R Walling Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I have a 55 Chrysler (4500lbs) and I wonder how you would figure out how much you could safely tow with a trailer. I can't find anything specific but I did read that you should never tow a trailer that weighs more than the towing vehicle. But this seems to be contrary when using a truck? Of course I would be using trailer brakes. Does anyone have a concrete rule to go by? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 7 hours ago, Roger Walling said: I have a 55 Chrysler (4500lbs) and I wonder how you would figure out how much you could safely tow with a trailer. I can't find anything specific but I did read that you should never tow a trailer that weighs more than the towing vehicle. But this seems to be contrary when using a truck? Of course I would be using trailer brakes. Does anyone have a concrete rule to go by? \\ Roger, Could you be more specific ? What exactly is the tow vehicle ? What exactly is the trailer ? What exactly are you towing on or in the trailer ? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Walling Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 1 hour ago, Trulyvintage said: \\ Roger, Could you be more specific ? What exactly is the tow vehicle ? What exactly is the trailer ? What exactly are you towing on or in the trailer ? Jim The tow vehicle is the 55 Chrysler. I would like to tow a 2000 lb. trailer (6000 lb. max total weight)with a 57 Chevy on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 (edited) Ok ....so back in the mid 50’s there were fewer cars on the road, the average speed they were traveling was less. If you were towing with that set every day - after awhile you would become comfortable and familiar with driving. But today things are different. Semi tractors have air brakes which allow for far better braking capability than hydraulic or electric systems - you can’t compare that to a passenger vehicle. If you are planning on towing short distances on familiar roads in good weather - go to a good trailer shop or welder and have a sturdy custom receiver hitch built & equip your vintage tow vehicle with a fused electric brake controller - make sure you have a heavy duty cooling package for water & tranny fluid ( if automatic ) along with respective temperature gauges. If you are planning longer trips or towing in adverse weather conditions, consider renting or buying a suitable modern tow vehicle. Over the years I have stopped numerous times to help out classic and hot rod owners broken down by the side of the road - they were towing everything from small teardrop trailers to large enclosed car hauler trailers. Everything was going great - the rig looked cool - until the radiator blew up or a head gasket blew or an automatic tranny cooked. Good Luck Jim Edited March 12, 2019 by Trulyvintage (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huptoy Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 Keep in mind, advice given here will find someone who is successful bending this advice. In 1972 my in-laws towed a 4,000 Pound camper with a 4,400 pound 1967 Chrysler with a 383 engine. Most trips were less than 400 miles around Iowa. The exception was 2,600 round trip to trip to Brownsville TX. Towed at 50 mph and replaced the trans in TX. Today, I use a Silverado 1500 to pull a 2,000 pound open trailer & 3,000 pound car. Works ok on flat areas but had a strain going across West Virgina last year. You will need a frame hitch & an equalizer hitch on a 64 year old car with a soft suspension. Stay out of hills & you will be slowest vehicle on the road. Truly vintage has very good advise 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Street Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 12 hours ago, Roger Walling said: The tow vehicle is the 55 Chrysler. I would like to tow a 2000 lb. trailer (6000 lb. max total weight)with a 57 Chevy on it. You might want a chase vehicle of 3/4 ton rating. There are plenty of them out there so why not purchase one considering the expectation of breakdown expenses occurring I am not a fan of 1/2 ton tow vehicles. Been there and gotten over them robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Walling Posted March 12, 2019 Author Share Posted March 12, 2019 Thank you to everybody that commented. My trips would be short <30mi.. The Chrysler has been completely rebuilt inc the rear of the frame, new radiator etc. I will take your advice. I was hoping to get an legal opinion but it seems that that has not been addressed by the law. Only newer vehicles with stated weight restrictions attached to the vehicle by the manufacturer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted March 13, 2019 Share Posted March 13, 2019 Roger, Sounds like you have a sound plan ! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) I have since acquired a 12,000 Lb trailer that I had to widen, install a beaver tail and install 12" tread plate in order to drive a car on. I plan to use it with my 56 F750 ex fire truck that I had converted to a ramp truck. Now I can move two cars safely at one time! The tailgate drops down and I use my loading ramps from the trailer and place them on the tailgate and load both cars at a time using the truck winch. Edited January 20, 2020 by Roger Walling (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Roger that's a damn good looking Ford! I drove F5 many a miles .It had the 5th overdrive trans all the way up and over to the right. What motor and trans do you have? Vac booster brakes? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Although the Y block engine that had only a few thousand miles on it, it had little power so I installed a 460 with an auto trans. out of a camper. It goes up hills fully loaded now without an effort. I am a little sorry that I didn't keep the standard trans. with the OD the gas mileage is a little high. The brake is a later model hydrovac. PS If anyone has a hydro vac, make sure that you have a charcoal filter on the vacuum line!!! without it, the gas fumes will eat up the rubber components in as little as one year!. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.H.Boland Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 (edited) On 3/12/2019 at 7:13 AM, Robert Street said: I am not a fan of 1/2 ton tow vehicles. Been there and gotten over them robert Agreed. I wanted a 1972-ish Chevy pickup for a tow vehicle (I had tried using a '46 Chevy 1 ton pickup but it was too slow). The 1967-72 1/2 ton had coil springs all the way around, so I found a '72 C20 3/4 ton with big rear leaf springs. It currently has a 400 sbc,a 700R4 automatic,and a Dana rear with 3:73 gears. Newer trucks are faster ,have more power,and better fuel economy, but this works well if you stay off the freeways. Just have to remember to tow in Drive,not Overdrive.I've used this truck since 1985. Edited January 22, 2020 by J.H.Boland (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 Well, here it is June and I have not even loaded a single car on it yet. My plan was to bring two cars to various shows. Everybody known why it never happened. Maybe in another month?... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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