would this be too much weight for my car? [Merged 5-7] hitch towing trailer

[FlyinRyan151]

right now I plan on selling my 95 RS with a few mods to get a 1st gen GSX or GST. My question is, is it possible to tow a small trailer for my dirtbike with one? The max weight of the trailer and bike combined would be around 500 pounds at most. My only other option is to buy a truck which would be really lame.

 

[bastarddsm]

Haha last post is epic! But I tow a motor cycle trailer with mine all the time. Its no thang.

 

[tmota503]

My n/a 1g talon came with a aftermarket towing hitch

Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

 

[j-90dsmtsi]

what ever "floats your boat" ha!

 

[SlowChild3]

Do we always follow the book? Lol

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[mindset]

Well as long as you realize that all you are doing is reducing the lifespan of your drive train, carry on.

It doesn't matter, there is a reason trucks use the gearing and torque outputs that they do.

I couldn't agree more.

Do we always follow the book? Lol

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

Uhm, because that's the way it was engineered.


OP: I'm going to be honest, towing with a Toyota or a Nissan will not get the job done. I don't know what size they are but I know they have fairly small engines. Personally, towing with your Eclipse isn't the safest idea in my opinion. You're asking to do more harm than good.

Oh, to the other people on here, just because your dsm came with a tow hitch, doesn't mean you can haul a 2400lb boat.

 

[daplatano91]

I vote this is a bad idea. Unless..... You decide to get a nice beefy big break kit to stop that thing

But in all seriousness I would never do that with one of my dsms. Well unless I was in need to get home from the track after something broke.
+1 for video

 

[SRiz]

I got the big beefy break kit

2g Eclipse GSX pulling a 17' wakeboard boat from dock - YouTube

 

[RogueTalonTSI]

I just want to point out that the final drive ratio of a mt 2g is is only slightly lower than a mid 90s s10 pickup. The only real disadvantage is tha dsm's have it structural. Im planning on pulling a small trailer from WV to FL with my 2g. It has an aftermarket clutch and pp, better than a stock small pickup. More power. Adjustable suspension. Stainless braided brake lines and slotted rotors. I don't see me having any problems pulling a 1500lb load with only 200lb tongue weight, that's like 2 skinny chicks sitting in the trunk. Just my .02 ¢

 

[H4G64T]

Yes, we all know that people who refuse to accept physics continue to equate the weight on a trailer to be the same as the weight planted firmly between your suspension that was designed by engineers with the fact that you would be carrying more weight than an empty compartment.

You know what they didn't consider when designing your car? The stress on the chassis from the trailer, the need to drag a trailer up a hill, the need to stop on a downward hill with extra weight dragging behind the car...we can keep going.

 

[RogueTalonTSI]

You pretty much repeated what I said. only more like a dick. Being pushed down hill? Solved by upgraded breaks. Pulling up a hill, upgraded powertrain. Stress on the chassis is my only concern. What I really don't get is your attack on my understanding of physics... is it because I didn't mention the lever factor from having the hitch being 4' from the centerline of the rear axle? My suspension should take care of that.

But im willing to bet the designers of the hitch took all of that into factor.

 

[H4G64T]

It might be because you keep calling brakes, "breaks."

 

[RogueTalonTSI]

So because I get the letters in one word jumbled, I'll blame my phone, your going to discredit my post. I've never towed with a dsm and I'm willing to bet neither have you. Ergo, neither one of use are qualified enough to say whether its damaging or not. Funny though, blowing a transmission up because you have 500hp is okay, however the same pulling a trailer isn't. I smell a double standard. Function over fashion. Its not like adding a roof rack because its trendy.

 

[SRiz]

The car will hold up. Get a good clutch, hawk pads, and adjustable rear suspension to stiffen up and your good.

 

[99gst_racer]

I've towed with a DSM and took physics in high school. Does that count?

My only gripe with it is the lack torque. With any amount of weight and/or incline, and the engine was constantly in boost for entended periods of time just to maintain speed.

 

[SRiz]

I've towed with a DSM and took physics in high school. Does that count?

My only gripe with it is the lack torque. With any amount of weight and/or incline, and the engine was constantly in boost for entended periods of time just to maintain speed.

yea normally I am around 10 inHg of vacuum with nothing behind the car cruising.. with the boat 0-2inHg... and ANY hill at all, I need 5-8psi of positive pressure to maintain speed. I realllllyy wish I had 8.5:1 pistons. I think that would help towing immensely, until then 7.8:1 with a little TD05H will get me to the water.

 

[DashLaflash]

How much would stich welding the entire car increase towing capacity? Also, a roll cage would stiffen it up.

 

[99gst_racer]

Chassis rigidity isn't the limiting factor with towing. It's a combination of the rear suspension, brakes, and lack or torque. Having trailer brakes and a brake controller would fix the brake issue. Although a BBK wouldn't be a bad idea either. Coilovers and stiff rear springs and maybe a fat sway bar and suspension's accounted for. And maybe a stroker engine with a quick spooling turbo. Then you're towing 2000 lbs pretty well.

 

[knochgoon24]

I just put a Draw-Tite 24602 on my Talon. But I'll just be towing around a motorcycle or small track trailer. I'll try to grab some pictures of the hitch tomorrow. It's been raining here for the last few days.

 

[99gst_racer]

Nice. Where'd you find one at?

 

[DashLaflash]

Chassis rigidity isn't the limiting factor with towing. It's a combination of the rear suspension, brakes, and lack or torque. Having trailer brakes and a brake controller would fix the brake issue. Although a BBK wouldn't be a bad idea either. Coilovers and stiff rear springs and maybe a fat sway bar and suspension's accounted for. And maybe a stroker engine with a quick spooling turbo. Then you're towing 2000 lbs pretty well.

So you're saying the frame isn't going to get bent from towing say, an Eclipse with another Eclipse . I've read other places that frame rigidity has an effect on the amount of weight you can pull.

 

[knochgoon24]

Nice. Where'd you find one at?

It popped up on the classifieds on here. I was just about to order the other style one when this popped up.

 

[99gst_racer]

So you're saying the frame isn't going to get bent from towing say, an Eclipse with another Eclipse . I've read other places that frame rigidity has an effect on the amount of weight you can pull.

The hitch itself is only rated to pull 2000 lbs. And that's not even to say every DSM can pull that much weight well. But, what I was saying was that within the limitations of the hitch, the chassis is not the weakest link. Although the chassis does have an affect on why it's rated where it is.

 

[paack]

They do make hitches for our cars, I have one on my 99 GSX and it works like a charm... that being said, I wouldn't use my hitch for anything more than a bike/snowboard rack. Here's where I picked up my hitch with all the accessories, great quality construction, and very firm mounting.

Reese Hitches

only for monteros and galants, no eclipse.

 

[99gst_racer]

only for monteros and galants, no eclipse.

You quoted a post from 3+ years ago. Although it's been covered in this thread, Reese/Drawtite did make one for our cars years ago nd it's since been discontinued. Although you can still find used ones floating around from time to time.

 

[supermario300hp]

you can tow as much weight as you put in the car. 600lbs would probably be close to max. but i dont see why you wouldnt be able to tow a small trailer and stuff.