Long distance transporting options- Tow Dolly? Low trailer?

D

dave silva

New member
Oct 2, 2009
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Just curious about what's been done in the past.

Besides a flat-bed tractor trailer, (most expensive option) What else has been done to move a coach beyond tow truck range?

There are lots of modern diesel trucks that can pull the weight. And the approach angle could be worked out.

Is there a tow dolly wide enough?

I just want to know what the options are when it comes up.

Seems like so many viable coaches are separated from willing lunatics by too many miles.
--
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC

76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff

Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021

It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
 
My personal experience with tow dolly’s are that they SUCK! Hard to back
up and sometimes the fenders hit the vehicle when the deck pivots on turns.

Sully
Bellevue wa

> Just curious about what's been done in the past.
>
> Besides a flat-bed tractor trailer, (most expensive option) What else has
> been done to move a coach beyond tow truck range?
>
> There are lots of modern diesel trucks that can pull the weight. And the
> approach angle could be worked out.
>
> Is there a tow dolly wide enough?
>
> I just want to know what the options are when it comes up.
>
> Seems like so many viable coaches are separated from willing lunatics by
> too many miles.
> --
> Dave & Ellen Silva
> Hertford, NC
>
> 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
>
> Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
>
> It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
People who sell 40-foot shipping containers know what the least
expensive way to move them is. Most use a 1-ton or larger truck with a
fifth-wheel trailer that can get under the front edge and winch it onto the
trailer. The trailer then elevates to the travel position. Make sure they
know how much weight is involved.

> Just curious about what's been done in the past.
>
> Besides a flat-bed tractor trailer, (most expensive option) What else has
> been done to move a coach beyond tow truck range?
>
> There are lots of modern diesel trucks that can pull the weight. And the
> approach angle could be worked out.
>
> Is there a tow dolly wide enough?
>
> I just want to know what the options are when it comes up.
>
> Seems like so many viable coaches are separated from willing lunatics by
> too many miles.
> --
> Dave & Ellen Silva
> Hertford, NC
>
> 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
>
> Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
>
> It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--

*John Phillips*
 
We used a GMC Savana 1500, tow strap & CB's, LOL

> Just curious about what's been done in the past.
>
> Besides a flat-bed tractor trailer, (most expensive option) What else has
> been done to move a coach beyond tow truck range?
>
> There are lots of modern diesel trucks that can pull the weight. And the
> approach angle could be worked out.
>
> Is there a tow dolly wide enough?
>
> I just want to know what the options are when it comes up.
>
> Seems like so many viable coaches are separated from willing lunatics by
> too many miles.
> --
> Dave & Ellen Silva
> Hertford, NC
>
> 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
>
> Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
>
> It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Scott Campbell
AMCA
River Valley Chapter
 
> Just curious about what's been done in the past.
> Besides a flat-bed tractor trailer, (most expensive option) What else has been done to move a coach beyond tow truck range?
> There are lots of modern diesel trucks that can pull the weight. And the approach angle could be worked out.
> Is there a tow dolly wide enough?
> I just want to know what the options are when it comes up.
> Seems like so many viable coaches are separated from willing lunatics by too many miles.

Dave,

These answers are based on my personal and direct experiences.
My very person experiences were, local, 20 miles, 44 miles and 76 miles. They were a large normal roll-back, a Landol, a larger than most roll-back
and that Landol again. The same Landol but different drivers, both were highly skilled people.
I can't tell you about a standard flat bed or low-boy. I can show you pictures of mine on a Landol. A Landol is designed for this manner of
foolishness.
Yes, many modern HD pickups could have the towing capacity for a 26 TZE at 14K, but the final load would be in the permits required weight range.
As the coaches are already 96wide and w/o permits ends a 108 in all states (102 in some), it would be really tough to build a dolly.
Some of the newer and larger roll-backs can lift and carry a 26TZE.
The expense of such is still going to be a big issue.
When first acquired by the prior owner, the transmission failed somewhere near Yosemite. They had the coach trucked back to Cinnabar for repair.
That is all I know about that.

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
 
Dave
Bob Drewe’s (RIP) once towed a GMC several hundred miles with a tow bar behind a pickup truck. He disconnected the front axles and just put in the stubs to hold the bearings and said it towed very well.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick CO

>
> We used a GMC Savana 1500, tow strap & CB's, LOL
>

>>
>> Just curious about what's been done in the past.
>>
>> Besides a flat-bed tractor trailer, (most expensive option) What else has
>> been done to move a coach beyond tow truck range?
>>
>> There are lots of modern diesel trucks that can pull the weight. And the
>> approach angle could be worked out.
>>
>> Is there a tow dolly wide enough?
>>
>> I just want to know what the options are when it comes up.
>>
>> Seems like so many viable coaches are separated from willing lunatics by
>> too many miles.
>> --
>> Dave & Ellen Silva
>> Hertford, NC
>>
>> 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
>>
>> Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
>>
>> It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>
>
>
> --
> Scott Campbell
> AMCA
> River Valley Chapter
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
 
Avoid dollies if you can.
I have come off an exit only to find that there was not enough space to
maneuver with a toad.
Since all I had to do was pull two pins , cord and breakaway cord. I had
Grace drive around and not needed to tieup traffic.I prefer the built in
toed brake so I do not need to undo the portable brake pack.

