<VV> Towing a Convertible with a Tow Dolly

[corvairduval at cox.net]

If the stitching is at all weak on the convertible rear window, the zipper
will give up, and at this point the air rushes in, pressurizing the
interior of the car, and the rest of the top rips open. x psi times the
number of square inches a top has is a large number! The force on the rear
window at 60 mph is about 80 pounds. This is why the top above the rear
window lifts.

No tape is going to hold the top against 70 mph winds. If it did, you could
never get that residue off with anything that will not hurt the top. Of
course, no one should drive 70 with a dolly, but...

And for the opposite opinion, I have a friend who regularly tows his 64
convertible backwards with a tow dolly. Of course his top is in good
condition.

Frank DuVal

Original email:
-----------------
From: Vairtec Corp via VirtualVairs virtualvairs at corvair.org
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:43:01 -0500
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> Towing a Convertible with a Tow Dolly


First, the reason the backing-up part did not go well is because tow 
dollies are not to be backed up at all when loaded.  The solution to 
this is to plan ahead at all times, so that you never have to back up.

Second, with the car being towed backwards will the airflow damage the 
convertible top?  Yessir, you betcha, roger that.  Here, however, I 
cannot speak from experience regarding a fix (other than don't do it), 
but I have heard tales of protecting the top with plastic, cardboard, 
thin plywood, or similar.  Perhaps someone with hands-on experience will 
have a better answer.

--Bob


On 2/27/2015 4:17 PM, Frank Campbell via VirtualVairs wrote:
> ​​I recently bought a tow dolly to pull my 64 Monza PG convertible.  I
> loaded the car on the dolly with the rear wheels in the cradle.   I
> am inexperienced at towing but everything seemed to go well except the
> backing up part.
>
> While towing the car, I noticed the convertible top just above the rear
> window was being pulled up by the wind at highway speeds.
>
> Question, will this hurt the top and if so, is there a way to prevent the
> wind from catching the top and pulling it up ?  Any thoughts or
suggestions
> will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks, Frank

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