Beach Towing

L

larry nelson

New member
Apr 9, 2001
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Maybe I should have called this "being towed on a beach". There is a super secret white sand beach / big lake in Nebraska and I want to take my MH up
there. The usual drill is to hire the Tractor Guys to tow you in, and tow you back out. Without cracking open the manual, I am wanting to know the
best way to hook up a GMCMH for towing out to a waterfront beach location. I had to be towed with my first Palm Beach (N Padre Island NS) and that
sand was nothing like the sand up at this super secret lake. Don't want to hurt anything or tear anything off. This is NOT towing as in "tow me home,
AAA".......Next time I am under the coach, I will study the structure for this type of pulling. Thoughts?

--
Larry Nelson Springfield, MO
Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut
now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
 
How far are you wanting to tow the coach.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Larry,

Are you towing just to prevent the drive wheels from digging in? Or will the coach sink into the sand?

If it is the former, you could just hook on the bumper brackets at the front.
If it is going to sink in, I will have to think about that. My replacement front frame has some towing damage.....

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
I am going by my NPINS (north Padre Island National seashore) experience. I discovered way back then how easy it was to get stuck in sand. I did not
even know I was stuck until we were ready to pull out. If you get off the packed "road" sand, you are in trouble. No, I did not know about deflating
tires or having any sort of ramp products. A good samaritan and with a one ton dually easily pulled me out (a distance of about 8'). This beach in
Nebraska requires towing some hundreds of feet, to get you to a place at the water side. The GMC, and I love mine to death....just is not made to
drive in deep sand (or head up a snowy mountain road from a dead start :lol: ). I would assume that the deft touch of the Tractor Guys operator would
have as much to do about saving my frame as anything else. This also might be a pipe dream. I aways wanted to camp on a sand beach on FRESH water.
--
Larry Nelson Springfield, MO
Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut
now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
 
Larry
When we lived in Michigan we did a lot of beach camping on fresh water. Great beaches along Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix, and many other places. Easy access from roads. No long drives across sand.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
FrederickCO

>
> I am going by my NPINS (north Padre Island National seashore) experience. I discovered way back then how easy it was to get stuck in sand. I did not
> even know I was stuck until we were ready to pull out. If you get off the packed "road" sand, you are in trouble. No, I did not know about deflating
> tires or having any sort of ramp products. A good samaritan and with a one ton dually easily pulled me out (a distance of about 8'). This beach in
> Nebraska requires towing some hundreds of feet, to get you to a place at the water side. The GMC, and I love mine to death....just is not made to
> drive in deep sand (or head up a snowy mountain road from a dead start :lol: ). I would assume that the deft touch of the Tractor Guys operator would
> have as much to do about saving my frame as anything else. This also might be a pipe dream. I aways wanted to camp on a sand beach on FRESH water.
> --
> Larry Nelson Springfield, MO
> Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut
> now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
 
Wet Grass and sand are 2 of the fun zones to avoid. Make sure that your
towing insurance is up to date.

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States
GMCMHI
TZE Zone Restorations
78 Buskirk Custom 29.5' Stretch
75 Avion (Under going Frame up Restoration)

On Sun, Mar 27, 2022 at 7:38 AM Emery Stora via Gmclist <

> Larry
> When we lived in Michigan we did a lot of beach camping on fresh water.
> Great beaches along Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix, and many other places.
> Easy access from roads. No long drives across sand.
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> FrederickCO
>
> > On Mar 27, 2022, at 8:27 AM, Larry Nelson <

> >
> > I am going by my NPINS (north Padre Island National seashore)
> experience. I discovered way back then how easy it was to get stuck in
> sand. I did not
> > even know I was stuck until we were ready to pull out. If you get off
> the packed "road" sand, you are in trouble. No, I did not know about
> deflating
> > tires or having any sort of ramp products. A good samaritan and with a
> one ton dually easily pulled me out (a distance of about 8'). This beach in
> > Nebraska requires towing some hundreds of feet, to get you to a place at
> the water side. The GMC, and I love mine to death....just is not made to
> > drive in deep sand (or head up a snowy mountain road from a dead start
> :lol: ). I would assume that the deft touch of the Tractor Guys operator
> would
> > have as much to do about saving my frame as anything else. This also
> might be a pipe dream. I aways wanted to camp on a sand beach on FRESH
> water.
> > --
> > Larry Nelson Springfield, MO
> > Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut
> > now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
What we do is we have them use a Strap and drive the coach behind the tow
and watch the slack.

