towing with 1996 Buick Roadmaster

[klrv6]

Pretty much the same a my '99 Suburban except the Sub has more mass/weight to it. I do notice I am pulling a trailer, not having to baby sit the thing and drive in fear from getting blown off the road. This is a 2wd 350 4l60e, much like the road master. The factory towing package includes the extra trans and oil coolers. I can hit just under 25mpg on the highway with it (no trailer). My trip from lexington, ky to cleveland last year was 24.97mpg. The most weight I have ever pulled with it was an 8700lb scissor lift for about 12 miles on the highway. No problems at all. Hey... at least they can be had pretty cheap right now.

 

[Dennis Kirban]

kirban 2 cents worth

One aspect to this entire tow issue with a stationwagon has been completely over looked. While one guy goes from Oklahoma to the Nats another resides in Florida. Most of Florida is flat and smooth roads. The guy considering doing the towing with the roadmaster resides in Oregon. The terrain in Oregon is far far different from areas mentioned above.

Life is a gamble no doubt but, you want to have the cards in your favor before you start out. Any amount of money you dump into the stationwagon would be far better spent starting with an adequate truck first.

kirbanperformance.com

denniskirban@yahoo.com

Many many tow miles behind me......

 

[turbofish38]

I've towed through most of Appalachia,The Smokies and the Ozarks. Never had a reason to cross the Great Divide in the Rockies yet and about the only issue is the over heating that all vehicles experience at those altitudes.

Stand back and read what you are writing. By your logic even a 4 door cab dually shouldn't be towing a 10,000 trailer because it weighs less than what it is towing. Same goes for a big Class 8 18 wheeler with 53 foot trailer.

Anybody remember growing up before the 80's? I was spawned in 1960 and it was a rare sight to see a pick up truck towing anything when I was a kid. Still remember a few old Buick Estate wagons hauling Top Fuel rails on open trailers.

Go to www.impalassforum.com and read what others say about the Roadmasters.

 

[79TurboCutlass]

Ryan's 10 cents worth

Nobody has ever said that a Roadmaster will be a better tow rig than a truck. The original question was could you tow with a Roadmaster? The answer is, yes you can. It has been done before. People are still around to talk about it, and do it again.

 

[Dennis Kirban]

kirban 2 cents worth

I can see if we were all looking at the same patch of sky at the same time we would all reach a different conclusion. My last comment on this issue is simply this:

If given a choice of a automotive station wagon to tow a car trailer with a 3,500 lb car on total weight 5,000 lbs or better behind it for any distance, I would pass on the opportunity because those cars are not rated to pull that kind of weight.

As far as the 1980s go I agree, heck back then no one paid much attention to date codes on tires, but they sure do now.

To each their own, and I think the person that posed the question now has enough data to make his own decision.

kirbanperformance.com

denniskirban@yahoo.com

Good comments I can see a run on Buick roadmaster wagons now.

 

[DIAZ 87]

kirban 2 cents worth

I can see if we were all looking at the same patch of sky at the same time we would all reach a different conclusion. My last comment on this issue is simply this:

If given a choice of a automotive station wagon to tow a car trailer with a 3,500 lb car on total weight 5,000 lbs or better behind it for any distance, I would pass on the opportunity because those cars are not rated to pull that kind of weight.

As far as the 1980s go I agree, heck back then no one paid much attention to date codes on tires, but they sure do now.

To each their own, and I think the person that posed the question now has enough data to make his own decision.

kirbanperformance.com

denniskirban@yahoo.com

Good comments I can see a run on Buick roadmaster wagons now.

Dennis, i agree with you 1000% on this to each their own i guess,like i said before i have a pickup truck thats rated 6000lb that i used once to tow my gn with and was one hell of a scary time.I was close to being max out by 300lb or so.

