BoxcarOkie wrote:[The reason I stuck this here, because this is my thread and I just naturally assumed it would be the best place for my stuff. Those that like it or appreciate it, will find it, those that do not, can pass and move on. BCO
Car Toter
Been an interesting year, some of it good and some of it not so good. One of the things that I discovered this year is the fact that I do not like pulling a toad. I have several reasons for this, and I will attempt to explain.
1. I don’t like messing with the tow bar, safety cables, all the associated tie downs and hooks, it is also heavy and has to be stored somewhere when not in use.
2. Backing up. It is almost impossible to back the thing up with the tow car behind it. Sure it can move several feet, but often that is not enough.
3. Everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING gets dirty back there, and you get dirty when you have to mess with it.
4. The toad itself, takes a horrible beating being towed down the road.
5. Tow cars are required by law (in 48 states) to have some kind of braking device, which I don't use or currently own. They cost over a grand and the fine is $500 or more if you are caught without it.
So the wife and I, we discussed it a little over coffee at Denny’s and decided to find a suitable trailer and build up a car toter. Winter time in Oklahoma being what it is, always leads to some kind of mind numbing boredom issue with me anyway. So we got into the hunt for a suitable candidate for a car hauling trailer.
As I already owned three trailers, I got some pretty good trade equity going for me, so this kind of made it all feasible from a monetary standpoint.
In the Oklahoma City area several could be located, in various lengths and condition (used). The bad thing about a trailer is that “it keeps it value rather well” (in some cases better than a used automobile) and they can go for a premium.
To pull the HHR we needed a trailer about 20’ long, found several with #3500 axles, but finally settled for one with #5200's. We felt the #3500 could possibly not be enough and lead to overload issues. You can find trailers locally with different door configurations also, most will be with double doors, if you are fortunate you can find a drop door model. This would be ideal.
Then all you have to do is write the check, pull the sucker home and then “DS” it a little and Walla, one handy dandy car toter. It works well for me, and like Mama say,
“It keeps him out of the beer joints.”
So that is what I asked Santa for this year, a trailer to haul the toad in. What I got was a new jacket for me and the Mrs.
Watch for some shots of the trailer later on this spring ... It should be a Star of the Boulevard ... At least that is what we are shooting for. *
Merry Christmas!
Don Smith
[aka:BCO]
*Paul, what was the name of the outfit in Missouri that has the used RV stuff? I am looking for a stacker washer/dryer combo.