| Author |
Message |
    
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:06 pm: | 
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OK Fellas:
I need some input. Due to circumstances beyond my control (SWMBO), I need to tow a 3200 pound car 500 miles on a trailer behind my Disco. U-haul (the only company with a trailer to rent in the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan) says my Disco can safely handle the load.
The terrain is pretty mild, long slow hills up and down.
The truck is in fairly good shape in spite of 130K on the clock. Lifted ~2". I'll change the tranny fluid before and after, along with the oil. tires and brakes are good, shocks and bushings marginal.
Any testimonials? Good idea, bad idea?
Paul |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:10 pm: |
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I towed my 88" Series Land Rover (about 4500lbs) on a trailer from Knoxville to Kingsport behind the Disco, about 100 miles or so, and it never batted an eyelash about it...
FWIW....
-L |
johnvigg
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:26 pm: |
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i just towed my 2400lb car on a 1200lb trailer 140 miles,
95 disco 45kmiles, 3inch lift, no swaybars at about 55-60mph at 10mpg.
no trouble, its a 5spd so i guess that would help, 4th gear was perfect, didnt loose any speed up hill. The truck only gets to 70mph anyways |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:29 pm: |
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Let me guess, its your girlfriends, it wont run and you being the nice guy offered to toe it down state, because its mass exodus at NMU.
I'm I close? |
Kyle
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:37 pm: |
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lol , going aint much of a problem. Its the stopping part thats the bitch..... Just be carefull with it and you should be good... Give yourself plenty of stopping room.
Kyle |
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:43 pm: |
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thanx fellas.
No, she's my wife and she'll be in Appleton learning how to fix cars. She'll drive up to the camp and we'll drive back together.
And... Just because you guys say it's OK doesn't mean this won't be an excuse for new Bilsteins and polyurethane bushings!
I have to get something out of this, don't I? |
niall forbes (Forbesn)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 02:06 pm: |
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Paul, it should be no problem but you'd be wise to get some poly bushes and new shocks. I recomend Bilsteins ;-)
Seriously though, I can't see how you'd have any trouble. I towed my IIa with my Volvo :-)
There is a guy on this board I think who has a Suburban too and I remember him saying that the Suburban was a better tower (duh!) but the Disco actually had better brakes. Regardless, Kyle's advice should stay at the front of your mind. It can be very easy to let things get away on you if you are not cautious. Leave lots of room and take corners slower etc. Loading the trailer is probably the most important thing. |
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 02:29 pm: |
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I've been hauling stuff on trailers for years, hence, I'm familiar with the intricacies of braking while towing. Fortunately, we'll be returning on Tuesday of Memorial Day weekend, hence, we will miss the majority of traffic. The biggest problem will be Mackinac Bridge if the weather is bad-they won't let trailers across.
Now, for shocks, how can I convince her I need the LTR shocks that Ho and John advertise?
I know, it is her company car and we certainly don't wish to have to explain to her boss how we crashed her car on a trailer!
Paul |
Ron
| | Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 01:51 am: |
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"There is a guy on this board I think who has (had) a Suburban too and I remember him saying that the Suburban was a better tower (duh!) but the Disco actually had better brakes."
Thats me. And its true!
Make sure the surge brakes on the U-haul trailer actually work. Slam on the brakes (well don't slam) without the car on the trailer and you will feel them kick in. Also make sure the U-haul trailer is not bent. A lot of them are bent and don't track right.
I had the rangie (~5000) on a BIG one car trailer behind the disco. It was ok.
Ron |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 01:59 am: |
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just out of curiosity, what's the average price to rent one of those uhauls to tow a car? |
Ron
| | Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 02:43 am: |
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$25 a day local. One way it varies greatly on where you are going. Used to be 120 from NY to VA and $90 to NY from VA (584 mile each way) when I needed them.
Ron |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 11:09 am: |
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Price on one-way changes is based on where has more of them, where needs them, etc. Go to a college town at the end of the semester and you're going to pay a lot because of the demand. If you're elsewhere, wanting to go TO a college town right at the end of the semester, and it'll cost a lot less. At least that's the way it is with trucks and box trailers, I would think that they worked the car-trailers the same way....
-L |
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 11:29 am: |
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Leslie is exactly right. Drop charges are the bane of folks wanting to do such. We are renting a tandem axle car trailer for $250 for four days, or $88 per day. Picking it up in Manistique and dropping it in Fort Wayne.
Paul |
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