Towing an OPEL??!

[DEMONiAM]

Hey all, quick question...

I may be buying an 1971 Opel GT from Dalton, Georgia this week. Is towing it home to Clayton, North Carolina (@600 miles) going to be a problem with a 2000 3.9 stock Dakota? The car weighs a little under 2000 pounds.

If my truck can handle it, would it be better to use a dolly or full trailer to get it home. A buddy runs a U-Haul, so I can use either for pretty cheap.

Please respond to me asap, as I will prolly go get it on Thursday morning.

Thanks in advance!

[tobii3]

USE THE FLATBED!!!! USE THE FLATBED!!!!

Since you have a buddy at the U-Haul, USE THE FLATBED!!!!

(from experience....waaaaaay too much experience!!!!)

:biggthump

[DEMONiAM]

USE THE FLATBED!!!! USE THE FLATBED!!!!

Since you have a buddy at the U-Haul, USE THE FLATBED!!!!

(from experience....waaaaaay too much experience!!!!)

:biggthump

that's what I figured but I have never towed anything heavier than a 500 lb hot dog cart...just worried about Dakotas abitity to tow this car and trailer for that distance.

[KREWZER]

Ive towed a 87 Mercedes before with my 3.9, did just fine, barely felt like i had anything on my ass. I actually ripped the tow rope coming out of an intersection. :biggthump

[supradakotaman]

Isn't the limit 4000 lbs for the 3.9? So u figure 2000 + the weight of the trailer itself. You should be safely under it but like it was said, if you got access to uhaul for cheap, that's the better route.

edit: oh yeah what's the plan for the opel. That is a super light car...and pre 75 no smog requirements woo hoo! :biggthump

[DEMONiAM]

hopefully a full restoration with modern creature comforts. ac/power/targa tops/2.4/maybe turbo.... :drool:

endless possibilities

[Wolf Spyder]

Are you on the Opel GT board?

[DEMONiAM]

I was..."megatron"....but the wife got pregnant, and now Opel GT is nothing but a dream for a few years. :rant:

Do/did you own one?

[Kahunaking]

That 3.9 can tow it easly.


When i moved from north dakota to arizona i had a harley and a jet ski in the bed with 2 jet ski's behind it going through the mountans.

[Dodgerjack]

Congrats on the GT. Those 1.9 litre cam-in-head engines are nothing to sneeze at, especially the early hi-compression ones. I had a lot of fun with a '73 Opel Manta, even though it was the low-compression "smogger." (BIG HINT: if you have oil pressure problems, replace the oil pump face plate FIRST--it's a prime culprit in low oil pressure in these cars, and a snap to replace. The steel gears wear the aluminum face, and oil pressure drops like a rock.)

The Manta weighed in at under 2000 pounds, so I'd say the GT should, too. I regularly tow my 2000 lb+ boat and trailer with my 3.9 Dakota 4x4 automatic. You need a receiver hitch, for sure. Other than that, watch the temperature gauge. You'll probably have to keep the overdrive locked out if you have an automatic, and you might need to be sparing with the AC if it's a hot day. Other than that, if your 3.9 is in good tune, you should be fine for power unless you're driving in the mountains. Plenty of torque off the line. Just be sure your BRAKES are in good shape. Mine are pretty much stressed to the limit stopping all that weight. Proceed accordingly. :)

Like to see pics of the GT, too!

[DEMONiAM]

Like I said above...No Opel for me!

Wife got Preggers, baby comming in October, no fast car, and I'm in process of losing the 2 seater truck!

Growing up sucks!

[Dodgerjack]

Oh, I get it now. Rats. But the towing info still holds true, I think. Also, if you ever get into a 1.9 Opel "down the road" make a note of that oil pump face plate. As for turbo-ing, the low-compression Manta engine (7.6:1 as I recall) is just made for a turbo. Plenty of strong internals to take the boost. Good luck on that other family addition! :mullet:

[DEMONiAM]

Yeah i know, can't wait for my little man to get here!

The Opel WILL come, just a few years later than I hoped for!!!

[Jecht]

Yeah i know, can't wait for my little man to get here!!


famous last words. untill the sleepless nights and constant feedings and changings. the diapers are fine as there is no smell to the poo until after while god plays that cruel joke and puts smell in it. then your like what have you been eating :vomit: also if its a boy place a towel over the lil spout. something about open diaper and air hitting it. makes it go off :banana2: my son did it to me once and learned quick.

if you want to see what raising a child is like. rent or buy the video Bill Cosby Himself. . everything he says maybe funny but its so true :biggthump

anyone with kids and seen this will agree with it and relate to it.