RE: Towing with Buick Roadmaster?

Woody · Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM

Hey all...Newbie to PUT and posting . Outstanding info on this board. I recently bought a 2003.5 Bayside which I tow with a low miles 96 Buick Roadmaster station wagon w/5000lb rating tow pkg (it s my daily driver and I couldn t get myself to drive a minivan). The wagon has the Lt1 engine with nearly 300hp and tons of extra power when towing the camper. I searched the boards and can t find anyone else towing with these old wagons. Does anyone have any experience with this type of tow vehicle-camper combo? Hope to run into you all somewhere...

gary

Tim5055 · Mar 29, 2003, 06:33 PM

WoodyI have to admit that I have been on the boards for a long time and don t remember anyone towing with a Roadmaster.

I have to ask, what is rated at 5,000 pounds?

Is it--

Maximum Trailer Weight

Gross Trailer Weight

or Gross Combined Weight Rating (probably not)

It could make a difference.

I agree , the Roadmasters are built like tanks, and off the top of my head i would say you won t have problems. Check out my [link=http://www.title-3.com/Hitch.htm]Towing and Hitch web page[/link] and make sure you are OK in al hte numbers.

And, before I forget - welcome to the boards

Woody · Mar 29, 2003, 07:15 PM

Woodythanks....there s so much great info here. The 5000lbs is max trailer weight according to the tow package sticker in the wagon. I ve looked on all the stickers
and can t seem to find gross combined weight, although I do know the wagon weighs ~4500lbs empty. I ve pulled the camper twice now loaded with kids, animals, supplies etc...and can t feel it back there power-wise, and have had no sway yet (knocking on wood). Does the weight of the vehicle compared to the camper help reduce sway? It has load-leveling suspension as part of the tow package so it ends up perfectly level once all hooked-up. I think the Bayside has a 3600lb gross so I think I m ok. Surprised some however that I can t find anyone else towing with these dinosaur wagons. thanks again for the response.

gary

Tim5055 · Mar 29, 2003, 08:25 PM

WoodyGary,

How about a favor and update your profile so we can at least see your home state.

Woody · Mar 29, 2003, 08:55 PM

Woodyoops...thought I did that already.

done.

tlhdoc · Mar 29, 2003, 10:34 PM

WoodyYour wagon is rear wheel drive, right? It will tow better than a front wheel drive minivan will.

mike4947 · Mar 29, 2003, 10:40 PM

WoodyActually Woody you ve got one of the less than 5000 of those " monsters" . When not equipped with the tow package, and if I remember right it has a lot of stuff in it, it s tow rating is only 2000.
Stick around, even with the gas prices going north at a rediculious rate, Detroit has plans to resurect the " big" wagon again. From what I ve heard and seen, all the big three are planning " big car" platforms and all have wagon versions, but, having said that the scuttlebutt is they ll be in the 3500 pound class for towing.
Since they re due out in 05 there s a good chance my vehicle pruchases then will include a sewing machine grocery getter and one of the wagons.

One of the best towing riggs I ever pulled was my FIL s 67 Ford " woody" estate wagon with the two sidewards facing seats in the back for 10 passenger capacity. That beast hauled 7800 pounds wet of trailer over 100,000 miles, 250,000 total and still sets in his garage and comes out on sunny days to impress the neighbors.

GeneF · Mar 30, 2003, 11:33 AM

WoodyCareful Tracy[

]

" Tow better than a minivan"

I have towed with 5 minivans and have not had any problems. Tow rating for most minivans is 3500 except for the Chevy Astro and its GMC counterpart which I believe is 5000

Can he tow more than the minis, yes if the Buick is rated for it.

Woody · Mar 30, 2003, 01:00 PM

WoodyYes Tracy...it is rear wheel drive. The build sheet shows trailer pkg including posi-traction rear end, opt gear ratio (doesn t say what it is though), heavy-duty cooling upgrade, and a larger trans cooler. Mike - man that brings back memories!! I spent much of my youth facing my little brother in those same side-facing rear seats (galaxy 500 wagon i believe). My dad towed a way-used airstream behind it for years. It was surely a tank.

tlhdoc · Mar 30, 2003, 10:56 PM

GeneF

QuoteORIGINAL: GeneF

Careful Tracy[]

" Tow better than a minivan"

I have towed with 5 minivans and have not had any problems. Tow rating for most minivans is 3500 except for the Chevy Astro and its GMC counterpart which I believe is 5000

Can he tow more than the minis, yes if the Buick is rated for it.

