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Subject Topic: american firebird towcar Post Reply Post New Topic
10/9/2007 at 9:11pm
 Location: barnsley
 Outfit: a mucky defender lexon
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Hi all , my niece and boyfriend are into yanktanks -he has one already and is trying to talk her into a  pontiac firebird 3.6 around a 1986 ish . At the moment she tows using a shogun 3.0 petrol  and its fine but I was wondering if anyone on here tows with american sport/muscle cars and knows the tow limit of a firebird . The nearest I can find on the internet shows a newer version with only 1000lbs as its limit which equates to 454kg or thereabouts ,now that is well below the weight of her caravan and I dont want her running foul of the law , any help would be appreciated even if its to show her not to be daft and stick with what she has (my suggestion to her )or if I'm worrying for nothing . thanks ..Andy


10/9/2007 at 10:45pm
 Location: Suffolk
 Outfit: Avondale Avocet & Saab 9-5 Auto-Trail
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Being an avid 'Car and Driver' reader until a few years ago I am sure that tow limits were always very low (If any at all) due to poor quality body materials. Even worse than low priced European cars of the time.

There must be a Firebird forum that can give more info...they even speak English....some of the time

HTH



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Ted


10/9/2007 at 11:16pm
 Location: barnsley
 Outfit: a mucky defender lexon
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yes the limits are a lot lower if the boyfriends camaro is anything to go by  (500lbs  ), i tried a few forums and got nowhere ,it seems they dont like towing with their precious toys or wont bother replying hence the post in here , and would that be      US-english   . I'm not sure its such a "common " language this english and me being yorkshire too...  haha

cheers for the reply ..Andy



11/9/2007 at 7:40pm
 Location: North Essex
 Outfit: Caravelair Alba 400
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The American car Nationals were held over bank hol wk/end nr me recently--saw loads of big old yank cars towing quite large caravans coming away from it---I think the US tow ball is a different size from ours tho--yer best bet for this sort of info would be American car forums-I would have thought---

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Every day should be a holiday!


12/9/2007 at 9:53am
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Bailey Phoenix GT 75
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Must be a baby Firebird, I remember the 6.6 litre ones, they were popular with the US servicemen when I was with the RAF in Germany! Awesome cars-in a straight line!

Our local Ford dealer has a 4.0 litre Mustang- 07 reg-hmmm tempting!! ( No SWMBO would kill me!!)

Then again the Vauxhall place had some 6.0 litre RHD Monaros, big car, big engine should be good towcars between petrol stations!!!



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DS-There's more to life than football!!!


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17/9/2007 at 12:42am
 Location: shetland
 Outfit: Land Rover Discovery Elddis wisp 510 6
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 Yup the 6.6 with Shaker hood, Great car,

I towed a van hundreds of miles with a left hooker and found it tricky as the steering wheel and door mirror are some distance apart and there is a passenger in the line of vision, rear visibility was at best "not good" no problems thankfully but did require more care.

 



17/9/2007 at 2:10pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Pajero Swb + Elddis Crusader Sirocco
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I towed with a 66 Impala years ago, there was no shortage of grunt but the big overhang behind the rear wheels along with the mushy suspension did make for a 'bouncy' ride at times.

Another problem is wiring, on older American cars the rear turn signal is incorperated with the stop lights. Which means that when you apply the stop lights both come on but if you indicate right for example, the right stop lights flash and the left remain on and vice versa.

The only way i got round this was to run cables from the front indicators to the tow socket instead of using the rear indicator wiring.

And please dont believe all the bull about getting over 20mpg out of one, they are real thirsty beasts..

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18/9/2007 at 8:57am
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
 Outfit: Compass Echo 340
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Having used a Trans Am Firebird when I worked in the States many years ago I retain an interest.

So I took a long look at the one I saw towing a largeish 'van to the Pickering Steam Rally last month. I was behind it for quite a while, then just one in front of it for quite a while. Itr seemed to be doing the job quite well.                                                                                                              



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best cheers
Frank
Range Rover Vogue SE LPG TAZ


18/9/2007 at 11:32pm
 Location: barnsley
 Outfit: a mucky defender lexon
View imatyke's Profile View Profile   Reply to imatyke Reply   Quote imatyke Quote  
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thanks for the replies on this one , hadn't even realised about the flashers being different and i daresay it wont have entered nieces head either , the lefthooker problem is scary to me as she is new to caravans (she has only been away 3 times with a van on back ) I'll show her these responses and let them decide . thanks again to everyone



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