Discussion
Back in the late 80's I moved from Johannesburg to East London (SA) which is a 1000+km journey.
In my infinite wisdom, I decided to tow my MK II Escort behind my Nissan (Datsun) Skyline (only a 1.8!) on an 'A' frame.
My initial exit from a motorway failed to take into account the extra weight, and under braking I managed to stop almost right across the road crossing the motorway - I was super cautious after that.
We also had our two dogs in the Escort, and they dutifully sat on the front seats for long parts of the journey, and the looks from other motorists was priceless.
To top it all - we were about 50km from home, and I noticed the headlamps getting ever dimmer on the Skyline and eventually it stalled at a red light leaving me unable to restart it, as the battery was flat.
I managed to swap the battery from the Escort and although it was under rated I still managed to get started and get home (by now after dark) with headlamps that were practically no brighter than candles. The alternator in the Skyline had failed.
A great adventure though.
Pic below, the next morning after reaching our final destination (new house).
In my infinite wisdom, I decided to tow my MK II Escort behind my Nissan (Datsun) Skyline (only a 1.8!) on an 'A' frame.
My initial exit from a motorway failed to take into account the extra weight, and under braking I managed to stop almost right across the road crossing the motorway - I was super cautious after that.
We also had our two dogs in the Escort, and they dutifully sat on the front seats for long parts of the journey, and the looks from other motorists was priceless.
To top it all - we were about 50km from home, and I noticed the headlamps getting ever dimmer on the Skyline and eventually it stalled at a red light leaving me unable to restart it, as the battery was flat.
I managed to swap the battery from the Escort and although it was under rated I still managed to get started and get home (by now after dark) with headlamps that were practically no brighter than candles. The alternator in the Skyline had failed.
A great adventure though.
Pic below, the next morning after reaching our final destination (new house).
Edited by TonyRPH on Wednesday 22 November 16:21
An old trailer of mine had a rotten floor, something i kept meaning to replace but couldn't be bothered to. I kept it in the garage and basically filled it with crap until it was full, at which point i'd take it to the dump and get rid of the contents.
On its final voyage, i arrived at the tip to find the trailer completely empty. The floor had given way at some point and its contents were emptied out onto the road over the course of 5 miles.
On the plus side, you needed a book of permits to used the trailer at the dump and it saved me having to use one up!
On its final voyage, i arrived at the tip to find the trailer completely empty. The floor had given way at some point and its contents were emptied out onto the road over the course of 5 miles.
On the plus side, you needed a book of permits to used the trailer at the dump and it saved me having to use one up!
25 Plus Years ago got a call from a mate asking if I fancied a trip down to Felixstowe. That night!! He'd imported 3 Yankee cars and my Sierra had a tow bar! 3 of us drove down with an empty trailer, obviously, I drove a Cadillac, (I think, was a long time ago), one drove back a Firebird, and my mate drove back with a Corvette Shell on the trailer. Mate in the Firebird buggers off back on his own, I'm running 'interference' for mate driving MY car with the Corvette on the trailer as he couldn't see anything in the mirrors!!
When I could see he'd need to pull out into the middle lane, I'd pull out and flash him it was safe to move. His right foot got a bit 'heavy' at one point and the trailer started to fishtail!! The swing got bigger and bigger until I, sat 30yds or so behind, was thinking 'Oh Sh*t, This is gonna be Really BAD!!' and 'That's my car he's gonna trash!! (did feel guilty for that thought afterwards)
He somehow managed to pull out of it, told me afterwards he floored it and hoped for the best! We pulled into the next services, thankfully only a couple of miles up the motorway, I got out and walked up to my mate who hadn't moved. He was sat, hands still on the wheel, white as a sheet! I had to bang on the window to get a reaction! We went inside for a coffee and to calm down and had an uneventful journey afterwards.
For anyone who remembers, the Corvette shell was sprayed Bright Pink and displayed on the roof of Yankee Burger in Hull!! (sadly gone now, but amazing burgers)
When I could see he'd need to pull out into the middle lane, I'd pull out and flash him it was safe to move. His right foot got a bit 'heavy' at one point and the trailer started to fishtail!! The swing got bigger and bigger until I, sat 30yds or so behind, was thinking 'Oh Sh*t, This is gonna be Really BAD!!' and 'That's my car he's gonna trash!! (did feel guilty for that thought afterwards)
He somehow managed to pull out of it, told me afterwards he floored it and hoped for the best! We pulled into the next services, thankfully only a couple of miles up the motorway, I got out and walked up to my mate who hadn't moved. He was sat, hands still on the wheel, white as a sheet! I had to bang on the window to get a reaction! We went inside for a coffee and to calm down and had an uneventful journey afterwards.
