Towing with a 1996 Roadmaster wagon

[Globie64]

A friend wants to sell us their 1996 Roadmaster wagon, her elderly father's car, and I'm thinking it might be a good tow car for our Globetrotter. Does anyone have any experience with one of these big Buicks? With the towing kit (don't know if this has one, adds a tranny cooler and oil cooler?) it is rated for towing 5000 pounds. The car weighs about 4400 and has a 260hp LT1 350 V8. Our Globetrotter is dry at about 2850 pounds, and I figure 1000 for all the necessary accessories and water. I had wanted an old tow car, but like the idea of ABS and disc brakes. Thanks

[Kevin245]

You might check with Geven. He tows his Caravel with a 94.

Airstream Forums - View Profile: StreaminGuy

Saw his Roadmaster at a rally two years ago and it looked pretty sweet.

Kevin

[pmclemore]

My dad towed with a sedan for many years - outfitted with tow packages and all. But when he was introduced to a Chevy 2500 conversion van, that was all she wrote for sedans.

But it is cool, no doubt.

When we first started camping as a family in the late 50's, the fam vehicle was a 56 Roadmaster. Old Yeller. Such memories.

Pat

[Phrunes]

Don't know if you caught the episode of "Top Gear - Cars Detroit Should Build Today" Jeremy Clarkson's team throttled the Roadmaster, among several others and it came out on top. They even drove it filled up with water which weighes considerably more than your AS... It was hilarious!

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[mistral blue]

Originally Posted by Kevin245

You might check with Geven. He tows his Caravel with a 94.

Airstream Forums - View Profile: StreaminGuy

Saw his Roadmaster at a rally two years ago and it looked pretty sweet.

Kevin

Check in with Skip, too!
Airstream Forums - View Profile: biggoofball
I think he rolls with a '96.

[Globie64]

Wow, great. I found other stuff on line about the sturdiness of the Roadmaster and towing... thanks you guys

[59er]

we towed with our 96 RMW for several years. it did great. at times I still wish we had it.

it got really good mileage towing our 64 overlander. best I ever did was 11.5 when I decided to take it easy and tow @ 60-65mph. but that car will do whatever you need it to do....

like any vehicle, there are a few items that go out predictably and I found loads of info/help on some of the impala ss forum boards.

I had a bit of trouble locating a class iv(?) hitch but found one used off of an impala wagon of the same year. the earlier wagons were different than the last few years because of the dual (stainless steel) exhausts.

my problem with the car was the interior. our literally fell apart and I couldn't find a lot of donor parts in much better shape. stuff like door panels, handles, switches, knobs, etc,etc, etc. exterior trim as well.

but it would fly. I was never able to get the high 20s mpg like I read about no matter how I drove it....but did consistantly get low 20's without towing and 10+ towing.

enjoy.

pm me if you'd like to know more.

[Globie64]

interesting about the mileage, I imagine its about the same, towing with the Tundra, but the Buick gets better on the highway, way better.