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| | | | Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 142 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 142 | If i bolt the steering arm(part outside frame) to the frame will the chassis tow ok.? Want to take it to a coin op car wash to clean it. Everthing from steering box down is still attached. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,233 Moderator: Interiors, Texas Bolters, Name that Part | | Moderator: Interiors, Texas Bolters, Name that Part Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,233 | what are you towing with.. tow dolly, flat bed, chain, etc? | | | | | Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 142 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 142 | tow bar,V bar attached to frame | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | Bigtonka did this a year or so ago. You might want to PM him. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,384 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,384 | Flat towing with a tow bar requires the steering to be operational.
If the steering wheel is locked, the chassis (any vehicle) will not follow the tow vehicle around corners. It will go straight and the tires will be dragged side ways around the corner.
A connection to the bumper or frame to the ball hitch causes side force that make the front wheels turn and the tow tracks the towing vehicle. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | Jim, Bigtonka had the opposite happen when he first tried to tow his chassis. He eventually had to lock the steering. Here is a link to his post. Towing a Chassis | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 | Instead of towing to the coin op I rented a power washer with propane burner. It heats the water to close to 200 degrees and you get various nozzles to use. I scraped the heavy crap off first to eliminate as much as possible. I soaked the frame with Gunk engine cleaner where it was greasy and used Spray nine to soak the dirty areas. I used my engine hoist to lift the front end up about 5' off the ground so I could blast under neath. I also pulled the wheels off to get all around the assembly. It worked well and got rid of pretty much all there dirt and grease. I have a gravel drive way so I had no issue with harming the asphalt.
Mark | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,384 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,384 | Bigtonka's experience is interesting. It must be all about the weight.
I've towed a variety of vehicles with a tow bar. Not my favorite way to tow, I would prefer a dolly, or a chain with another driver, if I couldn't get both axles on a trailer or flatbed.
Anyway a couple of them were without engines or transmissions and they still pulled just fine. The steering was always complete, don't think it would work without it.
I guess if there is no weight on the front at all the caster could make the wheels flop over.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 46 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 46 | I towed a early-mid 60s 3/4 ton with newwer 1 ton.i had most of a tow bar.bummper was tore in two.I used 2 bolts 1/2" or bigger and 2 pieces of big angle and drilled and bolted to frame.found out longer than origanal tow bar made stearing do funny thingsw.i had to start into corners easy or stearing on towed truck would whip from cramp to cramp
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