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I don't like big trucks and I like good gas mileage...

 

I'm starting to think about getting a tow rig, but I'm on a budget and sort of just to be different, I'm looking at cars that can tow.

 

I found that the early to mid 90's chevy caprice and buick roadmaster were rated to tow 5k lbs. Anyone know any others? It'll likely be ugly no matter what, but as long as it runs well and pulls good, I'd be happy.

 

Suggestions? 

I don't know if it's likely that you will get any better mileage towing with a car than a truck.  Something with enough 'stuff' to tow that much can't be that economical.  Unless your towing something really light, I would also worry about not having enough wieght.  The closer the tow vehicle and load are in weight, the hairier the ride.

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Patrick Washburn
STU Evo - SOLD!
<----- 2009 - Regain the coveted Tri Pod Trophy for the Hiedi's

cue Sipe...

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clyde
#198 AS Boxster S - in need of SpinGuard
TeamWTF?!

Ford Crown Vic / Merc Grand Marquis

Audi S6 Avant (1995 and 1995.5 only)

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94 Audi S4 (not stock)
85 Bertone x19 (18k orig miles)
85 Bertone x19 (DSP car)

Also, if towing a smal car, sometimes you can use something from the same manufacturer on teh same platform....

 

IE: Fiat 128 Wagon to toe Fiat x-1/9 (and you have a parts motor right there).

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94 Audi S4 (not stock)
85 Bertone x19 (18k orig miles)
85 Bertone x19 (DSP car)

Trailer Life is your friend.

 http://trailerlife.com/output.cfm?ID=42175 

 Looks like it has been a while since Crown Vics were rated to tow more than 2000lbs.

 European cars are your best bet, especially if you go by the European (read as no liability lawyer) ratings, which are often much higher than over here. 

I personally have towed 3500lbs behind my former Nissan Altima V6 5spd. Several thousand miles worth. I've also had a poorly designed trailer throw that very same car into a ditch sideways and backwards. Fortunately, I had an understanding insurance company.

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David Avard
89 Honda Civic Si black (STS)
07 Mazda 3s (HS?)

In all honesty, buying the RIGHT truck for your needs would probably be the best.  Considering our 4.8L GMC gets 20-22 daily driving and 23-24 highway (unloaded, ie no trailer) it's going to be no worse than the cars you're picking out.  Considering you can order a specific mail-order mileage tuned pcm to bump a little as well, it's a no-brainer to me.

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"Drag racing is for fast cars, autocrossing is for fast drivers"

It's not really mow much you can pull.

It's how much you can stop and control under side winds or when a 18 wheeler blows by you sucking you 6 feet sideways and you just pucker the whole seat cushion between your butt checks.

I am a firm believer in big springs big brakes and heavy duty rated tires.   it all equals less drama on the highway.

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Want to go faster, please send money.

Man...I remember seeing old Caddy's and big cars like the Caprice and Vic pulling up to the boat ramp dragging ass and pulling sizeable boats when I was a kid.  It was comical.

Most car trailers have a lot of tongue weight and I don't think you are going to get what you need and be safe.  Also, good luck with the fuel economy.  Right now I would say pick up a 4.8 or 5.3 Chevy as suggested above.  They get good mileage and they are good pulling trucks.  Then you need to get a light trailer.

 If you are going to pull with a dolly, then you might use a car, but the mileage will still suffer badly.  I pull my car with a 2500HD diesel and I can't imagine pulling a car with much less.  Gas engines might be the way to go right now though.  I get 17mpg not pulling and about 10 pulling a 28 foot enclosed with my EVO.  Even a lightweight aluminum open trailer would be a handful to stop with a car.

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08 Lancer Evolution X - STU

Bill Sanford in SDR used (may still use) an early 1970's Cadillac Hearse to tow his TVRs aorund the country.  Had a nice sleeping area in the back with padded sides and a lid... :-)

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John Coffey
http://www.betamotorsports.com

clyde:

cue Sipe...

 lol, yeah I towed 3000# cars on a 500# tow dolley with e-brakes on both a 2000 Chevy Impala LS (200 hp FWD) and a 2003 Crown Vic LX.  I think both actually braked better with the loaded dolley e-barakes than without.  If you get a dual-axle trailer be sure to get brakes on both axles, braking won't be any issue then.

the Crown Vic factory tow rating is more warranty risk related than anything else, our Ford engineer autox friends say it's basically the same drivetrain as an F150 and wouldn't be an issue.  The aftermarket hitch guys all sell Class 3 hitches for it.  It's a very comfortable car to tow in.  The trunk is massive, carried all four wheel/tires, all the other autox gear, and the kitchen sink too.  It would get 14 - 15 mpg towing @ 70 mph.  I adde ab aftermarket trans cooler on both, never had an issue on either just leaving them in OD with cruise control on.  Running in D as some people recommend will kill your mileage.

5000# is really pushing it though, even for your basic trucks.  I moved up to a Honda Ridgeline for that.

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"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car.
Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you." --Anonymous

OK, this is what I have done:

 

2004 Crown Vic.  Helper springs on back of Crown.  Lightweight al trailer (single axle with e-brakes) towing 2200lb car.  Between 18 and 20 mpg on highway with trainler, 26-28 mpg on highway without trailer.

