Classic tow cars

[Fishboy]

Anyone out there tow with the classic old boats like a caddy or buick: big block v-8? Help me out! Just bought a 63 overlander, will a big boat do it?

[eubank]

I guess I'm going to have to locate a pic of us towing our 67 around the park with our 1948 Ford 8N tractor ...

Lynn

[cameront120]

Several people here. There are several threads dedicated to them. Welcome to the forums!

These will get you started:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...cle-29508.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...les-16089.html

[overlander64]

Greetings Fishboy!

Originally Posted by Fishboy

Anyone out there tow with the classic old boats like a caddy or buick: big block v-8? Help me out! Just bought a 63 overlander, will a big boat do it?

I tow both my Minuet and Overlander with my '75 Cadillac periodically -- the Overlander is best for flatlands, and the Minuet can follow the Eldorado just about everywhere.



The Photo above is of my Eldorado and Minuet in Yellowstone National Park taken earlier this summer.



The photo above was taken about six years ago upon my return from having the Overlander serviced in Cedar Falls, Iowa at Ace Fogdall RV.

Had my plans included towing when I purchased the car, I would have gone with a 1970 DeVille Convertible as the front wheel drive on the Eldorado/Tornado make it difficult to change the differential ratio for better towing performance.

Kevin

[utee94]

fishboy,

Welcome to the forums. I recently purchased a '63 Overlander as well, and I love it.

I currently use a 2005 Tahoe as my TV, but my dream is someday to pull the Overlander with a '65 Mustang convertible. Unfortunately, I haven't found many folks who will tell me that is a GOOD idea, but towing with the really big 50s, 60s and 70s cars is pretty common as you can see from the other threads and photos.

Overlander64 has written at least one highly detailed thread on towing with a vintage vehicle, those would be a great read for you.

-Marcus

[jerrypeterma]

my nephew pulled a 72 overlander with a 72 Continental to a car show and had no trouble at all
take care

[purman]

I'll won't tell you it's a good idea to tow it with a 65' Mustang, but dam that would look cool......... Just stay out of the mountains....

[mustang]

I have seen a mustang towing but often wondered if it wasnt a doctored picture. A 26 foot trailer? you have options. I saw a chpped 52 murc towing something that size (airstream) at the 1999 intl ralley in Dayton. He was parked with us at the vintage section. I wont really need a big block.

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by Fishboy

Anyone out there tow with the classic old boats like a caddy or buick: big block v-8? Help me out! Just bought a 63 overlander, will a big boat do it?

I pull with a Buick 350 long block (original to the Jeep) and it towed my 19 footer through the Blue Ridge Mountains really well.

After the trip I found out that I'd had seriously low compression the whole time. I'm told I won't believe how much more power I'll have when the rebuilt engine is dropped back in. So yeah, even your Overlander shouldn't be an issue in any equation with a big old V8.

[64airstream]

Fishboy,

Great first post. There is an article in the most recent edition of Airstream Life on this subject. The article covers it pretty well. I tow a '64 Safari (22 ft) with a '63 Cadillac. I typically only tow to local car cruises with the '63 and haven't had problems. A couple of weekends back, I towed to the West Branch Rally. The fuel line vapor locked twice going and twice coming back. If you're in a hurry, that would be more than a minor inconvenience, if not, then not so big of a deal. I'll figure it out and then find the next weak link on the next long haul attempt. (That's part of the fun.) The Airstream manuals always advise 30 - 40 combined pounds (TV and A/S) per Horsepower as a "very acceptable" ratio. The Cadillac for example is a 390 cid and puts out about 325 HP. The Safari weighs about 3100 dry, so say 3550 modestly loaded, and the Caddy about 4000#. (7550#/325HP = 23.2#/HP) We also have a '68 Overlander (not ready for prime time yet) that weighs about 5200# loaded. (9200#/325HP = 28.3 #/HP) So it's a possibility.

Good Luck,

Roy

[rideair]

Fishboy,

No problem. It did it then, it can do it now. I have two vintage tow rigs I pull with, a 1962 Ford Galaxie Conv., 4-speed, 390-4BBL(as seen in Airstream Life). A whole 8 miles to the gallon with a 16 gallon tank, does not take long to do the math.

The other rig, I use a 1968 International Travelall, 304 2BBL/AT/2WD. Two 13 gallon tanks, 10mpg, run 200 miles without stopping (not bad).

