towbar/ tow dolly revisited - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

slow69 · 01-08-2003, 04:52 PM

I need a quick question answered.

I am going to tow a 3/4 ton rolling chassis about 25 miles through town and am trying to decide between a tow bar and a tow dolly. The tow dolly is readily available but I am concerned about it tracking well. Will the front wheels turn when I turn or will they shoot the other way and cause and accident?
I know that I can find a 78" tow dolly that will work but if a tow bar works, I would rather do that because I don't have to rent it.
Any suggestions/comments would be appreciated,
slow69

chevy_fatman · 01-08-2003, 05:01 PM

If your chassis has the steering box and all the linkage, you can use a tow bar and secure the wheels, that way they won't feeling like going their own way, The dolly works also, I prefer using a car hauler, why? is safer and you can rent one for the same price as a car dolly in any RV place

slow69 · 01-08-2003, 07:39 PM

well, I have a tow bar and would have to rent the dolly. I don't know about locking up the wheels. I thought someone here said that they had pulled one with a towbar and was hoping to get some feedback. thanks

chevy_fatman · 01-08-2003, 07:49 PM

Did you check this?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=26528&highlight=tow+bar

Longhornmail is the man to talk to, good luck

6869704X4 · 01-08-2003, 09:53 PM

I pulled my rolling chassis several miles with a tow bar. Worked great. Dont lock the wheels. They will follow you, or track with you, around a corner. And dont get in a spot where you have to back up. Also if you make a really tight turn you might drag the front around the turn instead of the front wheels tracking with you. I guess its because the frame is so light.

slow69 · 01-08-2003, 10:27 PM

thanks,
I just need someone to say that they had done it.
I hope I don't run anyone over with it!

-slow69

Longhorn Man · 01-08-2003, 11:22 PM

Don't lock the wheels. I have towed my GMC with my tow bar from Tx to Ohio and it tracked straight. Then, i towed the longhorn from eastern PA to Columbus, and it tracked fairly straight. (it weighed more than the tow vehicle)
Like I said in the e-mail...just don't get stupid.
As for backing it up...try it, if you get the hang of it you'll look like a pro. It only took me 10 min to figure out how to back up...after that, I was backing out of driveways and stuff. Even had a trucker give me a thumbs up on backing into a spot in a truck stop some where in Arkansas.

**PICKMUP** · 01-09-2003, 12:18 AM

I use a wide tow dolly with electric brakes. These trucks are really heavy to be stopping with just the brakes on the towing truck. The dolly is not as good as a trailer, but safer than a tow bar. It is just so much easier to get around our dreadful Seattle traffic than dragging a 20' trailer.

6869704X4 · 01-09-2003, 10:36 AM

hey longhornmail, hehe, backing a 4wheel trailer is a little different isnt it. But like you said once you get the hang of it, it aint bad. I can remember backing 4wheel farm trailers into dryers with a tractor. The tractor makes it easy.
I found that pulling just the rolling frame was a little different than the whole truck. Without the wieght of the truck on the front the tires would slide instead of track when trying to back it up. So I could actually back it like a regular trailer, but it wasn't consistent. For everything I needed to do in regular driving the wheels tracked with me.
All I needed to do was pull it to the sanblaster and back home. For that I thought the tow bar was the best way.
I had 33x12.5 tires on mine so there is another factor.

Longhorn Man · 01-10-2003, 01:59 AM

Tow bars are safe as long as the driver isn't an idiot. Otherwise, the feds wouldn't let them be on the market, and they wouldn't be DOT leagal, and U-haul (who is way too conservitive with what a vehicle can tow) wouldn't rent them out.
I used to tow 70 ton M1-A1 tanks with a tow bar all the time, and that was with a 56 ton tow vehicle.
Once I even towed 2 tanks (total 140 ton weight) at once with one 70 ton tow vehicle.

Dan69 step · 01-10-2003, 07:33 AM

Hey Longhorn, I thought I had the record in towing things! I hauled 2 1950 Buicks(one on the trailer and one on the dolly) with my 69 short step from Weastern Ohio to Ashland, VA. (I have a polaroid of it)Also have done 3/4 and 1 ton ford pu's that way from NE to Ohio. But hauling TWO tanks, now that takes it all, hands down!! Would love to have that on film!

Longhorn Man · 01-10-2003, 12:12 PM

I took a picture of it, but the camera got left outside when it started raining. Would you believe we got an inch of rain that night? (this is in the desert of So-Cal)
Needless to say, the camera AND the film were junk.

