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Towing Capacity

Old 07-06-2006, 12:34 PM
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Default Towing Capacity

Just wondering if anyone knows the reason why you are unable to tow with the GXP. The pamphlet for the car says you can tow up to 1000 lbs, but the owners manual indicates not to tow anything. A friend and I got into an argument and he insists I should be able to tow "with an engine of that size". I wont be putting a hitch on the car regardless, but I am curious as to why the car is incapable of towing. Any ideas?
Old 07-06-2006, 01:01 PM
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I saw the same thing and puzzling. Maybe the rear air struts arent designed for that kind of side to side motion? My Park Ave wasnt suppose to tow at all. But I put hitch on it and towed a ski boat regularly. When I retired it to the back forty it lost air constantly and the compressor never shut off.
Old 07-06-2006, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by GXP Venom
When I retired it to the back forty it lost air constantly and the compressor never shut off.
Back 40 eh..typicall rednecks sorry...had to
the problem doesnt lie within how stong the engine is, its your Transaxle u have to worry about, thats alot more weight for it to pull around...plus that extra stopping power...
Old 07-07-2006, 04:25 PM
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I spoke with the GM Canada Customer Care people and the lady made an enquiry as to the towing capacity. She indicated that they dont recommend towing with the vehicle but was unable to provide a reason. When she requested a reason from whoever deals with towing issues she was told "the engineers dont recommend it". In other words no one knows the reason. Oh well. It is interesting that the Buick Lucerne CSX with the same engine and transmission is able to tow. Thats okay, I would rather put the hitch on the Grand Prix.
Old 07-07-2006, 04:51 PM
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Typical GM response. UUUUUUUHhhhhh just because. :? ??? There second choice is always "We'll get back to you on this". Our GXP tranny is used in Trucks and SUV'*. As for the transaxle I can assure you I have layed out more torque against it than a small ski boat would . Unless you crammed it into a lower gear going down a hill at a high rate of speed. But something like that is truly a personal call. I'd be more worried about the GP'* smaller tranny than i would the GXP'* transaxle. What are warranties for anyway
Old 07-07-2006, 05:15 PM
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Regardless I would never tow or even think about towing with the GXP or any other nice car. I know they can but why would you. I know it nice to know it can if you needed to in a pinch. I saw a guy with an accord towing a motorcycle trailer the other day and I just shook my head.

Need to tow...rent or buy a truck or dare I say SUV.
Old 07-14-2006, 11:05 AM
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This is a pic of my 96 Aurora but if you look in the background you can see my neibors 94 cutlass that he uses to pull his worktools to the jobsite each day. That cars has a 3.1 in it.

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Old 07-27-2006, 01:05 AM
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I would imagine it'* because the suspension in your GXP was tuned for one thing and one thing only: your GXP.

No room to factor in variables of things like trailers.
Old 07-27-2006, 01:49 AM
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Originally Posted by BlownBuick
I would imagine it'* because the suspension in your GXP was tuned for one thing and one thing only: your GXP.

No room to factor in variables of things like trailers.
Ya hit the nail on the head... But the engine and the tranny can take towing. It'* a matter of using your head. The only real issue I see is the side to side
Old 07-27-2006, 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by BlownBuick
I would imagine it'* because the suspension in your GXP was tuned for one thing and one thing only: your GXP.

No room to factor in variables of things like trailers.
yep the GXP is 1" lower than a comparable Bonneville or Caddy. That has to be a factor. It does have the same Auto Leveling rear struts as many GM cars so I guess you could get by like GXP Venom said.

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