HI,
It really depends on the weight and ratings of the tow vehicles that you have, and if they have an extra 600 pounds for hitch weight. Does your vehicle have plenty of power to tow a trailer? Most front wheel drive cars do not have enough power.
What engine is in the car? 1956, they typically came with a 6.5:1 compression ratio, and typically only made about 75 - 105 HP due to the available 83 octane fuel, and low compression ratio required to use that low octane fuel. If you have improved that engine, and have a little more power, then it can tow more, but it depends on automatic transmission or manual. With that old of a car, I don't know the horsepower capacity of either the transmission or the clutch in the case of a manual transmission.
Modern cars have a larger diameter clutch, and sometimes have special friction materials, so they can handle 250+ HP, the F-450 6 speed has 362 HP and a really large clutch!
Have you upgraded the 56 wagon brakes to front disk? Or even added a power brake booster to it? I would recommend both. Some have even gone so far as installing a front clip from a 72 Nova or another car with the correct spacing in the frame front end. It would give a better suspension as well as disk brakes!
For transporting the trailer before upgrading the wagon, I would recommend borrow a truck that is 3/4 ton and disk brakes.
Your 56 will require a weight distribution system, and probably a better hitch that is has now. The WD hitch grabs onto the frame with 3 bolts on each side, the forward one about 12- 15" in front of the rear most bolt hole. You would be using torque to transfer weight off the rear axle onto the front axle, and yes that is what is required to transfer that torque to the wagon frame.
Check your axle weight ratings, tire weight rating, and make sure that you will not overload anything. Normally axle weight is limited to at least 300 pounds less than what the two tires can carry.
Good luck on your project!
Fred.
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