Ah yes, fond memories of towing. We were moving from Hew Hampshire to
California back in the '70's. Had the roadster behind a 24' U-Haul truck.
("U-Haul: An Adventure in Moving." Yeah, right! I've got their
'Adventure'.......) Anyway, coming through Hartford Conn. I noticed that
the roadster was trying to pass us! Can everyone say 'mountainous'? I
waited until the next grade and let everything coast to a stop. The tow bar
had slipped off leaving nothing but the safety chains. I was always a firm
believer in safety chains. After that, I became an out and out fanatic
about them.
Best regards,
Fred Schroeder
'70 2000
SRL311-13359
TDROC
Home page http://home.texoma.net/~sitsinwest/
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Atchison" <jda@srv.net>
To: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2001 1:48 PM
Subject: was...Re: (strange) trailer hitch....now towing
> >Ahhhhhhhh....
> >
> >time for the "towing the roadster" stories again.
> >
> >I flat towed my 2000 for several years to auto-x & hillclimb
> >races. Used big clevis pins through the roadster bumper mount plates
> >for awhile if just going for a short tow to an auto-x.
> >Saved time in bolting & unbolting the tow bar
> >to "remount" the front bumper to be class legal for SCCA auto-x.
> >However, this was a bad idea, as even a tiny bit of slop
> >in the fittings will quickly wear into BIG widened out holes
> >in the soft steel bumper mount plates.
> >
> >Went back to bolting everything up solid, then using double nuts.
> >Always hooked up the roadster and towed down the road
> >a few miles, then pulled over and double checked that the
> >tow bar was tight & secure and the brake lights worked.
> >
> >Towing the 2000 back to Idaho Falls from an SCCA divisional
> >auto-x race in Wendover, NV many years ago,
> >pulled off the Interstate to stop for dinner with friends.
> >First turn off the highway and I hear a horrible ripping sound
> >and the roadster breaks loose, passes my tow vehicle,
> >rolls through an intersection, then rolls backwards through the same
> >intersection,
> >comes to rest in the ditch, off the side of the road without hitting any
> >other cars !
> >
> >Later examination showed that tow bar "lost" a very large bolt on one
side,
> >when I turned off the highway, the other side of the tow bar
> >ripped loose just beyond where the safety chain was attached,
> >leaving me dragging half a tow bar and safety chains down the road.
> >I always suspected someone tampered with the tow bar,
> >as there appeared to be a bolt missing with no local damage to the
> >attaching points,
> >and those bolts were double nutted & lock tite.
> >
> >Just another race adventure !
> >
> >Anyway, we pushed the lost roadster to the side of the highway exit ramp.
> >Other racers folowing us pulled off to eat also.
> >One of the wives thought it was real considerate of me
> >to leave the roadster at the exit ramp,
> >so they would know where to stop & join us for dinner !
> >
> >John Atchison
> >69 2000
> >Idaho Falls
> >
> >
> >At 11:28 AM 12/27/01 -0600, you wrote:
> >>Lou,
> >>
> >>Gary commented on adding a hitch to the roadster.
> >>Pretty much had the same thing, but used a big
> >>3/8" x 1" steel bar across the bottom inside of
> >>the bumper for reinforcements. Big flat 1/16"
> >>(about 3" x 6") steel plate on both sides of the
> >>trunk floor to help distribute the load.
> >
> >
> >
> >>If you mean flat towing the roadster, behind
> >>a tow bar: yes quite easily done.
> >>
> >>WIth the front bumper off, I bolted up a 2" angle
> >>iron, with the tow bar bolted up to it.
> >>
> >>CAUTION: The tow bar will put all its weight into
> >>the bumper bracket mounts. Thin 3/32" metal that
> >>are meant to only hold up the bumper. While I have
> >>flat towed the roadster using them, I am extremely
> >>cautious with those mounts, as they will fail if
> >>rusty or a poor welding job. Best to have a 1/4"
> >>plate welded to the frame and the bumper plate to
> >>reinforce that area.
> >>
> >>Sigh, a few folks have "lost" their roadsters from
> >>having the mounts fail!
> >>
> >>Thankfully we didn't loose a roadster, but a friends
> >>RX-3 as we bolts up the tow bar with a combination of
> >>metric & SAE hardware. Yes, 3/8" nuts with 10mm bolts.
> >>It held for 1200 miles (up and down I-5 from CA to WA).
> >>On the way home (after a rally), The windblast from
> >>a passing semi started the towed rally car to weave
> >>back and forth on a down hill section. Pulled the bolts
> >>off one side, then broke the other. Watched that car
> >>PASS US down hill, tracking straight. Across the
> >>median, across on coming lanes (5 am -- thankfully
> >>no traffic) coming to stop on a hill opposite of
> >>us. Just about relieved, when it ROLLED over landing
> >>back on the freeway on its roof! Vivid image of that
> >>one, and the first time a rally buddy had NOT rolled
> >>his car but actually placed really well on the
> >>Olympus event. I've always been a little more
> >>cautious since).
> >>
> >>Cheers,
> >>
> >>Tom Walter
>
> /// datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net mailing list
> /// Send admin requests to majordomo@autox.team.net or go to
> /// http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
> /// Send list postings to datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
/// datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net mailing list
|