Hello,
So I have a 1981 Cadillac Coupe DeVille with the 6.0 V8 TBI engine, and the 3-speed non-overdrive transmission. I have searched far and wide for any information on if that car can tow my 14' aluminum fishing boat, and have come up empty. The boat and trailer combined are about 500 pounds. The owner'* manual advises against towing, but my Dad insists that it CAN tow. Aside from the usual stuff like an upgraded engine/trans cooling system, better brakes, and better rear shocks, DOES or HAS ANYBODY ever towed with an older full-frame Cadillac??? If you have, what have you done to make it happen? If anyone has any useful information, that'd be great!

This was take a couple days after I got 'er. All-original, from Michigan no less; no rust-through, just mild surface rust in spots!

THIS is the boat in question (not the Bayliner in the background, that'* someone else'*.) 14' Montgomery-Ward Sea King w/ a 25 hp Johnson o/b.

No problem. You are good to pull that.

Agreed. 500lbs is literally 2 big guys in the back seat.

The boat gets better gas mileage then the boat with 4 wheels.

Even with the Turbo 350? I haven't bothered to look to see if there'* an aux tranny cooler, but if there isn't I'd fit one in. Thanks for the insight.

I forgot to mention the cylinder deactivation still works (half-heartedly). Should I disable that before trying to tow?

The PCM will control it ok. I doubt you need a trans cooler unless your going up some hills.

It will tow that without noticing.

It seats six, right? . . . and can take everyone'* luggage in the trunk?

The boat is worth two or three passengers without their luggage. It is more aerodynamic than the car . . . without the car pushing the air out of the way in front of it.

If anything breaks while that boat is hitched up, it was going to break anyways.

The Caddy won't even notice that the boat is on.
My previous sedan was an 81 cutlass TH-350- 4 door and would pull my 3500lb boat beautifully! Too bad the frame rusted out, I miss that car.

I don't know how I stumbled on this thread, but thought I would share. I have pulled out my '88 Baja, which is about 2400 lbs plus another 1000 or so for the trailer, with my 1990 Cadillac Brougham. As long as you have ample traction and working air bags in the rear, this weight is no problem.