| Author |
Message |
kristine starr (Kbunnystarr)
Registered Member
Username: Kbunnystarr
Post Number: 75
Registered: 6-2006
Posted From: 216.67.218.67
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 3:45 pm: | |
hi to everyone ive been conversing with, my bus still isnt fixed 1975 flx v730 tranny ......im in lake havasu, az........ anyone know gary nickerson out here? a bus mechanic for many yrs...........anyway i called all the people everyone posted on here to call, they basically say the governor sounds funky since it starts and airs up fine then sits fine in neutral and dies when i shift into first.....sayit sounds stuck in a high gear, but he pulled it out and said its working.......i ordered a replacement gear for the top its a bit chewed up, its like plastic or acrylic not metal....from us coach and talked to them too....i just really feel like itis NOT the tranny, but dont know any thing else to do or check or test before tearing it out......any final thoughts on this?
also need advice on a good tow hitch for my car, i have a 2001 ford escort zx2, and i have a ball welded to th ebus and a back up camera.just dont know best way to tow, and a good product to look into????? thoughts? i saw something called the stowmaster 5000 or osomething liek that...anyone have any advice?
hope yer all doin well! |
Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member
Username: Bob_greenwood
Post Number: 286
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 4.90.28.156
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 6:03 pm: | |
if your escort is automatic,you need a tow dolly |
kristine starr (Kbunnystarr)
Registered Member
Username: Kbunnystarr
Post Number: 76
Registered: 6-2006
Posted From: 216.67.218.67
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 7:06 pm: | |
its a 5 speed |
Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member
Username: Bob_greenwood
Post Number: 288
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 4.90.30.36
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 7:19 pm: | |
tow bar |
John Ferguson (Jarlaxle)
Registered Member
Username: Jarlaxle
Post Number: 28
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 4.174.106.156
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 8:48 pm: | |
And a brake system, and a set of tow lights, and something to keep the headlights, windshield, & A/C condenser from getting destroyed. |
kristine starr (Kbunnystarr)
Registered Member
Username: Kbunnystarr
Post Number: 77
Registered: 6-2006
Posted From: 216.67.218.67
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 9:05 pm: | |
yep i know that stuff, but i am asking specifically liek a brand of tow bar and which is better the one that mounts to the car or mounts to the bus? thanx for any and all advice |
Tom Dessert (Mci5er)
Registered Member
Username: Mci5er
Post Number: 41
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 71.80.204.142
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 2:04 am: | |
Kristine, from my research it seems there are two major tow bar companies, RoadMaster and Blue OX. Both companies manufacture tow bars that either stay with the car or on the coach. As far as I can tell both companies produce very similar setups at nearly the same price. Blue Ox might be slightly higher in price.
I chose to install the RoadMaster Falcon2 on my MC5a for towing my '97 Geo Tracker. This model bar stays with the bus. It hooks up quickly and self aligns once connected. Mine is a stinger setup ie plugs directly into my 2" receiver (no ball).
About a month ago, my wife and I , caravaned with some close older friends that towed their Geo Tracker using the RoadMaster StowMaster 5000 tow bar. This bar is a ball mount that stays on the car. Everyday, for that 2200 mile trip, I hooked it up and disconnected for them and it worked great.
Equipment that is required in order to flat tow...
1. Vehicle that is approved for flat towing by manufacture.
2. Tow bar either manufacture, either ball mount or 2" receiver mount.
3. Tow vehicle will need tow bar mounting brackets installed.
4. Tow vehicle will need to have either the vehicle wiring modified for brake and turn signs to match wiring on the bus or you can use magnetic lights that sit on the back of the car and plug into the bus brake and turn signals. The advantage is you avoid messing with the car wiring.
5. You'll need safety chain or cable to tie the bus and car together in case the receiver or hitch comes unlocked or fails for whatever reason.
One final note .. I know Roadmaster has set height limits for the relationship between the two vehicles. On my bus, I had to measure from the center (outside edge) of my receiver to ground with the bus fully aired up on level ground. Mine measured 15". Then measure on the tow vehicle, from the center of the tow bar bracket pins to ground again on a level surface. Mine was 19". That meant that the bus sat 4" lower than the car. RoadMaster recommends that you adjust the vehicle heights such that there's a minimum difference. This reduces the strain on all components involved bus, car, car brackets and tow bar. In my case I added a 4" drop/raise receiver adapter so that the tow bar will be level between the two vehicles.
Hope this helps ... |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member
Username: Jackconrad
Post Number: 488
Registered: 12-2000
Posted From: 166.165.199.218
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 7:46 am: | |
Kristine,
Go to www.hitchworld.com. They have a section with people selling used towing equipmentand a section to list items wanted. We listed that we needed roadmaster brackets for our Grand Cherokee. We received 2 replies within a week or so and purchased our brackets at a considerable savings. Jack |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Registered Member
Username: Sffess
Post Number: 659
Registered: 1-2002
Posted From: 67.142.130.41
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 - 1:35 am: | |
The ratcheting, self aligning, towbars have an extra maintenance/failure point, the arm locks. I chose a folding A frame towbar and have found that after the first 10 hookup times I can hook up just as fast and easy. Sometimes my wife drives up and I signal her and some times I just estimate it myself. You get used to the fixed distance and position of the A frame and it becomes easy and natural. |
kristine starr (Kbunnystarr)
Registered Member
Username: Kbunnystarr
Post Number: 78
Registered: 6-2006
Posted From: 216.67.218.67
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 30, 2006 - 1:42 pm: | |
i went to hitchworld.com, and it jsut says coming soon..........thanx for the other thoughts too guys! |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member
Username: Drivingmisslazy
Post Number: 1729
Registered: 1-2001
Posted From: 75.108.82.163
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 30, 2006 - 4:49 pm: | |
I personally would never consider any other type of towbar than the self aligning type and I have used both kinds many many times.
Ricard |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member
Username: Jackconrad
Post Number: 489
Registered: 12-2000
Posted From: 166.166.64.239
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 8:04 am: | |
"i went to hitchworld.com, and it jsut says coming soon..."
Sorry Kristine,
This is proof I should not post until I finish my morning coffee. The correct address is www.hitchtrader.com. Jack
(Message edited by JackConrad on October 31, 2006) |
kristine starr (Kbunnystarr)
Registered Member
Username: Kbunnystarr
Post Number: 79
Registered: 6-2006
Posted From: 74.32.222.183
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 01, 2006 - 3:16 pm: | |
what is the self alinging type? what does that mean? |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member
Username: Drivingmisslazy
Post Number: 1731
Registered: 1-2001
Posted From: 75.108.82.163
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 01, 2006 - 5:20 pm: | |
The part of the hitch that goes on the ball can be moved sideways or backward or forward a few inches to allow you to hitch up without being exactly lined up like with a normal trailer.
Once you are connected you pull forward and the hitch will then self align and lock in place. Really simplifies hooking up.
Richard |