Impala SS as a tow vehicle

**1BadAction** · 04-04-2004, 04:00 PM

Do you think an 1995 impala SS would be ok for towing a 1500 lb total trailer? the impala that i am looking at has the 300 horse lt1, and 13.5" disk brakes on front 12" discs in the rear. I have seen plenty of caprice wagons (600 lbs heavier, and 75 less horsepower) haul decent sized stuff without a problem. I think the impala will be better than this 178,000 mile wore out v6 blazer that i have...

jim

**Laker** · 04-04-2004, 05:12 PM

Oh ya!
Why not!?
Full frame, good brakes, Strong rear end and Tranny similar to a C1500. And of course more power.
I towed my ventrua with a 2000 Mustang Gt 5speed for 3 years and Zero problems.

**Rickracer** · 04-04-2004, 05:55 PM

I towed all kinds of stuff with my V8/700R4/9" S10, from 3000 to 3700lb. race cars, my 21' Daytona, even a 26' twin IO cabin cruiser one time. I was sweating the brakes a bit on that last one though. I had an electric brake setup, but the brakes on the trailer didn't work. When I got to the shop with it, I found out it had about 15" of water in the bilge. No wonder it was a bit sluggish accelerating, and slowing down.

**1BadAction** · 04-04-2004, 08:18 PM

KEWL! the sad thing is, i gotta get rid of my 2000 WS6,

cause if i do that it will give me NO car payment and 3 grand in my pocket.

yay i might say F it and keep them both and be broke for awhile...

but then again, there is so many un molested trans ams out there...

**j.iverson** · 04-04-2004, 11:47 PM

That would look cool towing a boat!

**Ted Stryker** · 04-05-2004, 06:23 PM

As long as the cooling system ( engine and trans. ) is what it needs to be you'll be just fine.. Everything else under the car ( 350 c.i., 700r4 - 4L60, 8.5" 10 bolt ) is rated for at least 6000 lbs. towing capacity.. Mechanically it's redundantly strong, just make sure it stays cool..

**Massbasser** · 04-16-2004, 10:54 AM

I wanted to do the same with a 1993-1996 Fleetwood. Same car basically minus the big brakes and suspension. Might want to consider a air leveling system.

**Tom D.** · 04-29-2004, 09:09 PM

I would put a transmission cooler on it.

Tom

**Sinister** · 05-22-2005, 02:10 PM

I tow regularly with my Mercury Impalla

and I live in hill country. I am towing at least 3000#, it feels more natural than using my truck. The last of the body-on-frame cars are trucks. Don't waste time/energy second guessing this decision.

BTW: Unfortunately, I smashed the Chevy version years ago.

**NNT** · 05-25-2005, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by 1BadStream

Do you think an 1995 impala SS would be ok for towing a 1500 lb total trailer? the impala that i am looking at has the 300 horse lt1, and 13.5" disk brakes on front 12" discs in the rear. I have seen plenty of caprice wagons (600 lbs heavier, and 75 less horsepower) haul decent sized stuff without a problem. I think the impala will be better than this 178,000 mile wore out v6 blazer that i have...

jim

ok,i am a serious B-body enthusiast(caprice,roadmaster,etc) and let me clear you up a bit.The Impalla SS had 260hp/330lbft tq and the wagons are 300-400 lbs heavier depending on options.the 94-96 wagons have the same exact engine as the ss.there are also plenty of regular caprices with that same LT1 engine out there for much cheaper,also roadmasters,fleetwoods.I believe the SS was rated for 2000 lbs,but i have heard of guys towing much more than that.I put 2.5" lowering springs on my wagon and have towed a 3000lb 21 whaler with no problems.my wagon runs low 14's and gets over 22 on the highway with the 3.73's in it.the ss gets all the glory but is'nt that much better than a regular old caprice with the LT1.shop around,plenty of good deals on these things out there,don't get hung up on having the ss.You can add all the ss stuff to the reg caprices,which is what i did to my wagon.good luck

**1BadAction** · 05-25-2005, 06:00 PM

werent the Lt1 vettes 300hp? Im sure I just looked at that figure when I posted... LOL, whatever, I dont screw with Lt1s, its Gen3 for me.

BTW Im hauling with a 2000 frontier now (this thread is a year old), and If I really got picky, my goat would haul all day and not have a problem. tee hee.

**NNT** · 05-25-2005, 06:02 PM

shoot i did'nt even look at the date lol yea the vettes were 300hp,the camaro's were275+ and then the iron head's in the ss's were 260.my wife is going to get a 05 goat soon,should be wuite a upgrade from her 93hp mazda lol so what did you end up getting?

**1BadAction** · 05-25-2005, 06:08 PM

I have a 2000 nissan frontier... it'll haul anything I can afford to gas up every weekend. LOL- U know I live right up the road from you in LEHIGH... like 45 mins from nipples...

**NNT** · 05-25-2005, 06:24 PM

We almost bought a house in Lehigh,but the realtor sat on his thumbs and i went looking again and found this place in Naples close to 951.I can be at the marco ramp in like 15 minutes and on the beach in5 minutes or so.I'll be up that way tomorrow,just bought a 21 whaler from a guy off exit 141.I was going to get a 15 whaler mischief,kind of thier sporty speed boat looking rig.was going to over power it with a 115 tower i have,but the 21 put that on the back burner.of course a 250 or so on the back of the 21 would have it moving right along lol

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

got it for less than the buy it now price.

**triple dude** · 05-26-2005, 07:53 AM

Your boat is relatively light so why aren't you putting your GTO to work??? That would be a good looking combo!! Someone gave me a small receiver hitch awhile back off a 1970 Chevelle. Should fit my 68 GTO. Wanna get it powder coated or chromed

Don't think I'd pull the boat but could tow the old bikes to shows.