JoJo_Duder

Hi, i know this is stupid, but i put a trailer hitch on my 97 vette, i am going to haul a uhaul across country. Cheapest way i figure to get my stuff out there, including 62in tv. I know that alone is going to kill my gas mileage, but i was hoping to enjoy it a little and take my targa top off for part of the ride? Is this going to kill my gas mileage even more? What mpg do you think i will be at, will uhaul (5' by 8') alone, then also with the top off? thanks guys

ljthe2nd

I've looked at hitches for about a year now. All the hitches I've seen for the C5 are class 1 hitches about a 2000 lbs towing capacity 200 or 250 lb tongue weight. You will be exceeding that with a loaded 5 X 8 trailer. And U haul is very strict (or at least they used to be, they wouldn't let me rent a tow dolly said my hitch wasn't up to there standards, when I had a 12,000 lbs towing weight special bumper on my truck). You better check with who every you are going to rent the trailer from and make sure they will rent to you with a class 1 hitch. That being said the loaded trailer will kill your gas mileage. Taking your targa top off will not make a noticeable difference in gas mileage compared to what the trailer is doing to reduce your mileage. The weight and air drag of the trailer will do it, the little bit of turbulance taking the top off will cause, I would guess would cost you at most (under these circumstances) 1/2 MPG.

TTUbaker

Jistari

Too many variables make my head hurt

"across the country" (?) like straight up a mountain ? (3 mpg) or across a flat desert ? (20 - 30), or down a mountain ? (50 ish) , how hot/cold....AC on ?...how much does the trailer weigh ? is it enclosed ?

Really, I wouldnt worry about the difference between targa off and targa on, its not gonna be significant overall. But technicaly...yes....there is more drag with the targa off.

bucwheat

Mike McCoy

You didn't mention- stick or auto. Be very careful of exceeding the mfgs tow gvw rating. If it is an auto you can tow a little more weight than a stick. But DO NOT tow in overdrive (4th). You will kill the tranny. The overdrive clutch pack is really only designed for the car and passengers. I towed a 16' inboard boat with my '56 (stick), about 2200# total. Worked OK, but the brakes were spooky.

itzza427

Another factor is you should keep the speed DOWN towing a trailer.In Illinois reg speed limit is 65 on interstate,,BUT 55 for vehicles towing. I'd say to be safe keep it to 55 to 65,,at that rate top on/off would not be an issue!! Enjoy the trip,,be safe and let us know how it went!!

gray-c5

lil vette

You will get 16mpg....fully loaded 5x8.
.
Let's start a pool, closes one wins.
.

itzza427

I'm in for 17.5,,if he keeps the pace down to reasonable speeds!!

Tim01Coupe

Cheapest way? Buying a hitch cost $$$. Possible damage to a car not made to haul a boxy, heavy U-Haul may cost big money..
When my son moved from Ventura, CA back to Michigan, he put his S-10 on a rented aluminum car trailer and put it behind a small rental box van which had a small 4 cyl. Isuzu diesel motor. Can't remember the rental agency, but it was very resonable. It ran well and he got fair mileage.
Pulling a loaded U-Haul with a Vette in mountains without a trans cooler will ruin it. Ever gone down a mountain without trailer brakes? Ever done any real towing? You won't be saving money in the end. And may die trying...

Cobra4B

I had a hitch on my Z06 for a few years. Used it to tow my little race track trailer with my race wheels/tires and tub full of tools. Not sure how much it weighted but the vette didn't know it was there. I got the one with the upgraded taller wheels so it did better at high speeds. Got lots of looks towing in a yellow Z06! When the hitch was off you couldn't even see the receiver unless I pointed it out.

Vetteman Jack

If you do this, best of luck. Not sure I would want to haul a trailer that big behind a C5.

wildbadbill

the reason that Corvettes get such a great milage is the drag coefficiency (body shape).If it wasn't for that we'd be right up there with other V8's in 12-13 mpg range.
I had a Tahoe that was giving me about 11 mpg,when I hooked aan open trailer it went down to 9.5-10 ( motorcycle trailer completely hiddin behind).
Than I bought a 5x8 enclosed one and I got litteraly on my knees looking for a leak-I got 6 mpg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So on c5 I'd say you'll get 10-12 going 70-75 mph.

droq172

I had a friend move a one bedroom apartment from SoCal to Texas and she paid less than $1,000. I think spending a grand to move your stuff is well worth any headache you may cause by towing with your Vette. Then drive your Vette across country without limitations.

ljthe2nd

Not completely, the weight of the car, the computer management of the fuel intake and combustion and the overdrive transmission also contribute greatly as to the reason this car gets so much better fuel economy than that of a other vehicles with a V8 and similar HP.

japc5

Uhaul is not going to rent you a trailer to tow behind your Vette. To say they have strict guidelines is the understatment. Last year I went to rent a car trailer with my 04 explorer, all wheel drive V8 with a class three hitch and they denied rental. They didn't care that I tow a four place enclosed snowmobile trailer or 25' boat with said vehicle. I might as well have been talking to a brick wall.

clayton1

Uhaul almost wouldnt let me put my corvette on one of their trailers!!. Too low blah blah etc etc....

Jistari

Ya thats true about U-Haul and the rules regarding what they will allow you to tow. Back when I was looking (before I got the C5) I looked into renting a car trailer in case I had to get the car from a far distance away (yes ...yes, I know.....now I would just drive it....doesnt matter how far ...but I was new then).
The tow vehicle would have been a Toyota 4Runner (the six cylinder SR5, but it has a two inch hitch). They said .....nope......vette was too heavey, or I should say they said the truck was too light, by 100 lbs.
I told them Ill take my wife :-) they were not moved, still no go.

No idea what an eight foot trailer weighs loaded, but the vette weighs what....3100 lbs? I think the truck was something like 4500 lbs and toyota says you can tow 5000 lbs with it. So if they werent gonna rent me a car trailer to tow a vette, not sure how much weight they'd let you tow with a vette.

ZeeOSix

Too low ... I estimate 23 mpg.