> Wet Grass and sand are 2 of the fun zones to avoid. Make sure that your
> towing insurance is up to date.
>
> J.R. Wright
> GMC Great Laker
> GMCGL Tech Editor
> GMC Eastern States
> GMCMHI
> TZE Zone Restorations
> 78 Buskirk Custom 29.5' Stretch
> 75 Avion (Under going Frame up Restoration)
>
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 27, 2022 at 7:38 AM Emery Stora via Gmclist <

>
> > Larry
> > When we lived in Michigan we did a lot of beach camping on fresh water.
> > Great beaches along Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix, and many other
> places.
> > Easy access from roads. No long drives across sand.
> >
> > Emery Stora
> > 77 Kingsley
> > FrederickCO
> >
> > > On Mar 27, 2022, at 8:27 AM, Larry Nelson <

> > >
> > > I am going by my NPINS (north Padre Island National seashore)
> > experience. I discovered way back then how easy it was to get stuck in
> > sand. I did not
> > > even know I was stuck until we were ready to pull out. If you get off
> > the packed "road" sand, you are in trouble. No, I did not know about
> > deflating
> > > tires or having any sort of ramp products. A good samaritan and with a
> > one ton dually easily pulled me out (a distance of about 8'). This beach
> in
> > > Nebraska requires towing some hundreds of feet, to get you to a place
> at
> > the water side. The GMC, and I love mine to death....just is not made to
> > > drive in deep sand (or head up a snowy mountain road from a dead start
> > :lol: ). I would assume that the deft touch of the Tractor Guys operator
> > would
> > > have as much to do about saving my frame as anything else. This also
> > might be a pipe dream. I aways wanted to camp on a sand beach on FRESH
> > water.
> > > --
> > > Larry Nelson Springfield, MO
> > > Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut
> > > now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > GMCnet mailing list
> > > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Jim Kanomata ASE
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
We did that for 150 Miles, wow was that fun....

> What we do is we have them use a Strap and drive the coach behind the tow
> and watch the slack.
>

>
> > Wet Grass and sand are 2 of the fun zones to avoid. Make sure that your
> > towing insurance is up to date.
> >
> > J.R. Wright
> > GMC Great Laker
> > GMCGL Tech Editor
> > GMC Eastern States
> > GMCMHI
> > TZE Zone Restorations
> > 78 Buskirk Custom 29.5' Stretch
> > 75 Avion (Under going Frame up Restoration)
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Mar 27, 2022 at 7:38 AM Emery Stora via Gmclist <

> >
> > > Larry
> > > When we lived in Michigan we did a lot of beach camping on fresh water.
> > > Great beaches along Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix, and many other
> > places.
> > > Easy access from roads. No long drives across sand.
> > >
> > > Emery Stora
> > > 77 Kingsley
> > > FrederickCO
> > >
> > > > On Mar 27, 2022, at 8:27 AM, Larry Nelson <

