Hi Bill,
I would take the lighter of the two trailers if you are sure the car will fit
on it. I would be particularly concerned about the ground clearance required
for the Jag chassis to climb the trailer. If a ditch or dirt mound is
available, you shouldn't have any problem.
Two weeks ago I made a trip from my home in Mississippi to Oklahoma City,OK to
purchase a 1980 MGB. I have a '94 Ford 1\2 ton pickup and a car-hauler type
trailer with a dovetail. This brings the rear of the trailer even lower to the
ground. The B's muffler barely scraped the pavement when loading and unloading.
Rear ground clearance is not the only concern. If the angle of climb is too
steep, the Jag's chassis may bottom-out on the rear edge of the trailer.
With either trailer, make sure most of your weight is concentrated just forward
of the two axles. This simple fact makes a HUGE difference in handling. Too
much weight on the rear of the trailer makes it fishtail and too much weight on
the front makes your pulling vehicle's front end too light for safe steering.
You might consider purchasing a used car-hauler type double-axle trailer and
then selling it after you make your trip. Around here they go for $700-$900. If
you shop wisely, you should be able to get all your purchase price back. FREE
TRAILER.USAGE.
I wouldn't be concerned about brakes on the trailer unless your state requires
them. The mass of your truck will stop it in a reasonable distance.
My trailer weighs about 1500 lbs empty. I get about 14mpg with my 302V8 and
automatic w\overdrive. When I haul a small car or tractor, my gas mileage drops
to around 11mpg.
Steep hills and mountains severely tax my engine. I try to get a "running
start" by speeding up before I get to the incline. I then allow my speed to
drop while I downshift and try to find a decent rpm-power ratio to get me to
the summit. This method keeps the engine from overheating but can be very
dangerous if your trailer is tail-heavy.
In the last year I've made trips pulling my trailer to Los Angeles, CA, Ankeny,
Iowa,
Killeen, TX, and Oklahoma City, OK. I would be happy to share any info I've
learned by private e-mail.
Regards,
Mark in MS
1980 MGB on rostyles
1942 John Deere B on spokes
Bill Eastman wrote:
> As stated before, I have a mismatch between my truck and the rented ......
|