PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

Well Gentlemen,
I have moved, although temporarily, from Florida to Colorado Springs, CO. The wife and I have wanted to leave the Redneck Riviera for some time and I found a seasonal job on Ft Carson to help find a home and a more permanent job. She gets the luxury of staying behind till we can afford the big move. Being the Bonnie is the most reliable, I left it...yes left it with my wife. I'M SUCH AN IDIOT!!!!
So it got to the point that I miss my seat, the power, and the whine of the SC. The AC is missed as well, LOL. As things progress, she is anxious to move up and I am debating on a mini move.
A mini-move would entail a hitch on the bonnie and a medium trailer pulled about 1500 miles.

Am I crazy...I think so. But is a hitch that wrong idea? BTW, anyone in Colorado Springs or Denver?

Wolf

You could get a Class 2 hitch and tow it out there, but I would recommend a trans cooler... Finding a place to park a cooler is not all that easy tho..lol

Many moons ago Colorado springs was my stomping ground... I have been to Ft Carson many times.. Used to go to the Air Force College games all the time at the academy... I miss those days.. Miss Pikes Peak as well...

Consider all options before you use the Bonneville to tow.

I have considerable experience towing a tire trailer with a small FWD. Total weight with a tool box probably 400#. Did it for years, and it worked well, but those cars both had manual transmissions. I'd worry about the overdrive and converter towing, and the best bet would probably be to tow in D instead of OD.

So, +1 on the trans cooler, but still I'd think a maximum total weight of the trailer and load should not exceed 1000#
Less, if you stuff the car as well. That is not a lot of personal/household items, really.

The financial investigation should include what an on-road failure would cost, in terms of what would have to be done to complete the trip, plus repair the car.
On the other side is renting the smallest box truck which would be capable of towing a trailer with the Bonne ON it (instead of in front of one...) The Fuel bill would undoubtedly be higher, and may rival the cost of the truck rental itself.

I suppose it depends on many factors not mentioned, but the key one for me is "How much do I like my car, and how long do I want to keep it nice?" Using a Bonneville for towing much beyond a smallish "pup trailer" would put several systems at risk, IMO. So, unlikely it would be worth it to me.

If you go the rental route (which is what I recommend), go with Penske. U-Haul trucks use more fuel and are much more uncomfortable. Just what-ever my 2 cents are worth. - BC

The 24 ft truck and dolly for the Bonnie is the big move with it being $2500 with gas...this mini would be a 10 ft trailer single axle...
BTW, I pulled a 14ft trailer with my 92 SSE from FL to MN without problems

These cars can tow, but it does put stresses on the drivetrain.. On the 92 SSE, these came from the factory with HD cooling.. This included a massive 1-1/4 to 1-3/8 " core which included an oil cooler.. As well these cars also had a massive aux trans cooler parked on the nose of the car.. For what ever reason when you got the HD cooling on an SE it was called a tow package...lol

So the 92 SSE was in a word almost set up to do what ever you needed it to do..

The 00+ SSEi had a small dinky radiator, no oil cooler and no aux trans cooler.. I think it could do it but you'd have to watch the temps closely.. And the trans cooler in my mind would be a requirement.. I agree that if you do this, try to keep the weight down..