Towing A Long Way?

[cybermob2]

thinking about towing 950lbs in jetskis and trailer + 200lbs in luggage and 2 people from michigan to florida and back around xmas.

roughly 2400miles or so roundtrip.

99 3.4 75k mi



would you do it? i'm leaning towards it, but only after i do a full fluids change and tune up. also thinking about a small tranny cooler, but peeps i've talked to say not worth it on a n-body in michigan (even to florida it'll be cold 70% of the trip)

it'd be 10 times nicer ride than the 4banger s-10 would be.

[bigd6983]

man thats heavy duty, you should be alright, i mean you can do the tranny cooler if it makes you feel better, i mean i would plus you will be ready when spring and summer roll around......just make sure you change all your fluids and everything is looking and sounding good, pay attention to any noises from your car for the next month and if you hear anything inspect it........not only is it going to be heavy but your going for a long distance, need to make sure everything is in shape.....

[Redog]

I think that the Alero can tow 1100 lbs. but I'm not sure.

Check your oil about every other stop or so

[misslindseysue]

Eh, that's nothin, you'll be fine. I haven't towed anything more than 550 miles at a time, but that was no problem, and it was probly more than 950 lbs. Just slow down if you can't hold 4th gear, you might have to drive D3 through the mountains. Have fun in FL!

[overdrive75]

Yeah you don't need the trans cooler, I wouldn't be worried. Only thing is if it starts to hunt between 4th and 3rd, pull her down into D3 and let the engine spin.

The car can handle it don't worry about it.

[Vtolds]

It should be able to pull it no prob just keep it floored :) and just think if your engine blows it will give you a excuse to by that Corvette you always wanted :)

[cybermob2]

thanks all...

i'm gonna just freshen the fluids and do the 100k tuneup a few miles early. never hurt anything.

i think the biggest thing is gear hunting under load... i witnessed a ford windstar (it was doomed anyway) tranny get smoked pulling a 1250lb boat in northern michigan. manual (believe it or not) didn't say anthing about NOT using overdrive... well... when its hunting once or twice every 5 min for 2 or 3 hours under heavy load... well... it crapped out a few months later after a slow slippery death.

btw anyone know if there is on/near beach camping in the daytona locale?

[Aleromaster]

well I had my car and 2900 capacity trailor going from New Hampshire to florida and the total combined weight of the car and trailer was over limit by a couple hundred pounds and it pulled it like a champ. Couple weeks later I also used my hitch to yank tree stumps out of the ground

[Pimpalero03]

FLUID CHANGES! i drove from macomb michigan to key west florida. 36 hours straight in my alero. only thing i did when i got back was oil change and air filter cleaning. ur car will be fine. unless u already have like 100,000 miles on your car. lol