Hello!
I really need this question answered, if anyone can help. Is a 'stock' '66 El Caminio capable of towing a trailer? Is there a hitch of any kind already in place, or would it be necessary to buy a part?

I'm talking about a standard sort of U-haul trailer.

Thank you!

There is a dealer installed hitch that was available, but I've never seen one in person. Sure it'll haul a trailer, but I wouldn't get carried away with a big enclosed trailer. The smaller ones that U-haul rents should be no problem.
Any good hitch shop can install a custom hitch for you. Mine had one on it when I started the resto, but it sure didn't get put back on.
Brian

Oh, lovely! Thank you so much.

So, if you have a stock '66 and you need to tow something, you're going to either have to have someone install a hitch, or do some fancy jerry-rigging...

Is that possible?

I know these questions sound dumb, but I want to make my details correct! I'm a writer, and 'the hero' of the book I'm working on has a '66 El Camino and he's suddenly faced with towing a small U-haul type trailer about 150 miles, from Utah to Nevada. So if his vehichle, which is stock, doesn't have a hitch on it, would there be a way to hook up this trailer without doing damage?

Or would a hitch install be the best bet?

I'm so, so happy you replied - thank you so much!

I have seen a factory hitch for either a Chevelle or El Camino at a swap meet, brand new still in the box. It can't remember the exact year for it, but it was the 64-67 chassis. My buddy actually bought it because he thought it was cool even though he didn't have a car for it. It was a bumper style hitch.

There are a lot of companies making receiver style hitches today. They are designed for specific vehicles, but even so they are offered for all sorts of cars and trcuks. These tend to be bolt on devices, that attach to the original mounting holes in the frame or body and often use some of the original fasteners. As a result, it is pretty easy to install on of these your self in 3-4 hours with basic tool. I couldn't say for sure if someone makes this type for an El Camino. But, it wouldn't be out of sorts if your character bought on of these or had one installed.

A lot of U-haul places also do hitch installations and offer the above receiver type hitches under their own brand name.

Thank you so much! Absolutely what i needed to know.
*is doing a small dance of joy*

OK...now I'm totally intrigued! I gotta know what this "story" is about and how I can read it when you are done. Lets put a 375 hp 396 in this fictious 66 Elky! That way, the trailer will tow like a dream. OH yea...a 4 speed on the floor and bucket seats of course. Can we make it Regal Red????
My wife writes stories and I'm always having her put chevys in for fun.
Brian

Lets put a 375 hp 396 in this fictious 66 Elky! That way, the trailer will tow like a dream.Towing with Rectangle Port heads? :D Better hope that Muncie is a Wide-ratio ;) ...we could add tons of tech to this story :cool:

Note: if your character adds a lot of weight to the rear, El Camino's had factory air-shocks with the valve located between the passenger seat and the rear window, and if he needs to hide anything, there is a bolted in floorboard in the front of the box with a hidden compartment underneith about 10" deep.

OH yea...the smugglers box! Actually, he (the good guy being chased by the bad guys down the mountain road with the U-haul in tow) could reach behind the seat and shove something through the little rubber flapper vents on either side of the cab corners...that goes right into the hidden compartment and not retrievable by the bad guys unless they knew to unbolt the forward bed floor panel and look there. Latter, when the "heats" off, the good guy can retrieve the sought after item of enormous value, and then....

Oh-yeah... you need inspiration? We got inspiration! (and a little perspiration and desperation too :D )

If he's really a "hero" he needs a Big-block and a 4-speed... heros shift their own gears :cool: If he's a girlie-man, a 283 and 2-speed automatic will work, I guess

Utah to Nevada, eh? Leaving his multiple Mormon wives for some Vegas strippers... Twins of course. :D

Hope we didn't completely de-rail your book :)

Yes you can tow with an El Camino.

Mine has a homemade extra heavy duty unit (tow hitch) that a farmer installed before I bought it. I have hauled my Chevelle cross country in my Military PSC moves. I have also towed a street stock '72 Challenger that I used to crew chief on, to the roundy round races every Friday night for a year!

If you have drum brakes be very carefull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They don't like to haul down a 10,000 load from 70 MPH. I would advise the use of disc brakes.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Can we make it Regal Red????
My wife writes stories and I'm always having her put chevys in for fun.
Brian

Dude! We?
*heeeeee*

Let's see...bucket seats, check. I went with automatic 'cause it's just stock and the guy's not an uber car-guy. And when he bought it, he didn't have anybody to teach him how to drive a stick, so...

Regal Red? Sounds pretty. I had a lovely white '71 Maverick so i was thinking white, but....nothing's set in stone! Heh.

Engines, well - i'm car-dumb...have to think about it. : ) I like the idea of a tougher engine, though - he could have had that done later...

Your wife writes too, huh? Neat.
If you *really* wanna see an expert, go here:http://www.nanowrimo.org/userinfo.php?uid=84261

Down near the bottom there on the left, it says 'excerpt'. Your wife might find that sight interesting, too.
Thanks for the enthusiasm!

Yes you can tow with an El Camino.
If you have drum brakes be very carefull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They don't like to haul down a 10,000 load from 70 MPH. I would advise the use of disc brakes.



Ah-ha! Which were stock? My guy's not super-car-guy, doesn't spend all his free time fixing and modifying and stuff - he might have had disc brakes put on later if drum seemed too 'old fashioned' or his mechanic advised a change...

Thanks!

Utah to Nevada, eh? Leaving his multiple Mormon wives for some Vegas strippers... Twins of course. :D
Hope we didn't completely de-rail your book :)

*snerk*

Strippers! Heeee. He's a tattoo artist - he gets enough groupies without going for strippers!

Takes more than some crazy-assed car nuts to derail *me*.
: )

... and if he needs to hide anything, there is a bolted in floorboard in the front of the box with a hidden compartment underneith about 10" deep.

Ooh, neat little tidbit of info to have handy! Just in case...
: )

Thanks!

OH yea...the smugglers box! <snip> Latter, when the "heats" off, the good guy can retrieve the sought after item of enormous value, and then....

Heeeeee!!
Cool cool. Hrmmmm....no item of enourmous value just yet... : )

My mum had a '68 Firebird that i just adored, and loved to drive. I wonder if *it* had a secret compartment! Or my '71 Maverick...
*sigh*
*miss those cars...*

http://www.chevelles.com/elcamino/ec_66.htm


if a 66 will haul this bad boy, a U-haul should be no chore!

Woot! Yup. Tough car.
: )

I looked for a long time for anyone who currently makes a hitch for my 67 Elky. The answer is nobody makes these today.

So then I tried to find a old one at a swap meet - no luck there either -

Later tried 2 of my local U Hauls - they couldnt help me either - called U Haul tech support -- no helo there - cant do - sorry...

Finally I found a trailer repair guy who had a old hitch approximately the riight size he could make work with a little effort - I bought it for $ 40.00 and brought it home to clean it up and paint before bringing it back to him to be installed

A few days later I found a correct NOS 1967 El Camino hitch on Ebay - still had the original box - GM Part Number 986455 - bought it and installed it myself - its' a light duty hitch but was all I needed anyway

So I still have the old one taking up space and the new one on the car

Elke trivia