The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Long distance towing?

I wondered if anyone has experience in towing their vehicle for any long distance? I wanted to tow my 2 ton Chev, with a single speed rear end, with a tow bar ala RV style. I set up a bar and it tows beautifully behind my Silverado 1/2 ton. Rather than drive it the 150 miles to my lake cottage I thought it would be OK to tow but I wanted an opinion on speed. Is it OK to go at a higher speed than you would normally drive the vehicle? I like a speed of 35mph when I cruise around with it! That speed is a bit of a nuisance on a highway and there are no back roads for the most part. Is, say 55mph too fast for that rear end?
Thanks for any experiences anyone could share.
Cheers, George

Search the archives on towing - there are some precautions to disconnect the driveshaft for some types of trannys (torque tube?) as the lubrication of the driveline is driven by the engine turning.

-Boyo

The one time my 62 two ton was towed they disconnected the drive shaft. It's only a couple of nuts so easy insurance.

P.S. Reading your post again, I would not want to be driving in front of you when you are trying to stop that towed TWO TON rig from 55 mph with only the brakes of your 1/2 ton Silverado.

If the brakes are working, have someone ride in the truck as a brakeman. And I wouldn't go much over 45, due to brakes and wheel bearings.

I would not attempt towing that much weight 10 miles at highway speeds without trailer brakes. Get that thing going 50 MPH and it will push your 1/2 ton half a mile (or more) before it stops.

If it were me doing this , I would have a driver in the towed truck who could apply the brakes just as if the truck were on a rope ,, ie ,, doing most of the stopping where possible .
Then I would cruise off at a gentle pace , say , 40 mph max .
And hang a "ON TOW" sign on the back .

No worries

But it may be more of an adventure to drive it all the way , and have the silverado delivered by a family person.

Bad Idea,don't do it. Not too keen on the idea of an accomplice riding for 3 hours trying to guess when you are braking either ( some states this is agin the law).

With the front wheels on a tow dolly the accomplice won't see a thing either.

DON'T DO IT!!
The 2-Ton will out weigh your little 1/2 car truck by almost two to one.You are risking your life and those that are on the road with you.
Trust me I learned the hard way.

Don

Thanks guys!
You're right. I won't do it. The 2 ton has a curb weight of 5585lbs with a stake box, so the specs say. That is too much to be towing without brakes and I should have realised that. I'll do as Dusty says and just make an adventure out of driving it on my intended trip.
When I posted this question I was at the lake and at the same time corrected my e-mail address to a new one. It kicked me off the forum and I couldn't re-enter until I got a new password after returning home this afternoon. That's why I hadn't responded to your replies.
Thanks for your good information.
Cheers, George

Jarge,
isn't the highway two lanes each way all the way over to the Ontario border? Every time that I have driven that stretch, I have never seen it busy. Now that all changes entering Ontario when it goes to one lane and all the hills appear.

Hi t-nix!
You're right about the highway. It is a double lane both directions. Truck traffic has increased by leaps and bounds so it is pretty busy now. I go to my place another route which takes me slightly north of Warroad, Minnesota. It is a quiet highway. Not quite the road that Glenn A. Foster mentions but will still be a good trip.
Cheers, George

Been there done that, will think twice before I try that again... I pulled a 4000lb car on a tow bar back from Worchester Ma. to Toronto (500mi) between 45 and 55mph all the way with a 2400lb Pontiac 4cyl 2L engine, What a ride and through the mountains of Ma. and New York. But you should have seen the looks i got at the toll booths and when I got to Canada Customs and they tried to get the car behind me to back up...as it was a little too close behind..