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Author Topic:   OUTRAGE 22: Suitable Vehicle for Trailering

RWM posted 02-23-2005 08:22 PM ET (US)
I've a 1995 Buick Roadmaster with a class III hitch rated for 5000 pounds attached to the frame. It has cargo springs, HD shocks and huge anti-sway bars. The LT-1 engine puts out 260 HP and is rated for 320 ft-lbs torque. I tow my Montauk and don't even know it's there.
Do you think I can safely tow a OUTRAGE 22 CUDDY with twin 150's five miles to a gentle ramp and retrieve it 10 or 15 times a year?
Thanks...just thinking...Bob M.
RWM posted 02-23-2005 08:26 PM ET (US)
Oh yeah. I'd have to get the boat home too. About 200 miles all interstate.
kingfish posted 02-23-2005 08:38 PM ET (US)
I'm not sure I understand the difference in mileage between your first post and your second post. Five miles each way 10 or 15 times a year, yes, with your eyes closed. Is 200 miles the sum total of all the 5-mile trips in a year?
RWM posted 02-23-2005 08:51 PM ET (US)
Gotta buy the boat and tow it home. That's the 200 miles. Once I'm home it's just five miles to the ramp. Just thinking on a cold snowy night...Bob
WhalerGoFar posted 02-23-2005 08:53 PM ET (US)
The answer is "Yep, Not a Problem".
I can't say I have towed a 22 behind a Roadmaster, however I have towed a 17 and launched and retrieved it. I had to force myself to keeping looking back to see if the boat was still there. I could not tell I was towing anything after 10 miles per hour. The Buick is solid and has the power to handle your boat.
Mike
Sal DiMercurio posted 02-23-2005 08:57 PM ET (US)
If your going to tow that boat any length at all, your gonna need a tranny cooler.
You best keep the tranny in drive-2, not over drive.
The 5 miles ....yes, I just don't feel that car has a heavy duty tow package like you need.
Sal
RWM posted 02-23-2005 09:27 PM ET (US)
It does have the trailer tow option. I believe that it includes a transmission cooler that is integral to the radiator.
David Jenkins posted 02-23-2005 09:32 PM ET (US)
I own two Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagons. My 1995 has 234,000 miles on the odometer and the 1993 has 170,000 miles. I have had both cars since they were almost new. I have pulled boats all over the USA with them. I have pulled a 25' twin engine-Bertram for several hundred miles, no problem. I have pulled a 1966 23' Glasstron for thousands of miles. I have a tranny cooler on the 1995 but not on the 1993 and have never had a problem with either transmission. I avoid using overdrive, though. And I do have the optional, adjustable air shocks. These are great cars. You will have no problem using it to tow your 22' (especially if you install rear air shocks). And if you can't find a hotel you can always sleep in the back!
jimh posted 02-23-2005 09:32 PM ET (US)
If the tongue weight is too much, you may need a weight distributing hitch.
David Ratusnik posted 02-23-2005 09:33 PM ET (US)
Yes. No prob. I tow a 22' '86 Outrage with a 4.3L Silverado. Been doing it 5 yrs. Have fun. David
David Jenkins posted 02-23-2005 10:14 PM ET (US)
The engine does make a difference. Both of the engines in my Roadmasters are 5.7 liters, but they are somehow different. My mechanic tells me that my 1995 has more of a high performance engine. Even with 234,000 miles on it, you can unhitch the trailer and still leave rubber on the ground if you punch the gas peddle at a stop light.
With the Estate Wagons the biggest factor is the air shocks. I've had to replace them after 150,000 miles or so, but when they work right you can have 400 pounds of tongue weight and the vehicle does not seem the least bit back heavy.
linust posted 02-23-2005 10:38 PM ET (US)
Your LT-1 engined Roadmaster is fine...it is practically the same as used in fullsized Chevy/GMC trucks of the era.
Your tranny should be the same as well (4L60E) and you might be fine to tow in OD instead of D--read the owner's manual on that one. As for the tranny cooler integral with the radiator, that's standard on ALL auto tranny cars...what you want is the additional, external tranny cooler as well, but for a 200 mile tow, you're probably OK if it's not there...and if you do want to add one, it's a reasonable $50 part and easy to install. If you don't have one, I'd start changing the tranny fluid annually; if you do have the tranny cooler every other year.

