Dodge Dart/Plymouth Valiant

255 messages,  Last post on May 30, 2009 at 8:37 AM

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What is this discussion about? Sedan

#246 of 255 Re: 1969 Plymouth Valiant 225 Towing Capacity [Mr_Shiftright] by andre1969

May 29, 2009 (7:36 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 29, 2009 7:32 am)
I was able to pull-start a fully-loaded moving van once with a '68 Dart. However, it was a V-8. And also, being on level ground helps a bit. And I don't take that as an indication that I would want to tow that much weight at highway speeds!

#247 of 255 Re: 1969 Plymouth Valiant 225 Towing Capacity [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

May 29, 2009 (7:42 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 29, 2009 7:36 am)
Oh you could pull 2,000 lbs with a V-8 Dart for a short distance at moderate speeds I would think. Besides a van is a lot more stable than a two-wheel trailer I would guess and there's not much tongue weight.

#248 of 255 Re: 1969 Plymouth Valiant 225 Towing Capacity [Mr_Shiftright] by andre1969

May 29, 2009 (7:55 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 29, 2009 7:42 am)
Back when I delivered pizzas, one of the other drivers had a 1991 Civic hatchback that died on him while on a run. I helped him get the thing home. We went by his friend's house and got a dog chain, and tied his Civic to my Dart and towed it home. For the most part I couldn't even tell that the other car was back there, except when slowing down, if the guy in the Civic hit his brakes too hard.
 
A couple years later, my '89 Gran Fury refused to start, and I used the Dart to tow it to the repair shop about 2 miles away. In this case, the Fury outweighed the Dart, but it still wasn't that noticeable. But then, it was mostly flat ground, which isn't going to stress out a car too much. Heck, when you think about it, a couple guys on foot could probably push a car to a decent speed, on level ground.

#249 of 255 Re: 1969 Plymouth Valiant 225 Towing Capacity [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

May 29, 2009 (7:59 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 29, 2009 7:55 am)
When I was poor and stupid, or should I say stoopider I had an old Audi with no reverse gear, and I would push it out of parking spaces all the time. If it was parked downhill I had to wait for the car in front of me to leave. Those German wheel bearings saved my butt!
 
the laws of physics do allow a 5,000 lb truck to pull a 10,000 lb truck, but "pull" and "tow" are rather two different things.

#250 of 255 Pull" and "Tow" are rather two different things. by lokki

May 29, 2009 (2:16 pm)

height="450"

#251 of 255 Re: Pull" and "Tow" are rather two different things. [lokki] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

May 29, 2009 (3:11 pm)

Replying to: lokki (May 29, 2009 2:16 pm)
If I were that guy I'd just stop resisting and let the train tow him.

#252 of 255 Re: Pull" and "Tow" are rather two different things. [Mr_Shiftright] by lokki

May 29, 2009 (3:21 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 29, 2009 3:11 pm)
Yeah, and what I really like is that orange safety vest he's wearing. It's going to make all the difference!

#253 of 255 Re: Pull" and "Tow" are rather two different things. [lokki] by zaken1

May 29, 2009 (9:57 pm)

Replying to: lokki (May 29, 2009 3:21 pm)
I just hope he's not wearing false teeth (OUCH!!!).
 
Actually, he is neither pulling nor being towed by the train. What really happened is that the train's air brakes went out; which forced an emergency stop and the evacuation of all the passengers. The train is now located on a very shallow incline; and the man is holding it to prevent it from rolling away; until the Sagvagen arrives.
 
This is the undisclosed reason why KTM refuses to equip its motorcycles with air brakes.

#254 of 255 Re: 1969 Plymouth Valiant 225 Towing Capacity [Mr_Shiftright] by cmknight8897

May 30, 2009 (7:32 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 29, 2009 7:59 am)
Of course I plan to beef up the valiant before towing anything. Disc brakes trany cooler bigger radiator ad lower gears for sure and The trailer I want to pull will be small maybe even a vintage pop up tent trailer or a tear-drop style. Thanx for the info based on what I have read here I think I will be fine.

#255 of 255 Re: 1969 Plymouth Valiant 225 Towing Capacity [cmknight8897] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

May 30, 2009 (8:37 am)

Replying to: cmknight8897 (May 30, 2009 7:32 am)
Best thing you can do is weigh the rig you plan to pull, once it's loaded up. That way you know right off if you are beyond the car's AND the hitch's capabilities.
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