For anyone who remembers, the Corvette shell was sprayed Bright Pink and displayed on the roof of Yankee Burger in Hull!! (sadly gone now, but amazing burgers)
best towing story was c. 10 years ago on Abersoch beach, having arrived there in the evening in the RR classic with some sailing dinghies, we watched a chap trying to extract powerboat on trailer from the sea with his brand new L200 as he burned out the clutch and dug everything into the sand! Eventually, despite the loss of face he accepted an offer of help, rope attached, the RR pulled L200 / trailer / boat all out together... of course I explained that it was my skill that made the difference, but the fact that he was on soft sand and I was on a hard surface might have helped 
had lots of fun towing other things such as cattle trailers through London, and a day in the snow of 2010 clearing Burford high street (steep hill) of traffic in the thick snow in a P38, including a truck laden to 6.5t
had lots of fun towing other things such as cattle trailers through London, and a day in the snow of 2010 clearing Burford high street (steep hill) of traffic in the thick snow in a P38, including a truck laden to 6.5t
One very memorable incident. I picked up a load of wood in an 18ft twin axle Ifor-Williams trailer that I had just bought. Clearly the amount of wood was exactly 2.6 tonnes, giving me a towed weight of 3.5 tonnes. Or maybe we just filled the damn trailer up, and weren’t particularly careful about the nose weight.
So I set off into Central London traffic, thinking I was king of the bloody road. 4.6 litre Land Rover, kick-ass trailer, loads of wood. Got lost, and spent an hour grinding though traffic towards Paddington. Eventually I pulled onto the beginning of elevated section of the A40, and nailed it up the hill.
On reaching the top at about 55, I backed off the power and realised I was heading for the hard shoulder. Huh? I steered away from it, but nothing happened. I saw FAR TOO MUCH TRAILER in the right hand wing mirror. Then suddenly I was heading for the outside lane. I am eternally grateful to the bloke in the 7 tonner who twigged what was happening and blocked both carriage ways behind me. After about 2 big sweeps across the road, I got it in a straight line without hitting anything. The rest of the journey was completed at a top speed of about 45 mph.
It was all about the nose weight. I’ve towed similar loads since then, and the combination goes like a dream.
So I set off into Central London traffic, thinking I was king of the bloody road. 4.6 litre Land Rover, kick-ass trailer, loads of wood. Got lost, and spent an hour grinding though traffic towards Paddington. Eventually I pulled onto the beginning of elevated section of the A40, and nailed it up the hill.
On reaching the top at about 55, I backed off the power and realised I was heading for the hard shoulder. Huh? I steered away from it, but nothing happened. I saw FAR TOO MUCH TRAILER in the right hand wing mirror. Then suddenly I was heading for the outside lane. I am eternally grateful to the bloke in the 7 tonner who twigged what was happening and blocked both carriage ways behind me. After about 2 big sweeps across the road, I got it in a straight line without hitting anything. The rest of the journey was completed at a top speed of about 45 mph.
It was all about the nose weight. I’ve towed similar loads since then, and the combination goes like a dream.
Back in the winter of 1978 we tried tow-starting my sister's Vauxhall Viva (her first 'car') with the help of a neighbour (I couldn't drive at the time).
The car (as usual) wouldn't start, the neighbour decided to stop, my sister panicked and attempted to swerve round the tow vehicle
Thankfully, the tow rope wasn't the strongest, and snapped with a huge bang - bending the bumper a little in the process!
The car (as usual) wouldn't start, the neighbour decided to stop, my sister panicked and attempted to swerve round the tow vehicle
Thankfully, the tow rope wasn't the strongest, and snapped with a huge bang - bending the bumper a little in the process!
I bought an already constructed Dutton Phaeton kit car. A friend of mine said he was willing to steer it while I towed it so one late evening off we went, with just the tow rope betwee us, from south London to Rottingdean, nr Brighton.
We were nearing the end of the M23 when I saw a number of lights behind the Dutton. I thought no more about it and carried on south. As we approached the junction with the A27 a couple of dozen or so motorcycles streamed past, the riders giving me a wave. I waved back, but I'm not sure why.
