| New Toad (I hope) [message #363309] |
Wed, 07 April 2021 12:34  |
Rodknu
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2020
Location: Montana
Karma:
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Junior Member |
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At the risk of having myself appear to be the Village Idiot...
I keyed off Matt Colie's post saying that most of those who tow are on this net vice the "other" forum. I purchased my current 75 Eleganza II in Dec 2020. My previous GMC I owned for 12 years back in the eighties and early 90/s. We occasionally towed a jeep with it just fine. For the last ten years we have been traveling and "wintering over" in Newmar Diesel Pushers always towing our daily drive.
Now that we have downsized to the GMC, I decided to outfit a toad for the GMC because our non Covid lifestyle was to spend five months or so down south in CA living in our RV. So, a few weeks ago I bought a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle with a 5 speed manual tranny for the express purpose of towing it behind the GMC. I expressly selected the Beetle because its weight is only slightly over 2900 lbs, we had owned one in the past and enjoyed it as a fun car. I installed one of Blaines great through the bumper hitches on the coach in the last few days and have ordered the Blue Ox Towing Bracket for the Beetle and expect it to arrive in two weeks when I will then install it on the Beetle. As you can tell the cost of this project has mounted up..
So, the reason for this post is to see if anyone else has ventured down this road and whether anyone else is towing such a Toad. My coach still has the 455 engine with a 307 final drive which I will change to a 3.42 or 3.55 or a 3.70 if I feel that is necessary. Total original miles on the coach is about 49K and it has not been overhauled. The coach was renovated by Cinnabar in 1998 and is beautiful, rebuilt carb, HEI ignition, rebuilt front end and new brakes around (of course, 22 years ago). Then used very VERY little by the owner for 22 years (6,891 miles) and was stored in a modern garage all this time. Because of the Montana winter, I have not driven the coach except for the 100 or so miles to deliver it home but expect to be out there on the road soon. New tires, new alcoa wheels (recalls), new hitch, new batteries, new oil new fan clutch, etc.
I welcome any comments, criticism, advice, or "other"... I am just trying to assure myself I am not going down some road to disaster.
Thanks,
Rod
1975 Eleganza II, 455, 3.07
2016 VW Beetle
Thompson Falls, Montana
Bandit
MONTANA
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