I have a simple question. I Plan on buying two new Yamaha Waverunners and
putting them on a double wide trailer. The waverunners weigh 715 Lbs each. I
want to pull them with a 2003 Pontiac
Grand Am. I haven't gone foreward with any of this yet...but thought I would
put it foreward to this group to get some feedback...I have googled this and
found several class 1 and 2 hitches made to fit. Has anyone done much towing
with their Pontiac? Thanks...Jim

"Jimi" <unknown (AT) nospamhere (DOT) net> wrote


Jim,

I've been towing a 1200 pound unit (Yamaha XLT 1200 + trailer) for five
years now with a '00 SSEi and I've had no problems at all. However, I think
you may be pushing it weight-wise with a Grand Am. My car weighs roughly
3750 lbs. I would imagine you're GA is around 3350 or so as my '96 was. With
the trailer you will be over 1700 lbs. and that's half your cars weight. No
big deal with a full-frame SUV or P/U, but our subframe cars are a different
story. I think it's too much.


Lee

Check either your owners manual or the sticker on the edge of the
drivers door. They should tell you what the max towable limit is.

Your already at 1430 lbs without a trailer.

Tow Vehicle-do not exceed the GVWR of the tow vehicle. This includes
the curb weight of the vehicle, payload, and hitch weight. Hitch weight
is the percentage of the trailer weight that is placed on the trailer
coupler of the tow vehicle. (Refer to the next section on Trailer
Vehicle Hitch Weight.) Tow vehicles also have GAWR limits. Payload and
hitch weight must be divided evenly between the axles to conform with
the maximum weight limits and to avoid oversteering problems.

Trailer Vehicle Hitch Weight-approximately 10-15 percent of a
trailer's gross weight is designed to be loaded in front of the front
axle and onto the hitching mechanism. This ensures needed stability for
road handling. If your trailer is not stable, you may have a problem
with not enough weight on the hitch. Here are some methods to figure
out hitch weight:
Park your loaded trailer on a scale so that the hitch coupler extends
beyond the end of the scale, but the tongue jack post (the post on the
front of the trailer which rests on the ground when unhitched) is on
the scale.
Block the trailer vehicle wheels, unhitch the tow vehicle, and obtain a
weight rating. This is the curb weight of the trailer vehicle alone.
Place a jack stand (or 4" x 4" blocks) under the coupler (beyond the
scale) so that the tongue jack post is supported off the scale and the
trailer is fairly level. Note this weight rating.
Subtract the reading in #2 from the reading in #3 for the hitch weight.



Hope this helps.

Snow...

Stop at your local Pontiac dealer and ask the Service folks to look up
the tow specification for you. They can decode the vin number for
motor size ect.

Also a local shop dealing in hitches can do the same. If all ties
out OK, install a aux. transmission cooler, be glad you did. Service
the cooling system (ie. new water pump and hoses, flush-N-refill).

I use to have 91 Trans Sport with the 2800 V6 and towed a 3300 LB
pop-up camper with no trouble. Did install the aux. cooler.

Install heavy duty or air shooks as you will be dragging the car tail
around.

Take care.

"Jimi" <unknown (AT) nospamhere (DOT) net> wrote

I have a 96. Put a 1000lb. hitch on it. Biggest load I've hauled on it is
my ST1100's 600lbs. The owners manual recommends not using any trailer. IMHO
going over 1000lbs would really be over the limit. The trailer pushes down
on the rear of the car taking weight off the front. It's a front wheel drive
car. Taking weight off the wheels that drive and steer the car is not a good
thing. You probably can get away with a lot when its dry but driving in rain
where the tires already tend to hydroplane could be a real killer.

When I bought the hitch noticed they made a 2500lb hitch. Can only wonder
"what the hell are they thinking"? Like to have an enclosed trailer but will
get a bigger rear wheel drive vehicle before that happens.

On Sat, 16 Dec 2006 13:44:01 -0500, "T Shadow"
<NoOne (AT) nonono (DOT) com.invalid> wrote:


--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

<clare at snyder.on.ca> wrote

trailer with a "mid"size Oldsmobile. Didn't need anything like that so
didn't research it. I'm thinking that goes past most peoples concept of
trailer hitch on a G Am though. Especially when you get to the installed
price. It's good that you brought it up, the OP may be more ambitious than I
was.