1972hiboy wrote:Ive used one of those old u-haul towbars...you have to play nice with those. I was pulling a k5 with my 79 dent 4x4 and had to go up a large hill..not very long but pretty steep. didnt get going fast maybe like 10-15 but once I clear the top and went to turn with the road at the top the blazer somehow started to push the back end of my truck over. luckily not going fast I was able to stop before the whole thing jackknifed on me. Flat towing through Santa Cruz seemed fine but I really dont know if it was just the geometery of the hill and turning that caused the back end of my pickup to lighten way up or what. Im not saying its a bad system but you have to be mindful more so than trailering it id say. Thats why I casted my vote for the trailer you just load and go. A few ways to skin the cat but each one has its own stipulations.
Was the towbar level? The cardinal rule is attach the bar so the towed vehicle pushing on the vehicle towing it can't lift the ass end off the ground. If you set the towbar up so the bar is higher on the towing vehicles side you're screwed.
1972hiboy wrote:Ive used one of those old u-haul towbars...you have to play nice with those. I was pulling a k5 with my 79 dent 4x4 and had to go up a large hill..not very long but pretty steep. didnt get going fast maybe like 10-15 but once I clear the top and went to turn with the road at the top the blazer somehow started to push the back end of my truck over. luckily not going fast I was able to stop before the whole thing jackknifed on me. Flat towing through Santa Cruz seemed fine but I really dont know if it was just the geometery of the hill and turning that caused the back end of my pickup to lighten way up or what. Im not saying its a bad system but you have to be mindful more so than trailering it id say. Thats why I casted my vote for the trailer you just load and go. A few ways to skin the cat but each one has its own stipulations.
Was the towbar level? The cardinal rule is attach the bar so the towed vehicle pushing on the vehicle towing it can't lift the ass end off the ground. If you set the towbar up so the bar is higher on the towing vehicles side you're screwed.
Thats probably exactly what happened. it was back in high school so i dont remember exactly how it was but my f150 was a little bit lifted and the k5 was stock so the towbar in retro spec was most likely not level and the towing vehicle side was higher than the vehicle being towed....so yeah thats probably what happened to make the back of my truck lighten up when i hit the brakes. I havent used one since but if I ever do I will absolutely make sure that the bar is level....
Rich
1973 f350 super c/s 460/c6 22k orig miles
1972 f350 srw crewcab special 390
1972 f250 4x4 sport custom 390fe Red
1972 f250 4x4 custom 360 FE " Ranger Ric"
1972 f250 4x4 custom 84k og miles 390
1971 f250 4x4 sport custom 56k og miles. 360
1970 f250 4x4 428 fe hp60 205 d60
Dont eat yellow snow.....
Well, the first out of state job interview came back negative...I'm too old and expensive, I guess. But now I know I can tow my bump...distance between front tires is right at 72 inches, so I could do four-down or use a tow-dolly if push comes to shove.
