What exactly does the "Towing package" on the LT1s consist of?

Is this a great OCD thread or what!!??!

Nick

I ran my 95 RMW with the towing package and here is what I have found.
1. I do have a sungate windshield, but see no RPO listed on compnine or on my SPID for it
2. I have the Grand Touring plaque on my dash
3. Codes I do have:
V92-TRAILER PROVISIONS TRLR PROVISIONS
6TM, 7TM-COMPONENT-COMPUTER SELECTED SUSPENSION SUSP
8RN, 9RN-COMPONET-COMPUTER SELECTED SUSPENSION SUSP
F40-SUSPENSION,HEAVY DUTY,FRONT AND REAR HVY DUTY SUSP
GW9-AXLE,REAR,2.93 RATIO 2.93R
G67-LEVEL CONTROL,AUTO AIR AUTO AIR LVL CONT
G80-AXLE,REAR,POSITRACTION,LIMITED SLIP POSITRACTION L/SLIP R/AXL
JA2-BRAKE SYSTEM,HEAVY WEIGHT,DISC,DRUM HVY WT BRK SYS
JM4-BRAKE SYSTEM,POWER FRONT DISC,REAR DRUM,ANTI-LOCK(CAST IRON) ANTILOCK DISC/DRUM BRK
KC4-COOLING SYSTEM,ENGINE OIL ENG OIL CLG
KD1-COOLING SYSTEM,TRANSMISSION OIL TRANS OIL CLG

I beleive that is all I have regarding the trailer stuff, hope that helps someone

JaySS wrote:

Lynol wrote:

Darn the 8RP 9RP vs. 8RN 9RN thing isn't it. Only '94 RMW's had two different ones offered. (the RP and RN ones) Production numbers were split between about half of the cars. All '95s and '96s had the 8RN-9RN suspension RPOs. Must have just been some running change during the '94 model year.

You may be onto some sort of explanation.

Have we seen any '95 or '96 RMW's with Dynaride & RN spring codes?

If not, and we take the '94 plaque assignments as currently suspect, then it would still hold.

We still could use more input on this and the Sungate questions. So everyone feel free to up their post count with some information that is actually relevant to the forum for a change.

- J

All '95 and '96 RMWs have the RN suspension PRO codes, with the exception of I believe 2 '95 wagons which had a completely different code (not RP either). So we're barking up the wrong tree with this spring code thing. I'm willing to conclude that the Gran Touring Suspension plaque should designate V92 towing package, but that for '94 at least, the right badges didn't get on the right cars all the time. As far as the Sungate thing goes, does anyone have any other brochures to reference for '94 to '96? If all three years brochure claim it to be standard then I'm going with that. Also, if anyone has a '94 to '96 RMW without a tow pack and it has a Sungate, and no A23 RPO then I would also then conclude the Sungate was standard.

Ok, the black 94 is a non tow pack with a Sungate and no A23 RPO.
Do I win anything?


Jon

My 92 didn't have a separate RPO for Sungate. GPS worked fine through it, btw. Didn't bother with the radar detector, though.

Is there any correlation between "LEVEL CONTROL,AUTO AIR AUTO AIR LVL CONT(G67)" and the Gran Touring suspension badge?

94X2 wrote:

Ok, the black 94 is a non tow pack with a Sungate and no A23 RPO.

Do I win anything?

Jon

Yes, for the timely sharing of requested information you & David get the admiration & appreciation of the entire forum.

Well, some of us anyway.

My RMW has the RN spring codes and the windshield has been replaced with a Safelite model. It has the DW1275 & "Solar Shaded" markings, but not the distinctive color of the PPG units.

Further checking indicates that the model number can change manufacturer-to-manufacturer and isn't necessarily consistent.

Bueller?

Anyone?

- J

I talked to a friend of mine today who is in the auto glass industry. He says that the industry generally uses the PPG DOT numbers as a standardized cross-reference and often marks their windshields with the PPG number (they will also have their own DOT code elsewhere).

DW1274 is the PPG DOT code for the regular windshield and DW1275 is the PPG code for the sunshade version. Some manufacturers may be using the DW1275 code for the cross reference on the basis of fitment rather than technology, so don't trust that unless it's a PPG made windshield.

94X2 wrote:

Ok, the black 94 is a non tow pack with a Sungate and no A23 RPO.
Do I win anything?


Jon

You get a gold star. Pretty sure that settles the Sungate thing. Sounds like it was standard equipment then.

Just to clarify the air ride was part of the tow package on the LT1 Caprice wagons as well, right?

Dynaride plaque . . . GW9 - 2.93 ratio . . F40, G80, G67 - auto leveling . . . . and V92

Lynol wrote:

Sprocket wrote:

My 94 RMW with V92 and G80 says Dyna Ride.

I heard at least on the 94s they slapped those plaques on willy nilly and they don't mean much (read that on ISSF a couple years back before the GDL 2K9)

I'm starting to believe that... I think the Gran Touring suspension usually means tow pack, but I'm seeing Dynaride badged cars with the same exact stuff so yeah...

My 94 RMW tow pak equiped car has a Dynaride plaque too. As a GM retiree with 10 years in the material department I can tell you that if there was any shortage of the correctly badged IP bezel they would have put another one on in its place to keep the line moving in a heart beat, and by any shortage I mean the manufacturer had problems keeping up with production, the truck delivering it was stuck in traffic or broke down, (this was not too long after GM started using the "just in time" delivery system) or if the fork lift driver was off getting parts for some one else, the line operator would have been told to just grab the correct colored one with the different badge.

Makes sense. My tow-pack car has the Gran Touring plaque.

94.

Mechanical fan, oil cooler. No posi, no air shocks.

Sprocket wrote:

My 94 RMW with V92 and G80 says Dyna Ride.

I heard at least on the 94s they slapped those plaques on willy nilly and they don't mean much (read that on ISSF a couple years back before the GDL 2K9)

Our 94 tow pack wagon has a Dynaride plaque.

i've got a rare bird 96 wb4, v92, g80, n91 steelies with cloth and 80k miles...Light adriatic met. Got rid of the spokes and put on some alloys instead. Otherwise bone stock.
Thinking about letting it go soon

Lynol wrote:

we need some more input from tow pack RMW owners... specifically I'd like to know what the dash plaque says on '94 RMW's with V92 and G80.

94 RMW: V92, G80, 6TM, 7TM, 8RP, 9RP, G67, GW9, JA2, JM4, KC4, KD1, V08 with Sungate windshield and Dynaride dash plaque.

Just wondering if the tow pack has the 2.92 gears and the same mileage rating as the 2.56, are the 4l60e internal ratios different to achieve the same final drive ratio?

Reviving this old thread to help answer the question of whether a Roadmaster could be ordered with the Trailering Package but without the G80 Positraction option. At least in Canada in 1996, it could not -- the TTP required the limited slip differential as per Buick's own archives:

The “Trailer Pkg. 2265-kg (5000-lb.) capacity includes 2.93 axle ratio, heat-reflective windshield, heavy-duty cooling and engine oil cooling, automatic level control, ride and handling suspension, P235/70R15 all-season tires (whitewalls), limited slip differential”

https://media.buick.com/content/dam/Media/documents/CA/Archives/EN/Vehicles/buick/1996Roadmaster.html

"are the 4l60e internal ratios different to achieve the same final drive ratio?"

No.

All of the transmission ratios in the B-body cars were the same. The final drive ratios are determined by the gears in the rear.

Hi,
My 1996 Roadmaster LTD Estate Wagon daily driver with 235K miles (bought new) has the towing package with the air shock levelling suspension. I don’t understand why Buick did not furnish a 3500 lb or 5000 lb trailering frame hitch towing package with towing ball. I also don’t understand why a rear sway bar was not furnished on these great wagons.
I have installed a rear sway bar a while ago on my high mileage 1996 RMW trailing arms with the 1996 RMW steel channel stiffening adapters. I am going to install a frame hitch and rear sway bar on my newer low mileage 1996 RMW LTD wagon with towing package. I have been told that the 1996 Crown Victoria rear sway bar fits the 1996 RMW wagon. Is this correct?
The RMW wagon axle is 3” wider than the 1996 Impala SS sedan and thereby the 1996 Impala SS factory rear sway bar won’t fit. Is this correct?
The Hotchkiss 2205R aftermarket rear sway bar manufacturer sales literature indicates that the 2205R fits the 1996 RMW wagon. The new ones are hollow. The manufacturer specification indicates that it fits the 1996 Caprice wagon with towing package. Are the 1996 RMW and 1996 Caprice wagon towing package positraction rear axles the same in dimension and setup?
I have put in alot of time researching this for installation on my newer low mileage 1996 RMW LTD wagon. I had hoped that I could find a used factory solid steel GM OEM rear sway bar to fit the 1996 RMW wagon. I want to get it right before I order these aftermarket parts. Buick should have installed the frame hitch and rear sway bar on the predrilled RMW trailing arms. What an improvement in handling in mitigating rear body roll in my high mileage RMW wagon!
Thanks for reviewing my comments and I appreciate all of your advice.
Gary

GTDRMW9396 wrote:

Hi,
My 1996 Roadmaster LTD Estate Wagon daily driver with 235K miles (bought new) has the towing package with the air shock levelling suspension. I don’t understand why Buick did not furnish a 3500 lb or 5000 lb trailering frame hitch towing package with towing ball. I also don’t understand why a rear sway bar was not furnished on these great wagons.
I have installed a rear sway bar a while ago on my high mileage 1996 RMW trailing arms with the 1996 RMW steel channel stiffening adapters. I am going to install a frame hitch and rear sway bar on my newer low mileage 1996 RMW LTD wagon with towing package. I have been told that the 1996 Crown Victoria rear sway bar fits the 1996 RMW wagon. Is this correct?
The RMW wagon axle is 3” wider than the 1996 Impala SS sedan and thereby the 1996 Impala SS factory rear sway bar won’t fit. Is this correct?
The Hotchkiss 2205R aftermarket rear sway bar manufacturer sales literature indicates that the 2205R fits the 1996 RMW wagon. The new ones are hollow. The manufacturer specification indicates that it fits the 1996 Caprice wagon with towing package. Are the 1996 RMW and 1996 Caprice wagon towing package positraction rear axles the same in dimension and setup?
I have put in alot of time researching this for installation on my newer low mileage 1996 RMW LTD wagon. I had hoped that I could find a used factory solid steel GM OEM rear sway bar to fit the 1996 RMW wagon. I want to get it right before I order these aftermarket parts. Buick should have installed the frame hitch and rear sway bar on the predrilled RMW trailing arms. What an improvement in handling in mitigating rear body roll in my high mileage RMW wagon!
Thanks for reviewing my comments and I appreciate all of your advice.
Gary

There are no GM OEM anti roll bars for wagons. The Crown Vic anti roll bar needs to be attached to the axle, and frame with standoffs, and clamped on axle mounts. The aftermarket bars are the easiest to install. You will need an insert for the lower suspension arm to attach the antiroll bar. The insert from the sedan arms can be used. I have heard of OEM lower arms bending with the antiroll bar attached with the OEM mounts. You have the option to install tubular lower arms that have the bolt holes for the antiroll bar. The Caprice and Roadmaster are identical from the bottom. Sometimes tubular antiroll bars are stiffer than solid ones. Be careful that you do not put too stiff of a rear antiroll bar on the car without a commensurately stiffer front bar. It can cause oversteer in high speed conditions. The way you can tell if you have a limited slip differential is the aluminum tag bolted to the bottom of the differential cover.

Hi Fred,
Thanks for your reply. Very helpful information,
Will the 1996 Impala SS rear sway bar fit my 1996 RMW rear trailing arms with the steel channel bolt plates from the Impala SS sedan trailing arms?
Is the front stabilizer on the 1996 RMW the ssme as the 1996 Impala SS sedan?
The Hotchkiss 2025R tubular rear sway bar requires a Hotchkiss tubular front
sway bar to match stiffness to prevent oversteer driving at high speeds.
My RMW wagon has the variable assist power steering.
Best,
Gary

Just because I stated that the inserts could be used does not change the dimensions of the SS antiroll bar. I assume that Hotchkiss did research on the front/rear bar dynamics, and balanced them for safe use. Neither you nor I have the test facilities to determine what works best. Under normal driving conditions it probably does not make a difference. Emergency situations or race conditions you may have problems. Variable assist steering has no affect on stability control. You can measure the front antiroll bar on both cars. If they are the same size, they are the same.