Fiero kept, another Fiero acquired... (Page 7/13)
maryjane MAR 15, 10:07 AM

quote
Originally posted by blackrams:


My Lord!! Look at the frame (from the bed to the hitch coupler), I'm amazed the tires didn't blow when they loaded that dozer on the trailer. Frame is sitting on the axles. That's an accident waiting to be discovered. Ya don't really need to worry about that load being secured, it won't be going far anyway............ Would love to see what was towing that load..........

Rams




I think that is a D-4K Cat. Weighs around 28,000 lbs bare bones. The ripper would be another 1,200lbs and probably about the same for the blade so yeah, trailer is WAY over loaded. I believe both left tires are flat and the left rear ramp is just hangin there... Appears to be pulled by some kind of dump truck..
I don't know how it didn't break thru the boards of the trailer...

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 03-15-2023).]

RWDPLZ MAR 15, 11:56 AM
Skip the dolly altogether, auto transport plus a 3/4 ton, made it from northern Michigan to New Jersey in 13 hours, including going over the Appalachians, zero effort.



I've driven over the Rockies, that might be a bit harrier around Salt Lake City, definitely want an over-kill tow rig on that route.
Patrick MAR 15, 05:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by cliffw:

Five trailers were loaded on one trailer.



Bingo!

Back in the early 80's, I worked for several months at a place that built EZ Loader boat trailers. My job was assembling these trailers. However, one day they asked me to deliver six trailers (five stacked onto one) to a location several miles away. Not only had I never pulled a trailer before, but the vehicle used to pull the trailer was a panel van with no windows (other than the windshield and two front side windows). I had never driven a vehicle before where you HAD to rely on a mirror on the passenger side to change lanes. Keep in mind, I'd be driving in heavy city traffic. Anyway, I got to where I had to go without sideswiping anyone or running anyone off the road. However, when I got to the destination and realized the trailer would need to be backed into place, that's when I drew the line. I got out of the van and told the receiver that someone there would need to deal with parking the trailer.
maryjane MAR 16, 07:32 AM
Patrick, I know an old retired wildfire fighter and 'part time rancher' that makes a LOT of money delivering trailers from Va to all over the USA. Takes a load with the same truck & gooseneck trailer he hauls his hay with about 2 trips/ month.
blackrams MAR 17, 06:52 PM

quote
Originally posted by maryjane:

Patrick, I know an old retired wildfire fighter and 'part time rancher' that makes a LOT of money delivering trailers from Va to all over the USA. Takes a load with the same truck & gooseneck trailer he hauls his hay with about 2 trips/ month.



Does he need any help, I'm somewhat bored with retirement.................

Rams
maryjane MAR 18, 07:49 AM
Dunno Ron, but You would spend lots of empty miles going to his pickup point in Va. You should look into it there in Miss tho. I see those guys all the time delivering a trailer load of trailers both where I used to live and out here in Central Tx too.
cliffw MAR 18, 10:08 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
... My job was assembling these trailers. However, one day they asked me to deliver six trailers (five stacked onto one) to a location several miles away ...





I thought the riddle was hypothetical.

Oil rigs need to be moved often. We would send many 18 wheeler trailers to get the job done. Occasionally, I had to load/unload them. Eight on one trailer. Stacked on each other, staggered, one tounge facing forward, the next backwards.
82-T/A [At Work] MAR 19, 10:21 AM
Sorry, was on vacation, which is why I didn't respond earlier Cliff.

Yeah, I was in a hurry to get there. I made sure to use extra tie straps from the cradle to the mounting points. But I didn't tighten-down the decklid. It was solidly on there, and I didn't really excede the 55mph speed rating for the dolly. I think on the highway, I might have gone 60mph at times when I was passing... but I generally stayed 55, or even 35 when I was going down the backroads.

I always load a car based on the driving wheels. Even with a manual transmission, you're using the bearings within the transmission, and spinning the half-shafts if the rear wheels are on the pavement. I towed a Porsche 944, and also towed it this same way (back-end first).

Like RWDPLZ, when I towed my 87 Fiero into storage, I towed it using one of those, and a U-Haul truck. I could probably do that with my Crown Victoria... but it was just easier for me to get a dolly and be done with it.
maryjane MAR 19, 01:51 PM
On most front engine rwd cars, you can pull the driveshaft and tow them with front (non-driving) wheels on the dolly. I towed a Pontiac Ventura like that. Of course, It lost some transmission fluid too.
cliffw MAR 20, 09:37 AM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
...I didn't tighten-down the decklid. It was solidly on there ...



Did you stress test it ? I did stress test. mine, without it being secured while towing it down the road.

Even the lucky get unlucky sometimes. I am glad it worked out, for you.


quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
I always load a car based on the driving wheels. Even with a manual transmission, you're using the bearings within the transmission, and spinning the half-shafts if the rear wheels are on the pavement. I towed a Porsche 944, and also towed it this same way (back-end first).



I had to think about that. So many different engine/drive wheel combinations. I am still unsure if your beliefs make sense. I have never been wrong but often mistaken.

No matter how you tow a vehicle, the tow wheels (pavement) are always going to get some wear. No more than driving though.

Again, I am glad it always worked out. Not the best idea in the future. Physics demand that more weight is needed to the front of the tow axle(s). (Trailer or dolly)

The truck I flipped was towed with the drive axles on the dolly. RWD. Engine weight on the pavement. More weight.

A Porsche should be towed engine on dolly, as so a Volkswagen and a Fiero need to be.



quote
Originally posted by maryjane:
On most front engine rwd cars, you can pull the driveshaft and tow them with front (non-driving) wheels on the dolly. I towed a Pontiac Ventura like that. Of course, It lost some transmission fluid too.



It should, at the angle of being loaded. I have pulled motor/tranny combos (engine hoist), dropped transmissions from under the vehicle, and spilled transmission fluid. Until, I took a matching yoke from a matching drive shaft, and used it to prevent fluid loss. I had a few different yokes, for different needs.

They also have cable actuated driveshaft disconnects. From the drivers seat. To keep from pulling a drive shaft.