vortex.

Simply stated, you must never rely solely on manufacture's recommendations. They are, after all, nothing more than "selling points."

Tom

[Sharkboards]

In high school, I owned old Cadillacs, a 1959 Coupe and a 1960 Coupe deVille were my favorites. I sold a pink '59 Cadillac to pay for my wedding. That's the one classic car I don't regret selling

But my dream is a modified '59 or '60 restomod with disc brakes.

[dannydimitt]

International Travel All with a 345 V8 with a granny 4 speed and 4.10 gears was the top dog travel trailer town vehicle.
Ask Wally

[e5earley]

Originally Posted by TomKirk

You mustn't compare apples to oranges. Forget manufacturer's paltry tow ratings. They're nothing more than a cut-and-dry "selling point."

Instead, you must not only think in terms of trailer weight, but also trailer length. Never lose sight of the fact there's a lotta sail area on a 31 footer.

In your case, the tail will most certainly wag the dog, especially in a cross wind or when a big rig passes by and you get sucked into his vortex.

Simply stated, you must never rely solely on manufacture's recommendations. They are, after all, nothing more than "selling points."

Tom

Agreed. The shorter wheel base and lighter vehicle weight definitely increased the amount of sway compared to my crew cab truck. It never became unmanageable, only a slight pull when a large truck would pass. You did have to pay attention. A slight acceleration would negate the effects nicely.

I'm enjoying reading all the responses. Looks like a lot of V8 powered station wagons were used back in the day. I do wonder if they pulled on a set of Cat scales with the same setup today if it would meet the standards that we try to adhere to today.

[mandolindave]

My brother in law had a 57 and a 58 Corvette. Yeah if he got on it, you would get pushed back into the seat, BUT, it was like driving a brick on wheels.

We used his 52 GMC pick up……truck, to move a washing machine. You should have seen us speeding down the highway, flat out. 45 miles an hour.

Back to the 80s. My mom had an 1980 Continental with a 460, suicide doors, and a trunk that slept three. Yeah, you could smoke the tires off the line. I know it could have pulled my 20' Argosy. She traded it in for the largest ever, production model Caddy with a 475. You could buy an after market bumper kit to make it longer.

My mom always told me…." Airstreams are the Cadillac of trailers. "

Do they still make Cadillacs ????? My sister says NO !!!!!!!!!!!!! ha ha

[Thiss]

I read that one of Wally's friends said he didn't like to travel with him because he drove too slow. With that rig I can see how that is possible. Still a cool truck and more time to enjoy since it won't whiz by. I hear that 345 is a bear to find parts today.

[ijustlee]

Sometimes we'd leave on a Friday evening when my dad got home from work and because there was nothing to see out the windows after dark I'd curl up in the rear seat foot well of the family "57 Coupe DeVille. That was a primo place to sleep, warm from the mufflers and soothing rumble from V8 drive train and road noise. Until a rude wake-up call of the frame grinding on rocks in a creek-bed that meant we were approaching the camp area. The hitch was bolted just to the bumper on that car and never gave a problem with a 16' trailer even on rough logging roads. Mom bitched about gas mileage, Dad just used his Standard Oil credit card. Old Airstream ads always showed passenger cars towing trailers and parking at the ocean or next to a trout stream! I'm sure my Linclon Town Car would tow my 31' well if I dropped the differential gearing down to about 3:73, I've been tempted...

[wvstreamer]

Good thread. Those classic car memories are great.
And my Scouts with 345 and my International 2wd half ton 345 were the best tv's ever. Loved that low end torque...almost as good as a diesel. I started camping in 1972 and have never used anything but truck or old suv's like Scouts. Not saying it's the best...just my choice. My silver blue 62 Olds Starfire would have been sweet with an AS. Oh the memories....
Dave

[e5earley]

First camper I had was an old 70's era popup. Heavy for its size. Had the bright idea to tow it from northeast Texas to Springfield, MO with a jeep wrangler with an anemic 4 cyl, no ac, and no power steering. Loaded back of jeep with coolers, camping gear, fly rods, etc. Had to move my seat up as far as it would go. I'm 6ft by the way. Felt like I was driving with my knees up around my ears. Heading through the mountains in Oklahoma I could only hit about 45 on the uphill stretches. Got stuck behind a truck and trailer hauling portable toilets. Had to follow that dude for over 60 miles. Zip the windows down and gag, zip them up and sweat.

