[VAC] Re: Tow vehicle Question

[Imp67cc64@xxxxxxx]

<< All other 70's chevy trucks have rusted down to nothing. At only 10,000
 miles in 30 years, there's a good chance the engine is rusty inside, and
 that all the seals and gaskets have rotted from old age. Running it may
 initially prove expensive. >>

Gerald,
I strongly disagree, a well maintained 70's vintage tow vehicle is perfectly 
adequate to tow a vintage trailer, especially if it is a 22' Safari that 
doesn't weigh a tremendous amount.  I do recommend replacement of all belts, 
hoses, tires, etc if the truck has not spent much time on the road recently.  
I would also recommend using it regularly around home for a while before 
taking off on a long trip.  If time-worn items are going to break, they may 
as well break close to home and not on a trip.  After some use, any weak 
items will give way and you can have them replaced before you head off with 
trailer in tow.

I have a 71 Buick Electra with 23,000 miles that I have great faith in and 
would not think anything about using it to tow my 77 Excella 31', except that 
the car is unrestored and too nice to make a tow vehicle out of.  I also use 
a 78 Chrysler New Yorker sometimes.  It does very well, but the early 70's 
engines were not so restricted by polution control.  It sure gets tremendous 
attention when coupled with a similar vintage Airstream, though the 6 mpg 
makes me usually stay closer to home when using this tow vehicle.  For the 
long trips, I have a new Suburban which looks a bit ordinary but does give 12 
mpg towing the Excella.

John