<VV> Towing with a Corvair

[Ken Pepke]

Good points Tony ... and great examples.  Watching the road way far ahead is most important.  It always seems when one is going a little slower than usual [and slightly slower than the surrounding traffic] nothing gets in your way; there will be no hard, last second stops nor sudden moves required.  

I have also found Corvairs tow best with all wheels on the ground.  I have towed Corvairs on a tow dolly also; the last time from Cleveland Ohio to Warren, MI. with an '89 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham REAR wheel drive.  50 MPH max.  The same car later towed with the 'bar' followed the same Cadillac easily at any speed.  The worst towing experience came when I had the 'bar' come loose off a Corvair bumper on one side but, I did not even notice until I saw it at a rest stop!  Apparent failure on my part to tighten the clamps :-(

Actually, braking is everything when towing.  When towing anything without brakes extra distance MUST be allowed for stopping.  The old boat trailer has surge brakes on its front axle so any Corvair could quite safely pull it at whatever speed the engine HP will allow.  When the braking is right the size of the tow vehicle is of little importance.  Look at all those tractor trailer combo's on the highway everyday ... When loaded, 85% of their weight can be the trailer!  Yeah, they use a fifth wheel ... but not on the 'pup' trailer.  Trucks use air pressure to operate the brakes but if one was doing a lot of towing it would be possible to hydraulically connect the car brakes to the towed vehicle.  It increases the brake pedal pressure required but it is what I would do if towing in the mountains.  


Ken P
Wyandotte, MI
Worry looks around; Sorry looks back, Faith looks up.

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> From: Tony Underwood <tony.underwood at cox.net>
> Date: November 10, 2011 1:23:18 AM EST
> To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> Subject: Re: <VV> Towing with a Corvair
> 
> At 07:07 PM 11/9/2011, George Jones wrote:
>> As long as you believe that knowing how to tow includes knowing not to tow
>> with a vehicle which is too small or inadequately equipped to do the job,
>> then I'm fine with your point. Knowing how to tow when your equipment is
>> inadequate can't prepare you for the guy who jumps on the brakes in front
>> of you and you have to struggle to control a load which weighs as much or
>> more than your tow vehicle.

> 
> 
> 
> I've towed with a Corvair.   In fact, I've towed THREE Lakewoods with 
> Corvairs.   Two were just across town, the third was nearly a 
> third-way across the state, pulled on a dolly with the '69 140hp 
> Monza.   Interestingly enough, one of the Corvairs ('67 95hp 500) 
> that did two of the Lakewood towings was in fact originally itself 
> towed home by the same '69 Monza.
> 
> This is what you do, field-expedience-wise, when you do in fact own a 
> more adequate tow vehicle (Dodge Ram PU) but it's loaned out to 
> somebody who kept it for 3 friggin' months.    >:-o    Before that, 
> it pulled home the 'Vair-kitcar tube-chassis from 110 miles north of here.
> 
> Drive slowly, keep twice the distance you usually keep from what's 
> ahead of you, brake carefully and EARLY, and watch all around 
> you.   Do these things and you can tow your own weight anywhere 
> without a problem, but you do need to be defensive and NOT in a 
> rush.   And stop often and CHECK EVERYTHING.
> 
> I've pulled other things with that '69 Monza and it did well.   Sure, 
> the truck does it better but the Monza gave a good account of itself 
> when it was necessary.   And, it got some thumbs-up displays from 
> people who spotted a Corvair stationwagon being towed by another 
> Corvair.   The crowning touch was pulling that Porsche with the 
> Monza.   That got a few laughs, I'm sure.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> tony..   is very careful when need be 
> ______________________________