Seems to me it would be cheaper, safer, and less trouble to just keep a
service like Allstate's RV Roadhelp, which I've had for 22+ years. Sure,
I've paid them a lot of subscription fees during that time, but I've also
been towed several times without any hassles nor worries. My overall
coast has been much less than if I'd worried about and paid for the
individual tows.
Now for short distances, like 5 miles to the service station, I've had HER
get in the toad to work its throttle, dependent upon the condition of the
GMC's brake lights. NO problem to me -- SHE HATES IT!
If I were determined to try flat-towing the GMC, in the proposed step 1.,
I'd remove the front axles at the 6-bolt inner flanges rather than trying
any other way to keep them out of the way -- especially since I'd have to
remove them anyway to get the stub (half) axles to go into the hubs. DON'T
try towing without re-installing those stubs!
JMHO,
Ken H.
On Tue, Jul 21, 2020 at 11:01 AM Mark Sawyer via Gmclist <
> If brakes and bearings are in good shape or can be made functional, I've
> toyed with the idea of setting up a GMC for flat towing.... Does anyone know
> of this having been done in the past or any thoughts on flat towing a
> GMC? I haven't seriously considered this, but have had some idle musings
> about
> what it would take to do this for buying a project coach or recovering a
> disabled one...
>
> Anyway, my thoughts got about this far:
>
> 1. Pull the halfshafts and install just the outer joint in the hub without
> a shaft attached, then cover or install inner joints to keep dirt and dust
> out of the fd...
> 2. Use a Brake Buddy or equivalent (Using the one from my toad came to
> mind) to actuate the brakes in the GMC
> 3. Pull the front bumper and fabricate or modify a towbar to fit the
> bumper mount... Several options for this.... It could be done by: 1.
> building
> one from scratch if you have the tools/skills, or 2. at least around here
> in TX, there are a lot of mom and pop trailer manufacturers and/or other
> metal fabricators that could probably make what you need, or 3. If you
> look on ebay, etc. there are generally heavy duty military surplus tow bars
> and
> connectors available that could be suitable if modified.... Something
> like this:
>
>
>
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Military-Towbar-Medium-Telescoping-Arms-With-3-4-Inch-Feet/264308643325?hash=item3d8a05d5fd:g:rkgAAOSwivlczKE-
>
> Now you'd of course need a heavy duty pickup or some other truck to pull
> this... Also, it might make sense to make a tow plate that runs between the
> front frame rails on the bumper mounts to reinforce the front end since
> the bumper is removed....
>
> Again, I have not attempted this, nor am I aware of anyone doing this,
> though it does not seem out of the realm of possibility.... Of course, if
> you
> do not have or have access to a heavy duty truck, Brake Buddy, etc. the
> cost on this would go way up... But if you already have or have access to
> those things, the only real cost would be the tow bar.... But I would bet
> that won't go more than 2-$500 bucks if you're willing to scrounge around
> and/or make what you need....
>
> And of course, having not driven anything like this, it may not "pull"
> well at all, which makes this an experiment, for sure... I do not think I
> would attempt running a rig like this through the Rockies or anything like
> that..... Texas to Wisconsin? It's a hike for sure, but pretty flat
> depending on the route you take....
> --
> Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
> Manny 1 Ton Front End,
> Howell Injection,
> Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
> Fort Worth, TX
>
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