towing with formal

[Ripinator]

Bruce, think this one through for a moment. I think the tow truck is a better idea and likely no more expensive that close to home. Your bumper hitch isn't rated for more than 2k LBS (educated guess) so it could become a big tragedy... a proper hitch would be a custom job, and the tow truck will then seem cheap and easy. Flat towing a big car can be really fun... somewhere in past I told about a 75 Impala I had start to jackknife my PU on a downhill left turn... somebody's curb and mailbox saved me as I downshifted and punched it slinging big clumps of their lawn everywhere.

I survived... the mailbox was eventually replaced... I didn't stop, I wasn't drinking age yet and my ego was not prepared to deal with the explanation (not too sure how my shorts were doing at the moment either).

Many years ago, I bought a '32 Ford five window coupe. It had four wheels and no motor, seats or brakes. I had to get it home, but my resources were limited (I had a paper route for income and no money for anything). My buddy Rick had a '50 Merc coupe. He said he would tow me home; so I sat on an orange crate and steered the '32. We wrapped a chain around his already crappy bumper with about three feet of slack in it, and we towed the '32 all the way across DC. . . during rush hour. It worked well enough as long as we moved along at a steady speed; when we had to stop, he would let off the gas and let me drift into his bumper. Then Rick would apply his brakes. However, this maneuver didn't work too well when he had to slow down or stop suddenly; I would crash into him every time. We got home alive with the '32 in one piece, and Rick's bumper was crappier than before. I don't recommend anyone try this today - especially not with a NYB and a Caddy. . .

 

[CBODY67]

In a time when wreckers were massive mechanisms that hoisted the front wheels (a rear-tow could only work if the steering wheel was tied-off), not very prevalent, and considered to be "expensive", there were many "flat tow" activities. Usually with "CAR IN TOW" signage on the rear for the car. Which generated many stories.

On "upgrade" was to use a length of pipe to put the chain through. In theory, this can work as long as the chain remains attached to what it was wrapped around on each vehicle. Still, some vows to "not do THAT again" usually happened.

CBODY67

 

[73 T&C]

Really bad idea.... on so many levels.

But if you insist... and assuming the Caddy has decent brakes. Get a buddy to drive it and use a longish tow cable or chain. No rope.

If you don’t end up wrecking them both, consider it a success. Also, you’ll need a valid plate on the towed car (don’t ask me how I know)

Or just call a tow truck for God’s sake!

 

[cantflip]

I was never nutty enough to tow with a chain or a strap... I view it as lunacy and would discourage it. In my early 20's I towed a 69 gmc PU with a 77 chevy suburban using a uhaul towbar... Ft Myers to Pittsburgh, approx. 1200 miles... lots of hills...

I vowed never again... you WANT trailer brakes with that much weight.

 

[73 T&C]

I was never nutty enough to tow with a chain or a strap... I view it as lunacy and would discourage it. In my early 20's I towed a 69 gmc PU with a 77 chevy suburban using a uhaul towbar... Ft Myers to Pittsburgh, approx. 1200 miles... lots of hills...

I vowed never again... you WANT trailer brakes with that much weight.

Are you saying I’m nutty???? Ok maybe. But I was 17 at the time. Not a pleasant experience at all. From MIAMI Beach to Coral Gables about 20 miles. I didn’t wreck it but I did get a cop to follow me for the last mile to make sure I got the car (another 73 Satellite towed behind my 73 road runner) back to my parents home safe.....so I could strip it. Luckily my parents weren’t home but the neighbors made sure to rat me out.... I’ll never forget my dads grim look.......

 

[Davea Lux]

Are you saying I’m nutty???? Ok maybe. But I was 17 at the time. Not a pleasant experience at all. From MIAMI Beach to Coral Gables about 20 miles. I didn’t wreck it but I did get a cop to follow me for the last mile to make sure I got the car (another 73 Satellite towed behind my 73 road runner) back to my parents home safe.....so I could strip it. Luckily my parents weren’t home but the neighbors made sure to rat me out.... I’ll never forget my dads grim look.......

Being nuts is a matter of opinion. I can remember our "Red Neck" towing system. Two truck tires bolted together in the center, held up by a chain over the top of the core support and down to the frame on each side. Another chain was hooked on each side of the front cross member of the towed car on either side. Backed up the towing vehicle up tight to compress the two truck tire sidewalls. Ran the other end of the tow chain between the rear spring shackles of the tow vehicle and cinched it down tight. Worked many times with minimal problems. But that was another time. Cars still had bumpers, not crush zones.

Dave

 

[cantflip]

Are you saying I’m nutty????

You're here aren't you???
You're rebuilding a Formal aren't you???

 

[1978 NYB]

So....who did you tow it home????

 

[twostick]

I was never nutty enough to tow with a chain or a strap... I view it as lunacy and would discourage it. In my early 20's I towed a 69 gmc PU with a 77 chevy suburban using a uhaul towbar... Ft Myers to Pittsburgh, approx. 1200 miles... lots of hills...

I vowed never again... you WANT trailer brakes with that much weight.

No sense of adventure lol.

In 1979 or 80 I flat towed a 64 Polara from Pierson Manitoba to Weyburn Saskatchewan on the end of a chain behind a 65 F100 with a very healthy 429. That's 135 miles and I was in the 64 and my buddy was towing me.

We were cruising along at about 65 or 70 when this black 79 F150 460 Lariat appears in the rear views doing about 90. My buddy, never one to turn down a challenge, dials 2 on the C6 and steps into the '29.

My F model would be considered quite stylish now, patina being all the rage but back then not so much and the guy with the smogger 460 and the shiny new paint had this how dare they look on his face as he attempted to "show us".

He never made it past the door and we were a good bit north of 100 before he either ran out of steam or nerve. He got back in line and we kept the hammer down for a few more miles in case he got brave again.

Good thing prairie highways don't have many curves in them...

Kevin

 

[cantflip]

No sense of adventure lol.

In 1979 or 80 I flat towed a 64 Polara from Pierson Manitoba to Weyburn Saskatchewan on the end of a chain behind a 65 F100 with a very healthy 429. That's 135 miles and I was in the 64 and my buddy was towing me.

We were cruising along at about 65 or 70 when this black 79 F150 460 Lariat appears in the rear views doing about 90. My buddy, never one to turn down a challenge, dials 2 on the C6 and steps into the '29.

My F model would be considered quite stylish now, patina being all the rage but back then not so much and the guy with the smogger 460 and the shiny new paint had this how dare they look on his face as he attempted to "show us".

He never made it past the door and we were a good bit north of 100 before he either ran out of steam or nerve. He got back in line and we kept the hammer down for a few more miles in case he got brave again.

Good thing prairie highways don't have many curves in them...

Kevin

Not knowing your exact age... I'm guessing you were still in your early 20's.

Somewhere after that, we all start to learn things don't always heal and we don't enjoy pain as much.

 

[commando1]

Have we got this damn car home, yet?? Jeeze... We could have pushed it home by now....

 

[twostick]

Not knowing your exact age... I'm guessing you were still in your early 20's.

Somewhere after that, we all start to learn things don't always heal and we don't enjoy pain as much.

Lol. I'm 60 and my buddy is 68.

Towing with a chain is pretty easy. Just keep the chain tight. That means the guy getting towed is in charge of the brakes for the usual stop signs and corners and the guy in front does the hand signals just in case the guy in back misses something. It works well with 2 people that work well together.

I'd do it again tomorrow except I'd probably put my buddy at the business end of the chain. Less excitement that way as my buddy is still not one to turn down a challenge LOL.

Kevin