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eddndee · 10-11-2019, 12:26 AM

I have been looking for a vehicle that meets my daily needs and also one that I can tow. I hope this will work! It is a manual shift and weighs about 4000 lbs. Any issues I need to consider? 1966 Chevy SportVan

guardrail53 · 10-11-2019, 02:42 AM

I see no reason why you could not use it for a toad! I have owned two of these Chevy Sport Vans, a 1965, and a 1967, both the short wheel base, same as the 66 you have! The 65 had a 230 cu. in. straight 6, and the 67 had the bigger 250 cu. in. straight 6! Three on the tree! Both ran very good, and never let me down! My 65 was the window model, like yours, and the 67 was the panel van, so no side windows!
They are a full frame, and you can mount the tow bar attachments right to the front bumper, if you have one!
I also had a 1966 Chevy Shortbed stepside pickup 6 cyl. three on the tree, that I used for a toad, before I hotrodded it, and I had the cheap Reese fixed tow bar, and mounted the tow bar attachments right to the steel bumper, (how it came), so you could do that too! They made real steel bumpers back then! I mounted the safety chain eye's right to the side of the frame, and it worked great! Any questions, shoot me a PM! Rail!

eddndee · 10-12-2019, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guardrail53

I see no reason why you could not use it for a toad! I have owned two of these Chevy Sport Vans, a 1965, and a 1967, both the short wheel base, same as the 66 you have! The 65 had a 230 cu. in. straight 6, and the 67 had the bigger 250 cu. in. straight 6! Three on the tree! Both ran very good, and never let me down! My 65 was the window model, like yours, and the 67 was the panel van, so no side windows!
They are a full frame, and you can mount the tow bar attachments right to the front bumper, if you have one!
I also had a 1966 Chevy Shortbed stepside pickup 6 cyl. three on the tree, that I used for a toad, before I hotrodded it, and I had the cheap Reese fixed tow bar, and mounted the tow bar attachments right to the steel bumper, (how it came), so you could do that too! They made real steel bumpers back then! I mounted the safety chain eye's right to the side of the frame, and it worked great! Any questions, shoot me a PM! Rail!

I think it should tow or ok. I tend to run close to my Cargo Carry Capacity but the hitch is rated for 5000lbs. Any suggestions on Brand of Tow Bar? I don’t go far and tow infrequently so simple is nice.

aether_one · 10-12-2019, 10:39 AM

I've used this for 3 years, 5000 lb capacity and CHEAP!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ppilotmike · 10-12-2019, 11:26 AM

If you leave the driveshaft hooked up while towing you will rotate the transmission main shaft. Older manual transmissions rely on the counter shaft spinning for lubrication. Since the engine will not be running while you are towing the input shaft will not be rotating, which is what drives the counter shaft. The front of the main shaft rides in a "pocket" of the input shaft. Since the input shaft is not turning you have a large RPM difference between the main shaft and the input shaft which will damage the pocket bearing when it runs dry about 2-250 miles into the trip. Easy answer is remove four bolts from the rear u-joint attach point and tie up the back of the driveshaft and you will be golden.

guardrail53 · 10-12-2019, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfryman

I've used this for 3 years, 5000 lb capacity and CHEAP!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That's the one I used also, to tow my 66 Chevy SB, SS pickup!
And I had no transmission damage putting it in neutral and going! I did not disconnect the driveshaft! Just say'n!

Also, I did not go to far, 200 to 300 miles a day! Rail!