So I'm thinking I'll need a tow car one of these days, to chase parts, maybe ferry cars around etc. What is the towing capacity of 69-72 Vista or flat top? Might be nice to put together a sleeper that can do double duty as hauler and a looker.
Anybody got any thoughts on this?
Thanks

 

I think it would be fine, especially if you get a good quality receiver installed and replace the old worn rear shocks and springs. I don't know about the towing capacity but when they built wagons in the sixties and early seventies they were intended for hard use, not installation of bling bling like they do on SUVs now.

read thishttps://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...a-cruiser.html.

 

The answer is I don't know or It depends

My 69 has a 455, rear sway bar and air lift added.

But it is not kind on gas consumption

Oh yeah, It has a Tiger Tail coming out the gas cap door and a sign on the dash saying "Do not lower windows at speeds in excess of 125MPH"

 

Those cars were built to haul the biggest travel trailers in their day.
Big motors, lots of power. Pretty hard on gas, but hauling things is hard work.
Gas needs to be burned to do work.
Sounds like a great project; I'd love to find a decent VC for heavy duty family and stuff hauling.

 

"With special equipment, all Toronado, Ninety-Eight and Delta 88 models are excellent for for class 1, 2 and 3 towing. Vista Cruisers and Custom Cruisers, equipped with the 455 V-8 and other proper equipment are excellent for class 1, 2 and 3 towing." - 1971 Oldsmobile showroom brochure.

Surprised me that Toronados are also rated that high for towing with the "Special Toronado Suspension" with the front wheel drive.
I've seen Vista Cruisers towing cars on haulers and big camper trailers and boats.

The Ninety-Eights were favorites of the retiree snowbirds around here. They would pull the huge Airstreams down to Florida and back with no problem and all over out west.
I think the "special equipment" was a golf hat with crossed clubs in front, a pastel golf shirt, windbreaker, tan Hush Puppie shoes, white trousers and the mandatory white patin leather belt of course.


Check out the groovy family with their Vista and trailer.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/...11f443f328.jpg

Hey Jamesbo, I still don't know how many TPM (Tigers per mile) you get and how you got the rest of it into the gas tank.

Allan

 

V8 torque and heavy duty chassis are where these old cars excel at towing. Unibodies are not the best for this job.
I would expect an easy 4k if the hauler and the haulee are properly equipped.

 

Well Alan, the truth is I don't know and I don't want to know about MPG or TPM.

I enjoy my state of blissful ignorance of such mundane matters and just get in 'em and drive.

I don't want practical matters interfering with me when I decide to put my foot in it.

As the Great Jackie Gleason used to say,

"And Awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay we goooooooooo!"

 

I'd say the 60's and 70's wagons can haul A LOT of wieght.
Maybe I'm comparing aplles to oranges here, but my wagon has pulled a ~4k lbs camper for a good deal of it's life, and that camper had 4 people's luggage in it and 3-4k lbs of toy trains on it's way to the tca(train collectors association) meet in York, PA. And it only has a 2bbl 318, about equivelent of a 2bbl olds 350. Now when I say good deal of it's life, I mean like out of 67k original miles, it has haulled that camper at least 20k of them. Mind you this is on an original motor and trans that still has no problems doing work when called upon. Most of the other milage not towing that camper it was hauling either a car load of people and luggage or tons of supplies like lumber, 2k lbs of toy trains or even a building. A complete 12X24 ft building complete with all the concrete block for the foundation and the wood for the floor... That would be my dad's GARGAGE brought home with our wagon.

It is still our work horse, the only thing with a class 4 hitch. Better yet the only thing with a hitch. The only thing that can fit anything we want to take home from buildings to couches.

Sorry for my rant. But I can venture to geuss that an olds wagon with a bbo/th400 should be able to do the same at least. Truthfully, how much more do you want?

 

A couple of things to consider. First, for all but the lightest trailers, get a frame-mounted hitch. You will likely need to have one custom made, since the bolt-on ones for these cars are long out of production. Second, get a trans cooler, the bigger, the better. Third, the real limitation will be the brakes. If this is a four wheel drum car, proceed at your own risk. If it's a disk brake car, consider upgrading to the 11" rear drums from a 73-77 A-body (yes, I am aware that the VC already has bigger 9 x 2.5" brakes). Finally, get a set of AirLift bags for the rear springs (as opposed to air shocks).

Properly set up, you should be able to tow 5000 lbs with no problems.

 

I'd like to add that if you're considering a car trailer (and hauling a car), insists on having 2 axle trailer brakes and a load leveling hitch.

 

Years ago I saw a 1968 Vista Cruiser pulling a car trailer with a 1968 442 on it. Man, I think that's the coolest combination a guy could have

P.S. Allen, (Bluevista) haven't seen you posting for a while, glad to see your name in this thread!

 

You need to take a vacation to Northern California and drive back in the 75 Custom Cruiser (mine) in the Cars For Sale thread. My grandparents pulled their travel trailer all over the West with this car. Frame mounted hitch , electric trailer brakes, and the biggest front disc brakes I have ever seen on a car. Shipping weight over 5000 pounds,127 inch wheelbase- a towing machine. Ever been to Yosemite?

 

Forgot, also has the load leveling hitch.

 

Newbe here: Just my 2 cents.
If your looking to pull a car trailer with an "A" body on it. Your looking at a 3400# car and a 1400-2500# trailer. 1400 would be light weight aluminum trailer, with 2500 being a heavy duty all steel trailer. With 5-6000#'s behind you, you must have a brake controller installed in your car, a weight distribution hitch is a must and sway control wouldnt hurt either.
Iv been looking for a hitch for my 69 flat top but have been unsuccessful, so I am now fabricating one for it. I too hope to make the wagon the tow car for my 69 442 Convertible.
Pic's to follow when its done and finally hooked up.

 

I didn't know if you saw this thread with the way my Vista hitch was installed. I hope it helps with your fabrication

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...a-cruiser.html

 

X2 and this may be a good place for the 700R4.