With the frequent questions and opinions offered on towing weight calculations for today's RV's and TV's, it begs the question;What has changed from the 40's, 50's and 60's where you would often see a TT being towed by a rather smallish sedan or station wagon. Pick-up trucks were the exception. I would think those TT's were of a heavier construction than today's composite materials. The tow vehicles were heavy and sturdy, but most often with small block engines producing much less horsepower and torque then today's products. I'm sure laws and specifications are much more restrictive today, but do those differences compensate for this observation?I pull a 26 ft TT with a dry weight of 3600lbs with a GMC Yukon Denali configured with a 6.2l engine and HD tow package rated at 7100 lbs. With gear, I'm probably in the 5000lb range on the TT. Pulled it from Texas to SC with ease. As we consider going to a slightly larger TT down the road, and with all the back and forth on the TT/TV weight issues...it just has me wondering.

There were actually some pretty strong tow vehicles back in the fifties and sixties. 348-455 cubic inch models were available from most of the manufacturers. A Chrysler 392 Hemi was available in the late fifties and into the sixties. It was no slouch.(Gasoline was $0.30/gallon) Rear axle ratios were not the "mileage" ratios of today either. Those old sedans and station wagons popularized the use of weight distribution hitches as their soft rear suspension would have the front end so high that one could not see over the hood with just a load carrying hitch. A modern pickup front end hardly raises,in comparison. I am old enough to remember that travel trailers were often very slow in comparison to other traffic. Lots of steaming radiators at the top of the grade too.

In the 1970's, my dad crammed our family of 5 in a Buick Electra and pulled a heavily loaded 31' Airstream all over the place with it. I have good memories and don't remember him once complaining about the handling or speed. It's an interesting topic.

martinto wrote:With the frequent questions and opinions offered on towing weight calculations for today's RV's and TV's, it begs the question;What has changed from the 40's, 50's and 60's where you would often see a TT being towed by a rather smallish sedan or station wagon. For us not much has changed except the cars are just getting better in every respect. Yes we tow with a modern, mid sized car. But for most folks these days they want a big pick up. The reason is the huge amount of stuff they want to take with them. Bikes, generators, grills, a dozen pink flamingo's:S...... you get the idea.

Power and speed. People accepted slowing own to 20mph up hills. They only towed at 45mph tops with 55mpg sped limits. Aerodynamics were not as important, the effect of wind, air off other vehicles as you pass. Now we all have vehicles that can pull at 75mph. Should you?

Way back when passenger cars were used to tow heavy loads they were built with a "ladder" type frame. It is still found on pick up trucks. Now most cars are “uni body” meaning the car has no heavy frame. They can tow lighter weights but when heavy towing is required only trucks still have the ladder frame. If you tow a beyond limits with a uni body, the body may twist and cause problems like a cracked windshield.

Towing...way back when...weighs on my mind | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

LVJJJ
Explorer
Jun 09, 2013
I know that those older vehicles were built much better than today, so that's why we tow with one of those good 'ol, American built trucks. We've been towing 24' TT's with our 1965 Chevy Van since 1988. It's only a half ton but they used lots of thick steel in the frame and body, probably built like 3/4 tons of today. We put a 292 inline 6 in it with a TH 350, and it tows great, gets 10 mpg. the 292 has tons of torque and has taken us up over the Cascades and Rocky mountains and all over the western USA. I love it cause there is no power anything except the engine, just a basic vehicle that always gets us where we're going with no problems and no frilly stuff. We can tow up to 65 mph but 55 is much more relaxing and safer, we now take all of the blue roads.
emonkemeier
Explorer
Jun 09, 2013
It's a good thing they don't build them like they used to.
Ed
Road_Ruler
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
Like I said earlier the new cars are tougher than the old cars in almost every way.

....and yes the new cars can tow. Do your research. The info is out there.

Old VS New
mlts22
Explorer II
Jun 08, 2013
Cars have gotten lighter. In the 1980s, most vehicles had a bumper that could take a 5MPH impact and shrug it off.

Modern cars will have thousands of dollars in damage at 5MPH. Yes, they are far safer and lighter, but the price is the lack of tow-ability.
gcloss
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
My first tow vehicle was a 1967 Ford Fairlaine Station Wagon with 289 v8, 3-spd on the column, no power steering, no power brakes. The only factory options were an AM radio and heater. I got the car as an inheritance (free).

I had a hitch that you had to drill and attach to the bumper, as well as a long steel tee-bar where you drilled holes and bolted it to the bottom of the well in the back where the 3rd seat would have been.

I pulled a big Coleman PUP without brakes all over and didn't worry about a thing, other than to make sure the beer was cold.

I bought the PUP used for $425, plus a free station wagon. Total cost for tow vehicle & pop-up was $425.
cpaharley2008
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
With the older cars you did a tune up every 12K and changed regular tires to snow tires in the winter. You carried a set of winter chains in your trunk as well as a tool box for repairs. Brakes were replaced every 24K and cleaned when you did your tune up. You would use water in the summer and put in antifreeze in the winter then also. Your mechanic would tighten your tappets if you had a ping. Your wipers would slow up a hill as they were vacuum operated and your high beams were a button on the floor. Fuel injection was only on race cars and you added oil to your air cleaner to trap the bugs and dirt. There was a lot of maintenance then that you no longed have. Most of todays cars can be operated over 100K before any maintenance other than 15k oil changes. Do you wish things were the same?
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
Todays TT's with multiple slides are heavier, those vehicles often overheated, were larger and heavier, could only crawl up big grades, had lower gear ratios, drank gasoline like there was no tomorrow, generally broke down much more frequently, were built on a real frame, and travelled a lot slower. We always remember the past in the best possible light, not with the keen eye of reality.
Jack_Diane_Free
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
My dad had a 1968 Pontiac Grande Parisienne Station wagon with a 427 cu. in. engine. What at Tank. Towed an 18 foot Shasta at 80 mph. How did he get away with that. No trailer brakes or WD hitch at all.How on earth did the bias ply tires ever hold up.
homedad
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
People want bigger everything now- Houses, vehicles, RVs, drinks, meals, breasts etc...
Acceptance of trucks and SUV's as primary vehicles.
Willingness to buy everything on credit.
Slides add weight.
People want to go faster= need more power=need bigger vehicle.
people want to be viewed as rough and ready. They drive 4x4 vehicles and rarely put themselves in a position to use it. They own mountain bikes and never ride off the pavement. They wear hiking gear to go to the mall. And they carry water with them as if they're about to cross the Sahara.
BIL who is a GM truck engineer says that the pre2000 1/2 ton trucks are equal to the current 3/4 trucks in carrying capacity.
safety
Lots of little things lead to trends. Just the idiosyncrasies of the American culture.
Tvov
Explorer II
Jun 08, 2013
Cars "back then" were a HECK of a lot heavier duty than todays cars. Today's "large" cars would have been considered small cars back in the '60s and '70s. BUT -- they over heated and broke down a lot. Everyone knew how to "adjust a carb", change spark plugs, change oil, etc. Every Saturday was spent not just washing the car, but going over the engine adjusting and checking everything. Before you hit 50,000 miles, it was time to look for a new car - seemed like at 52,000 miles everything just broke down.

So you could tow and haul a heck of a lot more, but there were trade offs.

Oh, the memories of cruising around in a '69 Ford Custom 500, and then the even bigger '77 Mercury Marquis.