Towing A Car With A Stagea

[PIG747]

Hey guys,

Looking at buying another car which is a bit more street friendly but one that can also tow my r33 when I take it to the track.

I've been looking up stageas because there are some sub 10k which is in my price range..

Obviously id put a trans cooler and other bits and pieces to aid in towing but I'm looking at any first hand experiences in towing cars with one...

Thank for any input

[66yostagea]

Sydney Kid is the one to look up. He tows his track car with a Stag, or did? Getting a towbar can be a pain. Actually found a Patrol the best option. That is used to tow the Sil

[Big Fella]

I used my stag to tow a car trailer on the odd occasion, and it towed my boat a fair bit. I didn't really like it. Not enough power so it kept changing gears every 2 secs up hill.

That's partly the reason I sold it, it can tow of required, but as a dedicated tow car, I'd look elsewhere.

[PIG747]

When you say it lacked power did it have any mods done to it??

[Big Fella]

It was a series 2 auto(neo motor) It had 3" turbo back exhaust, pod and 12psi, shift kit and sway bars.

It's more that it lacked torque, ie on boost up hills, all good

Off boost, slight rise in the road, gutless, down change a gear

I found that unless I was towing on the flat above 100k I'd just hold it in 3rd gear

The rear end felt fair average with the boat on it. Not ver heavy, ie 950kg on the trailer with spare fuel and ski gear, but the long ass trailer made the back end feel like poo

[lilcrash]

I've towed a few times with mine (rs4s), my only complaint is my excedy heavy duty slipped when accelerating ocassionally up hills. But I would deffinately recommend a brake upgrade just as a safety concern. Emergency stops are not possible. But my previous tow cars have been a 2002 Camry, 1976 corona, 97 surf, 89 falcon, 2000 hilux 2wd. The stagea towed better then those.

Just for information my mods were as follows. 3inch exhaust, front mount, k&n panel filter, split fire coils and the clutch.

[Simon-S14]

I sold my stag cause out was no good for towing. Don't get me wrong it did it but not what I would call well. I found it chewed thro fuel and wouldn't sit in 4 th at all only 3rd for cruise

[Pft shh 89]

as mentioned above, getting a towbar can be a pain. there is a guy in canberra who made one up rated by him to 2.0 tonne. don't confuse this with being engineered to 2.0 tonne you have to get it engineered urself to make it completely legal. however do your research as i bought one of these on recommendation of many SAU members and found it didn't allign at all with the back of my car. The installer up here did tell me though that once they got my rear bumper off there is evidence that my car has been in a accident (which i didn't know when i bought it) and was also told same thing by the tyre shop when they tried to do an allignment, so now i'm out $800 odd for a towbar that won't work on my car. So by research i mean no rear damage repaired or otherwise to the stagea you buy. Also alot of places won't fit second hand towbars, or ones that are made by someone else, or be willing to design one for you.

[Duncan]

I tow a fair bit with my stagea and other than terrible fuel economy it is excellent.

All I had to change to make it tow well was:

Much harder and higher rear shocks

Big brakes

Big wheels to clear the big brakes

Rb30 with 25 head

High mount turbo

Front mount intercooler and forward facing plenum

PowerFC

GTR injector conversion

2t tow bar from Max in canberra (mine fit the chassis but required heaps of work trimming the dayz kit)

Also did a manual conversion but I don't think that helped it's towing ability, it is a bit of a pain to pull away from standing starts.

So....for irregular towing I would say go for it....but for regular towing of big loads a lot of work and money is required to work well.

Having said all that, I am very happy with how the car ended up. It is a daily car with occasional (1-2/month) towing of large loads (up to 2.5 tonnes) over long distances. When towing it is dead steady, brakes are great and plenty of power whenever it is needed. The only issue is the fuel economy is terrible when towing.

[GoldZilla]

That might also have something to do with your right foot, Duncan.

[dirtyRS4]

2t tow bar from Max in canberra (mine fit the chassis but required heaps of work trimming the dayz kit)

i have a mate that works in the industry that deals with hayman reese at good prices inc supply and fit, im sorting out a group buy for the WA boys atm.

[Simon-S14]

hayman reece refused to make a towbar for my stagea

[Big Fella]

Yep, I had a custom tow bar made for mine, which meant 2-3 trips back and forth to get it right, and it still felt like it flexed too much.

[floody]

If you want to tow, buy a car designed for the job.

Hint: It won't be sporty and Japanese.

[Big Fella]

Yep, just like my new ride

1989 chev silverado

350 chev, injected, auto, 1500kg in the tray, up to 3000kg on the tow bar.

Doesn't turn, doesn't stop, and it doesn't go fast, but it tows!

[The Stag Wagon]

Anyone have any experience towing with an M35 Stagea by any chance?

Ive been advised that you would (of course) have to get one custom made for the M35, but anyone know where to start in VIC? or is any have been made up in other states?

I am only looking at a tow weight of possibly 1.5-1.6 Tonne max, just a stripped out z20 drifter + trailer, so might not even be that heavy in total

Cheers

Ken

[dirtyRS4]

there are a number of places that will do a custom one for you, the M35 has an alloy subframe i believe and has a slightly less towing capacity than C34.

[The Stag Wagon]

ive researched it to be something like 1.6 tonne safely? (according to wiki and car sales )

any chance you'd roughly know how much it would set someone back to get a custom one made up dirtyRS4?

even if its for a c34 id at least know a rough price range

cheers

Ken

[bjd]

Not sure if your stil looking at this but these guys do them http://www.wynnumtowbars.com.au/Wynnum/Towbars.html but there in Qld... Im considering getting one done for a boat weighing 500kg gross payload.... Surely got to be better than trying to tow with the Mrs corolla...

[RSFOURDayz]

Does anyone have a number for this Max guy in Cambera?