C body on a tow bar

[monaco75]

Has anyone here ever had a c body on a tow bar before?

I have a trip planned to go up north in the next few weeks.. I would like to grab my newport and bring it back with me. Can't afford to rent a trailer. A tow dolly is a little more affordable. I know of a couple guy's who have put 74 monaco 4dr sedans on a dolly, but the newport is a bit wider, and I don't see it fitting on the dolly.

I was telling a buddy about this, and he offered to loan me his tow bar. He said it is a very heavy duty bar that he used once to pull a panel truck with. He claims it is up to the task, that I just need to remove my front bumper to get the bar attached to it.

I've never used a tow bar before, just wanting some opinions. The car is a 73 newport 2dr hardtop. It would be pulled behind my ram.

 

[bluefury361]

Towbar........

Has anyone here ever had a c body on a tow bar before?


Back in the day I have towed several vehicles using a tow bar. Once from Cape Cod Mass to Michigan, and once from Colorado to Michigan, with many shorter trips besides.

None of the vehicles towed were as large as a C body and I made the trips with out major incident..... But looking back I think I was very lucky nothing happened. It was always a stress filled adventure and anything over 45 or 50 MPH was risky. Towbars have a tendency to be unstable and braking can be a real challange.

With age comes wisdom and my advise is to beg, borrow or steal... (rent) a trailer for the task. Or even better to hire transport. Having your car show up at your home on someone elses transport can add years to your life........ Pricing is very competitive through sites like
http://www.uship.com/shipping/trailer/?&mkwid=S2mrR9YW3|pcrid|1766484559&gclid=CNTXmJCFkpwCFeFM5QodMjq1eA
Or a google search for transporters.

Good luck....

 

[BillGrissom]

I towed my 65 Newport a few times with a tow bar, but only locally. One time I used my 4 cyl Plymouth Voyager, which weighs ~3500 lb. I think my Newport weighs ~4000 lb. That time a freeze plug came out when driving to work, so called my wife to bring the tow bar and towed 15 miles home. For <50 miles, you don't need to remove the drive-shaft. There were a few hills, but my Voyager had no problems, the Newport followed fine, and felt very stable. Just drive carefully and as slow as you can. Don't brake hard on sharp turns or you could jack-knife.

I installed brackets on the lower radiator support, beside the drag strut attachments. I don't need to remove the bumper and can connect the tow bar in 1 minute. The brackets are "leaf spring hangers" for a trailer and fit my tow bar. Search my posts on "strut bushings" for a photo. For lights, I have a long 4-wire trailer wire cable I run from the flat connector on my Voyager to the flat connector on my Newport, which hooks the lights of both vehicles in parallel.

As a caveat, I tried using my tow bar on my 65 Dart and my 64 Valiant. In both cases, the cars wouldn't follow. The front wheels would turn away on sharp turns and start dragging. I tried towing the 64 Valiant after buying it and had to return 90 miles the next day to drive it home. I suspect the problem has to do with the caster adjustment which is hard to get right with radial tires on our 60's cars. Maybe I'll try again someday now that I installed offset bushings in the UCA to improve caster.

 

[1966FuryVIP]

Having used tow bars before I can only suggest they for limited movement. Freeway speeds, and irrate fellow traffic, can be very dangerous as things happen fast, particularly if the front wheels lock as in Grissom's thread. In addition, and I don't know if this applies, some states require active brakes on towed vehicles. That aspect should be checked for any state on your planned route. No point in setting yourself up for a dialogue with the gendarmes. I've used all of the tow contraptions out there at one time or another and the trailer turns out to be my preferred hands down. A trusted driver might work out to be viable as well, but sometimes those are hard to find as well.

 

[monaco75]

Thank you for the input guy's!

I know it would not be fun by any means... I was not sure if the wieght of the car would help stabble it or not. I've exhausted any buddies I know of for a trailer, and cannot seem to come up with one. U-haul is just stupid money! I've also looked into having the car brought down by a company as well, still a little more money then I have to spare.

For now I figure on getting up there with the towbar, and hooking it up to the car, and driving around a little up there to see how she goes. If it is to risky, then I will just have to leave her, and get a company to do it in a few months. However if it seems do-able, and might just have to drive a bit slower on the freeway, then I'll try it. Don't mind taking a few extra hours on the way back. It is a long drive though! Won't be fun going threw the mountains! We shall see...

Im just eager to get back with the car, we have been apart for a while! lol

Thanks again! Will let you know what happens.

 

[1978 NYB]

IMHO. I wouldn't use a tow bar going through the mountains. You might have a brake fade problem and risk wrecking both cars.

 

[1966FuryVIP]

The '66 and later Chrysler Tourqueflite does not have a rear pump, and by 72 most of the 'C' bodies were automati. Disconnect and secure the driveline before traveling or within a hundred miles at any speed over 25 or 30 it toast and at ~$1000 for the trans the trailer is cheaper. I do hope you already knew this little factoid, but, better safe than sorry. At any rate, enjoy your Newport. I nearly bought a new one back then. What with a family and still making metal do what I wanted it to (working for living), we had to keep driving the '69 Belvedere.

