I've got a 95 Regal 3.8L with the 4T60E tranny and would like to know if I can reliably tow a 1800 lb. load or if I'm just crazy to consider this. I picked up the car from my mom who had to give up driving. It has 70K and has been meticulously maintained by her local dealer. It runs and drives fantastic.

The manual states 2K tow capacity with the tow package (which it does not have). My intentions are to equip it with a tranny cooler and a hd radiator. I'd like to tow a 1K cargo trailer with my 800LB. Harley. Would this be acceptable? Thanks in advance for any input on this.

Rick

The towing package may have different gearing. 1800 pounds may be OK, but is pushing it. Adding a trans cooler will help.

I guess I was thinking it might do the job as I see some mini-vans using the same tranny rated at 3500lbs.

the person i got my old 88 cutlass sup with 2.8 from hauled a 20ft bayliner a couple dozen times and never had a problem. i got it for cheap so i bought it anyway and that car still made it to about 220k before the suspension started to cost more than it worth to keep going. so i think if you pick up some good struts you will be fine.

i also had a 4x8 trailer i picked up specifically to haul my utility quad with the neon i had at the time. it was 300lbs and had a 1500 pound capacity. it would haul your harley no problem.

I've been looking at some open trailers that weigh around 350lbs. but I'd really like to go with an enclosed trailer.....but not at the expense of ruining the car. It does have new Monroe struts all the way around.

Keep in mind a enclosed trailer will be a much higher wind load. That'* a constant load on the drive train. As stated, a trans cooler will help a lot. The car can pull the load. however, the trans will heat up over time and slowly, or not so slowly kill the transmission. Check the fluid after towing. And if possible, monitor trans fluid temp.

thats my opinion too, wind load is the most significant load when towing if it were me i would just put a soft cover on it. but ive never hauled an enclosed vs open with a car but i have with a truck, equal weights, its very different. i would think it would be worse with a car because it would stick up more.

Thanks for all the replies. I have considered the wind drag issue and would be purchasing a V-nose to help alleviate it somewhat. I just happened to be looking at temp guages when I saw the replies. I may also consider an aftermarket extra capacity pan.

The soft cover is not an option as it would whip around and make a mess of the paint.

Here'* the trailer I'm looking at. http://www.classicmfg.com/cvt85foto.htm

I've pulled travel trailers with a truck that had a towing package. I'll tell you, it'* like dragging a safe behind you. It'* a constant heavy load. Where as a open trailer has a heavy load at start and then lower load when cruising. A enclosed trailer has a heavy load at start, and then the load goes up as you go faster. Put your hand out the window at 65, now figure the small surface area there and then look at the surface area of the trailer. If you want a enclosed trailer, perhaps a snow mobile trailer would be good. They have a slope at the front and will cut down on resistance.

A extra large pan will help a bit. But I would suggest looking for one that has cooling fins built in. And if possible, a drain plug. Trust me, a drain plug on a trans pan is a great idea. As a possible cost savings, compare the price of a larger pan to the biggest FMHE you can get for trans cooling. If the FMHE can hold a gallon of trans fluid, that'* better then a extra quart in the pan.