Towing Qs

[mrtc4w]

I towed a 5X8 open trailer to Iowa, picked up my stuff and came back. I am not sure what the tounge weight was but I felt the rear was too low, not scraping the ground low. I would like to get air shocks, or air bags to keep the PT level.

Any suggestions?

Thank you,
Marty

[PT_Sean]

Originally Posted by Scott P

Um, anything? I used to tow my waverunner with a Chevy Cavalier. Now, granted it was only 400 lbs plus 180 lb trailer, but it was a 2.2L engine with only 115HP and I had no problems pulling that thing all over the place, even down to West Virginia a couple times.

I used to tow a PAIR of Seadoos, total weight 1,800 pounds with all the gear, with a 4 cyl Mitsubishi truck. Mind you, it was geared for 3.93 and could pull a TON as per the specs. Not sure if I agree with the no-tow-with-4 cyl comments.

Enkeil- I said exactly what Joe quoted over at the other place- the turbo is not supposed to be an always-on device!

ALSO- its worthj repeating, when/if towing, or using the turbo, wait a minute or so BEFORE shutting down- otherwise, the oil pressure drops and the turbo may not have spooled down yet, and may be running on metal-to-metal.

I tow a small trailer sometimes with my PT, 500 pounds MAX, no issues. I would keep it at that.

[PT_Sean]

Originally Posted by mrtc4w

I towed a 5X8 open trailer to Iowa, picked up my stuff and came back. I am not sure what the tounge weight was but I felt the rear was too low, not scraping the ground low.

Chances are, if the tongue was too low, you over-loaded the front of the trailer. The top of the ball should be about 16" up from level ground. If it has sagged below that, move some weight to the back of the trailer to lighten the tongue.

A Class I hiotch is rated at 200 pound tongue weight, but I would keep it at 100, to match the 10% of 1,000 that the PT should ever tow, IMHO.

[THier]

UH,,,, big rigs tow all the time, and they have turbos, and when I used to wrench on them, they were not water jacketed. Chrysler says its ok to tow with the turbo, I am set up for towing, but haven't had to yet, wifes van has been availible to use. I run a EGT so I can keep an eye on exhaust temps, so I'm not worried, but my trailer and cargo is right about 1,000 lbs.
Tom

[PT_Sean]

Originally Posted by THier

UH,,,, big rigs tow all the time, and they have turbos, and when I used to wrench on them, they were not water jacketed. Chrysler says its ok to tow with the turbo, I am set up for towing, but haven't had to yet, wifes van has been availible to use. I run a EGT so I can keep an eye on exhaust temps, so I'm not worried, but my trailer and cargo is right about 1,000 lbs.
Tom

Good point- Big rigs also have 30 GALLONS of coolant, 40 sq. ft. of cooling rads, 20-30L of engine oil, AND an engine oil and transmission oil cooler- things that the PT GT does not.

Having extra monitoring gear IS the way to go for sure!!

[JOEM]

Originally Posted by THier

Chrysler says its ok to tow with the turbo, I am set up for towing, but haven't had to yet, wifes van has been availible to use. I run a EGT so I can keep an eye on exhaust temps, so I'm not worried, but my trailer and cargo is right about 1,000 lbs.
Tom

Big rigs are "rigged" for use of the turbo pretty much full time (which you see, for example, on the Dodge Ram Cummins turbo diesel). But when I owned a turbo Dodge car, the owner's manual and knowledgeable sources said towing was risky with a turbo car that's designed for only occasional turbo use. And I know personally of one lady who fried her Saab's engine by towing with a turbo. Up to you, though.

[Dreamacre]

Originally Posted by PT_Sean

Good point- Big rigs also have 30 GALLONS of coolant, 40 sq. ft. of cooling rads, 20-30L of engine oil, AND an engine oil and transmission oil cooler- things that the PT GT does not.

Having extra monitoring gear IS the way to go for sure!!

Big Rigs that are set up properly for towing, are the BEST!

[KR8Z4BULEEPT]

Originally Posted by RubyRed

..... If you lived where it's flat, acellerated slowly, NEVER changed your speed and coasted to all stops -yeah, you could get away with it and probably show no damage to your Cruiser. But no one drives in conditions that would permit that. At some point, you'd have to kick in the turbo to get around someone or something, you'd have to jamb on the brakes to avoid some idiot who thought he needed to pass you right before he needs to turn left. You get the point I'm trying to make?......

time, distance and terrain indeed all factor in too. Question to Enkiel is whether his intent is to tow across the country, or just a couple miles to the local fishing hole....probably could get away with the latter.

[PT_Sean]

Originally Posted by KR8Z4BULEEPT

time, distance and terrain indeed all factor in too. Question to Enkiel is whether his intent is to tow across the country, or just a couple miles to the local fishing hole....probably could get away with the latter.

Enky is from Quebec- he is either LEAVING, or moving. If not, even a trip to the fishing hole in Quebec requires constant acceleration- speed limits there are ONLY a suggestion! Turn-signals? Never. Merge lanes = off-ramps, (exit AND enter the highways at 80 mph, or else!!)...

If you can drive in Quebec, you can drive ANYWHERE!!