Chrysler Newport Tow Rig

"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4) 01/19/2020 at 19:56 • Filed to: None

8

22

RAM 2500 with a Cummins not required.

Goggles Pizzano > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 20:01

2

And dur able AF.

VW Max > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 20:01

2

WilliamsSW > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 20:05

5

Ahh those were the days.  That was a common sight in the summer in the late 70s.  We dragged a 17’ boat with a Caprice Classic wagon all over northern Illinois and Wisconsin ourselves...

Boxer_4 > WilliamsSW 01/19/2020 at 20:11

1

The thing that surprised me is the towing mirrors on this thing.  Was that commonplace during that time?

WilliamsSW > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 20:15

3

Yes it was for bigger trailers.  But they’re temporary- note that one hooks under the fender and in the hood gap.  You only put them on when towing.

Boxer_4 > WilliamsSW 01/19/2020 at 20:20

1

That makes more sense!

Urambo Tauro > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 20:21

1

What a glorious way to spend the last few remaining minutes of daylight stopped on the ( left? ) shoulder of a freeway.

WilliamsSW > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 20:23

1

Yeah, I had forgotten about those things, but you did see them on cars pulling campers.

Usually on a wagon or big sedan, dragging its rear end a lot lower than the nose, lol

Boxer_4 > Urambo Tauro 01/19/2020 at 20:38

0

At least there’s no traffic...

ranwhenparked > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 20:38

3

Wasn’t all that long ago when this was still possible. Real all-purpose utility vehicles, drop the trailer and the site and head into town for dinner in a respectable sedan, instead of a farm/construction work vehicle. 

Boxer_4 > ranwhenparked 01/19/2020 at 20:49

0

I’m liking that Fleetwood as a tow vehicle.

Same with this LTD:

ranwhenparked > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 20:50

1

Ford seriously de-rated the Crown Victoria when they went to the aero body in the early ‘90s, from 5,000lbs down to like 2k, for whatever reason. GM stayed with 7,000lbs on the B-bodies until the bitter end. 

wafflesnfalafel > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 20:59

2

that’s clearly the “bro” version - pusher bars and big mirrors

jimz > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 21:09

1

2 mpg

atfsgeoff > ranwhenparked 01/19/2020 at 21:10

1

Early aero-bodies retained 5,000 lb tow capacity with factory tow package.

T hey were derated for the 1996 model year down to 2,000 lbs because the tow package option was deleted entirely , and then down again to 1,500 lbs in model year 2002.

ranwhenparked > atfsgeoff 01/19/2020 at 21:11

1

I get that people probably weren’t ordering it much, but those moves seem odd to me. 

atfsgeoff > ranwhenparked 01/19/2020 at 21:14

1

It’s perfectly safe and reasonable to tow 5,000 lbs with 1996 and 1997 Crown Vics if they have the handling/performance package, as that basically gave you everything the tow package gives minus the hitch receiver. In 1998 they moved to a watts linkage rear suspension which supposedly does not play well with heavy trailers. 

Boxer_4 > ranwhenparked 01/19/2020 at 21:37

1

Ford probably couldn’t justify the cost of offering it anymore, especially when they could probably push anyone that was looking at one towards one of their SUVs...

M.T. Blake > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 23:01

1

This needs to be added to the list with brown manual diesel wagons, and anything Miata.

HammerheadFistpunch > Boxer_4 01/19/2020 at 23:24

2

I remember my grandma would tell me that they usually pulled their boat with the Cadillac and not the truck because the motor in the caddy was bigger

Milwaukee Midget > Boxer_4 01/20/2020 at 13:49

1

Rode from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to the Black Hills and back in my grandfather’s ‘69 New Yorker pulling a rented camper. When we got to Rapid City, we threw a set of HD shocks on it to stop it from porposing, which made it much safer to operate, but Grandpa bitched about the ride for years afterward. Neverthless, the 440/TorqueF lite combination pulled with both grace and authority.

If it's a trailer weighing in at less than 5k, I’ll take an old skool, big block American land yacht with a receiver over a pickup every time.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Boxer_4 01/20/2020 at 22:29

1

Reminds me of when I was a kid. My parents had a 1980 Buick LeSabre/Roadmaster that we used to pull our tent trailer. The hitch didn't have a lot of ground clearance, and would often hit when going over any sort of significant dip.