01-08-2003, 04:52 PM	#1
slow69 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 140	towbar/ tow dolly revisited I need a quick question answered. I am going to tow a 3/4 ton rolling chassis about 25 miles through town and am trying to decide between a tow bar and a tow dolly. The tow dolly is readily available but I am concerned about it tracking well. Will the front wheels turn when I turn or will they shoot the other way and cause and accident? I know that I can find a 78" tow dolly that will work but if a tow bar works, I would rather do that because I don't have to rent it. Any suggestions/comments would be appreciated, slow69

01-08-2003, 05:01 PM	#2
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	If your chassis has the steering box and all the linkage, you can use a tow bar and secure the wheels, that way they won't feeling like going their own way, The dolly works also, I prefer using a car hauler, why? is safer and you can rent one for the same price as a car dolly in any RV place __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

01-08-2003, 07:49 PM	#4
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	Did you check this? http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=26528&highlight=tow+bar Longhornmail is the man to talk to, good luck __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

01-08-2003, 09:53 PM	#5
6869704X4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: SE NM Posts: 769	I pulled my rolling chassis several miles with a tow bar. Worked great. Dont lock the wheels. They will follow you, or track with you, around a corner. And dont get in a spot where you have to back up. Also if you make a really tight turn you might drag the front around the turn instead of the front wheels tracking with you. I guess its because the frame is so light. __________________ The more I learn about women, the more I love my truck.

01-09-2003, 12:18 AM	#8
PICKMUP "Trucks with Class" Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: OLYMPIA, WA, USA Posts: 8,126	I use a wide tow dolly with electric brakes. These trucks are really heavy to be stopping with just the brakes on the towing truck. The dolly is not as good as a trailer, but safer than a tow bar. It is just so much easier to get around our dreadful Seattle traffic than dragging a 20' trailer. Attached Images __________________ Email: frankeham@comcast.net Phone: 360-956-7170

01-08-2003, 07:39 PM	#3
slow69 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 140	well, I have a tow bar and would have to rent the dolly. I don't know about locking up the wheels. I thought someone here said that they had pulled one with a towbar and was hoping to get some feedback. thanks

01-08-2003, 10:27 PM	#6
slow69 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 140	thanks, I just need someone to say that they had done it. I hope I don't run anyone over with it! -slow69

01-08-2003, 11:22 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Don't lock the wheels. I have towed my GMC with my tow bar from Tx to Ohio and it tracked straight. Then, i towed the longhorn from eastern PA to Columbus, and it tracked fairly straight. (it weighed more than the tow vehicle) Like I said in the e-mail...just don't get stupid. As for backing it up...try it, if you get the hang of it you'll look like a pro. It only took me 10 min to figure out how to back up...after that, I was backing out of driveways and stuff. Even had a trucker give me a thumbs up on backing into a spot in a truck stop some where in Arkansas.

01-09-2003, 10:36 AM	#9
6869704X4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: SE NM Posts: 769	hey longhornmail, hehe, backing a 4wheel trailer is a little different isnt it. But like you said once you get the hang of it, it aint bad. I can remember backing 4wheel farm trailers into dryers with a tractor. The tractor makes it easy. I found that pulling just the rolling frame was a little different than the whole truck. Without the wieght of the truck on the front the tires would slide instead of track when trying to back it up. So I could actually back it like a regular trailer, but it wasn't consistent. For everything I needed to do in regular driving the wheels tracked with me. All I needed to do was pull it to the sanblaster and back home. For that I thought the tow bar was the best way. I had 33x12.5 tires on mine so there is another factor. __________________ The more I learn about women, the more I love my truck.

01-10-2003, 01:59 AM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Tow bars are safe as long as the driver isn't an idiot. Otherwise, the feds wouldn't let them be on the market, and they wouldn't be DOT leagal, and U-haul (who is way too conservitive with what a vehicle can tow) wouldn't rent them out. I used to tow 70 ton M1-A1 tanks with a tow bar all the time, and that was with a 56 ton tow vehicle. Once I even towed 2 tanks (total 140 ton weight) at once with one 70 ton tow vehicle.

01-10-2003, 07:33 AM	#11
Dan69 step Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Fullerton,NE Posts: 380	Hey Longhorn, I thought I had the record in towing things! I hauled 2 1950 Buicks(one on the trailer and one on the dolly) with my 69 short step from Weastern Ohio to Ashland, VA. (I have a polaroid of it)Also have done 3/4 and 1 ton ford pu's that way from NE to Ohio. But hauling TWO tanks, now that takes it all, hands down!! Would love to have that on film! __________________ 69 short step 68 50th Anniversary Gold/ White lwb 72 2wd Blazer 63 Studebaker Avanti 85 Avanti 66 Studebaker Cruiser 49 Studebaker pickup 3-49 Studebaker 1 1/2 truck 94 White/ GMC coe (cabin hauler) 95 chev 2015 chev Duramax 2500

01-10-2003, 12:12 PM	#12
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I took a picture of it, but the camera got left outside when it started raining. Would you believe we got an inch of rain that night? (this is in the desert of So-Cal) Needless to say, the camera AND the film were junk.



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