Hi, newbie here. I bought my Dart Convertible to a) drive and to b) tow my 2800# 64 Airstream short distances. I had looked at a Newport or something full sized to tow with, but didn't want such a barge and liked the A bodies anyway. So, the Dart is rated for 2000#, and I'm wondering if anyone has ideas on how or if one might beef one up to tow more. I'm talkin about 45 mph rural highways, I live off of route one on the CA coast. If it's just madness, then I'll enjoy the Dart and keep towing with my () truck. BTW, the Dart is a 318.

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1968 Dodge Dart GT convertible

You are proposing to tow a trailer that weighs nearly as much as the car. A C-body would have been a much better choice.

Brakes, suspension and tires are the biggest issues. You're looking at brakes, shocks, springs, wheels and tires all needing to be upgraded. A weight distributing receiver hitch will also be required.

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Joshua

the weight of the trailer vs the car isn't the issue- you're not going to tow a new 10000 pound travel trailer with an equal weight vehicle. Wheelbase is more of an issue for stability. I was more concerned with chassis and potential for flex. The oem towing set up included 8 3/4 diff, HD cooling and I believe disc brakes.

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1968 Dodge Dart GT convertible

The fact remains the Dart does not have the brakes, wheels, tires and suspension to cope with the added forces of towing 2800 lbs. I've used a '72 Duster to tow a 5x8' U-Haul trailer which weighed less than you are proposing to tow. It was a disc brake car and had a receiver hitch installed. The squirm and lack of stability from the 185/75R14 tires was spooky and unsafe. I was 21 and dumb so I pressed on. I feel fortunate the engine and transmission survived. 2.76 gears are also pretty awful for accelerating such a load. I was wishing for 3.23s.

I pull my 2800 lb travel trailer with my 4900 lb Dodge Dakota Quad Cab. 10k lb trailers are generally 5th wheels and have 3 axles with brakes on each. They are pulled by vehicles designed and built to tow heavy loads. An A-body is no Dodge 3500.

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Joshua

Hey... been there, done the towing thing with my 68 Dart.

Towed my 2600 LB popup camper about 100 miles, 50 miles each way for a vacation.

I had added 6 leaf springs, trans cooler and the trailer had electric brakes.

A convertible is a whole different bear... you'd need to tie the front and rear frames, I would think.

In the end it actually towed well... but after all the work on the car I never towed the trailer again. I just couldn't get it out of my mind that I was pushing my luck (which I was).

Save your time and money (and maybe your life)... use something bigger to pull the camper, and enjoy the Dart at the local Sonic or A&W.

-Mac