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I have received several requests to forward to the lists the responses I got concerning the trailer topic, so here they are.
Thanks again for the great info!
David and Donna Brubaker
Member - MVPA
1972 M151A2 U.S. Air Force Security Police
http://WWW2.Southwind.net/~b52d
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin
Nov 11 1755, from the Pennsylvania Assembly
-----Original Message-----
From: F. Brian Mead [SMTP:brian@hardscrabblefarm.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2000 8:35 PM
To: David W. Brubaker
Subject: Re: [MV] Trailering an MV
David,
Make sure you get at brakes on the trailer. I've known people who've towed without brakes, one guy towing thru the mountains on Tenn actually punched a hole in the back of his Wagoneer with the trailer hitch. Also, always check the brake settings every time you tow, don't think the settings will stay the same from time to time. Also, my trailer has breakaway brakes. It's basically a cable you attach to your truck, if it pulls free, it applies the brakes. That could really save you from a BAD situation. Don't know the cost, but no-one else I know has the breakaway brakes on their trailer. Also I can't tell you how well they work, thank goodness, but it sure feels nice knowing they're there.
Other than that, watch the center of gravity of the towed load. I've had to tow a M/F 231 tractor w/ bushhog on my trailer before. That put the weight of the tractor too much on the truck. Makes the truck feel like it's got the back axle in a sand pit.
I've always towed using a 1969 GMC with the original TINY side windows. About round, about 4" across. I'd imagine big mirrors help if you're not used to towing, but they're not necessary if you're used to towing.
As to the safety of a trailer, for the criminal, where there's a will, there's a way. I've known people who chain the two tires on each side together, or put a lock in the ball-lock spot. I haven't actually used my flatbed where I've had to leave it unattended, so I can't give any advice on that one.
For the travel prep, I've heard to at least lower the windshield if you're gonna tow at higher speeds than the jeep was designed for. Apparently there are quite a few MBs out there with bent windshields due to high-speed trailering.
Hope this helps,
Brian Mead
"David W. Brubaker" wrote:
> *This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(tm) Pro*
> I am getting ready to purchase a trailer for pulling my M151A2 to shows, etc..
>
> Rather than re-invent the wheel I am hoping that the good people out on the newsgroup can help me out with some advice.
>
> I take it a two axle trailer is pretty much a given, but are there any does or don'ts that go with this. The tow vehicle is a brand new Dodge Dakota V8 with the towing package so I do not think gross weight is an issue for the payload. But a lot of questions come to mind..... How to keep trailer from being stolen once at the convention or show and you have unhooked it so that you can get around town? Best straps to use to tie it down on the trailer? Should I strip everything off of the jeep while transporting, radio and pedestal mount, stuff like that? Any dumb trailer tricks I should try to not duplicate? Things I should know to keep from having a towing accident, stuff like that. Anything on the topic would be greatly appreciated from the group. I do plan to bring the Mutt to the Kansas City convention this year, really looking forward to my first convention. I suppose the do's and don'ts for that could be a separate thread all together.
>
> Hope everyone has had a great start into the new year!
> David and Donna Brubaker
> Member - MVPA
> 1972 M151A2 U.S. Air Force Security Police
> http://WWW2.Southwind.net/~b52d
>
> "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
>
> -- Benjamin Franklin
> Nov 11 1755, from the Pennsylvania Assembly
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Feb 21 2000 - 18:15:02 PST