Towing car trailers?

[Skip Fix]

We have an 02 5.3 3.73s. Will it haul my 78 Trans Am race car and 18' trailer as well as my 97 1/2 ton Chevy extended cab 350 Vortec does? The Av feels peppier empty around town.

 

[Z71offrd]

I have an '03 5.3 4.10s that pulls my '77 Trans Am street car just fine. I use a 24' flatbed with another 4 ft beavertail on it, and use a weight distributing hitch with a set of swaybars. No problem pulling around Michigan. I added a set of airbags to the rear coil springs to help beef up the rear of the Av a bit, but with the weight dist hitch they're really not needed for car hauling duty.

Enjoy!

Mike

 

[revracer]

I have an '02 Av 5.3 with 4.10 that hauls a 24' Millennium enclosed trailer with a '65 Nova. The trailer weighs approximately 3800 and the car is 3100 and maybe another 400 lbs of stuff. I am sure the T/A has a few more lbs.

I use a weight distributing hitch and added the airbags for the times when there are additional items in the trailer and bed. It towed well without the bags, but I added them for the potential of additional weight in the future.

The Av pulled the empty trailer back from Indiana to Pennsylvania with ease. Even through the PA hills with the car loaded it is an easy pull. The ride is about 45 minutes one way to the track, and it will average about 10-11 mpg.

I cannot speak for the impact of the 3.73 or how it may tow related to your last ride, but I have been pleased so far.

 

[455lark]

I have an 02 with the same3.73 as you. Pulls great. I used to tow with a 96 1/2 ton like your old rig. Avalanche will pull ever bit as good or better . My tow weight with open trailer like yours should be real close. NO problem.

 

[Skip Fix]

Thanks for the input guys. I stil haven't quite gotten used to the increased blind spots of the Av compared to my truck.

TA weighs in at 3750 with me in it. Currently runs 10.90s @ 123.

 

[revracer]

123 is a strong mph. Is it Pontiac powered?

 

[Skip Fix]

Al Pontiac and all motor, no spray.

 

[Z71offrd]

Al Pontiac and all motor, no spray.

That's what I was hoping to hear!!! I like classic Poncho power.

Are you heading to Norwalk next week with it? (Ames Tri-Power Pontiac Nationals?) I am going, and am thinking about driving my T/A down.

Mike

 

[67Bird]

MIke, What color is you're TA? My wife and I'll be there with our 02 Pewter Firehawk and I'd like to check out you're car and say hello... Are you towing you're TA or driving?

Tom

 

[Z71offrd]

I'll be towing my T/A down with the Av (look for the DRL's). I am debating on make a few passes on the track during Friday's test and tune session. We were going to tow my friend's GTO down for the show, but the interior didn't come together quick enough, so we decided to bring the T/A along. I mean, you can't show up at a Pontiac meet without your Pontiac, right?

My T/A is a black '77 special edition (MI plates "77BANDT"). It will not be in the show...paint should happen this winter.

I'll keep my eyes open for a pewter Firehawk.

Mike

 

[Z71offrd]

We looked for your Firehawk this weekend, but there sure were a lot of them!!! Sorry we didn't find you guys.


Here's a couple of shots of the rig before heading out for Norwalk for the weekend. Trailer was much larger than I needed for my car, but my father-in-law uses it for his construction business...so who can argue with the use of a free trailer?

Another...

The trailer is rated for over 10k lbs, and is heavily built. It's about 33' long, and 8.5' wide. Weight of trailer is about 3800lbs, since it had to be weighed before being registered with the State. Add another ~3800 lbs of Classic Pontiac muscle, and we've got a nice load for the Av to pull. Puffed up the AirLift bags to 30lbs, dropped on the trailer, hooked up the weight/sway bars, and away we went. Averaged 10.8 mpg with the load, including two people and gear (tools, jacks, etc). Average speed was 62.4 mph (via Garmin GPS). Av handled the load just fine.

The T/A ran a best of 13.9 @ 102 mph this weekend. I had traction problems , and fuel delivery problems (note to self: Make sure there's ATLEAST 1/2 a tank of fuel before racing...)

Mike

 

[revracer]

Been there with the fuel issues. Made it to the final round in brackets some years back, running the tank on the low side to max ET, and at the end of the track, just ran out of steam. When the fuel rushed forward in the tank, the power came back.

Anyone headed to the Pontiac event that was rescheduled for 8/22 at Maple Grove?

Although I am racing a Chevy now, I have to confess to being a closet Pontiac fan. Friend of mine may be showing with a Judge and racing with an '02 T/A.

They will be holding the race in conjunction with the Nostagia race with nitro and jets. Should be a fun time.

 

[pktwatch]

I think the torque and HP are both greater on the 5.3 vs the 5.7 of previous years.

Butch

 

[REDGAR]

03 1500 4x2 with 3.73 pulling 16' open trailer with 3400 99 Corvette race to race. Longest trip 1400 miles one way.

Pulls like a dream

 

[ChevyV8Man]

Man "Z71offrd", those are some nice pics! 

 

[avalonandl]

Skip:

The 5.3 does not have the low end torque of the old 5.7's. Recommend going to a Hypertech or Predator- it helped my 2000 Yukon XL w/ 5.3 and 3.73 pulling the horse trailer.

Avalon