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#500843 - 04/09/08 12:49 AM
Re: Trailer Towing Safety Seminar????
[Re: 1DandyDaves]
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Shop Rat
Long Time Member
Registered: 10/17/04
Posts: 3331
Loc: St. Albans, W. Va.
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Just fur fun, try a 4 wheel wagon with a worn front end sometime.
Bill worked on farms in New Jersey when he was a teenager into his early twenties during the summers. He can back those four wheel wagons to this day. And here at home he can back our 35' Winnebago between our 32' race/camper trailer and the edge of the drive way and not put it into the side of the trailer or the grass. Same with backing the trailer/camper, slicks it right in beside the RV and never misses.
One thing we have never figured out. Why don't trailer/RV manufacturers puts nice big back-up lights, or any back-up lights in some cases, on trailers and some RVs? We always end up adding a pair of aftermarket driving lights to the back of our trailers/RV's so that he can see at night to back them up safely.
_________________________
Susan W. Linden
AACA
Secret Santa Foundation, Inc.
__________________________________________________
Remember...pillage first, THEN burn.
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#500865 - 04/09/08 07:58 AM
Re: Trailer Towing Safety Seminar????
[Re: Shop Rat]
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charlier
Member
Registered: 03/26/05
Posts: 245
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[quote=1DandyDaves]One thing we have never figured out. Why don't trailer/RV manufacturers puts nice big back-up lights, or any back-up lights in some cases, on trailers and some RVs? We always end up adding a pair of aftermarket driving lights to the back of our trailers/RV's so that he can see at night to back them up safely.
I know what you mean about the backup lights.
My trailer came with a standard set but they are not very big/bright.
I often wonder why many trailer/RV manufacturers do not put back up alarms on their products either.
When I purchased my trailer I made sure one was installed on it. (think alarms used on construction vehicles)
I get some odd looks from people at car shows, rest stops, etc. Some realize it is there for THEIR SAFETY, others do not.
Car trailers backing up can be very quiet. Not a good thing when people are not paying attention to their surroundings and get hit by a car trailer backing up.
Soon after I brought my new trailer home I installed a backup alarm kill switch. Best way to keep the peace in the neighborhood when one gets home
late from an event and has to back into one's driveway.
_________________________
Charlie
AACA Member No: 800449
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#500987 - 04/09/08 04:49 PM
Re: Trailer Towing Safety Seminar????
[Re: novaman]
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Paul Dobbin
Member
Registered: 12/23/03
Posts: 169
Loc: Florida's West Coast
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OK guys, I'm ready to read the whole seminar. I've been towing for years and am also amazed at how poorly other people take on this task. I think I'm safe, but I bet I
learn a few things.
I tow mostly an open aluminum car trailer (the Road Show)but also have an enclosed one (the POD) and tow them behind a motor home. I'm sort of like a small train at over 60 feet. I'd be happy to share what I think I know, but am more interested in learning what you all have to share.
Sounds like a WIN WIN for this forum.
_________________________
Paul Dobbin
PinMAR (Pinellas Model A Restorers)
EFV8CA (Early Ford V8 Club of America)
AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America)
VMCCA (Veteran Motor Car Club of America)
NSRA (National Street Rod Association)
BSRA (Buick Street Rod Association)
TCT (Tin Can Tourists)
Current Fleet (after about 100 old cars)
1934 Ford Fordor V8, 1935 Ford V8 Pickup,
1935 Buick Resto-Rod, 1966 VW Bug.
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#501022 - 04/09/08 08:05 PM
Re: Trailer Towing Safety Seminar????
[Re: novaman]
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Bookreader
Member
Registered: 03/01/04
Posts: 183
Loc: Media, PA
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Has anyone remembered DRIVING the cars to the meets?
It still can be done. It is loads of fun to do. Oh yes, there is a LOT of clean-up at the other end. We sat with a couple who won their FIRST JUNIOR at Charlotte and they DROVE their Model A to the meet from Virginia. Wayne, you took their picture at our table with their trophy.
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#501109 - 04/09/08 11:46 PM
Re: Trailer Towing Safety Seminar????
[Re: Bookreader]
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R W Burgess
Long Time Member
Registered: 06/13/02
Posts: 10080
Loc: Warsaw, Va.
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Since you asked Fran!
This is Neil and Connie Hughes of White Stone, Virginia. They won their First Junior the first time out.
Here's Neil and Connie's new Ford. They drove it all the way from White Stone on mostly back roads, as the average speed of this vehicle is 45-50 miles per hour. Neil said it wasn't raining too bad on the way down, so clean up was relatively easy. A black car, Neil? Are you sure? 
They were very excited to have won the first time out. You'll also notice Earl and Judy Beauchamp in this picture too, fellow long distance Northern Neck Region members from Florida.
Attachments
Description: 1931 Model A Sport Coupe
Edited by R W Burgess (04/09/08 11:54 PM)
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#501150 - 04/10/08 07:59 AM
Re: Trailer Towing Safety Seminar????
