IML: Imperials on a Flatbed

["Wm. R. Ulman" <twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Message

When I had my '60 vert, it was often in need of towing.  I have AAA Plus, but AAA would always send out a regular lift truck, and insist it was fine.  Well, I would get on the phone with dispatch, argue the point of the driveline not being towed more than a 10 miles or over 35 mph, and my mechanic was at least 20 miles away at the time.  I would insist on a Flatbed, be told no.  Well, if you can't win with reason, go for volume.  Having the owners manual in hand did not hurt either.  I finally got through to the regional dispatch manager in Bellevue, explained the situation, and he made an entry on the customer service screen for all to see that if I requested a flatbed, I was to get one with no extra charge.  I used that often enough to get a letter from AAA about keeping my car in better shape so as not to need so many tows.  You get 3 a year at no charge.  I traded off the '60 for the '66 and have not had to use the service in the last 4 1/2 years, but I still carry that managers name and number in my wallet with my AAA card.  Just in case.  My car would just barely fit on the flatbed, and I would ride along watching it bounce around on that thing on I-5 with visions of it popping one of the restraint chains and flying off the back to that truck to inflict death and carnage to whomsoever should be in it's path when it did.  Never did, all was fine.

 

Bill Ulman

Seattle, WA

-----Original Message-----
From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Harvey
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 5:29 PM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: Imperials on a tow dolly

    There is one big problem with a tow dolly on a car as large as an Imperial--the width of the car.  The tow dolly actually pivots, and the tow dolly wheels can get into the front doors or front fenders of your car if you turn sharply..  You can prevent any problems  towing the car with the rear wheels on the ground by letting it run in neutral while you are towing.  This circulates the oil in the transmission.  That is why you do not want to tow very far with the wheels turning but the engine off--there is no oil circulating to the rear end of the transmission.  This is not a problem on cars that you can push start, just cars that do not have the rear driven pump. You obviously don't want to go for several hours with the car just idling, but unless it loads up badly, you can easily get away with an hour. It is a good idea to tie the steering wheel in place.  It just keeps the car tracking behind you, instead of going off to one side for some reason.

     I really don't think much of tow dollies--there are no brakes, and backing up is exceedingly difficult.  Look around for a real car trailer.  For 10 miles, you might call a tow truck.  He can pick it up by the rear end, it probably won't cost you more than renting a tow dolly, and if you are not used to towing, it will save a whole bunch on your nerves.

 

John