Sucessful Tow With My '06 1/2 Ton

Buddy67Lincoln · March 11, 2009

I've got myself a 2006 GMC Sierra and I wanted to tell my tale of towing a huge 1966 Lincoln Continental Coupe home from NY to PA.

The truck did awesome! I will never regret having a half ton again. I always thought it would be shaky but the GMC performed well and lived up[ to being 'professional grade!' The trip was 8 hours (with a slight detour to pick up a friend) and nearly 10 hours (a few stops included) on the way home. I went across I-80 in PA for the most part. The toughest part of the ride home was getting out of town in NY. It was located in High Falls, NY along a river. Very windy and hilly like Pittsburgh and Altoona, PA. The guy's driveway was mud from the rain and there was not much gravel, just limestone dust. I thougt it was going to be tough...anyways, the truck was in 4-Low and it I punched it after failing the first time. The wheels spun and dug right in and up she went. Wish I had my friend take a video but I was so nervous I forgot and I just wanted the deal over with. The first few miles were shaky getting used to pulling 7,000+lbs of steel. Adjusted the rachets on the Uhaul carrier (which was nice and newer) and the tire was deflating. I just keep on driving and stopping till it stopped leaking. After 2 stops it was fine the rest of the way home. The truck pulled the car up the mountains across PA and back though the mountains again on the other side of PA then down to Pittsburgh. I was a trip but braking was scarry. The hydraulic surge brakes worked great but I tried not to use them so coasting and light on the brakes kept them from having to be used.

I towed in 3rd and Tow/Haul the whole way. I was going about 2300 RPM average and 55-58 mph. I got 11.89 and 12.something MPG. Not bad at all! I do have towing gears (3.73) and towing package which I will always get in my future trucks. It was a good choice and its a hell of a hauler for being a 1/2 ton. I think some Ford and Dodge guys were looking twice! That is a big car and we all know the trailer weighs 2,000 lbs. Not bad but I was nervous...never again! Thanks for all the help and pointers. This adventure used 4-low (never had to use that before), towing/haul and it was all overloaded! The trailer was 1,000 over and I must have been around 13,000 lbs. combined! Here is the evidence! Thanks again for the help.

L29er · March 11, 2009

Congrats on the trip!

GARB55 · March 11, 2009

Good Looking Truck! Glad you had a safe trip and all went well. Got to love your GM TRUCK, . What the Plans for the Lincoln..

mr_bots · March 11, 2009

That is a good looking truck. Good that the trip turned out well and the truck performed better than expected. That Lincoln is just about too big for the trailer.

Buddy67Lincoln · March 11, 2009

Good Looking Truck! Glad you had a safe trip and all went well. Got to love your GM TRUCK, . What the Plans for the Lincoln..

The Lincoln may become either my new Hot Rod or my stock restoration project. I have a 1967 coupe as well. It is supposed to be my hot rod but if the rust is too bad then this one might end up being the hot rod. Same car. I have a tri power I might put in this one and a cam, 3.50 gears (ford 9"), shift kit, some other engine mods, a shift kit for the C6 and a 2,000 stall converter and believe it or not, this car can do high 14s with A/C! Not bad but I will test the numbers someday. I think I want this one stock or at least a stock appearing sleeper since it has rare bucket seats and a few other neat options. My 67 has nothing but an AM/FM radio and needs so much body work I had to make everything by hand so its going to be a custom! Here is the tri power! That might make some stangs think twice about grandpa's old Lincoln! HAHA! A 462 cu. in. 6 pack

2005LT · March 11, 2009

Glad the trip turned out okay. That must be a damn heavy car, probably a little much for the trailer

Buddy67Lincoln · March 11, 2009

Glad the trip turned out okay. That must be a damn heavy car, probably a little much for the trailer

It felt like nothing to that trailer. It handled well, tired were not pancaked, it road nice. It was a newer looking trailer, had LED lights, only 1 ding in it so it must have been new. It was a tight fit with the length. The downfall of the whole trailer was braking but the surge brakes worked when they had to. I was coming to a red light at the end of an off ramp and it was steep. I was already going slow from the ramp but had the grade made me push a little harder to stop and the braked kicked in and it stopped on a dime. I think that was the only time I felt them work the whole trip. I took it easy, tapped the braked to slow down if I was picking up speed and slowed before the off ramps so no need to heat the brakes up! I was impressed with the Uhaul and my truck.