How much weight can a C5 pull (trailer)
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Camp Hill PA
I don't have a hitch on my C5, but I do have one on my LT1 Camaro and I have towed a lot with it. We have a pair of jet skis and a Seadoo jet boat. The skis you don't really notice but the boat is about 1200 pounds and you really only feel it when braking. The small trailers like the ones for skis and small boats don't have electric brakes. Anyway, it's been years since I put the hidden hitch on the Z28 and it hasn't hurt a thing. Just don't tow in overdrive if you have an automatic.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 568
Likes: 2
From: Dayton, Oregon
Oldtimer
At least one of the major hitch kit manufacturers (Curt) makes one for the C5. 2500#, 250# hitch weight. It's a 1 1/4" receiver, class II. However, as the old saying goes "Just because you can doesn't mean you should".
Personally, I'd limit myself to about 1500#, just like I'd limit a 3500# rating to 2200# or so. Those are MAX allowable loads. That 2500# load is mighty close to the 3250# dry weight of the C5.
Personally, I'd limit myself to about 1500#, just like I'd limit a 3500# rating to 2200# or so. Those are MAX allowable loads. That 2500# load is mighty close to the 3250# dry weight of the C5.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 185
Likes: 1
From: Greenville NC
I regularly pull either a double jetski trailer with 2 skis on it or a 21 ft boat with twin engines ( approx 2800lbs) without feeling unsafe.
The corvette has loads of power, great transmission, low center of gravity and great traction both for pulling up steep ramps and stopping when needed.
Add another vote to the YES TOW column, though can't answer OP original question of what the max capability is.
I'd much rather tow with my corvette and ride in style while towing that buy a dedicated tow vehicle.
The corvette has loads of power, great transmission, low center of gravity and great traction both for pulling up steep ramps and stopping when needed.
Add another vote to the YES TOW column, though can't answer OP original question of what the max capability is.
I'd much rather tow with my corvette and ride in style while towing that buy a dedicated tow vehicle.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,820
Likes: 34
From: Ravensdale WA
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: northern ca
St. Jude Donor '14
I regularly pull either a double jetski trailer with 2 skis on it or a 21 ft boat with twin engines ( approx 2800lbs) without feeling unsafe.
The corvette has loads of power, great transmission, low center of gravity and great traction both for pulling up steep ramps and stopping when needed.
Add another vote to the YES TOW column, though can't answer OP original question of what the max capability is.
I'd much rather tow with my corvette and ride in style while towing that buy a dedicated tow vehicle.
The corvette has loads of power, great transmission, low center of gravity and great traction both for pulling up steep ramps and stopping when needed.
Add another vote to the YES TOW column, though can't answer OP original question of what the max capability is.
I'd much rather tow with my corvette and ride in style while towing that buy a dedicated tow vehicle.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
Exactly! Anything over half the weight of the car towing it can and will take over in a panic stop situation . Especially if the trailer was at any angle to the car. I would say up to 1500# on good dry roads and leaving a safe distance between you and cars ahead would be fairly safe. Common sense rules.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 776
Likes: 1
From: spring tx
Just do it.put a hitch on. hook up a horse trailer with 3 or 4 horses. give them fkn horses a ride in style.then let us know. How it went. Be sure to do some big hills.ohhhhand some rain driving.wohoooo
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 15
From: Richardson TX
Its funny to me that everyone is freaking out about this. Doing autocross or going down the drag strip puts lots of stress on the suspension and frame, it can take it. When you're towing you're not driving like a madman.
The vette clearly has engine and brake power to spare, I don't think those would ever be a problem.
IMO you're really limited by the suspension and frame. I wouldn't put more than the gross vehicle weight rating of the rear axle.
So, weight capability is rated at 399lbs, which means the rear axle isn't designed for more than ~200 lbs of extra weight.
I wouldn't ever load anything with less than 10% tongue weight, so I would say 2000 lbs is the most I would tow and feel good about it. I'm sure it can do more safely, as long as you take it slow and easy (just like towing with a truck), but I would get concerned about overloading the rear suspension.
The vette clearly has engine and brake power to spare, I don't think those would ever be a problem.
IMO you're really limited by the suspension and frame. I wouldn't put more than the gross vehicle weight rating of the rear axle.
So, weight capability is rated at 399lbs, which means the rear axle isn't designed for more than ~200 lbs of extra weight.
I wouldn't ever load anything with less than 10% tongue weight, so I would say 2000 lbs is the most I would tow and feel good about it. I'm sure it can do more safely, as long as you take it slow and easy (just like towing with a truck), but I would get concerned about overloading the rear suspension.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,820
Likes: 34
From: Ravensdale WA
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
I'm in the same situation. I want to tow a small aluminum fishing boat about 12" maybe a few hundred pounds. DO I spend 3-4k for a small truck that has less hp/torque and crappier suspenion then the vette or my little daily. I think it would be more dangerous with the small truck
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 15
From: Richardson TX
C5's have a steel frame....
His point is that towing more than the gross weight of the towing vehicle isn't some magical boundary you can't cross.
Towing 3000 or 4000 pounds with a c5 is probably a bad idea, but its not because a c5 weighs ~3200 lbs.
His point is that towing more than the gross weight of the towing vehicle isn't some magical boundary you can't cross.
Towing 3000 or 4000 pounds with a c5 is probably a bad idea, but its not because a c5 weighs ~3200 lbs.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,820
Likes: 34
From: Ravensdale WA