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Re: Long distance towing

To: MG List <mgs@Autox.Team.Net>
Subject: Re: Long distance towing
From: John Steczkowski <stecz@pswtech.com>
Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 09:00:57 -0600
I have trouble figuring this out.... Why don't people who buy expensive
motorhomes buy trailers to tow there cars on? I cheap motorhome is let's say
$50k, purchasing a trailer along with it would only add $1500 to the price (for
a cheap trailer) and maybe $3,000 for a fairly nice one. Then, you can
eliminate all the problems associated with towing backwards (can you imagine
the leaks from a midget/mgb top from going backwards?, the car would be
soaked), You can't backup with a car flat-towed or with a dolly, wear and tear
on the car, even in good circumstances it's hard on the steering, especially
behind a vehicle with a long overhang, like a motorhome (the front tires of the
towed vehicle get dragged around some). Also, you have 2,500 lbs behind you
without breaks, less of a problem with a big motorhome, but this would cause a
problem with other vehicles. Evasive manuevering sucks while flat towing, you
can feel the towed car steering the back of your car (around corners, not going
straight) compared to a well balanced trailer.

Additionally, what if the towed car get's a flat, you probably won't notice it
behind the motor home, the tire will begin to desintegrate.... big problems,
mechanical, paint and body, etc. If the same thing happens on a trailer, not as
big of a problem, you repair it and move on, there's no emotional attachment,
etc.

I have flat towed (a race RX-7 behind an Audi 5000, worked fine) because I
didn't have a tow vehicle that could handle the trailer, but towing with a
trailer is much easier....

This just seems like a silly place to get cheap when you have a sizable
investment in a motorhome and an interesting car that you are going to tow
behind it.

After saying all of this, If I had a motorhome and I was going to tow a Geo
Tracker or some other non-interesting/cheapo car behind it, I'd might just flat
tow it and dispose of it properly at a later date.

Larry Macy wrote:

> >Larry Macy wrote:
> >
> >> I think if you want to use the B for a
> >> daily driver your best bet would be a dolly that you could back the car
> >> onto. Secure the steering wheel so the front (now rear) of the car won't
> >> wander.  Then drive off and away you go!!
> >
> >There might be a little, teensy, caveat about towing a wire-wheeled car
> >backwards. You know, the part about the wheels falling off?
> >
> >--
> >Bob Allen, Kansas City, '69CGT, '75TR6, '61Elva(?)
> >"A man was given two ears and one mouth, to be used in that ratio."
> >
> Oh Man,
> Hell of a good point. I have a friend whom has a Tr***ph that had a wheel
> fall of while in reverse in a corner and it did tear up the front end and
> the brake rotor etc.
> Sorry I missed that point.
>
> Larry Macy
> 78 Midget



--
John Steczkowski
Director, Business Systems Solutions, Central & West
PSW Technologies, Inc.
512-343-6666
stecz@pswtech.com
http://www.pswtech.com/~stecz
http://www.pswtech.com





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