Ok, so maybe I can be a little bit overprotective when it comes to my car. After I sold my second vehicle last winter, my Jeep Cherokee, I realized that once spring came I wasnt going to have anything to pull my waverunner with. After searching high and low for someone who makes a hitch for SSE / SSEi models, I came across Draw-Tite. Now, granted, my waverunner is a 2000 Yamaha GP1200R, Tripple, Http://200r.flconveyors.com , so its a pretty big machine, but nothing MAJOR, maybe 3500 lbs TOPS, but realisticly maybe 1500. Anyways, I hate it when I see cars drive by that have the *** end saggin like no tomorrow, so for another $70 I ordered those Air Bag inserts for my rear coils. I LOVE them, and they work great!! When pumped up, I can literally jump up and down inside my trunk, and the back of my car doesnt move 1/2". So needless to say, my car sits pretty nice even with a HUGE speaker box, 2 JL 12W6 subs, HUGE amp, AND the waverunner hooked up. It will stay perfectly level actually.

So I took Monday Afternoon off to hit the lake with a buddy.. We get out there around 2, and then relaize I have sucked something up (turned out to be someones damn footsock), so after pulling it back out and unwrapping that from the driveshaft (luckily it didnt get into the impeller), we were on our way riding around 3. We come back in for the day at about 7, and we are just hanging out drinking a couple beers on the beach when a new Yamaha FX140 pulls up. For those of you that dont know what that is, its their new fuel injected, 4-Cylinder, 4-Stroke Waverunner. Both my buddy Mike and I being HUGE Yamaha Watercraft guru'*, we walk over to check this bad boy out as the guys pulling it out of the water.

Next thing I know, I look over and there is this Good Sized Boat behind a CAR waiting in line to launch. I take a closer look, and its a 2000+ Bonneville SE pulling a frekin boat that looked like it was at least 20-21 feet. My Jaw just dropped And I was worried about towing my watercraft with mine??? I didnt say anything to the guy, but before I even had a chance to say anything, Mike looks at me and is like "Holy Crap, He pulls THAT boat with that Bonneville" We were just amazed. Honestly though, the rear end wasnt really sagging THAT much, but it was definetely lower than normal. It was just a stripped down basic SE so I know it didnt have auto-load leveling like mine also has, or anything like that, so I dont know how that guy was doing it, but he was.

Just makes ya wonder sometimes when buying a used car, what exactly the previous owner did. Take that hitch off and trade it in and noone would even know right?? I know for sure though, that that boat was WAAY over the Bonnevilles recommended Towing Capacity, and that poor transmission is getting one hell of a workout.

Just a funny story from yesterday I thought I'd share. Does anyone else besides me tow with their bonny ??

I don't tow with mine yet but I will be next spring. I got a 20ft racing sailboat that I am currently fixing up that will be ready by next summer. The boat it self only weighs 650lbs "empty hull wieght" so it'* by no means a heavy boat. http://www.melges.com/cscows.html I'm thinking that boat and trailer only weighs about 2000 lbs combined at the most.

But hey, thanks to you, I now know where I can get a hitch that will work on my baby.

I was thinking of adding a hitch & trans cooler to haul a small tent trailer. This is om 92 SE. The whole idea of towing "something" though is to make sure "it" weighs less than the vehicle that'* towing it! :? A proper capicity of Trans Cooler is also an estential component so as to NOT burnt out your Trans in the process of towing. But your right, there is no "real" way of knowing prier owner'* habits short of complete disasembly of the car. That'* why it is a "Buyers Beware" market.

I definitely wouldn't tow a BOAT with mine. I like my car too much. I'm designing a small. light trailer to match the car that I'll build this winter. Looking for matching wheels for it, too. Last summer, I built a 5x8 utility trailer to match my Z71. It has a curb weight of 650 pounds, and has a capacity of 3500. For the short term, I'll pull this trailer with my car with light, correctly distributed loads.

Term, where'd you get the air pad inserts?

[edited...]
WHOOPS!! Heres the link that WORKS...

Http://www.macsspring.com

Found them on the net. Web site is a little outdated, but great ppl and customer service.

I went with the ones made by Airlift because they are Lifetime Warranty. Click around under airlift and then application guide and you'll find the part number for our cars.

Later!