Just play it safe and rent a truck that is design to handle the weight and much more for that piece of mind

 

[wile87]

there's a big difference between a 96 buick road master and a 73 wagon, or any 73 full size for that matter pulling a car weighing what a gn does. i had a 73 olds 98 that i'm sure would have towed my gn no problem , but would i have chanced it, probably not

 

[turbofish38]

Plenty of opinions and only one, one actual experience in towing with a Roadmaster. I guess most if not all of you drank the same kool-aid the soccer moms did as far as trucks and SUVs go. You can't beat me at this arguement. The Roadmaster has the same full perimeter frame as your wimpy 1/2 ton trucks. Same wheelbase as a short box truck. Same brakes. Same GVWR. Has more power. Gets better fuel mileage. Rides better. Goes faster. Has more interior room. Looks a lot better. Has better resale. It's built just as good as a truck in other words. I could go on and on. Not neccesary as all you need to do is a google search on safe towing habits. I couldn't find GMs specs on the true GVWR of my wagon but here's a good link that is close. I guess I'll post a page out of the owners manual when I can. Go to any manufacturers website for the ratings of any truck or SUV. 1995 Buick Roadmaster Optional Equipment

Trailer Towing Package (5000 lb)

 

[klrv6]

Plenty of opinions and only one, one actual experience in towing with a Roadmaster. I guess most if not all of you drank the same kool-aid the soccer moms did as far as trucks and SUVs go. You can't beat me at this arguement. The Roadmaster has the same full perimeter frame as your wimpy 1/2 ton trucks. Same wheelbase as a short box truck. Same brakes. Same GVWR. Has more power. Gets better fuel mileage. Rides better. Goes faster. Has more interior room. Looks a lot better. Has better resale. It's built just as good as a truck in other words. I could go on and on. Not neccesary as all you need to do is a google search on safe towing habits. I couldn't find GMs specs on the true GVWR of my wagon but here's a good link that is close. I guess I'll post a page out of the owners manual when I can. Go to any manufacturers website for the ratings of any truck or SUV. 1995 Buick Roadmaster Optional Equipment

Nice, somewhat close...


Don't forget about raw mass of the vehicle. A Suburban weighs a bit more than a RM wagon. Get going/towing down a slight hill with a turn in it and you'll be glad you're it one. Yes, most parts are the same. My Sub is great and as I stated, it does knock down some great mileage on the highway. Looks are dependent on the owner, I like the look of both. If I had a RM, it would have to be forced induction of some kind though.

I know, I know the stereo typical soccer mom with kids and a truck full of crap for them. Wrong, We were forced into ours when a drunk driver rear ended my wife in her Sentra and completely ruptured her l4 and l5 disks. We bought a camry but, she was still scared to drive. I did the best I could without going with a 4wd gas hog. We would hate to lose the thing now. Vacations are great, plenty of room. I just need to do ball joints, tie rods and maybe bigger sway bars before our vacation in June. Both can be fun, I would just make sure it's safe to pull 5Klbs with a RM. I'm sure much more has been pulled with much less.

 

[turbofish38]

My RM is the wifes DD. Although she would like to get something a lot smaller and sportier she always tells me she would miss it if we ever sold it. Mostly because it's built like a tank and I'd have to say if it wasn't for the fact that I do tow with it she would probably be in the same mess your wife is. My wife has been rear ended TWICE in the RM. The first time was by a F250 towing a 20 foot camper and the second was by some old people in a Toyota.Now I've done everything to this car to make it a joy to have a trailer on the back of it. That means I have this heavy Class III/IV load leveling reciever hitch on it. It's such a PITA to remove so I just leave it on. Man that thing is like having an extra barrier of protection. That Ford truck didn't have a chance. It pushed it's front bumper back to the crank pulley and all that it did to my wagon was dent in the tailgate. Apparently the dumbass Ford driver didn't take towing seriously though. He had a ball mounted to his step bumper and the trailer pushed the bumper all theway down to the rear axle.

I never worry about the lack of brakes. That's why it's mandatory to have brakes on your trailer. I prefer electric brakes over the surge type. It's fun locking them up with a manual controller.