For long pulls or if I'm under a time crunch, I use a 2002 Excursion turbo-stroke.

I highly suggest if you do plan to use a vintage puller, start at the front bumper and replace, repair, rebuild anything that moves until you get to the rear bumper, Re-core radiator, re-build brake systems, replace clutch/pp/thowout or rebuild if AT, replace water/fuel/oil pumps/starter,etc....

I will tell you this, the very thing you "do not" replace, repair or rebuild will be the "very" first thing that will fail on a trip!

Some will say, "I've been running it around town and it seems to do fine". Hook a trailer to it and run down the road for a couple of hours and any part that is even close to being weak, will fail.

Plan to take things with you, plugs, wires, hoses, waterpump, etc... If you plan to go with something "off beat" like my International, have a spare or a good source for parts. Trust me, you break down in the middle of no-where, the local parts store "is not" going to have a waterpump for a 1962 Studebaker in stock.

Find a good car to start, do the "three R's" and you should be OK for a few thousand miles, then plan to do a tune up. Remember, cars of that era took a bunch more maintenance than todays car.

It can and is a bunch of work, but there is nothing like pulling an old camper with an old car.

Good luck.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by 64airstream

Fishboy,

The Airstream manuals always advise 30 - 40 combined pounds (TV and A/S) per Horsepower as a "very acceptable" ratio. The Cadillac for example is a 390 cid and puts out about 325 HP. The Safari weighs about 3100 dry, so say 3550 modestly loaded, and the Caddy about 4000#. (7550#/325HP = 23.2#/HP) We also have a '68 Overlander (not ready for prime time yet) that weighs about 5200# loaded. (9200#/325HP = 28.3 #/HP) So it's a possibility.

Good Luck,

Roy

I"ll bet that Cad weighs in excess of 4,900-lbs with fuel and driver, probably around 5,100-lbs. And the 1960's weight ratings were, ah, "generous", so Net Horsepower is more likely 200 to 220-HP. (There were actually very few motors that produced in excess of 300-HP, but the torque rating on those old monsters -- along with high compression -- made them excellent tow motors).

That rig is more likely at 40-lbs per horsepower.

A zero-to-sixty acceleration test, with a scale ticket showing gross rig weight, would give actual horsepower to weight ratio.

Stealth 316 - Formulas for 1/4 mile ET & mph vs. hp & wgt

G-Tech Pro RR Performance Meter - JEGS

[hookedonclassic]

Can't tell the exact year but it looks old.

[Rodger with a D]

Hola There

I have a 1970 AS and I use a 1962 Imperial 2 dr, an 1966 Le Baron, an 1970 114" W100 and etc.

The wheel base on the 62 and 66 cars are 129 inches.

The under powered 62 has an 413 engine with the factory claiming torque is at 470lbs @ 2800 RPM's.

I have an copy of a 1965 AS & Dodge Sedan Road Test that I got from another member here. If you want a copy, let me know.

Rodger & Gabby
COS

[slowmover]

I'd LOVE to have a '66 Imperial as a tow car!!!

[Aage]

Originally Posted by hookedonclassic

Can't tell the exact year but it looks old.

Looks "barn-fresh" though...

[Mikethefixit]

Ya know I was gonna mention that there was a RED CADDY CONVERT running around here somewhere I had see pics of it and walla it appears.
BREDLO
Nice Ride
HOOKEDONACLASSIC
Very COOL PIC Wish I had though of sumpin like that.
I have a few of those old boats let me tell ya they are heavy .48 to5200 lbs. No reason they couldn't tow an Airstream.I wouldn't try anything above 22 feet. With the rite hitch I wouldn't be afraid to try if I had one.

[Brian Casson]

I prefer the pre 1955 tow boats.The frames are heavy,the wheel base long and the over hang short.A suburban has about 142" wheel base. I use a 1936 Caddy Fleetwood with 138 " WB but my over hang is alot less. I beefed up the suspension and running gear but I can tow 33 " Spartan or my 65 Tradewind at 80mph if I want to pay for the gas,but 60-65 feels great .I am kind of a freak for that older stuff.My tow car is a 1936 model,my Spartan is a 1950 model and my Wife is a 1951 model.
Brian & Patty

[cameront120]

Beautiful, Brian. Any chance for some interior shots of both the car and trailer?

[Mel]

Welcome Brian! Beautiful rig. We were just down the row from you in Bozeman and loved your Tradewind/Caddy combo.