> > > >
> > > > I am going by my NPINS (north Padre Island National seashore)
> > > experience. I discovered way back then how easy it was to get stuck in
> > > sand. I did not
> > > > even know I was stuck until we were ready to pull out. If you get off
> > > the packed "road" sand, you are in trouble. No, I did not know about
> > > deflating
> > > > tires or having any sort of ramp products. A good samaritan and with
> a
> > > one ton dually easily pulled me out (a distance of about 8'). This
> beach
> > in
> > > > Nebraska requires towing some hundreds of feet, to get you to a place
> > at
> > > the water side. The GMC, and I love mine to death....just is not made
> to
> > > > drive in deep sand (or head up a snowy mountain road from a dead
> start
> > > :lol: ). I would assume that the deft touch of the Tractor Guys
> operator
> > > would
> > > > have as much to do about saving my frame as anything else. This also
> > > might be a pipe dream. I aways wanted to camp on a sand beach on FRESH
> > > water.
> > > > --
> > > > Larry Nelson Springfield, MO
> > > > Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut
> > > > now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > GMCnet mailing list
> > > > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > GMCnet mailing list
> > > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata ASE
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Scott Campbell
Jack of All, Master of None!
President AMCA River Valley Chapter
Member GMCMI & Great Lakers
1980 FXEF, 1997 XL, 2000 FLHT, 2014 FLD
1982 Chevy G20
1973 GMC Glacier Motorhome
 
> We did that for 150 Miles, wow was that fun....
>

>
> > What we do is we have them use a Strap and drive the coach behind the tow
> > and watch the slack.
> >

My daughter and I did a similar tow for 63 miles with my Colorado Pick Up late at night. The GMC engine was running so we had vacuum for brakes and
electric for lights. She got up to 55, and set the cruise, and off we went. The hardest problem was backing the coach into my hangar across grass.

--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Sounds like a circus with no tigers or elephants, but a little bitty fiat
full of clowns. I have towed vehicles short distances with both nylon
straps and cables. Neither of which was an enjoyable experience. My hat is
off to any long distance tours like that. When we were on Old Route 66
tour, one of our GMC's developed quadrajet problems in Joplin, Missouri. We
called a tow truck that lifted the front end up, and towed the GMC. Worked
very slick. I highly recommend that method.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

> > We did that for 150 Miles, wow was that fun....
> >

> >
> > > What we do is we have them use a Strap and drive the coach behind the
> tow
> > > and watch the slack.
> > >
>
> My daughter and I did a similar tow for 63 miles with my Colorado Pick Up
> late at night. The GMC engine was running so we had vacuum for brakes and
> electric for lights. She got up to 55, and set the cruise, and off we
> went. The hardest problem was backing the coach into my hangar across
> grass.
>
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
You get a wrecker to tow the "tractor"part of an 18-wheeler rig!

Run the GMC's airbags up to maximum to avoid dragging bits of
your rig that you don't want to have dragged!

D C "Mac" Macdonald
Amateur Radio K2GKK
Since 30 November '53
USAF and FAA, Retired
Member GMCMI & Classics
Oklahoma City, OK
________________________________
From: James Hupy
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2022 23:40
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] Re: Beach Towing

Sounds like a circus with no tigers or elephants, but a little bitty fiat
full of clowns. I have towed vehicles short distances with both nylon
straps and cables. Neither of which was an enjoyable experience. My hat is
off to any long distance tours like that. When we were on Old Route 66
tour, one of our GMC's developed quadrajet problems in Joplin, Missouri. We
called a tow truck that lifted the front end up, and towed the GMC. Worked
very slick. I highly recommend that method.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

> > We did that for 150 Miles, wow was that fun....
> >

> >
> > > What we do is we have them use a Strap and drive the coach behind the
> tow
> > > and watch the slack.
> > >
>
> My daughter and I did a similar tow for 63 miles with my Colorado Pick Up
> late at night. The GMC engine was running so we had vacuum for brakes and
> electric for lights. She got up to 55, and set the cruise, and off we
> went. The hardest problem was backing the coach into my hangar across
> grass.
>
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
 
Jim

I have a trailer here that will handle 11,000 pounds. I have never used it for that much load. Also it is not long enough for a 26 foot coach.. I
thought about taking it but the GMC had a trans problem. The winch I have on the trailer never would have hauled the front of the GMC on to it.

So you work with what you have. It is flat land country here and it was a 4 lane divided highway that went along side of the airport (my
destination). We only got stopped at 2 traffic lights along the way. It is legal to tow a vehicle on an tow strap, unlike Illinois.

