2001 ITR
17-01-2006, 08:44 AM
I am starting to think about a tow car for a 1200kg race car which is slowly coming together. The (braked) trailer will be roughly 600kg so all up the weight that I will be towing will be 1800kg. My tow car should ideally have a bit of zip, not be too expensive (to buy or to run), be able to do long distances (GT) without beating me up and probably be able to function as a daily driver while towing the race car about once a month.
A CV8 Monaro was something I was day dreaming about (love the look of the coupe) and while I don’t doubt that it could occasionally tow 1800kg if I was pulled over by the cops could they ping me for being overweight (if they had a way of weighing me).
Is there any way that the Monaro can be modified so that it can legally tow 1800kg?
Do the HSV variants have greater/lesser tow capacity?
Does the Monaro’s 1600kg tow capacity have a fair bit of a “safety margin” built in to it?
How are the Monaro’s for towing?
Would I be better off with a Ford EF/EL/AU XR8 as a tow car?
I would like to know if there is a database/website somewhere that readily lists what cars can tow what weight as it would be a lot easier to pick a car if I had that information before me. I have been looking at the Age/SMH drive section where the tow capacity is listed under specification.
Even then there appear to be some anomalies in The Age website (Audi S2 can tow 1500kg, Lexus LS400 – 1600kg, Porsche 928 no listed tow capacity (even though you can get tow kits), SAAB 9-5 can tow 1800kg but an XB Falcon, WB Statesman or Chev Camaro has no listed towing capacity).
I know that some sportier cars have no listed tow capacity – e.g. My Integra Type R has no listed capacity even though the lower spec cars can tow 400kg and the BMW M3 has no listed capacity as opposed to lower spec 3 series. Why is this? Strain on driveline components?
How about imports?
Can a Lexus SC400/Soarer coupe tow anything (it is the same driveline as the LS400 sedan)?
I’ve seen Lexus towing 2-horse horse floats – would they be over 1600kg?
A CV8 Monaro was something I was day dreaming about (love the look of the coupe) and while I don’t doubt that it could occasionally tow 1800kg if I was pulled over by the cops could they ping me for being overweight (if they had a way of weighing me).
Is there any way that the Monaro can be modified so that it can legally tow 1800kg?
Do the HSV variants have greater/lesser tow capacity?
Does the Monaro’s 1600kg tow capacity have a fair bit of a “safety margin” built in to it?
How are the Monaro’s for towing?
Would I be better off with a Ford EF/EL/AU XR8 as a tow car?
I would like to know if there is a database/website somewhere that readily lists what cars can tow what weight as it would be a lot easier to pick a car if I had that information before me. I have been looking at the Age/SMH drive section where the tow capacity is listed under specification.
Even then there appear to be some anomalies in The Age website (Audi S2 can tow 1500kg, Lexus LS400 – 1600kg, Porsche 928 no listed tow capacity (even though you can get tow kits), SAAB 9-5 can tow 1800kg but an XB Falcon, WB Statesman or Chev Camaro has no listed towing capacity).
I know that some sportier cars have no listed tow capacity – e.g. My Integra Type R has no listed capacity even though the lower spec cars can tow 400kg and the BMW M3 has no listed capacity as opposed to lower spec 3 series. Why is this? Strain on driveline components?
How about imports?
Can a Lexus SC400/Soarer coupe tow anything (it is the same driveline as the LS400 sedan)?
I’ve seen Lexus towing 2-horse horse floats – would they be over 1600kg?