Man I love my Airstream and air conditioned tow vehicle.

[m.hony]

The interior of the one in the add looks like the interior of the one we had, but ours was white with the wood grain paneling on the sides.


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[westernjeep401]

It works.

[Thiss]

That's the International. Tell us more about it! Year, mods, how long have you had it?

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by AldeanFan

This must bring back memories!
My '54 Country Squire, maybe someday it will pull the Safari.
Attachment 266652

Yes it does. That one is not far off the color ours was, as I remember. Thanks for sharing!

And that photo brings back another memory; of me in the rear seat with the vent window open, my arm out the window, right hand holding on the the post behind the rear door. My older sister slammed the door closed, so hard that my fingernail was torn off. I must have been 5 or 6. My finger nail still looks weird to this day.

[bigirish2]

For those that like mechanical projects the best towing vehicle you can build is an early Chevy crewcab with a 1970 500 inch Cadillac El Dorado engine and a turbo 475 Cadillac transmission with a 323 rear end gear. Great gas mileage and will climb vertically.
Mike S.

[silverflash]

pulled my airstream to oregon from ST. louis area with 67 caddy fleetwood

[alantbird]

my 1st A/S 30' 1977 i bought in 1998 I bought from orig owner who had a 76 imperial he towed it with, back then the basic 350/350 GM set up was all you needed to tow the big ones~! of course octain not being what is was then is a consideration!

[perryg114]

Any of these old vehicles can have upgraded disk brakes put on them and some suspension upgrades. They build hot rods from the ground up with these same components and just use the vintage body they want. If you don't tailgate you can get buy with less brakes.

Perry

[21Airstream]

I don't mean to hijack this thread but some of your posts triggered some happy memories. Dad was career Navy so we moved around some and we never could afford a travel trailer but I sure enjoyed riding in the back of that old '57 Ford station wagon before we learned to be "safe" with our seat belts on. Good times.

[westernjeep401]

Originally Posted by Thiss

That's the International. Tell us more about it! Year, mods, how long have you had it?

75', the final year of non-Scout manufacture. This one is a 200 4x4 Deluxe/Deluxe, 345, SM-428 4 speed, 9000 GVWR Camper Special. I've had it about 7 years. It is 100% bone stock, including CA emissions.

[overlander64]

Through the mid-1970s large family cars were typical tow vehicles for travel trailers with station wagons or convertibles often being mentioned due to sturdier frames from the factory. The typical tow package from the factory on late-1960s to early-1970s cars included the largest displacement big block V8 available with a rear differential gear of 3.23 to 4.10 -- the trailer tow rating was typically somewhere between 6,000 and 7,500 pounds. By the mid-1980s, the full-size family sedan was an exception if it could be ordered with anything more than a 5,000 pound towing package -- my 1985 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham Luxury Sedan has the factory tow package rated at 5,000 pounds that included 307 V8 motor, 3.23 posi-trac differential, heavy duty shocks, firm ride and handling package, heavy duty cooling, and heavy duty alternator.

The photos below are of my 1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible towing my Airstream and Argosy:






My first tow vehicle and trailer were the combination below -- 1965 Dodge Coronet 500 Convertible with 1980 Nomad 18-foot. The Dodge had the 383 CI big block V8, 727 Torqueflight transmission, and 3.90 differential ratio.



My family's introduction to camping was with this 1969 Chevrolet C20 pickup equipped with 350 CI V8, 4.10 Differential, heavy duty shocks, heavy duty springs, heavy duty cooling, and heavy duty alternator. The camper was also a 1969 model produced by SunWay. This setup only lasted 2 years as traveling was so miserable with the pickup with its rough ride and lack of creature comforts -- it was traded in 1971 on a Buick Sportwagon.



I have enjoyed my time with the 1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible as a tow vehicle. It performs well with the Minuet and has towed the Minuet on a tour of the Rocky Mountain states in 2008. I wouldn't tempt the Rocky Mountains with the Overlander as the Eldorado's 2.70 final drive isn't conducive to towing 6.000 pounds on steep grades.

Kevin