At journey's end my friend told me that one of the motorcyclists had pulled up beside him to chat about the car. My mate had told him that cars were passing at speed - I was doing only 40mph as the Dutton's brakes came as extra - and the airflow made the car wander a bit and he was concerned. The motorcyclist then told his mates to block the road, this was just south of the Crawley junction.
I said I wondered why there were so few cars on the road.
We were nearing the end of the M23 when I saw a number of lights behind the Dutton. I thought no more about it and carried on south. As we approached the junction with the A27 a couple of dozen or so motorcycles streamed past, the riders giving me a wave. I waved back, but I'm not sure why.
At journey's end my friend told me that one of the motorcyclists had pulled up beside him to chat about the car. My mate had told him that cars were passing at speed - I was doing only 40mph as the Dutton's brakes came as extra - and the airflow made the car wander a bit and he was concerned. The motorcyclist then told his mates to block the road, this was just south of the Crawley junction.
I said I wondered why there were so few cars on the road.
Steven_RW said:
had about three odd seconds to juggle the immobiliser fob to the ignition key (without dropping it..) and seamlessly put it in the ignition and remove the steering lock before a catastrophic into the ditch, double car crash]
another steering lock mishap.I was getting a lift to work from a colleague. His car cuts out on a section of dual carriageway about 3 miles from the work. I'm all for getting out to have a look but colleague says he'll just phone the work and get another colleague to come and get us.
5 mins later our hero shows up to tow us. I double check with the driver - have you been towed before, do you know what you are doing? He assures me he's fine.
Within seconds of moving off I knew we were in trouble. The guy towing nearly rips the front of our car off, pulling away far to quickly. He then accelerates up to about 60. We come up the DC off ramp to a roundabout. We slow a bit then as the lead car pulls away I hear the click of the steering lock. The keys were in his pocket.
We're now heading for the centre of the roundabout. I tell the driver to stand on the brakes until he gets the steering lock off. The guy towing feels the resistance and starts booting it. For about 3 seconds its a battle between our brakes and the guy towing spinning his wheels trying to drag us across a roundabout. After what felt like an age he's gets the keys in the ignition and the lock off.
Thinking that was maybe our drama over but no the tow car continues driving like he's not towing anybody and he's in a race. We nearly rear ended him with my driver shouting about the brakes not working properly.
2 minutes later we pull into the works car park, smoke pouring from the brakes of our car.
I got a lift home from somebody else that day.
I can remember trying to tow start a Transit after running it out of diesel, I'd run out at the bottom of a steep hill and about halfway up the hill the towrope decides to snap and the van starts rolling backwards down the hill. With that, I seize my chance, stick it reverse and dip the clutch which fires the engine into life and propels the van back down the hill as fast as it would go in reverse and straight through the phone box at the bottom.........
Edited by njw1 on Wednesday 22 November 23:12
Livery yard tractor was broken and 300kg haylage bales needed distributing.
Owner gets in his 7.5T horse wagon, lashes bale to rear subframe with towropes and tries to tow the bale by pulling it along on a pallet. Not getting very far as just gouging a big hole, so he drops the hydraulic rear door ramp, gets the bale pushed onto the ramp, then lifts it a few feet off the ground.
The leverage of the bale being at the end of the ramp twisted the rear bumper that the hydraulic ramp was attached to, and bent the rear subframe the bumper was attached to. Also ripped the ramp in half where the hydraulic arm held it fast as the rest peeled away under the weight of the bale.
Great thing, leverage.
Owner gets in his 7.5T horse wagon, lashes bale to rear subframe with towropes and tries to tow the bale by pulling it along on a pallet. Not getting very far as just gouging a big hole, so he drops the hydraulic rear door ramp, gets the bale pushed onto the ramp, then lifts it a few feet off the ground.
The leverage of the bale being at the end of the ramp twisted the rear bumper that the hydraulic ramp was attached to, and bent the rear subframe the bumper was attached to. Also ripped the ramp in half where the hydraulic arm held it fast as the rest peeled away under the weight of the bale.
Great thing, leverage.
A few years ago, my brother in law phoned me up asking for a lift moving a boat that he'd just bought to renovate. On arrival at the boatyard with the 200TDI defender, i find that he's actually tried to tow it with a Citrone Berlingo, nearly pushing the wheels through the wheel arches when he let the weight on it . i wasn't a small boat by any means, but his house was only a couple of miles up the road, coupled it up and we were off, bloody hell there's some weight in it, and the brakes on the trailer didn't work very much. Anyway, we finally got it in position in his yard, uncoupled it, then started looking at what he'd bought, only to find that it was virtually full of rainwater! No wonder it was bloody heavy!
