Oldsfanatic

I have an 83 Delta 88 with a 307 and 3 speed automatic. I would like to pull a travel trailer with it. Does anybody know if the car can handle it, and how much weight or how big of a camper I could pull?

MDchanic

It should be listed in your Owner's Manual.

I don't know the exact numbers, but if you don't have an Owner's Manual, I'd imagine that the equivalent '68-'77 X-body (Nova, Ventura, Ωmega, Apollo) is darned close, as they are of similar size and weight.

- Eric

copper128

My guess would be "not much". Max towing capacity should be listed in your owners manual, but I doubt it would be over 3500 lbs. Unless it was ordered with the (rare) towing pkg, it likely has a 7.5" rear with 2.41 or taller gears, since it doesn't have the OD trans. That's a towing killer. There are ways to increase towing capacity, but it won't be cheap. The short answer is that it's not a real good candidate for a heavy towing vehicle, IMO.

joe_padavano

Your stock trans is a TH200. That will be the first thing to go when you start towing. Also keep in mind that unless you have the HD suspension and brakes, you've only got 11" front rotors and 9.5" x 2" rear drums. You'll want an aux trans cooler and possibly a bigger radiator. You'll likely need to have a custom tow hitch fabricated, as I doubt pre-made hitches are still available for that car.

Redog

eTrailer.com has a hitch for the Delta 88.

With HD suspension, brakes, cooling, and 200R4, 5000lbs

Your set-up, 1000 and that's pushing it

rustyroger

I had an '83 Cutlass with a 307 and 350c transmission.
It had no trouble pulling my 1700lb trailerhome, the only modifications were a transmission cooler and beefed up rear springs.
Your car will be heavier than my Cutlass, good for handling the load, not so good for spare power for pulling up hills.
What weight do you want to pull?.I guess you would be ok with a lightweight trailerhome, if you want to pull anything over 2000lbs on a regular basis I think you either need some expensive modifications or a more suitable tow car,


Roger.

Professur

Spend the extra for trailer brakes. Your brakes are already overtaxed pulling that much iron to a halt. Just swap the 200c for a 350c and a cooler and you're in business. Might want to check what rear end you've got in it. My '85 parisienne's 2.41 can't be worse for towing.