I have a 68 Dart 4dr, 225, 3 speed auto. I would like to pull my popup camper, which probably weighs in at 2500 lbs (loaded with gear). The camper has electric brakes.

Can this be done (assuming adding front and rear sway bars, etc)? Or is it time to trade the Dart in for a Fury?

-Mac

I'd keep the Dart. I had a tow hitch on my '72 Dart Swinger with a 225 automatic and I towed a car on a car dolly with it with no problems. You'll probably get several responses to this one.

Of course a Fury with a 440 would whip that little trailer around pretty nicely too!

Rob

Yes. Safely, no.

In my young and foolish days, I flat towed a 63 Ford Galaxie, with a 64 Dodge dart. Boy was I lucky, I never had an accident.
What type of hitch would you use? The only ones I have ever seen for a "A" body are are class #1, which bolt to the bumper and the trunk floor. The load rating is only 1000 or 1500 lbs. The electric brakes on the camper are a big help, but unless you have done a up grade the Dart most likely only has 9 inch brakes, which leave a lot to be desired in normal driving conditions.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

The Dart currently has 9" drums, but is slated for these mods before towing season:

Wilwood Front Disc Brakes
New, HD leaf springs
Front and Rear sway bars
Transmission cooler.

My concern is not so much that the car can't pull the weight. It's more of a safety concern. Assuming the Dart weighs around 2700 (am I right?), the camper will probably come in at 2300. The camper does have electric brakes. But I'm used to towing this with a '89 Grand Marquis, which weighed around 4100.

-Mac

I'd say you'll probably be OK, but not completely safe, or you'll have to be a careful driver. I've towed up to about 1500 lbs with my '64 and 68 Darts w/ no trouble and no aux brakes. I know that some cars/SUVs/trucks pull much more than their mass in a trailer.

For insurance, you might also consider rebuilding the front end (reduce sway capability), and use poly bushings in the rear springs. Tires should also be upgraded to 60 series 14s or similar. Old high-profile tires could sway like crazy.

IMHO, tires can do as much to change the handling of your car as anything else. Sway bars will not help if you are running 185/80-13s.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Other than stopping, the biggest problem is (I think) that the dart is really light in the rear, but the trailer brakes will help a lot.
But I would still drive really careful.

What size rear do have and what gears are in it. Might have a set of 2.76s in it which are not good for towing. Change to 3.25 gears. Don't know haow well the 7 1/4 will fare under towing.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

I'm reviving this thread, as Spring is approaching and my family wants to go with the camper to Disneyworld (a 2600 mile round trip). My wife has a small car that can't pull the camper (camper approx 2500-2700 lbs)

I'm at a "fish or cut bait" point. I can either:

A) Restore my 68 Dart 270 4 door, including:
-Upgrading the slant six
-3.23 gears
-Transmission cooler
-Adding front sway bar
-New HD springs
-Larger torsion bars
-PST kit (done)
-73 power disc brakes

or

B) Sell the Dart as it stands, then shop around for a Fury, or a 61 Newport, or some other big hauler that I know will pull the camper safely.

Any thoughts, folks?

Thanks!

-Mac

Keep the Dart and rent a Suburban to tow the trailer.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

New information... Camper weighs only 2030 when empty. Encouraging. I think I can do it, just need to keep the loaded weight down.

With the upgrades you've described, you shouldn't have any problems pulling that camper. Look at it in the context of scale: If a Fury/Polara/Newport/etc. can tow a big honkin' Airstream...

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Brian (Valianator)

'65 Valiant V100 170/T-flite
'82 D150 225/4-speed
'65 Dart 225 4 door
'68 Dart 225 4-door with Valiant front clip (future project)

in the back of my owners manual it give specs for building a bolt-on hitch that bolts to subframe. i can't remeber if use a receiver or just a plate to bolt a ball to. looking at the sticker on my door jam my car is rated to hold about 1,000 lbs. in pass. and cargo. i wouldn't tow a trailer with my car, but that's me. i would rent a suburban, durango or SRT-10.

also if you are going to spend more time towing with your car, i would go with 3.55 gears and upgrade to a bigger axle. the 7.25 won't last long with another 2500lbs. it would turn about 2500 rpm at 55-60 mph.

zedpapa

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1970 dodge dart w/225 /6 bored .040" over, holley 390cfm w/vac. sec., compcams 252s, clifford shorty headers w/2.5" exhaust w/flowmaster, f-body 11" front discs, aluminum A-833OD, 8 1/4 w/3.21 SG
soon to have 5 gears!!!