When we had all that snow I was busy towing stuff up the big local hills, and this artic was going nowhere, causing a right old jam. So I offered the driver a tug. to which he replied "She's fully laden, your having a laugh" Good old landcruiser on the snowies did the job just grand, all be it very slowly. This is the A30 at Shaftesbury if you know it. The look on the drivers face was a prize
https://youtu.be/mVPOvgX1vxE
https://youtu.be/mVPOvgX1vxE
Two from me, first not mine.
Used to work in Salisbury on the Churchfields Ind estate, a guy I worked with's son had a Fiat 126 as his first car, which he blew up on the way home from work, dad spent his spare time as a mechanic for a small racing team so decides no problem we'll tow it home and i'll rebuild it. So dad, brother and his Cavalier duly arrive to retrieve the buggered Fiat, brother attaches tow rope to both cars with dad steering the Fiat, all good until brother decides to take a sharp right under a railway bridge and dad not having even put the keys in the ignition swings in a stuttering smoking skid across the road straight into the bridge!!! Front of the Fiat stoved in, towing eye ripped out the back of the Cavalier, not good!!
Mine, had a mk4 Cortina 2lt auto, borrowed a friends flat 4 wheeled trailer to retrieve my previous Cortina from where I'd stored it after, ahem, rearranging the front of it, coming down a hill into Botley on the brakes and it starts to fishtail, I remember just in time what my friend had said as I picked the trailer up, "If it starts to fishtail, DON'T BRAKE!! Gently accelerate until it straightens and then you can gently brake!!" Only problem is I'm now running out of road before a fairly sharp bend, cue me now hard on the brakes thinking oh S**T it'll either end up in a bush or crashed across the road, how I made it round the corner I still don't know, but I did, pulled up at the first opportunity and had a walk around on very shaky legs!!
Used to work in Salisbury on the Churchfields Ind estate, a guy I worked with's son had a Fiat 126 as his first car, which he blew up on the way home from work, dad spent his spare time as a mechanic for a small racing team so decides no problem we'll tow it home and i'll rebuild it. So dad, brother and his Cavalier duly arrive to retrieve the buggered Fiat, brother attaches tow rope to both cars with dad steering the Fiat, all good until brother decides to take a sharp right under a railway bridge and dad not having even put the keys in the ignition swings in a stuttering smoking skid across the road straight into the bridge!!! Front of the Fiat stoved in, towing eye ripped out the back of the Cavalier, not good!!
Mine, had a mk4 Cortina 2lt auto, borrowed a friends flat 4 wheeled trailer to retrieve my previous Cortina from where I'd stored it after, ahem, rearranging the front of it, coming down a hill into Botley on the brakes and it starts to fishtail, I remember just in time what my friend had said as I picked the trailer up, "If it starts to fishtail, DON'T BRAKE!! Gently accelerate until it straightens and then you can gently brake!!" Only problem is I'm now running out of road before a fairly sharp bend, cue me now hard on the brakes thinking oh S**T it'll either end up in a bush or crashed across the road, how I made it round the corner I still don't know, but I did, pulled up at the first opportunity and had a walk around on very shaky legs!!
Going to collect my daughters (at the time) pony that had been sent away for something. Coming down hill in Disco with horse box on back round corner to find said pony being led across road. Ice on road no ABS, slight concern but a bit of cadence braking and some (a lot of) luck and we were OK.
My wife was always getting us lost which when you're towing an Ifor-Williams horse box through Bristol is annoying to say the least, or missing turning and being told to just turn around. Way too many experiences with towing a horse box.
As a 17 year old being towed by my dad in a car we bought to repair the one I'd dented, in the rain and finding out then wipers don't work, or the brakes...
Recently had to call wife out to rescue me in the MX5, first she turns up in my Alfa, no tow bar so sent home for Land Rover, I then manage to run in to the back of her as I was pressing the clutch pedal not the brake pedal
My wife was always getting us lost which when you're towing an Ifor-Williams horse box through Bristol is annoying to say the least, or missing turning and being told to just turn around. Way too many experiences with towing a horse box.
As a 17 year old being towed by my dad in a car we bought to repair the one I'd dented, in the rain and finding out then wipers don't work, or the brakes...
Recently had to call wife out to rescue me in the MX5, first she turns up in my Alfa, no tow bar so sent home for Land Rover, I then manage to run in to the back of her as I was pressing the clutch pedal not the brake pedal
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