Hi its been awile since I've posted. The wife and I are looking at trailers and campers, and I was wondering what would have to be done to make a 1968 El Camino SS into a capable towing rig. Right now here is how it is set up:
468 Big Block (350 rwhp/490 rwtq)
THM-400
3.73 limited slip 12 bolt rear
stock springs and suspension
1969 front disc brakes

Is it possible to set the car up to tow a repectable load? Or should we be looking at a truck? Problem is I think the Elky might have to go if we need a full size truck, so I would like to see what the towing limits of the car are. With a big tranny cooler, heavy rear springs and upgraded brakes is a 5000 lb. trailer out of the question? Also it would need a hitch and wiring. I know the drivetrain is up to the task, our '97 Astro with the 4.3/4L60 towed two tons last winter with no problem, I'm just not sure what the limits of the chassis are.
Thanks.

You need to find an owner's manual and see what the tow rating is/was for the vehicle.

With right upgrades to the rear suspension it will be no problem to go beyond that 5k mark. We used to tow our 3500 lbs boat with no upgrades at all and you couldn't tell it was back there.

Some H/D springs and decent shocks should be enough.

I used my 70 EC with BB and 4sp to tow my 20ft Bayliner. Had a receiver type hitch and air shocks was all. Outside mirrors were a big problem. Could not see past the boat. Down the road was great but the poor Muncie did not like the pull up the boat ramp.

With right upgrades to the rear suspension it will be no problem to go beyond that 5k mark. We used to tow our 3500 lbs boat with no upgrades at all and you couldn't tell it was back there.

Some H/D springs and decent shocks should be enough.

Make sure you have a weight distribution hitch, which you should have for any trailer of that weight. It takes the tongue weight and spreads it over the chassis, instead of just on the rear springs. You can also get a sway control. I suggest the built in "cam style" rather than the friction bars. They cost a little more, but I think they are superior in performance. Let me tell you, having a 27' trailer that sways is a PITA.

Also I would talk to a trailer center. When I was buying my one trailer, the guys were talking about someone that wanted to pull a 27' with a Camaro. They were having a good laugh about it, because it had the power, but not the chassis to handle it.

Hi its been awile since I've posted. The wife and I are looking at trailers and campers, and I was wondering what would have to be done to make a 1968 El Camino SS into a capable towing rig. Right now here is how it is set up:
468 Big Block (350 rwhp/490 rwtq)
THM-400
3.73 limited slip 12 bolt rear
stock springs and suspension
1969 front disc brakes

Is it possible to set the car up to tow a repectable load? Or should we be looking at a truck? Problem is I think the Elky might have to go if we need a full size truck, so I would like to see what the towing limits of the car are. With a big tranny cooler, heavy rear springs and upgraded brakes is a 5000 lb. trailer out of the question? Also it would need a hitch and wiring. I know the drivetrain is up to the task, our '97 Astro with the 4.3/4L60 towed two tons last winter with no problem, I'm just not sure what the limits of the chassis are.
Thanks.

Dan tows his Sprint with his 68 so he will be able to help with this.

I did find this older post when I did a search:
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82940&highlight=towing

Like Rick said, seeing behind you is the big problem. The stock outside rearview mirrors are very poor. If you are towing something that you can't turn your head and look over, you have a heck of a time seeing down the right side of the trailer. This makes lane changing and backing very hard.

They make accessory mirrors that clamp onto the front fender, but in my experience the rub the paint, and vibrate a lot so that everything looks fuzzy.

Good luck.

John W.

Don't forget an additional tranny cooler...

Is it possible to set the car up to tow a repectable load? Or should we be looking at a truck? Problem is I think the Elky might have to go if we need a full size truck, so I would like to see what the towing limits of the car are. With a big tranny cooler, heavy rear springs and upgraded brakes is a 5000 lb. trailer out of the question? Also it would need a hitch and wiring. I know the drivetrain is up to the task, our '97 Astro with the 4.3/4L60 towed two tons last winter with no problem, I'm just not sure what the limits of the chassis are.
Thanks.

You bet it is! I've got a 70 with a 396/350 and a Turbo 400 and I tow my 4000 lb ski boat all over with no problems. I added a custom Class III hitch, tranny cooler and air shocks and have no problem. The biggest issue, as someone already pointed out, is the rear view mirrors are almost useless.

The 70 owners manual claims 6000 lbs as the max towing load, I'm not sure what your 68 was "approved" for. Here is a link to a full size pic of the stance of the car with about 400 lbs of tongue weight. http://barefootdave.com/elcamino/tow.jpg

http://barefootdave.com/elcamino/tntow.jpg

Let me know if you have any questions or want some better pics of the hitch setup.

The "thumbs up" you get while towing are about 10 x what I get as I just drive it around as my daily driver...it is quite the center of attention anywhere it goes! BTW, I still get about 11 MPG while towing if driven conservatively.

Yeah I thought about the mirrors, I don't even have a passenger side one! That would be a definite must. I'm thinking that it might come down to my insurance company. I may have to register it as a 'regular' car and drop the collector policy. What type of policy do you guys have who tow? I don't see my company liking the fact I'd be towing. The way I figure, if I can drop $2K into the car and have a reliable hauler, that's a lot of money saved on a truck that I'll probably never use for anything else and more money towards a nicer trailer.

My car is on my regular GEICO policy with full coverage. :thumbsup:

I would be interested in seeing hitch pictures...

If nothing else it will give me something to take into the hitch shop with my own '68 and say "make it look like this!"

My 67 belonged to a muffler/hitch guy. He had a pretty eloborate hitch, obviously custom built. It was x-braced into the rear chassis and had cross bars under the tank. It was all tucked very neatly and had the reciver behind the license plate with a square hole cut into the bumper. With the license plate flipped up you couldn't tell it even had a hitch. Something to think about before slapping some U-haul POS on it.

I have a old Draw Tite hitch that you might be able to use for a place to start - just needs sanding and painting but thats all - otherwise good

40 ½ diameter (the main cross piece) with a 3 – 4 inch drop – 42 ½ wingtip to wingtip

I dont know what it was made for originally but this looks real close to something that would fit my 67 Elke

can take pics if you have any interest in it and dont mind paying the shipping charges from Maryland too .

How about potential legal questions if the factory-recommended towing limits are exceeded and you get in a wreck? Will your insurance pay without dispute? What if they won't? Curious.

I've pretty much decided against doing this. We're currently looking into getting a full size '96-'98 Chevy 1500 to handle the dirty work. Legality concerns, brakes/chassis not up to the task, no A/C and probably 4 MPG towing helped make the decision. (I get 8 MPG just with the car itself!). Although the looks on the highway would probably be worth it . . .

How about potential legal questions if the factory-recommended towing limits are exceeded and you get in a wreck? Will your insurance pay without dispute? What if they won't? Curious.

My original owners manual states a 6000 LB towing capacity and I routinely tow almost 4000...probably at least 3 times a week and sometimes more. Most of my trips towing the boat are 80 miles each way. Here are a link to plenty of pics of my 70 SS towing my boat. BTW, the boat has an Indmar built 383 with 400 HP....way more than the Elky! :thumbsup:

http://www.barefootdave.com/elcamino/towing/