I agree with almost every point you made. Unfortunately I don't have the
stuff to control trailer brakes in my pickup, and the trailer I borrow isn't a
car trailer, its an implement trailer, used to haul tractors and that sort of
thing. It has brakes, but last time I used it I noticed my friend (or maybe
someone else who borrowed the trailer) had disabled the brakes.
I'm using the dolly, and saying it stops easier, because it adds only hundreds
of pounds to the load, while the trailer I'd be using otherwise is a monster
that weighs more like 2,000 pounds. Instead of putting over 5,000 pounds
behind my 3,500 pickup, I'll be towing just a little more than my own weight.
I'm also going just 5 miles or so all on surface streets.
I think shaving more than a 1,000 pounds (more than 20%) off the load will
make a significant difference when it comes time to stop.
And there is one other important point. We don't plan to back up! If we get
in a bind we'll unload the truck and drive it. Actually I was already
thinking we'd unload in the street and drive it down the driveway rather than
back around two the corners he has.
The original topic of this thread was whether a 250 would be adequate to two
cars. Based on your response I think we both agree that the more important
issue is whether or not you can stop the load. If you're using a half-ton
pickup you really need trailer brakes. The fastest speed limit I'll see on my
jaunt today is 40. I probably won't go that fast at any point on this trip.
I'm thinking that brakes on the dolly would be a bad idea. Most your load is
still behind the pivot point, and your brakes would be in front of the pivot.
Scary.
I've driven a semi with 40 foot trailer. I'd rather back one of those than
the dolly....
----- Original Message -----
From: Ie61pah@aol.com
To: steve@OldSub.com ; oletrucks@autox.team.net
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 8:44 AM
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] Question - can a Chevy 250 inline be used to tow
cars? Power ...
In a message dated 7/11/03 8:33:09 PM Central Daylight Time,
steve@OldSub.com writes:
Tomorrow's plan includes using the '72 to tow a buddy's '54 Chevy from a
shop to his house on a dolly. The dolly reduces the total load by a 1000
pounds, which means slowing down is easier.
Steve, I have to question you on this one. Using a dolly will not make it
easier to slow down. Mass is mass, whether it's on 4 wheels or 8, once it's
moving it still takes the same effort to slow it down. Using a dolly, verus a
trailer, can in some ways, make it more difficult to control, because you
added another "hinge point." As a semi driver, I can tell you first hand that
pulling any load, with any power unit, is dangerous if you don't have brakes
on the trailer (or dolly in this case). I can, and have jackknifed an empty
trailer, (with trailer brakes not working right) because the stopping power of
the power unit was quicker than the mass in motion of the pulled unit. The
more weight you pull, the worse it is.
And remember, a pickup pulling a trailer is just like a semi truck, NOONE
wants to follow it. John Q. Public WILL pull out in front of you, so they
don't have to follow you down the road. They will do it even if it kills them
trying, because they don't know or care if you are doing 50 or 70 MPH, they
what in front of you.
Patrick A. Hollister '58 step
West Burlington, IA.
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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