[Re: Bookreader]
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Ron Green
Member
Registered: 05/24/00
Posts: 1826
Loc: Camp Hill, PA. USA
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Has anyone remembered DRIVING the cars to the meets?
Fran, I wouldn't be able to attend many of the shows / tours we do ever year without a trailer. Some of the tours are in Canada or half-way across the USA. With a small car that is impossible to find parts, is ready to explode at 60 mph, zero room for a weeks work of clothes and spare parts, etc a trailer makes sense for us. Get it there then drive it everywhere.
_________________________
Ron Green
AACA Member #337715
AACA Gettysburg Region (board member)
President Amphicar Club (IAOC)
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#501151 - 04/10/08 08:00 AM
Re: Trailer Towing Safety Seminar????
[Re: R W Burgess]
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West Peterson
Long Time Member
Registered: 04/28/04
Posts: 2632
Loc: Dayton
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#501373 - 04/10/08 09:33 PM
Re: Tow Vehicle Safety Seminar????
[Re: R W Burgess]
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Peter J.Heizmann
Peter J. Heizmann
Member
Registered: 10/19/01
Posts: 2310
Loc: Reading, PA
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You may want to add:
--Grease the bearings, or, re-pack them.
--At every hook up, I put grease on the ball and a dab on each of the stabilizer bars.
--Tighten the receiver bolts on the tow vehicle as Howard Scotland mentioned years ago within an identical thread. (The trailer is always the main topic and seldom is the tow vehicle's receiver discussed.)
--Tires dry out over the years. (Just replaced mine. They were 6 years old with good tread. Had 15,517 miles on them. Just did not trust them anylonger due to their age.)
--Check the tongue lock plate that secures it to the ball for wear.
Regards,
Peter J.
_________________________
Peter J. Heizmann
AACA Life Member #383299
Northern Neck Region
Pottstown Region
Vintage Triumph Register
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#501440 - 04/11/08 07:53 AM
Re: Tow Vehicle Safety Seminar????
[Re: Peter J.Heizmann]
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Ron Green
Member
Registered: 05/24/00
Posts: 1826
Loc: Camp Hill, PA. USA
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Also make sure you have a means of getting the trailer off the ground to change the tire. I have a 3 1/2 ton floor jack anchored down in the trailer. The jack or pull up blocks should be weight rated for both the trailer and its contents. Have adequate orange cones, signs something to alert approaching traffic.
A friend and I were coming home from the Hagerstown meet and he had a flat. His trailer design had the spare in the floor under the car. We had to unload his 39 Caddy to get the tire out. Not fun on an interstate with vehicles flying by at 80 plus. He now has one spare that is easily accessible.
Also when hooking up with someone trailering to a meet have a set of walkie talkies. These can help you get in and out of lanes, discuss directions and you both can keep a look out for the wackos that seem to have a magnetic pull toward trailers and their tow mules. Plus the wife's can chit chat about how much they love car shows.
_________________________
Ron Green
AACA Member #337715
AACA Gettysburg Region (board member)
President Amphicar Club (IAOC)
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#501476 - 04/11/08 11:40 AM
Re: Tow Vehicle Safety Seminar????
[Re: West Peterson]
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Ron Green
Member
Registered: 05/24/00
Posts: 1826
Loc: Camp Hill, PA. USA
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Not even close to a exit unfortunately. Sometimes if a tire separates it will take the other tire out. You would really have to be careful driving on a flat especially fully loaded. I always carry 3 spares.
It is sometimes difficult matching the truck wheel bolt pattern to a trailer and usually the class ratings (weight allowance) is different.
Thought some tire shops will repair a trailer tire with a plug be careful. A repair to close to the edge (within 1") of the tire is not allowed as they typically don't hold up and can fly apart at speed.
_________________________
Ron Green
AACA Member #337715
AACA Gettysburg Region (board member)
President Amphicar Club (IAOC)
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#501493 - 04/11/08 01:09 PM
Re: Tow Vehicle Safety Seminar????
[Re: Ron Green]
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charlier
Member
Registered: 03/26/05
Posts: 245
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Also make sure you have a means of getting the trailer off the ground to change the tire. I have a 3 1/2 ton floor jack anchored down in the trailer. The jack or pull up blocks should be weight rated for both the trailer and its contents. Have adequate orange cones, signs something to alert approaching traffic.
Ron, when you say "pull up blocks" are you referring to pieces of wood that you simply drive the trailer's good tire up onto which raises the flat tire off the ground?
A friend of mine told me that method is the easiest and safest way to change a trailer flat tire.
Obviously the wood must be strong enough and wide enough to provide a stable surface for the trailer and it's contents.
The wood is also lighter than a HD Floor jack and has multiple other uses.
I have used this wood to support my ramp door when the ground was uneven any number of times. Also used it to provide support for the hitch jack on soggy ground.
I have my trailer spare tire mounted on an inside wall of the trailer next to the curbside door right above the winch/interior light battery.
This way I do not have any access problems getting to the spare when needed.
Edited by charlier (04/11/08 01:13 PM)
_________________________
Charlie
AACA Member No: 800449
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