<VV> Towing with a Corvair

[BBRT]

I have a JC Whitney tow bar which has "S"-shaped clamps which attach to a 
bumper and cast bumper clamps bolted directly to the bar. The S-shaped 
clamps are held by chains and an eye bolt up thru upper cast piece. Two legs 
to hitch are adustable sideways and there is a locking cross piece to keep 
the legs apart and fixed.. Once all is secure and set up, bolts are 
tightened. Doesn't damage chrome bumpers like Corvairs and FC's. Towed all 
over US with it.
You may be able to find one on Criag's list, eBay, etc and JC W may even 
still sell them. A net search might turn up something similar.

Chuck S
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ramon Rodriguez III" <corvairgrymm at gmail.com>
To: "Ken Pepke" <kenpepke at juno.com>
Cc: "Vair Views" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 10:49 AM
Subject: Re: <VV> Towing with a Corvair


> Glad you mentioned flat towing being better... the rear weight bias of the
> Corvair certainly comes into play when using a dolly.  Can anyone here 
> give
> me info on using a tow bar to tow a Corvair?  My friend used one to tow a
> project car about two miles and it wrinkled the sheet metal a bit around
> where it was bolted on (bumper bolt holes).  I'd love to get a tow bar if 
> I
> can use it without damaging anything... though removing the bumper to tow
> the car is a pain.  Keep in mind I would not be towing the same car over
> and over, but towing newly purchased cars home mostly.
>
> PS-  "pup" trailer normally refers to the 28 foot dry van trailers that 
> are
> commonly used for "doubles" and even "triples" in some places.  There is
> actually a fifth wheel on each dolly, so there is a fifth wheel under 
> every
> trailer.  The dolly is basically a fifth wheel with an axle under it, and 
> a
> pintle hook type hitch to latch it to the rear of the trailer it is
> following.  Also probably the best system for powered trailer brakes for
> use with a car would be electric.  It is very easily installed into the 
> car
> without the possibility of compromising the car's brake system at all.
>
> Slightly off topic, I'm sure most/all here are familiar with proper 
> braking
> technique when driving down a grade..... get on the brakes to slow down,
> get off the brakes and let them cool off... repeat.  I found it 
> interesting
> that when driving a tractor-trailer down a long grade the rule is actually
> to ride the brakes...  it is considered a bigger risk with a truck to run
> out of air pressure from getting on and off them than it is to overheat
> them.  They also tell you to NEVER attempt to use the trailer brake 
> (handle
> on the dash) for anything but pre-trip brake tests....  I used it to save
> my butt a couple of times (ice/snow conditions).
>
>
> Ray "Grymm" Rodriguez III
> Lake Ariel, PA
>
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 8:28 AM, Ken Pepke <kenpepke at juno.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> 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
>>
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