--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Ken, same here we had engine running, wife was pulling with our GMC
conversion van, she was puller and I was brake man. We used our CB's for
communications, I doubt we could have pulled it off without the CB's.

> > We did that for 150 Miles, wow was that fun....
> >

> >
> > > What we do is we have them use a Strap and drive the coach behind the
> tow
> > > and watch the slack.
> > >
>
> My daughter and I did a similar tow for 63 miles with my Colorado Pick Up
> late at night. The GMC engine was running so we had vacuum for brakes and
> electric for lights. She got up to 55, and set the cruise, and off we
> went. The hardest problem was backing the coach into my hangar across
> grass.
>
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Scott Campbell
Jack of All, Master of None!
President AMCA River Valley Chapter
Member GMCMI & Great Lakers
1980 FXEF, 1997 XL, 2000 FLHT, 2014 FLD
1982 Chevy G20
1973 GMC Glacier Motorhome
 
Ken, I hope that wasn't your personal coach. Do you suspect it will need a trans rebuild or a rebuilt trans??
UGLY weather in Toronto to-day. Wednesday March 30
--
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
 
The main beam that the engine sits on is strong enough as a tow point. A good strap with hooks on it will hook onto that beam and pull evenly.
The main thing is to keep the pulling low so you dont pull up on bumper. A tow truck would be able to adjust for that.

Make sure coach rolls and not drags. Easy! Worst case bring some plywood to ride up on.

I think I might know where your going…. My mom had a house there overlooking the lake. I seen campers far out on the sand.

--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
Dave King, I know the concern of burning up the tranny pump, in my case we
blew up the final drive so it was not spinning the pinion. Only time will
tell for us.

> Ken, I hope that wasn't your personal coach. Do you suspect it will need a
> trans rebuild or a rebuilt trans??
> UGLY weather in Toronto to-day. Wednesday March 30
> --
> DAVE KING
> lurker, wannabe
> Toronto, Ontario, Canada
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Scott Campbell
Jack of All, Master of None!
President AMCA River Valley Chapter
Member GMCMI & Great Lakers
1980 FXEF, 1997 XL, 2000 FLHT, 2014 FLD
1982 Chevy G20
1973 GMC Glacier Motorhome
 
Hi Dave,

Yes it was mine. I was cruising about 55 mph and the trans said. "I'm, done I am not pulling anymore." We were coming home from the Mansfield rally
on US 30 and I coasted off the exit ramp in Warsaw, IN. It felt like what happens when all of the bolts come out of the left front drive shaft, only
they were all there. I have been out on 3 different Black List calls in the past where that happened to them. I carry spares of them in the coach.

I called a local GMCer I had helped get and install ceramic coated windshields in the past. He and his wife gave me, my wife, and dog a ride home. I
called my daughter and met her at the airport in Valparaiso (also on US 30) We went back to Warsaw and towed it back home.

We both are ham radio operators and both vehicles had radios so we set them to the lowest power settings and used them all the way back. It really
was a simple drive with no traffic at that time of night. We had one state cop pass us and he did not to care about what we were doing. We ran into
him later at a Pilot where we stopped for a bite to eat.

My daughter and her boy friend dropped the trans and final drive a couple of weeks later. I I took it down to Blaine Merrell's a few weeks after that
and we (mostly Blaine and Dianne) took it apart. The input shaft from the torque converter to the front gear in the trans had all of the teeth
stripped off. Everything else in it was perfect. So we reassembled it with a replacement shaft. We also replaced a couple of seals in the final
drive. My daughter and her boyfriend reinstalled it for me. The only thing we had is they reversed the two small wires on the starter during
installation. It was a 10 minute bug to fix.

The shaft teeth were all peeled off like little needles. Why? I do not know.

Dave, ToBe's tendon is 70% regrown as seen on the ultra sound of 2 weeks ago. I will find that thread and post an update there.

Ken

--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
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