Re: [ihc] Joel's Towing Issues

[bearbvd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Greg Hermann)]

At 6:25 PM 4/14/04, Joel Furtek wrote:

When I was rowing, the team tow vehicle was a '59 Buick Invicta--with a
custom fabricated frame /roof rack, and gooseneck type hitch centered over
the roof !!! Nailhead and Dynaflow, IIRC !!!!!

They've gotten just a BIT better !!

Greg

>At 8:35 PM -0600 4/13/04, Dave Nuenke wrote:
>>Joel, from reading through your problems with towrigs, I think what
>>you need is simply a bigger truck with a larger motor, designed with
>>heavy hauling in mind (at least as far as wind resistance goes). I
>>think a 4700 under CDL truck would work great for your app. Last but
>>not least it's almost scarry how small the price difference is
>>between a light 4700 class truck and a new 1 ton PU. Not to mention
>>that the 4700 will last longer and hold it's value better.
>>Oops, almost forgot, you can also order air brakes on a 4700, worth
>>their weight in gold IMHO, but you might need an endorcement for
>>them in some states, even on a non CDL rig.
>>Dave
>
>Dave,
>Thanks for all your thoughts, and they're right on.
>Honestly, though, any 3/4 or 1 ton long bed with a diesel or bib
>block/V10 is adequate.  I mean, I don't really need to do 75 across
>the West, i just like to.  And on the flat, in a calm, I can run 75
>easily.
>The big problem is that I'm never the one deciding what the tow
>vehicle is.  Ten years ago, we were all pleased when the truck was
>new, regardless of what it was -- my first tow run was in a short bed
>1500 Chevy with a TBI 350!  Only in the last 5 years have teams had
>the $$ and sense to upgrade.  I did tow with a F550 once, even though
>it was  stock PS it was niiiiice.
>Now, the problem is that my tow vehicle is my boss's "courtesy" car.
>He drives it every day, and I get it only for trips, so a big truck
>is out of the question.
>Plus, we run just under (and perhaps, arguably under) the limits for
>DOT and operating authority, etc, and a discussion of that would be
>wicked off-topic.  Going to a bigger rig would garner a lot of
>attention from The Man.
>To finally bring something on topic, the trailer did look good behind
>my '70 1200 travelette long bed.  And I'd like to hook it up to the
>B184 for a short run.  And we always thought it would be a hoot to
>pre-place it near a regatta and hitch it to the Airporter for the
>final few miles, with the team on-board, too.
>:-)
>Best to all,
>joel
>
>--
>Joel Furtek                     <http://homepage.mac.com/heelsroll>;
>jf7e@domain.elided
>Boatman, Virginia Women's Rowing        434/981-6811 (cell);
>434/975-CREW (boathouse)
>Follow the team daily at:  <http://homepage.mac.com/heelsroll/iblog/index.html>