towing capacity

[dallastx75208]

What is the towing capacity of a 62 hawk?

[StudeRich]

I think the last time someone asked that question it was about a Stude. Truck, and after much discussion I think the bottom line was Studebaker never quoted any towing capacity even on Trucks, so no chance on a car!

Also it is somewhat determined by the aftermarket Draw-Tite, Reese, etc. hitch, which is usually rated at around 2500 LBS. I think.

The consensus of opinion also was that the brakes are the most important constraint as to the safe limit.

I have flat towed (tow barred) Studebakers at least as heavy or more than the Tow Studebaker, over the nine Siskiyou Mountain passes at the Calif. Oregon border all the way from L.A. to above Seattle and back over a dozen times, but I sure do not recommend that any longer, as there is more than enough power in a 289 to pull 3400 LBS. but it is a whole different thing to try to STOP it, or to actually pull a trailer with tongue weight also.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[hank63]

Do you have stae laws about this subject in USA?
Where I live, the towing limit is max 1.5 the mass of the towing car, even if the car manufacturer allowed more.
/H

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by hank63

Do you have stae laws about this subject in USA?
Where I live, the towing limit is max 1.5 the mass of the towing car, even if the car manufacturer allowed more.
/H

A Hawk weighs about 3400 or so. Towing 5,100 pounds with it would be quite dangerous and completely out of the question IMHO (even if it was legal by the book).

I agree with Rich about the stopping part. The brakes on a Hawk are good, but they are made to stop the Hawk...not the Hawk AND a trailer.

You don't indicate WHAT you want to tow, but I'd say anything more than a little teardrop trailer or something similar in size/weight would be a stretch. Even then, I'd rig up some sort of hitch that attaches to the frame rails...the rear crossmember is pretty flimsy as is the bumper.

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[studeclunker]

Having considerable towing experiance with a Stude, I'd have to agree with Dick. My Champ has sufficient brakes to handle a 3k load, and no more. The wagon can't even handle my 1000lb tool trailer. I mean, both have the same motor and the wagon's is the stronger of the two![B)] Brakes are the problem.[:0]

If one was going to tow a trailer with a stock Stude; a reciever hitch would be essential if the load exceeded the smallest of utility or teardrop trailers. If one wanted to tow anything with a dual axle, brakes on the trailer would be MANDITORY as that weight is too much for the tow vehicle's brakes!

All of the above is opinion, and should be taken in that veign. By the by; both vehicles mentioned are in my sig. line.


Home of the famous Mr. Ed!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

[Metman]

Not to detour this topic.. but who else saw the Sunbeam Alpine in Lancaster towing the full size open car trailer??!! Yes, a Sunbeam Alpine...! Never saw it with a vehicle on the trailer, but certainly had many of us scratching our heads...

Now how do those brakes relate to towing weight? [|)]

Regards- Matt

1963 GT Hawk
1960 Metropolitan Convertible
1972 AMC Javelin/ AMX
1958 Cushman Eagle

[studeclunker]

quote:Now how do those brakes relate to towing weight?

Scary![:0]


Home of the famous Mr. Ed!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

[PlainBrownR2]

Seeing the item on the Alpine and the car trailer reminds me of an item I never hear of when it comes to towing: What of wheelbase on the vehicle?
We had an 85 K Body Blazer we used as a tow vehicle. These Blazers were basically full size truck frames with a wheelbase a little larger than a Lark, with truck rims, suspension, etc. They love to spring from dip to dip on the expressway, rather than absorb them with the way they were set up. We also have a long time owned Doolittle, which is the length of an Avanti and has dual axles. We used this thing to carry about everything from Model A's to our Ford 8N, and to the present Studebakers. What we found is when a large length trailer is combined with an additional mass, and then coupled to a short wheelbase vehicle, you had to be extremelllly careful when stopping. The reason being is, even though the Doolittle has electric brakes, electric lights and the like, when that trailer is asked to stop after the vehicle starts to stop, that Doolittle will travel a little still. With a short wheelbase vehicle that trailer back there will want to push the vehicle in front of it(with everything in order, in a straightline fashion). Nonetheless the mass back there is now just about controlling you, rather than the other way around, so you must take great care with towing with a short frame and a large load. It's also makes sense not to go racing down a freeway at 70 mph on the left with a large load in the rear. [)]

