axelg89

Hello,

I'm currently in the process of registering my tow hitch on my 1969 corvette and in order to do so I need some help. I've searched the forum but not found the particular information that I need.

Does anyone know if there was any maximum towing weight set by GM for the early C3s?

Was there a factory GM trailer hitch as an option or accessory? If so a part number, mounting instruction or other GM documentation would be greatly appritiated.

Thanks
Best Regards
Axel
Sweden

Jud Chapin

The "Corvette Black Book" shows no such option for the '69.

Easy Mike

No.

Yes, possibly. A hitch could have been a dealer installed accessory. Hitches could also have been aftermarket products.

gungatim

what does "registering a tow hitch" mean?

U17

Lots of aftermarket hitches out there . Even U Haul installs them today. I would bet they have data you could start with. Let us know how it works out... I've wanted one since 1998 ..

axelg89

does anyone know if GM published any maximum tow weight for aftermarket hitches?

In Sweden all changes that are made to a car must pass a registration process in order to be entered into the title making the car road legal with the change. In this case when adding a hitch I need factory documentation somehow proving how much the car can tow safely

Thanks for all your helpfull answers
Best Regards
Axel Grapengiesser

gungatim

So they don't require any sort of "proofing" of the hitch itself? that's good...I believe they published towing data, i'll see if I have anything in my coiffers...

edit: here's a link to all the factory specs--more than you would probably ever want to know, but I didn't see anything on towing capacity. it is 169 pages, so I may have missed something...
https://www.google.com/url?url=https...46DHFwYaaGiv5w

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/......1969-Chevrolet -Corvette.pdf

hugie82

Google corvette hitch images, when you see one on a 68-69 try and track down the poster. I came across instructions once on the inter web and it was showing an early C3 being used.

hugie82

I did a search in C2 corvette section and there was a bunch of posters with hitches (pics)for your year. It looks like 66-69 use the same hitch.

axelg89

thanks for all you kind replies. I'll let you know how it goes!

68/70Vette

I've seen trailer hitches on C3's. I'd assume they mate to the very heavy crossmember that's second from the last...the crossmember that the spare tire carrier hinges are connected too. The very last crossmember...that the rear bumpers are connected to, is very weak looking. I've seen that the trailer hitches are connected by a large "U" shaped bracket to the rear bumpers. The rear bumpers are not very strong. Their outboard edges of the bumpers are bolted to bare fiberglass...any small motion of the rear bumpers will crack the fiberglass. The inner portions of the bumpers are bolted to the weak last crossmember by brackets...not very strong. My opinion is that the C3 bumpers don't have much more than a cosmetic function. Using them as a mechanical element to secure/stabilize the frame hitch doesn't seem prudent. My opinion is that a trailer for a C3 would have to be very light.

Gale Banks 80'

I believe that my 1980 came with the " Trailer Towing Package" as an option. No this did not mean that it came with a Factory Hitch. This meant that the car came with the Gymkhana Suspension option, and heavy duty cooling. And probably nothing else. The Hitch itself was left to the aftermarket. But hey, what was cooler than towing your BB Jet Boat to the local boat launch than with a Corvette !