Challenger 3.5 towing

2799 Views 19 Replies 6 Participants Last post by jerseyjoe, May 13, 2013

jerseyjoe

Discussion Starter · May 5, 2013

Need to tow 3800 lbs max, 3000 LB travel trailer with 500lbs of gear + - food and a bit of water. I see the Cad SRX 2.8 is rated 3500lbs:

http://www.onlinetowingguide.com/guidelines/towing_capacities.html

I think the 3.5 should do it but that 4 speed trans would be the limiting factor. Can I bolt in a stand alone automatic 3 speed torqueflite etc? Want to be emissions legal at a roadside test. I plan to travel up and down the East Coast so its basically flat. Any suggestions. rear from a magnum wagon comes to mind. A full time SUV is out of the question.

Thanks

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

ImperialCrown

· #2 · May 5, 2013

The owner's manual gives a recommended trailer weight of 1000 lbs with a 100 lb tongue weight. I would call a trailer rental/hitch installer business and ask if they have any suggestions, but I doubt that anything can be changed safely to make this car work.
Even if you can fit 500 lbs in the trunk and back seat, it will fall far below what you need. Do you have another vehicle to use?

jerseyjoe

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 5, 2013

Hi,
I see you all over this place, anything that you haven't done? No other vehicle, thinking of getting a 30 year old van and make it fit my needs. We have 2 vehicles and I need to keep it that way, limited parking.

KOG

· #4 · May 6, 2013

There's more to it than transmission. Rear suspension, brakes, cooling are also critical. For what you need to do you need to either rent or buy something else entirely.

You cannot use a three speed transmission even if that were the only limiting factor.

Some of the minivans will tow that weight comfortably.

TWX

· #5 · May 6, 2013

Unfortunately the only LX with a halfway-decent towing capacity is the Magnum.

jerseyjoe

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 8, 2013

Am a lowing novice as far as the mechanicals go, Did tow a lot with pickups that were set up for that.

Found class II carrier with a tong weight of 350lbs ant tow rating of 3500 lbs. Brakes, suspension, and cooling can be fixed. Trans is my main question, there is a stand alone 6 speed for racing, wondering about trans adapter. Cant really see the difference between a magnum and a challenger as far as platform design except for wheel base. Would I have to reinforce the rear sub frame? Has to be styiin machine I tow with, minivan is out.

TWX

· #7 · May 8, 2013

My guess, and this is just a guess, mind you, is that the the long roof attached to the D-pillar, which itself is attached to the unibody, adds structural rigidity to the car and allows it to tow more and to support more tongue weight without deforming the body of the vehicle. A 300, Charger, or Challenger would lack the high structural support. And while the modern Challenger is arguably a two-door-post sedan rather than a coupe (based on the roofline), but its shorter wheelbase could also have an effect on the ability to handle a trailer of any significant size.

Doug D

· #8 · May 8, 2013

jerseyjoe said:
Am a lowing novice as far as the mechanicals go, Did tow a lot with pickups that were set up for that.

Found class II carrier with a tong weight of 350lbs ant tow rating of 3500 lbs. Brakes, suspension, and cooling can be fixed. Trans is my main question, there is a stand alone 6 speed for racing, wondering about trans adapter. Cant really see the difference between a magnum and a challenger as far as platform design except for wheel base. Would I have to reinforce the rear sub frame? Has to be styiin machine I tow with, minivan is out.

The carrier is rated for 3500 lbs, but that doesn't mean the car is.

Whatever "improvements" you do, you cannot exceed the Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - total weight of the tow vehicle, trailer and everything in them. This should be on the door sticker. The CGVWR is the legal definition of what you can do. Found to be overweight and you can be cited.

There are also insurance and warranty concerns.

Best to find another vehicle that can tow what you need to tow.

KOG

· #9 · May 8, 2013

"Has to be styiin machine I tow with, minivan is out"

The problem here is not the tow rating or the car.

jerseyjoe

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 9, 2013

Doug D said:
The carrier is rated for 3500 lbs, but that doesn't mean the car is.

The CGVWR is the legal definition of what you can do.

Best to find another vehicle that can tow what you need to tow.

Thank You, that's what I need to know. I did say that I don;t know the mechanicals of towing. So I need to dump the Challenger for something else.

I do want to look good (and safe) going down the road. Saw a 74 RamCharger that might fit the bill.

