Re: M35A2 tow bar

From: Jim (W7LS@blarg.net)
Date: Wed Jul 07 2004 - 19:38:29 PDT


Alex,
    My advice is to not tow it with any size pickup, or a homespun
towbar. I've towed stuff and you really want the towing vehicle to be as
big or bigger than the towed vehicle, especially if you don't have
working brakes on the towed vehicle, which is the case for you. You
can't control deuce brakes from a towing vehicle, plus your pickup
doesn't have air output, anyway.
      Also, deuces don't tend to tow well. The front end geometry is not
conducive to going straight automatically. There is a very real chance
that the wheels will flop sideways while towing. That will be the
biggest and quite possibly, the last disaster of your life. I would do
it on flat ground, out in the country, for a mile, max. I wouldn't
exceed 5 or 10 mph, either.
    Have someone with a 5 ton tow it for you with a military towbar.
That combo is big enough that the deuce can flop it's front wheels and
the 5T will just make it go straight, until you can get it stopped and
realigned.
    What you're proposing to do is very, very dangerous. Can you get it
running and drive it home? Jim

Alex wrote:

>I've got to tow the new beast home next month and would like to use a
>tow bar and a heavy duty pick-up truck. I only have to tow it about 35
>miles. so I was thinking of making a tow bar. I already have a lunette
>ring for one end and was planning on pinning the bar to the shackle
>mounts on the 35's front bumper. My questions are how long should I make
>the tow bar arms? Am I nuts to try this? Does anyone have any caveats
>or hints. (I'm a pretty good welder).
>
>Also a while back, I don't know where, someone said they found DOT 5 for
>around $30/gal. Can anyone give me a name/address for this?
>
>Thanks for listening,
>Alex
>
>
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