I have a 89 probe with the 4cyl and a manual, I was wanting to put a hitch on it and tow around two dirtbikes. I have a 3 rail trailer that I made, I figure the weight of the trailer and two bikes it would come out to around 900-1000 pounds. Whats a safe, maximum towing limit for this car?

 

In my opinion the hitch would be an overload. The Ford towing guides that I have don't even mention Probe but an Escort is limited to a max of 1000lbs.

 

In my opinion, i would find a small p/u for under a grand to do any light hauling.
when i was searching for towing capacities, i came across this,
http://www.supporttube.com/view_vide...e=&category=mr

 

1ooo lbs on the back of that car will weight it right down.
that video must have been the repo man.

 

as long as your car is in good running order, specifically brakes, you can tow that 1000# just fine. remember to drive like your in snow, gentle excelleration, brake early. I very comfortably towed a Jayco Pop-Up camper with a 98 Kia Sephia, dry weight 1140#, add luggage, loaded cooler, and even once had the gf and 3 kids in the back. It was a 5-speed, 1.8 liter, 125 hp, 108 lb-ft of torque. Had the car for 4 years, towed for 3 years with it. Make sure you spend the 100-125 bux on the hitch specifically for that car.

PS-the Kia manual said "This vehicle is not recommended for trailer towing." Similar saturns were rated for 1000#, as were Cavaliers.

 

The question is whether you "can" tow it and whether it is SAFE to tow it. YOu can tow anything with almost any vehicle, but it may not be safe or legal and it will probably decrease service life.

Most of those small cares aif they are rated at all are about 1000#. To be safe and legal and reliable you need to take into account your passenger load, toys, gas etc in the car. The total weight of the car(including hitch and tongue weight) must be under the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GVWR, which is usually on a sticker on the car and surely in the manual.

The weight of trailer you can tow within rating is what is left after you subtract the GVWR from the Gross Combined Weight Rating GCWR which is sometimes on the sticker and usually in the manual. You also have to take into account the weight on the front and rear axles GAWR, but the rear is the important one since that will take the tongue weight and don't forget the weight of the hitch and the stinger assembly(probably well over 100# here).

Also becareful in weight estimation of the trailer. Trailers weigh a lot more than we think and incedentals addup fast. A bike would be what 300+ pounds, the trailer maybe 200+ and then there is fuel, 5 gallons weighs about 50 pounds and what about the fuel in the tank? Just wild estimation from the above numbers is that you have at least 850 pounds with my most likely low numbers. Add an ice chest full of soda and ice, a tool set, riding gear etc, you get over 1000 real fast.

Check your manual if you have it for the GCWR, GVWR, GAWR and if possible weigh the fully loaded trailer on a public scale.

If it was me I would prefer a small pickup over the Probe. But if you do your homework and the numbers work out, then you are probably safe and reasonable. If you exceed ratings, you may have a tiring trip, wear out the car and be a hazard to those around you.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson