![]() ![]() You should not rely solely on the following information, and SEMA disclaims any responsibility for damages that arise out of reliance on the following information. Please understand that state laws are subject to change, and it is important to consult the current statutes and regulations in your state to ensure accurate information. The following information is posted here for enthusiasts to learn more about vehicle emissions inspection laws in their states. Maybe a daily driver needs an inspection every two years or so, but what about an infrequently driven collector car? Are the laws different for 3/4- or 1-ton trucks? And what if that truck is a diesel? The SEMA Action Network (SAN) helps you keep track of smog check requirements in each state and the laws that exempt certain specialty vehicles. Lastly, I would say that if you get wheel hop when you burn rubber then your rear suspension probably isn't up to the task.Īuthor of the GMC Sprint, El Camino, and '68-'72 SS Authentication pages.Image/svg+xml MA MN MT ND HI ID WA AZ CA CO NV NM OR UT WY AR IA KS MO NE OK SD LA TX CT NH RI VT AL FL GA MS SC IL IN KY NC OH TN VA WI WV DE MD NJ NY PA ME MI AK No Smog Requirements Smog Requirements DC Clearing the Smog Law HazeĮveryone agrees that taking strides toward keeping our planet healthy is a noble cause, but how should the burden be shared? Clean air is a national concern addressed by the EPA, but the laws governing how motor vehicle smog checks are performed, which vehicles are tested and how frequently is handled at the state and local level. I found that the trick to getting away with towing more than your tow vehicle weighs is simple : drive very carefully !! It is generally better to have the tow vehicle weigh more than the load, but most tractor-trailer rigs have a lot more weight out back than they do up front. My tow vehicle weighs about 3800 pounds, I think. In my case, the trailer and Sprint probably weighed a little over 5000 pounds. ![]() ![]() If you beef up the suspension so that it rides more like a truck, then you should be able to tow a fair amount of weight. The biggest problem when towing heavy loads with an El Camino is that the stock suspension is designed to ride like a car. Second, the El Camino wheelbase is longer than a Chevelle coupe, and that makes a difference. First, El Caminos have a fully-boxed frame which Chevelles do not have (except convertibles). I have a couple of comments regarding the comparison of towing with a Chevelle vs towing with an El Camino. But with the 396, I still had plenty of power to pull the load. The only thing about my setup that was not optimal was the 3.07 gears in the rear end. The trailer I rented had good electronic brakes (very important !). My '68 has a heavy frame-mounted hitch, polygraphite suspension bushings front and rear, heavy anti-sway bars front and rear, electronic trailer brake controller, and a TH-400 with an auxiliary cooler. Yes, I towed my '71 454 Sprint on an open trailer behind my '68 El Camino SS-396. I have a 70 SS Elky but have not pulled a heavy load with it. I agree with the other folks, these are light trucks on a passenger frame and are not very stout. You might email him and discuss the towing capabilities of early El Caminos. Now, Dan Carr, our own Team Chevelle Elky expert and poster maker towed his 1972 restored Sprint on a car trailer with his 1968 SS 396 Elky from Colorado to the ACES convention in Nashville this past June and had no problems. Physics don't allow it to work, especially on a hill when the trailer is pushing the car. Well I could go on but the moral is don't overload a trailer and expect to pull it with a 3500# car. I limped back home and had the Chevelle fixed and six weeks later made the trip with a much lightened trailer. ![]() The Model A was OK since I had cinched it down with special fittings and the Chevelle was driveable with bent rear axle, twisted trailer hitch, mucho dents etc. Fortunately neither my passenger or myself were injured just scared ****less. We went from 60 mph to zero in about 45 seconds and jackknifed against the side of a slope of an overpass. I took off from Southern California for Texas and I made it 125 miles when on a downhill slope of the 4 lane freeway the trailer began to sway and in less than 30 seconds the trailer was the tail wagging the dog (me and the chevelle). I had a weight transfer hitch and surge brakes and road tested it on a flat road the night before I left. The trailer was loaded with my recently restored Model A Ford truck plus other stuff and apparently weighed 8000# or more. In 1972 I hooked up my 1970 Chevelle hardtop, 350 4spd to a custom made tandom axle trailer which was heavier than normal car carrier. ![]()
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