A 1968 Cadillac sedan de Ville with roughly 23,000 indicated miles is an unusual starting point for a towing build, and Derek immediately understands the tension. The car is remarkably original, with functioning power accessories, air conditioning, automatic headlight dimming, and largely untouched mechanical components, so the project is framed around adding capability without permanently sacrificing that originality. That constraint gives the work more purpose than a simple novelty modification: every major change is approached with reversibility in mind.
The initial diagnosis makes a convincing case that the rear suspension needs attention regardless of whether a trailer is attached. The old coils have the car sitting low, visible suspension travel suggests frequent contact with the bump stops, and the shocks are replaced alongside the springs. Derek's solution is a RideTech airbag setup with adjustable Fox shocks, allowing the rear ride height to be restored after adding tongue weight. He also catches an important parts-selection mistake when the supplied bags turn out to lower the car at their intended operating height, then orders taller replacements rather than accepting a stance that conflicts with the project's goal.
Fabricating the receiver hitch becomes the most substantial part of the build. An allegedly compatible hitch proves nowhere close to fitting, so Derek cuts it apart, creates mounting brackets, widens the structure with thick DOM tubing, welds the modified assembly, and uses heavy hardware to attach it to the frame. The trial-and-error process is shown openly, including interference concerns with the fuel tank and exhaust, awkward bolt placement, revised holes, and the need to shorten the exhaust outlet. That willingness to show problems rather than skipping from parts pile to finished installation gives the fabrication unusually good practical texture.
There is also a sensible preservation philosophy running through the work. The removed springs are retained for the eventual owner, the hitch can be unbolted, and Derek avoids cutting the original rear wiring when installing the trailer-light connection. Even cosmetic work on the rear axle is treated as cleanup rather than restoration, with surface corrosion and grime removed before repainting. For an original car being modified primarily for a giveaway package, that restraint helps reconcile two priorities that could easily have been at odds.
Where the presentation is less complete is in substantiating the Cadillac's actual towing limits. Derek cites substantial engine output and says the planned 13- to 15-foot camper will be chosen with braking and vehicle limitations in mind, while the hitch itself is described as carrying a 6,000-pound rating and roughly 1,000 pounds of tongue capacity. Those figures, however, do not establish a safe towing capacity for the complete 1968 Cadillac after considering its brakes, tires, cooling, hitch attachment points, weight distribution, trailer brakes, or manufacturer specifications. The fabrication appears stout in the conditions shown, but describing the car as fully ready to tow comes before any loaded trailer test.
The unloaded road test is still useful. Derek reports that the Cadillac sits level, rolls less in corners, and feels substantially more controlled, although the initial shock setting is somewhat stiff over bumps and still needs adjustment. Cycling the airbags also demonstrates the system's substantial ride-height range, even though the slammed position is presented only as a joke rather than the intended setup. Those observations give some evidence that the rear suspension work improves the car by itself, but the important test—how it behaves with the actual camper attached—is deliberately saved for the next installment.
Derek's familiar improvised vocabulary and self-deprecating shop humor keep a fairly long fabrication sequence lively, especially during tedious fitting and hardware installation. At the same time, the giveaway promotion receives considerable screen time at both ends of the project, and some repetitive fitting commentary could have been tightened. The build itself remains strong enough to carry the episode: it combines preservation, fabrication, troubleshooting, and an entertainingly unconventional goal while leaving the most consequential proof of the towing setup for later.
Pros
- Shows the complete transformation of the rear suspension, including removal of the worn coils and shocks, airbag installation, adjustable shocks, airline routing, and ride-height testing.
- Treats preservation seriously by retaining original parts, avoiding unnecessary cutting, keeping the hitch removable, and tapping rather than cutting the original trailer-light wiring.
- Hitch fabrication is shown in useful detail, including the poor initial fit, custom brackets, DOM reinforcement, welding, mounting difficulties, exhaust interference, and final installation.
- Derek openly identifies the incorrectly selected airbags and changes course instead of disguising the mistake.
- The unloaded test drive provides a meaningful first indication that the suspension changes improve ride-height control and cornering behavior.
Cons
- The episode declares the Cadillac ready for towing before showing any loaded trailer testing, braking evaluation, temperature monitoring, or real-world tongue-weight behavior.
- Hitch-component ratings and the Cadillac's quoted engine output are not enough by themselves to establish the safe towing capacity of the complete vehicle.
- The adjustable shock setup remains unfinished during the road test, with Derek acknowledging that the rear is still too stiff over bumps.
- Repeated giveaway promotion and some extended fabrication banter add length without advancing the technical evaluation.
Vice Grip Garage turns an exceptionally original Cadillac into a plausible vintage tow rig without casually destroying what makes the car special, and the reversible fabrication philosophy is as appealing as the novelty itself. The suspension and hitch work are thoughtfully shown, but proving the finished package safe and competent under an actual trailer load remains the crucial unfinished step. As a fabrication installment and setup for the towing test to come, it is highly entertaining and unusually satisfying.