Gene I towed with 2 minivans, both were front wheel drive, and that is what I was refering to when I said it will " tow better than a minivan" . I should have said it will tow better than a FWD minivan. Thanks for correcting me.

Gamecock Camper · Mar 31, 2003, 08:36 AM

WoodySounds like you have a good TV (tow vehicle). The car manufacturers are starting to build wagons again, but this time they are not using " wagons" or " stationwagons" as the description. They are calling them the " new hybrid" vehicles. The same thing that happened to the demise of the wagon (moms didn t want to drive wagons when mini-vans came out) is now starting to happen to the mini-vans. Just look at the newest Chrysler. It looks like a wagon, but they are calling it a new breed that doesn t fit into any catagory. Marketing I guess.

My older brother once had the Oldsmobile wagon with a two-speed transmission and the sunlight type windows around the roof behind where the front seats were. (Does that make sense). It was solid and I think it had a 427 V8. They really don t make them like that anymore. The Roadmaster is probably the closest thing. Are they still making them?

Regardless, the wagons and mini-vans are good multi-purpose vehilces that get better gas mileage than the SUV s that are out there. I m driving one of those gas guzzlers, but I have to admit that I really do prefer the truck-like feel of driving it compared to wagons and mini-vans. The mini-vans that we had were both great vehicles that rode well and got decent gas mileage. They didn t have the towing capacity that the Suburban has, so that is how we ended up with it. We also have a large boat to tow on occasion.....

wynot · Mar 31, 2003, 10:02 AM

Woody

QuoteSounds like you have a good TV (tow vehicle). The car manufacturers are starting to build wagons again, but this time they are not using " wagons" or " stationwagons" as the description. They are calling them the " new hybrid" vehicles. The same thing that happened to the demise of the wagon (moms didn t want to drive wagons when mini-vans came out) is now starting to happen to the mini-vans. Just look at the newest Chrysler. It looks like a wagon, but they are calling it a new breed that doesn t fit into any catagory. Marketing I guess.

My older brother once had the Oldsmobile wagon with a two-speed transmission and the sunlight type windows around the roof behind where the front seats were. (Does that make sense). It was solid and I think it had a 427 V8. They really don t make them like that anymore. The Roadmaster is probably the closest thing. Are they still making them?

Nope, Chrysler got out when they started making that minivan. I remember that Olds Vista Cruiser wagon well. GM got out in 96? I remember looking at my last new Chevy Wagon at the Chevy Dealer on Knox Abbott in Cayce (sound familiar?)

QuoteRegardless, the wagons and mini-vans are good multi-purpose vehilces that get better gas mileage than the SUV s that are out there. I m driving one of those gas guzzlers, but I have to admit that I really do prefer the truck-like feel of driving it compared to wagons and mini-vans. The mini-vans that we had were both great vehicles that rode well and got decent gas mileage. They didn t have the towing capacity that the Suburban has, so that is how we ended up with it. We also have a large boat to tow on occasion.....

Problem with the large wagons towing, is that they have a huge rear overhang, and any drop in the rear will drag the tailpipe or hitch.

Woody · Mar 31, 2003, 01:05 PM

WoodyThe Roadmaster has those same roof sunlight-type windows, although I wish they opened up. You re correct...last big wagons were the 96 s. The Coleman dealer I bought the popup from put a class-2 hitch on the wagon - he said because the class-3 would scrape the ground often.

Just thought of that...I guess it s ok to pull a Bayside with a class-2 hitch??

wynot · Mar 31, 2003, 01:37 PM

Woody

QuoteJust thought of that...I guess it s ok to pull a Bayside with a class-2 hitch??

No reserve capacity, but, yes, it should be rated at 3,500 lbs. Doesn t it make you wonder why about probably about 2 inches in depth would be a factor? I d be seriously looking at some of those little bogie wheels you see on big RVs, especially if you get in a dip and that hitch slams down.

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