 

[monaco75]

Finally made it up here. Got to see the old girl! She fired right up after a oil change, and battery charge. Put some air in the tire's, a bath, and we have been cruising around the past week.

So were gonna see how this goes, Got a different bar from a buddy, that is straight from the '70's. Hooks right up to the bumper, and bottom frame area. I did have to remove the front grill, and trim for the hooks. Took it for a little drive, and she seems to track great. A little fun going around sharp corner's, but I think it will be fine once on the highway. I did loose one of the little hooks on the test drive, gotta see if I can find one before we leave.

Wish me luck!

 

[1978 NYB]

Good Luck!!!

 

[commando1]

Keep the shiny side up!

Sent using Forum Runner

 

[polara71]

Your showing your trucking roots Stan

 

[detmatt]

Your showing your trucking roots Stan

That's a big 10/4!

Best of luck on the trip Monaco75!

 

[1978 NYB]

How was the trip?

 

[polara71]

:thinker:.............................:waiting:

 

[BillGrissom]

Your RAM truck makes your C-body look like a baby. It could probably drag it down the road sideways. I expect you will have no problems, if you haven't made it already.

I have seen people use bungee cords between the steering wheel and doors to keep the steering centered and avoid oscillations. That works best on the highway where you won't make sharp turns. You should remove in parking lots so the following vehicle's wheels can follow and not scuff.

 

[monaco75]

Well...... the last few days have been fun... NOT!!! Lady luck was not much on my side. We left friday at 10pm, drove ohio, and kentucky during the night, and made it to TN early morning. I pulled off onto one of the very first exits in TN. This is where it all started. Getting back on the highway, from the on ramp, and 3/4 more miles was nothing but straight up hill. By the time we reached the top the truck was running pretty hot, pulled over and let her cool down. Drove her a little while longer and she was still getting hot. It got to the point where I would have to drive up a hill, shut the truck off, coast down the hill and let it cool, then start it back up and drive up the next one, and so on.. Made several stops for coolant, and water. We got to a rest stop right into Georgia, and let her sit a few hours. I figured "well maybe if we let her cool down completly, then she might be good to go." We got back on the highway, and withing 1.5 miles she went straight to hot from dead cold. This is when I knew I was in trouble. I took the Thermostat out, flushed the system checked the fan yada,yada,yada. It seems Ive either blown a head gasket, and or cracked a head, or there is a very slim chance the water pump is out, but I dont think it is..

Had a wrecker come get her, and into the newport we went! This scared me alot, as the car has NEVER driven more then 30/40 miles away from home, and that was years ago, she has been just sitting the last couple years.. There was still 400 miles left to go, But she made it!! It was a long ride, as we traveled at 50-60 mph with the 4.10 gears. But she did it gracefully! It was a big joe dirt moment as half the front of the car was apart for the tow bar, and the trunk lid wide open with stuff cramed in it.

Here she is once we got home 32 hours after leaving MI.

After i got her all put back together.

My truck is in georgia, at a friend of a friends place. Ive gotta try and get some stuff together and go get her friday.. this has not been very pleasant. :tantrum:

 

[1978 NYB]

Is the engine oil milky or is there a mess in the radiator? Sure tale signs of a cracked head or head gasket blown. Does the truck have a fan clutch? Sometimes they appear to be ok but possibly not working and overlooked. I would take one along with a water pump.

 

[polara71]

into the newport we went! This scared me alot, as the car has NEVER driven more then 30/40 miles away from home, and that was years ago, she has been just sitting the last couple years.. There was still 400 miles left to go, But she made it!! It was a long ride, as we traveled at 50-60 mph with the 4.10 gears. But she did it gracefully! It was a big joe dirt moment as half the front of the car was apart for the tow bar, and the trunk lid wide open with stuff cramed in friday.. /QUOTE]



See Stan it can be done..........that bucket list is growing

 

[polara71]

Excellent story, glad you got back o.k. too bad about the truck and lord knows they are never cheap to repair.

Love the car though

 

[monaco75]

Is the engine oil milky or is there a mess in the radiator? Sure tale signs of a cracked head or head gasket blown. Does the truck have a fan clutch? Sometimes they appear to be ok but possibly not working and overlooked. I would take one along with a water pump.

I was talking to a friend that works at the chrysler dealer up north (where all my cars go for the big work). He was saying that if the gasket went/head cracked that you would not see any water in the oil with the newer engines, and also that you would not see any smoke out of the tail pipe as the cat convertor would soak it up.

The fan does have a clutch on it, and though I do not know for sure, it seemed to be working properly. The truck was making a bit of a squeling sound from the engine going down the road, My only hope is that it is the water pump failing, and squeling. However I'm not holding my breath, and expecting the worse. If the head gaskets went, and didnt take out the heads themselfs Im looking at $1200-$1500 in repair. the bluesmobile will be put back into everyday service for a while!