Remember the CLICK & CLACK's (Car Talk) adage, "It's the stingy man who
spends the most". Sooner or later you must face up to the fact that you
need a TRUCK or at least a tow vehicle with more BEEF than a Camry. It's
scary enough coming down a grade or making a panic stop with a properly set
up tow vehicle. I think I'd consider putting it on a flat-bed car hauler
for the trip down there if you can't come up with an adequate tow vehicle.
(Remember what Click and Clack said above)
>
> The issue of the electric brakes has gotten my attention too. What is
> involved in adding the hardware (temporarily) to the U-Haul so as to have
> them operable?
As far as I know, there is no way to jury-rig a brake controller to work
with a rental truck as you would need to do in this situation. Anybody out
there know for sure?
>
> The trip south will be over at least two days if not three and
VEEEERRRY
> slowly. I'm thinking 45 to 50 MPH. Is even that too fast?
If you went 55 or 60 you would block traffic. They'd run right over you.
Think it over. That's why I suggested I-5 because of the number of lanes
and the straighness of it. Even then you would be a sitting duck but people
could get around you.
>
> By coincidence we're going to Los Gatos to pick up an Equal-I-Zer
anti-
> sway hitch that I also bought on eBay. I can't use it on the U-Haul as
they
> don't have the 2" square pipe welded to the rear, so that fact and the
> possibility of no trailer brakes has me convinced to take it easy with a
lot
> of room in front of me.
So it doesn't have an adequate hitch. You have to have a certain ball size
too. On mine it's 2" but on yours I think it's bigger - 2 5/16"? Anybody
out there know for sure? Also consider that the trailer brakes not only
will allow for a shorter stop, but should keep the trailer BEHIND YOU as
well (hopefully).
>
> The hitch will be good for the possible day I do get a bigger tow
> vehicle.
Do yourself a big favor and consider sooner instead of later.
>
> Do you think I could use my 1995 Camry wagon, V-6, automatic to tow
the
> Caravel up the coast about 20 miles to a state park if I took it real
easy?
> Or would that be too much for the transmission even on that short run?
(See above.....)
>
> Thanks already to all for sharing the great information.
>
> Glyn
>
Hey Glyn, I don't want to be a pessimist but please be careful about this
and take your time. Maybe consider getting the trailer from whereever you
have to and find a place to store it in Sacto or thereabouts until you can
come up with a better method of getting it home. A couple of months ago I
went to a Rally near Sacto and getting there and back from the Bay Area was
like a demolition derby. I have another one to go to in January in just
about the same area and am not looking forward to the trip. This ain't
Kansas, Aunt Em.
GQ '67 Safari
4082 in CA