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Towing a car with bias plys instead of radials

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by junkyardjeff, Jan 1, 2011.

  1. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,641

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    If I attend the turkey run in Daytona next year I want to bring my 37 Chevy p/u,due to the cab size there is no way I could drive it the 950 miles so I was thinking of putting it on a tow dolley. Since it has radials and fiberglass fenders I was thinking about putting bias plys on the back while its on the the dolley in case of a tire failure,when a radial goes it will destroy anything around it but since its been so long since I ran bias plys on anything I owned do they cause any damage when going flat.
     
  2. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 8,851

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    If you put it on a tow dolly for 950 miles the trans will be toast; you have to disconnect the driveshaft from the rear end and tie it up..I don't think there is a worry about the tires as long as they are good in the first place..
     
  3. 61bone
    Joined: Feb 12, 2005
    Posts: 890

    61bone
    Member

    A disintegrating bias will do just as much damage as anything else. X2 on the driveline.
     
  4. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,641

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    It looks like I will have to spend the money and buy a trailer,the fiberglass fenders have me worried on such a long trip in case of problems with the tires.
     
  5. Dadstoy 2
    Joined: Nov 20, 2010
    Posts: 245

    Dadstoy 2
    Member

    We are also planning to attend the Turkey Run next Nov. Never been there. I may trailer mine also. Almost 1000 miles would not be fun in my truck.
     
  6. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,641

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    If I drove it I would be a cripple when I got there,the trip this year in my 55 sunliner was very comfortable even with a spring poking my back. You will enjoy the show as there is plenty to see and do and about 5000 cars running around,get with me if you are going so we could go as a group.
     
  7. krusty40
    Joined: Jan 10, 2006
    Posts: 872

    krusty40
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I've towed a '56 Chevy on radials on a dolly from Sonoma,CA to Charlotte, NC without any problems. As long as your tires are in good shape and are rated for the weight they're supporting, you should be fine. That said, if you're really worried about the fiberglass, trailer it. vic
     
  8. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,641

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    If I had steel fenders I would not be too concerned but I have seen what a radial that blew had done to a fiberglass fender.
     
  9. burnout2614
    Joined: Sep 21, 2009
    Posts: 612

    burnout2614
    Member

    The type of tire really does'nt matter, Tow dollies are the devil! peace
     
  10. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,641

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    I was thinking about getting a pair of rims and installing heavy duty bias ply trailer tires but if bias plys come apart like radials then that would be a waste of money,it has 2 year old tires so it should be ok as the 4 year old tires held up on the same trip in my 55 sunliner. I am going to look for a trailer to haul it instead of a dolly since I could use one to bring back the junkers I buy.
     
  11. B Ramsey
    Joined: Mar 29, 2009
    Posts: 645

    B Ramsey
    Member

    why not just rent a trailer? problem solved.
     
  12. Clark and Larry Drive their cars onto the AMtrak and enjoy the ride as the train takes them to Florida.
     
  13. 40Standard
    Joined: Jul 30, 2005
    Posts: 5,970

    40Standard
    Member
    from Indy

    I didn't know the "auto train" was still running-something to check into
     
  14. BronxMopars1
    Joined: Jan 17, 2009
    Posts: 890

    BronxMopars1
    Member
    from Bronx, NYC

    Tow dollys are hell! cant back them up, fenders hit the car on fight turns, you can get a Uhaul trailer for pretty cheap, (Book on-line its cheaper) and Uhauls tow great have built in tire straps and a surge brake, I almost like them m ore than my own trailer!
     

  15. Dunno either, always thought that was a cool way to cover distances and relax.
     
  16. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,641

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    I like this idea but I will need to find the nearest AMtrak station since I dont think it stops by here anymore.
     
  17. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 9,135

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    What if a tire blows while you're running around town? Wont it still screw up a fender? I've rarely seen good tires blow to the extent that they come to pieces, but it's just a risk we have to accept if we're going to enjoy our cars.
     
  18. It's been a number of years, but I've rented U-Haul trailers. They are fine, a little on the short side.

    I used to have my own 18 foot open trailer but as a city dweller I could never find somewhere close to me to store it. :(
     
  19. OldBuzzard
    Joined: Mar 8, 2008
    Posts: 878

    OldBuzzard

    Beware of u-haul wheel bearings!!! They never get serviced.
     
