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12-30-2016, 11:52 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Nashville
Posts: 4
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Towing 1985 Buick LeSabre Limited Collectors Edition
Can you tow a 1985 Buick with the Blue Ox tow bar attached directly to the front bumper? I cannot find a base plate for this car.
Towing with a Winnebago Vista
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12-30-2016, 06:06 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Vaughn, WA
Posts: 1,460
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Hi Philip and Welcome to the Forum!
You have a couple serious issues trying to tow your Buick.
First, no. The front bumper is held on by a pair of energy absorbing shocks that are designed to absorb low speed impacts. Pulling on them would soon cause them to separate, ripping the bumper from the car. No fun.
Second. While you might find someone to fabricate some custom baseplates, I suspect the Le Sabre is likely beyond the weight towing capabilities of your coach.
Third, that model Buick is rear wheel drive and those GM transmissions cannot be flat towed without causing damage.
Time to look for a more appropriate toad.
Best of luck!
__________________
Nick
1995 Coachmen Santara 360MB 36' w/slide.
Ford F53/460 chassis, 2020 Chev Equinox "toad"
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12-31-2016, 08:50 AM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,563
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Put it on a trailer. It can't be flat-towed as-is or dolly-towed at all. You could add a drive shaft disconnect for flat towing, but you would still need to have custom base plates designed. That plus the disconnect makes for an extremely expensive mod for towing, so a trailer makes the most sense.
Problem is, the car + trailer weight may well exceed the hitch & tow capacity of a View. Check the numbers carefully.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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12-31-2016, 12:15 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,455
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Though I agree with Gary and Nick that it would probably be costly to modify the car for flat towing, I just did some quick research and it appears that you'd be just a hair under the GCWR of your coach (2015 Winnebago Vista 30T) towing that particular Buick and that's assuming that you have the coach loaded to its GVWR so there's a little room to fudge there. The Buick is about 3,642 lbs at its curb weight and your coach has a towing capacity of 4,000 lbs at GVWR with a hitch capacity of 5,000 lbs. (drawbar rated). So in theory, you should be able to tow it weight wise.
Roadmaster's online chart indicates they can custom make a base plate for a '86 LeSabre so I'd have to assume they could also do it for an '85. So if it's important to you to tow that particular vehicle, whether you need a disconnect kit, lube pump, or whatever, and if you're willing to spend the money, it appears to be possible.
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12-31-2016, 01:54 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Vaughn, WA
Posts: 1,460
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1985 was the last year for the old rear drive, full frame model. Guarantee if you roll it onto scales that it is over 4K. The '86 changed to FWD smaller, lighter unibody. That one uses a transaxle that can handle being towed, that's why they made baseplates for the newer model.
__________________
Nick
1995 Coachmen Santara 360MB 36' w/slide.
Ford F53/460 chassis, 2020 Chev Equinox "toad"
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12-31-2016, 02:43 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,455
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick-B
1985 was the last year for the old rear drive, full frame model. Guarantee if you roll it onto scales that it is over 4K. The '86 changed to FWD smaller, lighter unibody. That one uses a transaxle that can handle being towed, that's why they made baseplates for the newer model.
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Ah, sorry for the bad information. Now that I recall, you're right, there was a generation change from 1985 to 1986 where they went to the FWD H-platform (I think it was the H-platform). However, the curb weight of the exact model the OP is referring to appears to be 3,642 lbs. ( click) so the towing weight should be well under 4,000 lbs.
So okay, I concur with everybody else. Probably best to stay away from towing that car.
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01-01-2017, 10:25 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Nashville
Posts: 4
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Thanks everyone for your responses. After considering all the responses and doing more research, I have decided to look for another toad. But, boy did that old Buick ride and drive great. Thanks again and where can I find a list of cars that can be flat towed?
Phillip
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01-01-2017, 11:57 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,455
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhillipL
Thanks everyone for your responses. After considering all the responses and doing more research, I have decided to look for another toad. But, boy did that old Buick ride and drive great. Thanks again and where can I find a list of cars that can be flat towed?
Phillip
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Phillip, the "official" list can be viewed in the guides available from the following years, 2000 through 2016. The vehicles listed are ones that have been officially sanctioned to be flat towed by their manufacturers and will have instructions printed in their owner's manual on the procedure to do so. Each year is in a separate PDF file.
Downloadable Dinghy Guides -- MotorHome Magazine
There are other vehicles that many flat tow which are not listed but they are NOT officially approved by their manufacture to be flat towed. You can do research on how to tow those vehicles but just keep in mind that their manufacturer does not freely nor publicly approve doing so.
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