Buick LaSabre pulling boat

[chdabren]

Re: Buick LaSabre pulling boat

It it only 1000 lbs because of the suspension, not the engine or transmission. Going 4 miles at 35 mph he will be just fine, and won't hurt his powertrain. I have had two LeSabre's and they are a great car. That 3.8l v6 has lots of power and torque, and gets over 30 mpg to boot.

My last LeSabre had 270,000 miles on it before the transmission finally went out...and I drove the **** out of it! Ended up donating it to charity for the tax write-off. Great car.

Hi.....not sure what u mean by "it only 1,000 lbs because of the suspension. not the engine or transmission", but I can tell u this...front wheel drive cars aren't even designed for towing. I've yet to see a front wheel drive car come off the assembly line with a tow package and there's good reason for that. I'm not saying you can't tow with it...just saying that it's better suited towing a yard trailer or similiar trailer, NOT a dual axle trailer with a boat on it. All that extra weight on the cars rear suspension causes stress on the drivetrain. It CAN & WILL, in time, burn up the motor and tranny...mark my words. I've seen many a Caravan tranny and motor burned up because someone towed an 8,000 lb boat or camper with it. Caravan's have a 3,500 lb towing capacity. Math doesn't lie. I agree that Buick LeSabre's are VERY good cars. I also agree that the 3.8's are excellent motors...seen many with 400k + on them...never been apart. I'd say they're bulletproof. Hell I've got a Topaz (Mercury), 4 banger, automatic with 206k on it...never been apart, runs like it did when new...nice and quiet..neither consumes nor leaks ANY fluids. Drives great....actually needs a tune up right now and STILL gets 30 mpg plus!!! Gotta love it!! It's my beater. Anyway...just thought I'd give props to Buick's 3.8's....good motors. Just remember...they're not supposed to tow a dual axle trailer...lol.

Chris

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Buick LaSabre pulling boat

I'm impressed by the info written here, the last time a guy asked a similar question and immediatly got spanked with responses like "You endangered everyones life" "Hope you don't travel on my roads" "You are doing a totally irresponsible act" that thread just got totally out of hand. Heck I towed my 16' MFG all over Ohio with a ford taurus front wheel drive never had a problem.

 

[109jb]

Re: Buick LaSabre pulling boat

Hi.....not sure what u mean by "it only 1,000 lbs because of the suspension. not the engine or transmission", but I can tell u this...front wheel drive cars aren't even designed for towing. I've yet to see a front wheel drive car come off the assembly line with a tow package and there's good reason for that. I'm not saying you can't tow with it...just saying that it's better suited towing a yard trailer or similiar trailer, NOT a dual axle trailer with a boat on it. All that extra weight on the cars rear suspension causes stress on the drivetrain. It CAN & WILL, in time, burn up the motor and tranny...mark my words. I've seen many a Caravan tranny and motor burned up because someone towed an 8,000 lb boat or camper with it. Caravan's have a 3,500 lb towing capacity. Math doesn't lie. I agree that Buick LeSabre's are VERY good cars. I also agree that the 3.8's are excellent motors...seen many with 400k + on them...never been apart. I'd say they're bulletproof. Hell I've got a Topaz (Mercury), 4 banger, automatic with 206k on it...never been apart, runs like it did when new...nice and quiet..neither consumes nor leaks ANY fluids. Drives great....actually needs a tune up right now and STILL gets 30 mpg plus!!! Gotta love it!! It's my beater. Anyway...just thought I'd give props to Buick's 3.8's....good motors. Just remember...they're not supposed to tow a dual axle trailer...lol.

Chris

I both agree and disagree with this post.

First I disagree that front wheel drive isn't designed for towing. Are you the engineer that designed them?? I'm sure the engineers that design the cars take towing into consideration hence their towing ratings. Cars not designed for towing will state so. I had a Honda that the owners manual said towing was not recommended. You could still buy a hitch for it, but it wasn't recommended. I also have had FWD Carvans and they tow fine up to their rating which brings me to what I agree with this post.

I agree that exceeding the tow rating of the tow vehicle is not a good idea. Without knowing the design specifics, anyone saying that the rating is limited by suspension, drivetrain, brakes or whatever is just guessing. If it is limited by drivetrain, then your slow around town driving will actually be very hard on it because stopping and starting will result in the fluid heating like crazy and the torque converter will never be able to lock up. If it is brakes, then driving through the city exceeding the tow capacity would be great to explain if you hit a car, kid or pedestrian that shoots out in front of you. Exceeding the tow capacity for any reason is a bad idea in my opinion.

 

[cmchesse]

Re: Buick LaSabre pulling boat

Find a junker on craigslist.

Call for some estimates on transmission replacement and engine replacement.

do the math, show your wife how much of her spending money she will loose by not buying the junker. $$$ = Shopping

When she stops stops screaming about why you are using the car still, go buy the junker.

Problem Solved! Make sure to give her a little spending money.

 

[EricR]

Re: Buick LaSabre pulling boat

I just got back from my second 1,000 mile round trip including the smokie mountians towing my 1969 Glasspar with my '99 Pontiac Grand Prix GT.

You will be FINE with your LeSabre on your short trips. Yeah, you could fry your tranny, but ya know what? You could be hit by a #7 bus crossing the street tomorrow or maybe a part of Skylab will land on your house.

Yep, it's FWD. Is it ideal? No, but I can tell ya that even on slippery algae covered ramps and on one gravel beach she has yet to not pull right up with NO wheel spin, it has the traction control. My V8 powered '91 S10 would spin them like crazy.

I think I will not only keep towing with my FWD, but I'm going to put a hydrofoil on my outboard and exceed the max HP on the transom! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

 

[Backyardhockey]

Re: Buick LaSabre pulling boat

I pulled a 18 foot bowrider v8 5,000 total miles over the last 4 years with a 1993 Park Ave. Same motor and probably same trans. Worked great. Just got a used 4runner. A lot less fighting the boat over bumps and "swells" in the road. For your short trips your fine.