Hey:

Just wanted to see if I could get an answer regarding this. I bought a 32' Airstream trailer, and was going to buy a newer (or new) Suburban to tow it.

However, I have an 86 Custom Cruiser wagon that I have for sale, but thinking about the option of putting a larger engine into it and towing the Airstream.

Anyone know if a 455 will drop into this easily? I know that these were designed for the 403 originally when these first went on the market in 77/78.

Comments?

Thanks!

 

My feeling is buy a Suburban. I've towed with a wagon and a Suburban and the Suburban is much more stable. Something like a 32' Airstream needs a bigger engine, bigger brakes, and more metal. Look to see what other Airstream owners are towing with.

By the time you get the new engine into the old wagon and get everything sorted out, you'll be well on your way to the price of the Suburban, and also what will you have to do for the trans, brakes, etc. The Burb is ready to go.

 

I don't actually mind spending the $$$ on a new engine/trans. A Suburban seems so boring, though. I keep looking, and seems so soul-less.

I don't need a tow vehicle until next Spring, so have the time to wait it out while the wagon is done- just curious about how easy it is to drop a bigger engine in.

By the time you get the new engine into the old wagon and get everything sorted out, you'll be well on your way to the price of the Suburban, and also what will you have to do for the trans, brakes, etc. The Burb is ready to go.[/QUOTE]

 

A properly configured Custom Cruiser should tow 5,000 lbs. You'll want a frame-mount hitch, of course, and trailer brake wiring. The CC brakes are the same ones used on half ton GM pickups. A 455 bolts in with only minor mods to the 307 accessory brackets. Get a beefed 200-4R or convert to a TH400. Get a bigger radiator and a trans cooler. This is exactly what I'm doing with my 84 CC. I was lucky to find a bolt-on Class III hitch for the CC.

 

Pulling 5000 pounds is one thing, controlling it is something totally different. It is my opinion that a 32 foot Airstream needs more than 1/2 ton pickup brakes.

And just as important as the vehicle is the driver's ability to drive safely. So Matthew, if you have towing experience it shouldn't really matter what the tow vehicle is(to a degree) as long as you know what to expect out of it.

 

I have no idea what a 32 ft Airstream weighs, so I specifically DIDN'T say it was OK to tow THIS trailer, just that 5,000 lbs is the limit. I'll leave it to the O.P. to figure out if his trailer fits within that or not. As for the brakes, so it's OK to tow that trailer with a half ton Suburban with the same 12" front rotors and 11" rear drums? GCVW would be about 1,000 lbs MORE with that combo than with the CC.

Obviously brakes alone do not make a safe tow vehicle. Yes, tow vehicle weight does matter for stability, as do proper balance, load equalizing hitch, sway bars, etc.

OK, I just checked the Airstream website. Their 32 ft trailers can range from under 4,500 lbs to over 7,000 lbs, depending on year, model, and equipment. Again, it's up to the O.P. to determine if he can safely tow his own trailer.

 

I should have phrased that differently. A 3/4 ton Burb or a 1 ton(which I think is still called a 3/4?) would be better than a half ton Burb. The man asked for opinions and my opinion is a Suburban would tow better than a wagon. Whichever he chooses I hope it works out for him.

 

Lots of stuff to consider with loads that size. Stopping is the most important. It sounds like you're at or over the limit for what that was intended to pull, so you're probably not going to be very happy with it as is.
Although thinking about this, it could be a very cool project.
Along with the 455, why not a 3/4 ton narrowed truck axle with towing gears, air suspension, beefed up Th400 or OD trans, upgraded cooling, maybe set up for upgraded trailer brakes. Lot's of relatively cheap salvage yard parts.

 

I personally wouldn't do it. A cc wagon even with proper drivetrain mods would still weigh in around 4k. If the trailer is 5-7k, guess who be wearing the pants.....

 

Half ton trucks with a 6 cylinder can tow 11k#'s, and they weigh considerably less.

While I agree the Sub is probably is the better choice, back in the 60's and 70's I've seen more towed with less. So with a stout 455, turbo 400, a well geared rearend, good springs and shocks, an electric brake setup, better tires, and trans cooler, I can see towing 7k# with it.

 

It's more a case of weight distribution on the hitch and axles. Anyone that's towed with too much or too little tongue weight knows how scary that can be.

 

Another thing to consider is "loaded weight". The factory spec's are for an empty trailer. Fill it up with water and propane then add all the stuff you're going to pack in the trailer then take it to a scale. Only then will you know your actual tow weight and remember hitch weight and tow weight are two different things to consider.

 

A GOD AWFUL experience, that I wouldn't want to ever do again! Made it home safe though.

I'd love to have a custom cruiser tow rig, but it's just not worth the total drivetrain swap and addition of oil coolers. Not to mention, a stock BBO would get worse mileage and be continually operating above its regular rpm ranges.

Way easier doing just a bbo engine swap into an 80's suburban with a full floater. Or even easier just running the 454chev that's already in there.