Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,031
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (John Row)
How far into the water do you want to back your Vette to launch and recover your boat?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (John Row)
Wow, what a great response...
Here's the reason why I'm even entertaining the idea of using the vette as a "Mule". I've got a late 70's, 18ft Ski/Fish boat that weighs 3500+ lbs. I've been towing it around with my father's F150 (good little truck for a heavy-butt boat). But, last week I came home from work and found a 2002 SVT Lightning parked in the carport and no more old F150. Until my father gets over the “New Toy” phase (about 4 to 6 months for a new vehicle) no one else in the family will be able to use it. So he suggests that I sell my boat and go halfers on a new 15ft Sport Boat that we can share and I can tow without touching his new Truck.
I don’t have an owners manual for my 87, does anyone know if the car is actually rated to tow anything?
Here's the reason why I'm even entertaining the idea of using the vette as a "Mule". I've got a late 70's, 18ft Ski/Fish boat that weighs 3500+ lbs. I've been towing it around with my father's F150 (good little truck for a heavy-butt boat). But, last week I came home from work and found a 2002 SVT Lightning parked in the carport and no more old F150. Until my father gets over the “New Toy” phase (about 4 to 6 months for a new vehicle) no one else in the family will be able to use it. So he suggests that I sell my boat and go halfers on a new 15ft Sport Boat that we can share and I can tow without touching his new Truck.
I don’t have an owners manual for my 87, does anyone know if the car is actually rated to tow anything?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,031
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (CptMorgan)
The owners manual suggests that you don't tow with it. But if it really caused problems, do you think reese and the others would risk making a hitch for it? If you think about what you want for towing smaller loads the vette has it:
* It's kind of heavy
* It has good brakes
* It has lots of HP / Torque
Like I said, I never had any problems towing with mine other than keeping the trailer on the ground :)
* It's kind of heavy
* It has good brakes
* It has lots of HP / Torque
Like I said, I never had any problems towing with mine other than keeping the trailer on the ground :)
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (CptMorgan)
I pull a small trailer with race tires & tools. It weighs about 400 pounds total and has a tongue weight of 85 pounds. I've never had a problem. I must have built it right too, because my trailer is faster than most cars :D
I don't think anything much heavier is realistic. It's not an issue of torque & power, but more an issue of what the springs, shocks, etc. are rated for. The Vette doesn't have that much total weight carying capability in its design. Figure your weight, passenger, "stuff," and tongue (not whole trailer) weight. The total shouldn't be much more than about 500 pounds. Good luck. BTW, I read your sig - a 169* stat?
I don't think anything much heavier is realistic. It's not an issue of torque & power, but more an issue of what the springs, shocks, etc. are rated for. The Vette doesn't have that much total weight carying capability in its design. Figure your weight, passenger, "stuff," and tongue (not whole trailer) weight. The total shouldn't be much more than about 500 pounds. Good luck. BTW, I read your sig - a 169* stat?
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (CptMorgan)
My 87 manual says not to tow anything. Now why do you think the designers of the Corvette recommend that? and also do not provide ANYTHING to attach a tow hitch? Also, did you ever bother to read the conditions (fine print) of using a rental tow bar? You absolve the renter of any liability when you sign the contract. :eek: A word to the wise should be sufficient, but in some cases many words will be insufficient. I read about those in the paper all the time.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 1
From: Enter Post Count Here
Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (jfb)
No Offense JFB, but I don't think Cheby engineers really knew what they were doing with a lot of things in this car. It is perfectly capable of towing small loads, even with the alluminum sub-frame.
I have a Reese, the biggest problem is that the spare tire carrier doesn't fit with the stock retainer. You have to cut the carrier up pretty good, and install a lock-washer, but its not too hard.
I have a Reese, the biggest problem is that the spare tire carrier doesn't fit with the stock retainer. You have to cut the carrier up pretty good, and install a lock-washer, but its not too hard.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (NoWorries)
I installed the trailer hitch on the vette in the first week I owned the car.I carry my mountain bike all the time. I do alot of riding and the bike looks sweet on the back of the vette. The hitch installed very nicely without having to touch the car other than drilling the bolt holes. However, I had no idea Corvettes had aluminum subframes untill I went to drill the first hole!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 10
From: Montrose Colorado
Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (CptMorgan)
Here in Wyoming we use 3/4 ton and 1 ton pickups for towing i.e. horse trailers, 5th wheel trailers, car trailers, boats etc. But seriously doing all of the formentioned with my Mopile diesel, wet boat ramps are tough on rear tires, your spinning them unintentionally. Also you need to check the rear differential to make sure you haven't drawn in any water through the vent if you submerge it. There are two happy days in a boat owners life, the day he buys it and the day he sells it. I'm still waiting for my second happy day. Good luck 91 ZR-1 #2039 :eek:
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (JonM)
I think you have had one too many Capt Morgans....who wants to volunteer to swap him behind the head?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,305
Likes: 2
From: Havelock NC
Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (Glock'94)
It's got enough torque. The only problem I see is having to submerge the back end when backing the boat into the water. I tow my Sea-Doo with a Grand Cherokee and the back bumber gets wet when backing it in. As you can tell in the picture there's a major clearance difference.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,801
Likes: 2
From: St. Paul MN
Re: Ok, Will a C4 safely pull a small boat trailer (CptMorgan)
Love the boat! Twin jet engines, 14', fly's off houseboat wakes, great pulling skiers, safe around the kids since no propellers. Going skiing this weekend, can't wait.