Trailering or towing?

I really want to be able to tow my Roadster behind my motorhome. I tried to put it on a dolly but the exhaust is so low that I am afraid I will take it off on a bump in the road. I can't use a regular beetle tow bar because of the different mounting of the beam by Intermeccanica. Also clearance may be an issue. How do you pull your car behind to events? A trailer is nice, but as I am traveling, not just going to an event and back home, it is a pain to load and unload in campgrounds. Also the issue of a beautiful paint job being rock chipped and sand blasted to death is on my mind. Anybody found the perfect solution to towing speedies?

Will -

Warren White (WarrenSpeedster) is a west coast SOC'er and he towed his Speedy behind his motorhome. Check his profile/photofile for contact info and I'm sure he'll give you some insight on towing behind your RV.

I'm sure there'll be some others on here with some towing tips!

Peace - Out, my Floridian-residing/Boat-chartering/RV-Speedy-towing Brutha!

Will,
I have just had a trailer built for my Speedie because I plan to attend the gatherings on both coasts and I am just too used to comfort to drive them that far. I, too, was worried about road chips so I had mud flaps put on my truck and the trailer is set up high enough to prevent damage. I also put a "bra" on the car for added protection. when we stop at night I cover it with a waterproof cover (only for the night). this helps keep it clean and keeps prying eyes off of it. I use this rig for both my Speedie (Vintage Speedster) and for my Porsche 36 B coupe which I haul to shows in Nevada and Texas. All this is just to show you it is bet to use a trailer. Loading is fast and easy and not as much trouble as you think.

Look into a trailer andyou will be pleased.

Happy Trails,
Dusty

Since I sell car hauler trailers I'll chime in here.....
If you are going the less costly open trailer and utlizing it for longer hauls, I will recommend a full diamomnd plate deck opposed to the open deck type...which is fine for the short haul. (Best to away from the wood decks as they need constant up keep) You can purchase a fiberglass gravel guard that mounts on the foward section of a trailer. These cost under $325 and look like the air dam that sets on the top of an 18 wheeler cab. I have also bought the used air dams for $100 and adapted them for mounting on a trailer, easy to do.

There are advantages and dis-advantages to flat towing, dolly towing and trailer towing.

Advantages of flat towing. Once you get to where you are going, hooking and un-hooking only take a few minutes, total length of your motorhome and car is shorter than with a dolly or trailer.

Dis-advantages. You can't back up if you flat tow unless someone gets in the car and steers (Even then, it's tough)

Car is subject to chips unless you use one of those fabricated plastic shields. See: http://www.khulsey.com/rv_info/roadmaster_blackhawk_tow_bar.html and scroll down the Guardian Rock shield.

If you trailer or dolly and find youself in a campground that has limited parking, finding a place to store your dolly or trailer may present a problem.

If you trailer your car, you've now added extra weight that you have to pull.
A trailer, properly designed also allows room for the storage or transportation of other items. As stated above, usually because of the height of the trailer, it puts your car out of the path of rocks, and other road debris.


Any talented fabricator can make a disconnect that attaches to your front beam or chassis that will allow you to attach a tow bar and disconnect the tow bar without having any issues with your front bumper.

I tow on an open trailer - have for years, now. Pull it behind an F150 Pickup.

I recommend an open deck trailer for a Speedster/356, since the cars sit quite low and a solid deck doesn't give you a heck of a lot of room to get under there to install the tie-down straps. I can easily shinny under the trailer, reach up and get straps around anything under the car. I've also used the trailer off and on as a makeshift "lift", as you can easily get up under there.

I strap around the front torsion tubes (crossed side for side) and around the tranny frame horns in back (uncrossed so I can clear my low-hanging mufflers).

I have an acrylic front shield (a clear bra) and haven't noticed any stone dings of crazing in four years of towing.

Several companies sell all aluminum trailers which save a LOT of weight (but also cost more), and Alan Merklin used to haul Speedsters on a single-axle (steel) trailer, also saving weight. The Speedster is pretty light, as cars go, so a single axle trailer works just fine (and saves you an axle at the toll booths) while keeping all four car wheels off the ground.

gn

I am an RV Dealer in Pa.
www.dewaltsrv.com
I would recommend going to a better tow bar set up where only the mounting brackets are on the speedy and almost invisible at that. Check out Blue OX. It would take a custom set up - modifying a standard set up, but no ugly stuff on the car. Tow bars are really slick and stay with the motorhome. http://www.blueox.us/

I think a speedy makes the IDEA toad car for an RVer!!!! No classier way to go! Planning to do it myself!

Alan,
Can you suggest someplace that sells nice, small rock shields for my trailer?

Gordon,
Here are some pictures of how I fasten my car to the trailer which eliminates crawling underneath to secure. I have hauled Ferraris, Porsches and Corvettes many miles like this and never had a problem. I hope this gives you some food for thought and saves your back from crawling under and getting dirty.


My Trailer is all steel deckplate and has a 4 foot dovetail to allow me to load lower cars. I also use an equalizer hitch which will let me put the end much lower for loading and then return it to normal settings for towing. Saves mucho problemos

PS
These pics show the FiberFab Speedster I bought a while back and sold to Bob Corbet. He is the fellow who created the National Gathering poster for us.

Happy Trailer (er.. Trails),
Dusty

Dusty, a friend has a similar trailer. He bought a piece of 1/8" aluminum approximately 18" tall and as wide as the trailer.

He cut the upper corners round so no one would get hurt and used U bolts and drilled into the front frame rail. He also added a couple of triangulated gussets at each end of the aluminum. Keeps everything behind the plate chip free.

Dusty, I can get the manufactures name on Monday....if you are a bit creative...you can easily adapt an 18 wheeler tractor air dam to fit.... Alan

Dusty -

That's a pretty cool set-up! Just to be sure of what I see on the picture, are the straps passed through the slots on the wheels? I'll have to remember that when we trailer our Speedy to Colorado.

Peace - Out!

Jim,
I took off the hooks on the ends of the straps and stitched in steel loops. I then feed the strap through the wheel openings and back to the ratchets. Simple, clean (can do it in a suit) and very secure. No reaching underneath, no oil, no dirt and easy to do. Try it, you'll wonder why you never thought of it before.

Happy Trails,
Dusty and the ever beautiful Miss Sharon

Alan,
I am still waiting for the name of the outfit that sells the trailer air dams you were mentioning. Post it or send me a PM

Dusty

Dusty,
This totally slipped my mind I WILL do so tomorrrow and let you know.

I am sure some of you saw my towbar setup in Carlisle.

I had it custom made, as a stock Bug bar is not low enough to clear the bodywork. Also, the frame rails are on the inside of the beam, so the Bug bar was too wide. I bought two towbars, a stock Bug and a universal, which is about 4-5 inches narrower. Took them to a certified welder/fabricator and he made one custom bar just for my Spyder. Add in a 1 1/4" receiver, a flat drawbar(no rise) and it tows just fine. I added a trailer harness permanently installed in the car, so the taillights work in unison with the tow vehicle. Suby Legacy wagon, no problem. I do 60-65, leave some extra room for braking. Drove to Carlisle twice, about 1000 miles so far with this setup. There is only about three inches from the ground to the bottom of the towbar, but it is fine for interstate towing, no problems at all.

I did get one of those broom things but didn't mount it to the tow vehicle yet. My car has various chips on it anyway, just from driving, and could use a paintjob anyway(got bumped into 2 years ago at a light).