The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts How do you haul your big bolt?

Hey guys, I am planning on picking up a 1959 viking 60 next weekend. I will be trailering it about 200 miles to its new home and was wondering how you guys haul your rigs? I dont want to use a tow bar, and Im sure a regular car trailer will be too small. I think the only option is to rent an equipment trailer, like those used for tractors, ect. What do you think?

go big, or crash...

rent an equipment hauling trailer and a dump truck... like john did to drag back his fire truck..

You do not want to haul a big truck on a trailer without trailer brakes. In fact, I wouldn't haul any truck without trailer brakes.

[img]http://www.6066gmcguy.org/whatever/Hauling.jpg[/img]

I would not haul anything bigger than a one ton on a tow bar, and that would only be with a one ton truck.

Using A Tow Bar

Glamis4x4, I've hauled two trucks home this year. One was a 51 4400 that I towed 400 miles back from Arkansas. I swore I'd never tow another truck again. That was the scariest ride I can remember.

Then I picked up a 1 ton dump truck from about 200 miles away. That one almost killed the tow vehicle.

I towed both with a Suburban 3/4 ton, 6.2 liter Diesel with heavy duty trailer towing package. I hauled the 4400 on a 16 foot trailer with two foot dovetail. The trailer was too small. I could not get the 4400 back far enough to unload the tongue. Basically the trailer drove all the way back, especially downhill, and I hung on for dear life.

I got an 18 foot trailer for the 1 ton dump, and it was too heavy for the tow vehicle, even before the truck was on it. 35 mph on hills on the way out and 25 on the way back. The Suburban has a trailer brake controller, but the wiring is gone.

Think very carefully before picking up a truck. The first experiences you have with it will last a long time, so it is much better to try to make them pleasant experiences. During the tow home, with both of mine, I seriously considered abandoning them several times.

Another thing that can ruin the experience is winching a large truck onto a trailer with a small winch.

i think the only way to tow a big bolt is with another big bolt. that's what i did last one i bought. hr

I'm not sure exactly what that is and don't know what it weighs or how long and wide it might be.

I've moved big bolts two ways.

I've had a couple of them towed with a tow truck, and I like that method. It makes someone with more experience and bigger equipment responsible for the problem. I found a local tow truck operator that is real reasonable and have gone that route a few times.

I've also hauled a couple of them using an 18 foot car trailer and a 1-ton pickup. In each case the trucks were incomplete and did not weigh as much as they could, but still were substantial loads.

My 5,700 pound 1-ton pickup is rated to tow 10,000 pounds and my trailer (with electric brakes) can handle nearly 6,000 pounds payload. With a truck that weighed about 5,000 sitting on the trailer it actually pulled, steered and stopped just fine but felt like much more would be too much.

I hauled two nearly 4,000 pound 1-ton trucks using my truck and trailer just a few weeks ago. While I can sure feel the load back there, with a big enough truck and an adequate trailer the limitations become the skill and judgement of the driver.

But adequate equipment is still the first issue, without it even the best driver is asking for trouble. I've also chosen not to pursue a couple of trucks because after a little research decided my equipment could not move them safely.

I don't know what equipment you have available beyond what is listed in your signature. If your 4400 is road worthy and set up to pull a big trailer that might be a good answer.

But you don't want move a load like a big bolt with with a 1/2-ton pickup.

My big bolts 'do' the hauling, LOL. Spend a week fixing it up and drive it home, like Builder did. Just rent a big U-Haul truck and stuff it inside (make sure your insurance is up to date),
Scott

I dont have that kind of time...And my truck is a 1500HD 4x4, wich has 3/4 ton running gear and a 10,000 pound tow rating. Im sure I will be fine renting an equipment trailer with brakes. My silverado is already equipped with a trailer brake controller and hitch for my toy box, wich is pushing 8,000 pounds loaded. This is what I am picking up.

I hauled home 3 big bolts (two of them over 300 miles) with my 3/4 ton Silverado successfully, but mine were all art decos (which are significantly lighter) and two of them had no beds. It's also very flat in my part of the country, so I didn't have to worry as much about my brakes.

I was lucky with my '59 Viking 40, I was able to drive it home.

I'm not going to say that you can't do it, but I guarantee that you are going to have a full load.

If you decide to do this, make sure the trailer has working brakes, is large enough to get the weight distributed right, and leave yourself plenty of room to stop.

That's a heavy truck, please be careful.

John

I rented a trailer from a local tractor company and borrowed a tow truck both times when hauling my '38 1-1/2 tons home. I was fortunate to be able to borrow a truck each time.

My neighbor and I did 2000 miles in 3 days with this RV hauler.

(click on the photo for more pictures)
[img]http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/16443/1043912530033981030S200x200Q85.jpg[/img] ]

My 18' trailer and my diesel always has worked for me.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2255842490101465522WRYITw

Tri5 I love your GMC dumper. That bumper on the front is great.

Chris the unanswered question is still what does that thing weigh? From the angle I don't want to guess the length, but if that's an all steel bed, and its very long, you've got a real heavy truck there.

You still might be challenging the 10,000 pound towing capacity of your truck by time you combine the weight of the truck with the rented trailer. Make sure your hitch is rated for that load too.

Its been more than 20 years now, but someone I used to know was killed when a stranger's improperly loaded trailer caused an accident. Please take the extra effort to be safe.

I picked up a load of rock today with my Viking 40, it weighed 6,860 lbs empty. I would think that a Viking 60 would weigh more, unless mine has a heavier bed.

John

Thanks for the info guys, I will let you know how i make out.

Here is how I hauled a 54 GMC 350 COE from Washington State to Albany NY.
[img]http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/17323/2775145040080251109S200x200Q85.jpg[/img]
[img]http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/18723/2811329250080251109S200x200Q85.jpg[/img]
[img]http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/19403/2664430520080251109S200x200Q85.jpg[/img]

I did repack all the wheel bearings, replaced some in one front hub, and slid the axle shafts out before I started.

Grigg

Hope you got it home without incident.

Tilt bed eqpt. trailer should be good, low bed even better, but they are right in saying you gotta know the tare weight of the truck 1st. A 10K trailer isn't all that light & combined with the weight of the truck may be over 10K.
You do not want a case of the tail wagging the dog with that big a load, get up to a pucker factor 12 at the least. :p

hauled my 54 1.5 ton wrecker about 60 miles round trip to fruitland md. show saturday. no real problems at 55. went to about 63 when i wasn't paying attention it developed a bit of sway. was using a 2500HD pickup and 18'X102"tandem axle trailer brakes both axles. wasn't using an equalizer hitch

No problems, the GMC followed very nicely.
The lead truck weighed about 13,000 lb which helped tremendously.
On occasion when things felt funny, like after a big bump or dip on the interstate I would need to floor it for a few seconds to yank everything straight and smooth, 60-65 mph for the most part, 15-25 on some of the (big) mountains in Idaho, both up and down...

Grigg

I usually drove my big truck's home tho i did have to haul my B61T Mack home i did with GMC 3000 pulled it fine stopping well we just tryed not to stop. . .
It pulled the 17,500LB truck just fine. . . .
The M123 might be my hualing truck but it's 114" wide so there maybe some clearence and DOT issue's to be solved. . . I got photo's of the m123 in the greasy spoon check it out it's a truck i hope i never have to haul. . .

Mike