  20. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 34,913

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I always thought 75% of the fun of going to an event was driving your own rig there but there are times when trailering makes sense.
    If you have a decent tow rig for the task the Uhaul trailers do tow well and have all the needed equipment on them already.
     
  21. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,641

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    I would drive it but I am a little to large for that small cab on such a long trip,those trucks were made long distance driving so if I dont want to become a cripple it will have to be hauled. I will be redoing the seats so it should help some but I am not driving it that far,the truck has been in the family for many years so its not going to be sold for one thats more comfortable. I could drive my 55 sunliner again but would be nice to take a different vehicle next year,my 66 F250 will be finished this spring so I will have a truck that will handle the tow.
     
  22. big-vin
    Joined: Mar 15, 2010
    Posts: 44

    big-vin
    Member

    i thought trailers were for boats... lol... i have rented trailers from uhaul in the past not bad for a weekend
     
  23. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,641

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    If it was a sedan or coupe I would just hop in it and go.
     
  24. Rpmrex
    Joined: Nov 19, 2007
    Posts: 664

    Rpmrex
    Member
    from Indiana

    I rented a Uhaul car trailer and they told me it couldn't go out of the town that I rent it in. I only took it 148 miles away and it blew a tire on the way back. I called the number they gave me and they sen some one out and changed it, no charge.
    Is it still the same way these days?
     
  25. SKULL ORCHARD
    Joined: Jul 22, 2009
    Posts: 431

    SKULL ORCHARD
    Member
    from KS
    1. The Gas House Gang

    no buds with a trailer mine is gone to the point that i have to track it down when i need it . most the time has at least one flat or fender missing when it does make it back home.
     
  26. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,641

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    I try to stay clear of Uhaul since they ask too many questions when renting from them,when I rented tow dollys I got them from another rental company that asked no questions on where I was using it. I took one to Florida and Iowa to get cars but go out of state with Uhaul and they want more money and give all kind of excuses why.
     
  27. BronxMopars1
    Joined: Jan 17, 2009
    Posts: 890

    BronxMopars1
    Member
    from Bronx, NYC

    Ive honestly never had an issue with Uhaul, we rent a bunch of times a year to go from NYC to Mopar Nats in Ohio, Milan in Detroit and Indy, Never had a single problem with bearings, lights, tires or brakes. And when you tell them your bringing it back the dealers usually gives you a better trailer because they know its coming back. I do just tell them Im picking up a honda civic or something small so they dont bother me about weight issues. Any who whatever you choose hope you have a fun safe trip and post pic's when you get back
     
  28. metlmunchr
    Joined: Jan 16, 2010
    Posts: 870

    metlmunchr
    Member

    A lot of trailer tires are bias ply because they have greater lateral (side to side) stiffness than a passenger car radial. This stiffness helps to keep a sway from setting up in the trailer. You can buy trailer specific radials which are built more like a heavy truck tire and have the increased lateral stiffness.

    The short story though is that bias plies aren't less likely to come apart than radials, and that's not the reason for using them on trailers. In fact, on a long trip at interstate speeds, if a tire was to come apart, my money would be on the bias failing rather than the radial because bias tires generate a lot more heat than radials.

    If I was looking to dolly a car on a long trip, rather than spending the money for a set of trailer specific tires, I'd look around for a pair of half worn high performance radials with a low aspect ratio like a 40 or 45. Laterally, this type tire is stiff as a rock so you'd get the advantage that the trailer tire has while still keeping the cool running and high speed durability characteristics of a radial. Around here, the local free classified paper always has tires like this for sale cheap, often mounted on good wheels where the seller has put different wheels and tires on his car.

    Good trailer tires (not any of that Chinese shit) are likely in the $150-$180 apiece range, plus whatever you'd have to spend on wheels for them. The price of one tire oughta get you a pair of servicable hi-perf radials and matching wheels.

    All that said, tow dollies do suck big time. A trailer is the way to go if you can beg, borrow, or rent one.
     
  29. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,641

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    My tow vehicle should be ready by next summer so I should be able to get a trailer by the time november rolls around,the reason I thought trailer tires would be better is on a family camping trip many years ago we had tire issues on the camper but when the tires went flat they did not come apart like todays radials do. This was back in 73 and the tire quality has gotten worse now like with everything else but I will trailer it to be safe.
     

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