> My personal experience with tow dolly’s are that they SUCK! Hard to back
> up and sometimes the fenders hit the vehicle when the deck pivots on turns.
>
> Sully
> Bellevue wa
>

>
> > Just curious about what's been done in the past.
> >
> > Besides a flat-bed tractor trailer, (most expensive option) What else has
> > been done to move a coach beyond tow truck range?
> >
> > There are lots of modern diesel trucks that can pull the weight. And the
> > approach angle could be worked out.
> >
> > Is there a tow dolly wide enough?
> >
> > I just want to know what the options are when it comes up.
> >
> > Seems like so many viable coaches are separated from willing lunatics by
> > too many miles.
> > --
> > Dave & Ellen Silva
> > Hertford, NC
> >
> > 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
> >
> > Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
> >
> > It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
 
Emory is correct in explaining that the Axel stubs must be placed in
the hub
.I moved one without that for several blocks and ruined the knuckles.

On Wed, Sep 8, 2021 at 12:52 PM Emery Stora via Gmclist <

> Dave
> Bob Drewe’s (RIP) once towed a GMC several hundred miles with a tow bar
> behind a pickup truck. He disconnected the front axles and just put in the
> stubs to hold the bearings and said it towed very well.
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Frederick CO
>
> > On Sep 8, 2021, at 1:06 PM, Scott Campbell

> >
> > We used a GMC Savana 1500, tow strap & CB's, LOL
> >

> >>
> >> Just curious about what's been done in the past.
> >>
> >> Besides a flat-bed tractor trailer, (most expensive option) What else
> has
> >> been done to move a coach beyond tow truck range?
> >>
> >> There are lots of modern diesel trucks that can pull the weight. And the
> >> approach angle could be worked out.
> >>
> >> Is there a tow dolly wide enough?
> >>
> >> I just want to know what the options are when it comes up.
> >>
> >> Seems like so many viable coaches are separated from willing lunatics by
> >> too many miles.
> >> --
> >> Dave & Ellen Silva
> >> Hertford, NC
> >>
> >> 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
> >>
> >> Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
> >>
> >> It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> GMCnet mailing list
> >> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Scott Campbell
> > AMCA
> > River Valley Chapter
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
 
I've been towed several times during the past 23 years with a standard
wheel-lift tow truck. The longest was 384 miles, mostly at 70 mph.

It's best if you can inflate the air bags all the way. Be sure the tow
operator doesn't lift the front enough to put the rear in danger of
touching the ground.

Ken H.

> Emory is correct in explaining that the Axel stubs must be placed in
> the hub
> .I moved one without that for several blocks and ruined the knuckles.
>
> On Wed, Sep 8, 2021 at 12:52 PM Emery Stora via Gmclist <

>
> > Dave
> > Bob Drewe’s (RIP) once towed a GMC several hundred miles with a tow bar
> > behind a pickup truck. He disconnected the front axles and just put in
> the
> > stubs to hold the bearings and said it towed very well.
> >
> > Emery Stora
> > 77 Kingsley
> > Frederick CO
> >
> > > On Sep 8, 2021, at 1:06 PM, Scott Campbell

> > >
> > > We used a GMC Savana 1500, tow strap & CB's, LOL
> > >

> > >>
> > >> Just curious about what's been done in the past.
> > >>
> > >> Besides a flat-bed tractor trailer, (most expensive option) What else
> > has
> > >> been done to move a coach beyond tow truck range?
> > >>
> > >> There are lots of modern diesel trucks that can pull the weight. And
> the
> > >> approach angle could be worked out.
> > >>
> > >> Is there a tow dolly wide enough?
> > >>
> > >> I just want to know what the options are when it comes up.
> > >>
> > >> Seems like so many viable coaches are separated from willing lunatics
> by
> > >> too many miles.
> > >> --
> > >> Dave & Ellen Silva
> > >> Hertford, NC
> > >>
> > >> 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
> > >>
> > >> Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
> > >>
> > >> It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> GMCnet mailing list
> > >> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Scott Campbell
> > > AMCA
> > > River Valley Chapter
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > 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:
>
 
My one tow job was, like Ken's, on the back of a front wheel lift truck. I fully inflated the air bags, the driver knew what he was doing, and we
made it about 170 miles successfully. The driver said it was no different than towing a big fifth wheel.

I know that is not a great distance, but I would not hesitate to have a GMC towed farther with a wheel lift truck.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
 
Dave,

The operable word here is 'viable'. Decisions on towing always should start with how roadworthy the coach is, and let that determine prudent choice
of tow vehicle. If the tires, airbags, frame, bearings, etc. are all in good shape than almost any type off tow will work.

Beware penny wise and pound foolish choices in towing. For example, don't hire a tow that shows up with a flatbed trailer, no winch (seriously?!) and
requires hiring a wrecker to load the coach into the trailer. Long story... 🙄

Richard
--
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemonte waiting its turn
 
Thanks Ya'll.

I guess I'm really asking about transporting as opposed to towing.

On the various social media spaces we have seen a bunch of neglected coaches around the country and someone says "if only it wasn't 500 miles away"
(or 900 or 1500)

I just wanted to know what the options are.

The RV transporters using diesel one tons and a 35-foot gooseneck will do it for around $2./mile.

If you are really planning to raise one from the dead that $1500 towing bill will become a distant memory after you burned through $20,000 just to get
it to run, drive and stop safely.

--
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC

76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff

Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021

It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
 
> Ours towed about 200mi. IMO, best way.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-coach/p56437-towing-our-coach.html

Yeap,

That is a Landol. I am surprised it does not have the "Landol" on the side, but it is also shorted than many around now and may have been painted.

I still have not written up all of that excursion, but I should.

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
 
> If you are really planning to raise one from the dead that $1500 towing bill will become a distant memory after you burned through $20,000 just to
> get it to run, drive and stop safely.

Indeed! It'll also be the fastest part of the whole restoration.

Richard
--
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemonte waiting its turn
 
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