calder

anybody think i could pull a sail boat on a trailer behind my stock '95 DX hatch? It would be 400 pounds combined wieght, boat and trailer.

Any see any problems? Or ever see anybody pulling anything with a civic?

thx for advice

imported_gatherer

maybe (but I think you'd be pushing the limits

Gallagher

do it up, let us know how it goes

punkindrublic

1.5L wasn't meant to tow anything

imported_94EG6HB

I always laugh when I see hatches with trailer hitches..

imported_kane2k

You're playing with physics on this one. On one hand it's only 400 lbs. On the other hand its 400 lbs which is free to dance around on the end of a tow hook. Your car is slightly more than 5 times the weight of what you plan to pull so your car/boat combination will not be that stable to start with. Your brakes are also very small and it will be a struggle to slow the car down from speed. Then there is the torque problem so don't expect to be speeding either.

I would say that it's possible to do, and should be safe enough to do it if there isn't another option. If you have another option though, use it. I would say that if you get into a panic stop or swerve and avoid situation you would probably end up dead since there's no way your car could control the reaction forces from the trailer if the car or the trailer get into a skid and you will end up going *** over elbows multiple times. And then there's that boat that's going to hit you at the end.

shlammed

id be scared if i was stopped on an uphill with that thing stuck to my car

imported_BoOsTd

i see guys towing seedoos all the time with thier hatchies... 400-500lbs... just be careful where you go with it, and find out what the rateing of the tow hitch is...

imported_BoOsTd

i donnt see much diff in power than having two big guys in the back seat... just travel lightly, no passengers... and dont be upset if your struts are pooched iin a year, and your rear tires have major camber ware...

Nova_Dust

One time I had 4 people in my car, 1 guys skinny as hell, 1 big guy with 1 big girl and a normal weight dude. They combine to at least 500lbs. My car was instantly lowered 3 inches.

I guess that's one of the reason why I took out the back seats.

n1_taboo

1st rip out your interior and second loose the big wheels, then u can tow that bad boy...

Boojamin

its suicide, the motor and tranny are not ment for that

Tikal

^ Seriously.

I would never try to tow anything with my civic, even if I had to.

calder

Thanks everyone for your advice.

Maybe ill have to buy some old american beast to pull my boat.

imported_BlazeInEk

Probably won't work. I tried pulling my buddy in the winter on a snow disc and he could actually make my car slide out, given we were on ice and snow but still.....

imported_Vato_Loco

imported_BoOsTd

dito also, but thats my civic lol... Id tow with somone elses

imported_Vato_Loco

Hahaha yeah I would do the same thing, just for funs.

imported_kIeRaN

ive carried a zc sohc vtec motor in my hatch, your car could handle an extra 400 lbs no problem

imported_kane2k

Damn, why does everyone think that the problem has to do with the amount of weight. Yes, your car will be slower with that much weight added, yes it will put strain on your transmission. The dangerous and stupid part is hanging something which is a significant proportion of the total weight of the vehicle at a distance from any controlled wheel.

Putting an engine inside your hatch is not going to make you spin out. The weight is pretty much on the rear wheels and even if it is behind there is only a small moment arm with which it can act on the car. A boat behind a civic will have a huge moment arm, probably bigger than the wheelbase of the car, with which to completely destabilize the vehicle. This is dangerous part, everything else is a minor concern.