We have moved on though to a long wheelbase F-150, lol


[img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201950%202r5%20Studebaker%20Pickup%20with%20turbocharger/P1000137-1.jpg[/img=left]
[img=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00005.jpg?t=1171153370[/img=right]
[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/Ex%20Studebaker%20Plant%20Locomotive/P1000578-1.jpg[/IMG=left]

[StudeRich]

A Doolittle? [?] I thought I had at least HEARD of every American made vehicle built since 1946, but never this one! What kind of Truck is it, Simi-Tractor, Flatbed, Stakebed, Pickup? [:0] Maybe it's a nickname for a Chevy!

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[PlainBrownR2]

A DooLittle is our dovetail open car trailer. We had that, phoo since about 91 or further back. Made by the Doolittle Trailer Mfr Inc...


[img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201950%202r5%20Studebaker%20Pickup%20with%20turbocharger/P1000137-1.jpg[/img=left]
[img=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00005.jpg?t=1171153370[/img=right]
[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/Ex%20Studebaker%20Plant%20Locomotive/P1000578-1.jpg[/IMG=left]

[dallastx75208]

I was looking at a early 60's boat, about 16ft to tow behind it.

quote:Originally posted by Dick Steinkamp

quote:Originally posted by hank63

Do you have stae laws about this subject in USA?
Where I live, the towing limit is max 1.5 the mass of the towing car, even if the car manufacturer allowed more.
/H

A Hawk weighs about 3400 or so. Towing 5,100 pounds with it would be quite dangerous and completely out of the question IMHO (even if it was legal by the book).

I agree with Rich about the stopping part. The brakes on a Hawk are good, but they are made to stop the Hawk...not the Hawk AND a trailer.

You don't indicate WHAT you want to tow, but I'd say anything more than a little teardrop trailer or something similar in size/weight would be a stretch. Even then, I'd rig up some sort of hitch that attaches to the frame rails...the rear crossmember is pretty flimsy as is the bumper.

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[HookedonStudies]

The term I use for a short wheelbase tow vehicle with a long and/or heavier trailer is "the tail wagging the dog" NOT RECOMMENDED!

I towed a 26 ft Travel Trailer (7400 lbs empty) with a 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. The striaght line towing was great. Lane changes, curves, braking and any combination of those was white knuckle time![:0]
The next summer I bought a 95 Chev Suburban and had no problems. Interestingly, the Jeep would accelerate (while towing) from 40-60 in about half the distance as the Suburban!

55 Commander
58 Transtar
62 GT Hawk
66 Cruiser

[DEEPNHOCK]

Matt, Did you look close at that car? Or the trailer?
It was well built and stout enough to tug that trailer around all day and all night.
Small block Ford, big rear end, 4 wheel disc brakes. load equalizer hitch, trailer brakes.
I spoke to the owner and quizzed him about it, and he said it did indeed tow quite nicely...
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by Metman

Not to detour this topic.. but who else saw the Sunbeam Alpine in Lancaster towing the full size open car trailer??!! Yes, a Sunbeam Alpine...! Never saw it with a vehicle on the trailer, but certainly had many of us scratching our heads...
Now how do those brakes relate to towing weight? [|)]

http://community.webshots.com/user/deepnhock

[41 Frank]

When I saw it it had an Avanti loaded on the trailer. The trailer and car probably weigh twice what the Sunbeam does. A recipe for disaster in my opinion.

quote:Originally posted by Metman

Not to detour this topic.. but who else saw the Sunbeam Alpine in Lancaster towing the full size open car trailer??!! Yes, a Sunbeam Alpine...! Never saw it with a vehicle on the trailer, but certainly had many of us scratching our heads...

Now how do those brakes relate to towing weight? [|)]

Regards- Matt

1963 GT Hawk
1960 Metropolitan Convertible
1972 AMC Javelin/ AMX
1958 Cushman Eagle

[BobGlasscock]

The last two serious info posts ruined my joke. But have no fear, I shall post it anyway.


That Alpine doesn't tow the trailer, the trailer keeps the car from being stolen.

'50 Champion, 1 family owner