[VAC] Hydraulic Brake Conversion/Tow Vehicle

[WWOODBURNWOODY@xxxxxxx]

Hi RJ and fellow listers:  Regarding the hydraulic brake conversion from 
Stromberg to electric and all the machining, reconfiguration and expense that 
you mentioned that is required with a changeover, why not set up your tow 
vehicle with the Stromberg hydraulic equipment like I did with my '58 Flying 
Cloud and '95 Landrover Defender 90?  It cost me less than $250.  It involved 
splicing into the brake line on one side of the rear axle, inserting a T 
connector to that line, then connected to a flexible brake line to the T,  
installing a bracket near the bumper connected to the flex line and affixing 
the dog -eared connector (I found a limited indirect source for this part if 
any of you want to contact me off list) and then connected the dog-eared 
connector to the hydraulic brake unit on my rig, and viola, I have the 
original  brake system set up for my rig in full working order.  This is the 
same system that was on my rig with the previous original owner who had towed 
the rig in the Yucatan, Europe and elsewhere without incident. Recently, I 
had a full panic stop on an LA freeway towing the rig and the brake system 
performed admirably.  I understand that there is a difference of opinion on 
the safety issue of this brake system, but IMO why fix somethin' that ain't 
broken! 
Regarding the issue of tow vehicle which appeared recently on the list, I 
have a '95 Defender 90, 4 liter V-8 with a 4 speed (low and high range 4x4). 
It is listed in the operating manual to tow 3500 lbs. in high range on road, 
and 5000 lbs. in low range on road, with a 350 lb maximum permissible tongue 
weight.  In high range, a 22ft older trailer like mine is the most it should 
tow because of the short wheelbase (93 inches) and the 3560 curb weight of my 
vehicle.  How does the GVW (gross vehicle weight) of 6001 figure in the 
calculation of the towing capacity?  All in all, I am very happy with my 
vehicle as a tow vehicle and particulary off road, but a Defender 110 (longer 
wheel base) would have been a better tow vehicle for my rig. Recently someone 
voiced a complaint about their Landrover Discovery as a tow vehicle, but that 
is a similar, yet different vehicle.  There actually is a photo in the 
vintage photo page on the VAC website of vintage Landrover pulling a  'stream 
through the desert...

                                        John M. Woodburn
                                        WBCCI 11942/VAC
                                        '58 Flying Cloud, 22 ft.
                                        '95 Landrover Defender 90