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Author	Topic: OUTRAGE 22: Suitable Vehicle for Trailering
RWM	posted 02-23-2005 08:22 PM ET (US) I've a 1995 Buick Roadmaster with a class III hitch rated for 5000 pounds attached to the frame. It has cargo springs, HD shocks and huge anti-sway bars. The LT-1 engine puts out 260 HP and is rated for 320 ft-lbs torque. I tow my Montauk and don't even know it's there. Do you think I can safely tow a OUTRAGE 22 CUDDY with twin 150's five miles to a gentle ramp and retrieve it 10 or 15 times a year? Thanks...just thinking...Bob M.
RWM	posted 02-23-2005 08:26 PM ET (US) Oh yeah. I'd have to get the boat home too. About 200 miles all interstate.
kingfish	posted 02-23-2005 08:38 PM ET (US) I'm not sure I understand the difference in mileage between your first post and your second post. Five miles each way 10 or 15 times a year, yes, with your eyes closed. Is 200 miles the sum total of all the 5-mile trips in a year?
RWM	posted 02-23-2005 08:51 PM ET (US) Gotta buy the boat and tow it home. That's the 200 miles. Once I'm home it's just five miles to the ramp. Just thinking on a cold snowy night...Bob
WhalerGoFar	posted 02-23-2005 08:53 PM ET (US) The answer is "Yep, Not a Problem". I can't say I have towed a 22 behind a Roadmaster, however I have towed a 17 and launched and retrieved it. I had to force myself to keeping looking back to see if the boat was still there. I could not tell I was towing anything after 10 miles per hour. The Buick is solid and has the power to handle your boat. Mike
Sal DiMercurio	posted 02-23-2005 08:57 PM ET (US) If your going to tow that boat any length at all, your gonna need a tranny cooler. You best keep the tranny in drive-2, not over drive. The 5 miles ....yes, I just don't feel that car has a heavy duty tow package like you need. Sal
RWM	posted 02-23-2005 09:27 PM ET (US) It does have the trailer tow option. I believe that it includes a transmission cooler that is integral to the radiator.
David Jenkins	posted 02-23-2005 09:32 PM ET (US) I own two Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagons. My 1995 has 234,000 miles on the odometer and the 1993 has 170,000 miles. I have had both cars since they were almost new. I have pulled boats all over the USA with them. I have pulled a 25' twin engine-Bertram for several hundred miles, no problem. I have pulled a 1966 23' Glasstron for thousands of miles. I have a tranny cooler on the 1995 but not on the 1993 and have never had a problem with either transmission. I avoid using overdrive, though. And I do have the optional, adjustable air shocks. These are great cars. You will have no problem using it to tow your 22' (especially if you install rear air shocks). And if you can't find a hotel you can always sleep in the back!
jimh	posted 02-23-2005 09:32 PM ET (US) If the tongue weight is too much, you may need a weight distributing hitch.
David Ratusnik	posted 02-23-2005 09:33 PM ET (US) Yes. No prob. I tow a 22' '86 Outrage with a 4.3L Silverado. Been doing it 5 yrs. Have fun. David
David Jenkins	posted 02-23-2005 10:14 PM ET (US) The engine does make a difference. Both of the engines in my Roadmasters are 5.7 liters, but they are somehow different. My mechanic tells me that my 1995 has more of a high performance engine. Even with 234,000 miles on it, you can unhitch the trailer and still leave rubber on the ground if you punch the gas peddle at a stop light. With the Estate Wagons the biggest factor is the air shocks. I've had to replace them after 150,000 miles or so, but when they work right you can have 400 pounds of tongue weight and the vehicle does not seem the least bit back heavy.
linust	posted 02-23-2005 10:38 PM ET (US) Your LT-1 engined Roadmaster is fine...it is practically the same as used in fullsized Chevy/GMC trucks of the era. Your tranny should be the same as well (4L60E) and you might be fine to tow in OD instead of D--read the owner's manual on that one. As for the tranny cooler integral with the radiator, that's standard on ALL auto tranny cars...what you want is the additional, external tranny cooler as well, but for a 200 mile tow, you're probably OK if it's not there...and if you do want to add one, it's a reasonable $50 part and easy to install. If you don't have one, I'd start changing the tranny fluid annually; if you do have the tranny cooler every other year.