<VV> Risky towing (no Corvair)

[Ramon Rodriguez III]

I have a class "A" CDL and spent about two years driving over the road,
usually towing a 53' foot trailer.  Before I took on that gig I spent a
short while driving small dump trucks for a local paving company (doing
driveways mostly).  The boss was a real idiot with a nasty attitude....
anyway maybe a week after I started working for him I had to tow a trailer
loaded with the bulldozer in the pouring rain.  The boss didn't bother to
tell me that the brakes on the trailer were completely non-functional.  The
first time I got on the brakes the bulldozer just pushed me along.
Fortunately I had plenty of room in front of me and with a little evasive
maneuvering avoided any collisions.  I finished the trip at about 10 miles
per hour.

I would be perfectly willing to tow 2,500 lbs with a late model (better
brakes) as long as it was in good weather.  Eventually it might come to
this, fortunately for the time being I've got access to a good tow vehicle
owned by my father.... now if only I had a trailer (or at least a dolly) so
I didn't have to rent one....

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
> Wyandotte, MI
> Worry looks around; Sorry looks back, Faith looks up.
>
> *******************************
>
>
>
> > 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
> > ______________________________
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Ray "Grymm" Rodriguez
Lake Ariel, PA