MickM

· #11 · May 9, 2013

Ram SRT 10 would do.

jerseyjoe

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 9, 2013

If I had one of those I wouldn't need a travel trailer cause I would get there the same day!!! That would make it real easy to dump my Challenger.

TWX

· #13 · May 9, 2013

What is it that you're trying to tow, anyway?

jerseyjoe

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 10, 2013

I want to tow a travel trailer to site see the East Coast, Figure a 3000 Lb one would fit our needs. It might make a nice man cave when not in use.

ImperialCrown

· #15 · May 10, 2013

I had a short window B-van that I used for travel. I could live, eat and sleep in it. I applied the one-way glass film for privacy. I enjoyed camping out in it. I know that the last ones were 10 years ago and they are getting long in the tooth. Something like a man-cave B-van in good condition may fit your needs, if a V6, LWB minivan is out of the question. Heavy-duty cooling and good transmission health is a must.
A '74 Ramcharger sounds old and would be more thirsty than a van on a trip. Look it over for your needs. You may not need 4WD in a tow vehicle. It might need some work. You don't want to buy a 'roach' for a long, highly mechanically-demanding trip.

jerseyjoe

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 10, 2013

The Ramcharger was a Canadian Coastguard vehicle and maintained very well, restored to about 90%, drive train looked brand new with fresh serial numbers on the springs and 318 torqueflite that was like a real good original condition piece. I've got a soft spot for the thing but even the 2 year old body work had a bubble over 1 rear wheel well those things were rust magnets.I could easily maintain it and change oil without a ramp or lift. A B van is an excellent idea but I would still have to part with my Challenger, gotta be something really great to make me want to do it. I think a 2008 Pacifica 4.0 6 speed all black with mild custom would be a grand way to get around. Retired on fixed income I can only support 2 vehicles (maybe) anyway I can do that for a couple of years. Wife has a 300 2.7, worlds largest economy car. If we ever need to go to 1 vehicle it will be a new 300C but we wish they still made a Magnum wagon.

A travel trailer would fit our needs because we would only need it 30 to 60 days of the year, when not in use it only needs tire maintenance and house keeping.

My son has my old 1968 Chrysler, I remember those towing large Cabin Cruisers back then. Guess rules have change since then or people have been made more aware. A 383 with a torqueflite all original. Imagine a transmission that only needs fluid and filter changes every 100K! We do a band adjustment every couple of years so the fluid stays fresh. He has a 440 truck motor that may some day wind up making it a 13 second 1/4 mile car!! No kidding there was one at our drag strip, AC and all!! 3.90 gears help it. Car is 3800 lbs empty and looks like an air craft carrier when you drive it.

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jerseyjoe

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 12, 2013

I think there should be a towing/travel Forum at Allpar.

Can't bring myself to dump my Challenger for a tow only vehicle yet. Need to know a lot more and discuss it. At least I know the Challenger can't do more than a 1000lbs while a 91 New Yorker is rated for 2000lbs. I see that the 1967 Chrysler says not to exceed 5000 Lbs. Son has a 68, that fits my bill for stylin.

Since RV pics.com closed it may invite more traffic.

KOG

· #18 · May 12, 2013

That 5000lbs for the 67/68 and such is dependent on the proper equipment. HD springs, brakes, radiator, transmission cooler. Full size cars in the U.S. used to be the same chassis a 1/2T P/Us. Or to look at it the other way, 1/2T P/Us used the same brakes wheels, tires, axles as the full size cars.

TWX

· #19 · May 13, 2013

jerseyjoe said:
I think there should be a towing/travel Forum at Allpar.

Can't bring myself to dump my Challenger for a tow only vehicle yet. Need to know a lot more and discuss it. At least I know the Challenger can't do more than a 1000lbs while a 91 New Yorker is rated for 2000lbs. I see that the 1967 Chrysler says not to exceed 5000 Lbs. Son has a 68, that fits my bill for stylin.

Since RV pics.com closed it may invite more traffic.

It appears that your wish has been granted...

jerseyjoe

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 13, 2013

KOG said:
That 5000lbs for the 67/68 and such is dependent on the proper equipment. HD springs, brakes, radiator, transmission cooler. Full size cars in the U.S. used to be the same chassis a 1/2T P/Us. Or to look at it the other way, 1/2T P/Us used the same brakes wheels, tires, axles as the full size cars.

For sure I would do all that, 383 low RPM torque would be nice.

TWX said:
It appears that your wish has been granted...

Yes, I have been there I thank everyone for their help.

http://www.allpar.com/forums/forum/212-towing/

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