No braking drama, no issues with tow car (had heavy duty cooling package and trans cooler)

 

Drove fine.  Stopped without drama.  Had enough power to pull mountain passes, and would cruise with race car in tow like nothing back there.

 

Best regards,
Kevin

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94 Audi S4 (not stock)
85 Bertone x19 (18k orig miles)
85 Bertone x19 (DSP car)

Dodge Magnum R/T with the Hemi.

 I tow my C-Street Prepared Civic with it nd get 20+ MPG. Total weight with car, trailer, tools etc is approx 2800lbs.It is capable of towing 3800lbs. The Magnum tows better than any truck or SUV I have had in the past and it is more comfortable.It has more than enough power, great brakes and no handling issues.
 

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Mike Feher
csp34

Only a couple of problems with the Magnum. He's on a budget, and try and find a used one with the trailering package.

If you don't mind black and white, a used Crown Vic should have most of the right equipment for cheap. It'll even come with searchlights on the A-pillars.

The older Chevy/Buick have the more powerful LT motor (conservatively rated at 260hp), and can be had as a station wagon, but might be hard to find.

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David Avard
89 Honda Civic Si black (STS)
07 Mazda 3s (HS?)

Any Volvo 850 or S70/V70 can tow 3300 pounds.  I've used my 98 V70 for towing boats, a Mini Cooper on an 1100 pound trailer, and most recently to pick up my new S70.  I towed a 3300 pound S70 on top of a tow dolly, so probably had about 3600-3700 pounds behind me.  I towed from Memphis to Huntsville, which was around 200 miles, and still got over 20 mpg.

Davard:

Only a couple of problems with the Magnum. He's on a budget, and try and find a used one with the trailering package.

If you don't mind black and white, a used Crown Vic should have most of the right equipment for cheap. It'll even come with searchlights on the A-pillars.

The older Chevy/Buick have the more powerful LS motor (conservatively) 260hp, and can be had as a station wagon, but might be hard to find.

LT engine, not LS. And not all have LT1s, either. I don't know the years/models off the top of my head, but I think there are some good resources on the web. A guy used to tow a Turbo T/A with a Roadmaster wagon and he said it was great. I think care is required to get the weight distro. correct and steps taken to keep the package as light as possible. It can work. I'm in the "8-lug minimum" crowd when it comes to towing, though.

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Brian "Big Enos" Burdette

Crown Vics make great tow vehicles.  Regardless of what they are rated to tow they are capable.   The driveline (4.6 V8, 4R70W automatic and 8.8 rear end) is exactly the same hardware that's under most F150s and E150s.  My van is rated to tow 6500 lbs so I think Ford's tow rating on the Vic is conservative.  I know they are geared taller than the trucks and vans but that is manageble as long as you aren't towing too much weight.

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Steve Hoelscher
#27 DP - Toyota MR2
http://www.terriehoward.com

Automotive tow ratings are usually sandbagged due to some federal dingleballs rule. Look up european tow ratings to get the real pictures.

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Aut tace aut loquere meliora silentio.

I know a thing or two about the B-bodies

The LT1 cars are 94-96 only.  All the B-bodies (Caprice Sedan/Wagon, Roadmaster Sedan/Wagon, Impala SS Sedan) got the LT1 except for SOME of the Caprice Sedans.   Those sedans got the L99, which is sort of a "Baby LT1" (4.3L V8, looks like an LT1 from the outside).   Yes, 4.3L V8, NOT to be confused with the 4.3L V6 that Chevy put in the S10/Astro as well as some earlier B-bodies.

Closely related is the Caddy Fleetwood, which also got the LT1 in 94-96.  It is basically a B-body sedan with a 6" wheelbase stretch.

The tow package Caprice and Roadmaster was rated to tow 5000 lbs, the Fleetwood with tow package was rated to tow 7000 lbs.

There are some screaming deals out there now on 94-96 Fleetwoods.   If I were looking like the oriiginal poster here was looking, I'd find myself a 94-96 Fleetwood and as the only potential mod for towing I'd think about swapping out the factory 2.56 gears (where you'd pretty much be constrained to towing in D) to 3.42s (would let you tow in OD with similar freeway RPM as the 2.56 car in D, but better off-the-line grunt)

That it is a pimp-daddy car inside is just a bonus

ALL the above said though, I'm towing with a GMC 2500HD with the Duramax.   Great MPG while towing (15 MPG at 75 MPH towing the Impala to/from St Louis 2 weeks ago, 17 MPG at same speeds towing an STS Acura to/from Topeka last year, almost 19 MPG towing the Acura to Packwood at 63 MPH in CA/OR last summer).   LOTS more able to handle the load.   I do know a few folks who tow a B-body WITH a B-body, but they live where there are no hills and they are a bit nuts anyways

Impala SS AutoXer:

The tow package Caprice and Roadmaster was rated to tow 5000 lbs, the Fleetwood with tow package was rated to tow 7000 lbs.

 

The problem with all of the B bodies is they all have 4L60E automatics. 

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Steve Hoelscher
#27 DP - Toyota MR2
http://www.terriehoward.com