Towing, etc - to beat a dead horse

[Steve Sears]

Tony,
Be careful posting about the trucks you have - you'll have q-list requests 
pouring in to transport stuff all over the US.  After all, nothing makes 
friends faster than a pickemup truck, right? (I'm sure cargo vans are the 
same) ;-)
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tony Hoffman" <auditony at gmail.com>
> Subject: Towing, etc - to beat a dead horse
> To: "quattro quattro list" <quattro at audifans.com>
> Message-ID:
> <7bd5cbf00610161647r2c39f541h14d9eab5bc6cf769 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Well, here I am reading the towing thread, thinking about a few tows I've
> done in the past. I'm no structural engineer, and don't claim to know it
> all, so you can take this for what it's worth.
>
> I'd have to agree with whoever said that we tow long distances more often.
> I'd also have to agree with most recomendations as to safety when towing.
> That doesn't mean I always follow them. Case in point:
>
> 1988 Audi 5000 CS Quattro. A class ll hitch we welded up (VERY Strong). A
> boat loaded down to about 4000 lbs. About 600 lbs tongue weight. An 1100
> mile trip from Oklahoma City to Pahrump, NV. This is a single axle 
> trailer,
> with no trailer brakes. Never exceeded 55mph.
> The car never got hot, or lacked for power, it would even accelerate in 
> 2nd
> gear pulling the pass-however curves kept most speeds to about 35 in the
> passes.
>
> 1991 Audi V8 Quattro, same hitch, same boat, only loaded to about 3500 lbs
> this time. Going the other direction. This car did get hot (it was 110
> outside) so I ran the heater a good bit. Never exceeded 60mph in this one.
>
> 1983 Ford E150 Van. 5000lb hitch. 26' trailer(about 2500lbs) with two VW's
> (2800 and 2000 lbs) from Miami to Oklahoma. About 32 hours. that one did
> have trailer brakes, but we were way over the van's rating either way.
>
> And there are others :)
>
> I do go along with the general rule in France of 75% of the tow car's
> weight, although I've usually heard it as 2/3. I also like to have trailer
> brakes. I've had a Class A CDL, so I do know the "rules" quite well.
>
> Now I have a one ton Ford Van with an 8 ton hitch, trailer brake setup, 
> etc.
> I'm ready to TOW!!! Either way, I've never had an accident because of 
> towing
> (or anything else for that matter). There are circumstances where you just
> make due. I just don't try to make it a normal occurance-or recommend it 
> for
> that matter.
>
> Tony Hoffman