Hi all, I am looking at buying a 1964 Rambler wagon as a project. I would like to pull a 4500 lb (500 lb tongue) camper trailer with it. Since it is not a full frame, is this too much for this wagon? Is a brake upgrade necessary? Any suggestions what to upgrade with? I want to run an air suspension front and rear. Any suggestions or sharing of experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mark
hahahahahahahahahahaha towing... hahahahahahahahahahaha Rambler... hahahahahahahahahahaha air suspension... it would be easier for you to build a frame from 2 x 3 steel than modify a Rambler to do all that. get a Studebaker Wagonaire,it's just as ugly,and the handling is still shitty,but at least it's got a full frame. get a '64 or '65 which had a Chevy small block V-8 from the factory,they finally figured out how pathetic and useless the Studebaker engine was
...even if the rambler was fresh off the dealers floor it would not be adequate for a 4500 lb trailer, either going or stopping.
You have to be kidding, right? We tow a 25 foot,4500lb 1946 Spartan with our '51 Pontaic wagon which is bigger, heavier, has an LS1/4l60, disk brakes, helper springs, and the trailer is really WAY too much for that car to pull comfortably. I do it, but it's not fun.
What no worries about a trans cooler???? Seriously, a jeep cherokee with the FI 4.0 and disc brakes is only rated for 3500/350 and if its windy in any direction except straight behind you're in a world of hurt. I pulled a 2200 pound 20 footer cross country 2 years ago with my Cherokee. When we got to Neb. the wind was blowing 20 mph from the SW. We could only make 40 mph against it on the level.
Simply put, The Rambler is way to light. the tow vehicle should be heavier than the towed load. My '67 F-100 weighs about 4200 empty and I would consider that too light for that size trailer. You need a real truck to pull with and it should weigh in above 5000 pouinbd to have a decent time.
I had one of those in high school. One thing for sure you will need something other than the stock brakes, of you are towing anything more than a push lawn mower. Also I don't think the rear ends could live long in that enviroment, although it was about the only thing on mine that worked properly.
I have a little first hand advice to add to this thread. Everyone is right ,Don't do it. In 1964 I was building and installing custom bolt on equalizer trailer hitchs. I bid a job for a 62 Impalla to pull a new 18' Nomad travel trailer the guy had on order. No problem except when he shows up it's with a (guess?) brand new 64 Rambler wagon. I had done equalizer hitches for unit body Falcons , but this didn't look like a very good combination to me and I told him so. He was a Ratheon engineer and something and had it all figured out. I built it with a sway control and electric brake setup and made him sign a paper that I didn't think it would work with that big trailer do to the car being too light . Anyway he took it to down Fla Ok but on the way back he made a quick move on the Jersey Turnpke and Rolled the Rambler and the trailer twice. His insurance guy came by the shop and showed me the pictures. The wagon was on it's top and a trailer chassis with a few sticks of wood was still attached to the ball and the hitch was still bolted to the Rambler. Made me feel pretty good. These days I'd probably would have got sued anyway but things were different then.
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