| Author |
Message |
Michael J (Mjryan) (67.41.226.116)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 5:36 pm: | |
Will towing a full size Ford Bronco (4x4 and out of gear) be a problem, (weight), using my 4104 with the 6-71 and 8 speed hydrashift trany? The coach is converted.
Michael j |
Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (65.37.88.238)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 6:02 pm: | |
Michael,
Have you checked if the transfer case in your Bronco will allow you to tow that way; for example, does your Owners Manual say it can be towed this way?
Just putting it or the trans in Neutral is not always sufficient. You need to know exactly which transfer case you have and find out definately one way or the other or you could have a very expensive repair bill.
Peter. |
Michael J (Mjryan) (67.41.226.116)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 6:11 pm: | |
I need to clarify my question, it’s not the Bronco I am wondering about it’s the Bus capabilities. Thanks
Michael j |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.175.56.209)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 9:21 pm: | |
Assuming your 4104 weighs under 30,000 lbs., and if the Bronco weighs in at 5000 lbs., you're looking at 15-20% additional weight. It will cause serious slowing even on minor hills and perhaps even needing to disconnect if you miss the shift into first on a fairly steep grade since you won't be able to get going midway up a hill with all that weight behind you. Even if you can stand the slowing on the hills, you certainly cannot stand the longer stopping distance. I would seriously consider a toad braking system for the Bronco. These older busses don't stop on a dime even when empty.
I won't tow anything over 3000 lbs. and that is behind a 475hp Prevost with big brakes on 3 axles. Even then, I can feel the car behind me whether going or stopping.
Jim |
Jim H (67.210.245.104)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 9:57 pm: | |
I tow a 4x4 Avalange ( over 5000#) about 20,000 miles a year. Have a 60 series powered eagle 01 and don't even know the truck is there. used to tow a 3/4 ton PU with it when powered by a 8v71. really noticed it in the hills! MUST have brakes!!! I use an ir cylender hooked to the brake pedal and connected into the bus air brakes -- really works!
jim |
Johnny (67.242.221.108)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 11:43 pm: | |
A 4WD fullsize Bronc will be over 5000lbs. GET A BRAKE SYSTEM FOR IT. THIS IS MANDATORY!
The weight will probably make the coach labor (big-time) up any hills, and will, obviously, use more fuel.
Having said that, my conversion will be towing a Dodge 3/4-ton 4WD truck with a 7' utility box, so...... |
Roger 4104 (198.81.26.174)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 12:00 am: | |
I drive a good running 4104 with a 671 & 4 speed. Towing a VW Bug or a Mazda PU was not a problem. Towing a 40 Chevy with a weight of about 3,400 lbs was a joke. The extra weight killed it in the mountains, and getting it stopped was a real challenge. I can’t imagine towing anything heavier without brakes on it. |
J. Clark (205.188.209.11)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 8:03 pm: | |
I pulled a Ford F-150 4x4 extended cab with a two place 600lb airplane in the back. No problems for three years and 40,000 miles (w/o towed brakes), including Alaska and most western states, with my 475hp 40' coach. I recommend supplimentary towed vehicle braking systems, but the guy following you with his Class A stick and staple motorhome pulling his Saturn or the 38' fifth wheel being pulled by a one ton pickup will probably cream you Bronco's butt in a quick stop. As to hills, the 475hp was awesome, and I can't understand why the Prevost has so much problem. FWIW this is my experience, and you will find opinions and experience on bulletin boards tend to vary. If you plan to travel in the mountains I highly recommend an engine or transmission brake! |
Doug (12.90.22.48)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 10:39 pm: | |
Your 04 will have no problem with the towing...save long grades......acceleration is a bit slower but you should always keep the RPM's up on the 6-71 anyway.
You'll never know it's back there except when you start to slow.....
Have been towing my 98 F150 extra cab for some time now.....and have had it in 26 states.
Legally, you need toad brakes.....will you get caught...only if you get pulled over ( probably not likely with a 6-71) or if you get in an accident.
your Bronco weighs less than 38 200 lb guys not to mention thier luggage......
when your going slow up grades just enjoy the scenery....the lost ime does not really ad up to much, maybe an hour on a coast to coast trip.....
Also remember what the roads were like in 1950's, thats what the 04 was designed for. |
Johnny (67.242.221.7)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 22, 2002 - 11:55 am: | |
FWIW, most 5ers tow & stop pretty well with a 1-ton dually truck. So do most newer motorhomes, even the larger ones. |
jc (64.12.96.235)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 1:14 am: | |
You're probably right Johnny, but I never felt comfortable pulling my my 5er. It was 38' with three slides, and I often felt I was pushing the Ford dually beyond its limits (I was, it was several thousand pounds over my Ford's dually GCVW rating when fully loaded). I am noticing a lot more medium duty trucks pulling the larger 5ers lately.
The small stick and staple motorhomes pulling full size cars w/o aux brakes are the slow stopping rigs I was referring to.
FWIW, My 40' coach with tag axle is comfortable to drive and even when fully loaded and pulling a toad, does not come close to its design weight limits.
jc |
f b batie (68.34.75.104)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 1:57 pm: | |
I have towed suburbans with my 01 eagle 871 4 speen manual with no problem in the power side but you need extra braking on the bronco. I use an air actuating cylinder that mounts between the power brake servo and the master cylinder with a pressuer regulaton to adjust the stoping power |
Mrbus (152.163.188.227)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 2:43 pm: | |
Hey F.B.
I have been experimenting with an air actuated auxillary braking system for the toad. Could you be more specific as to how, and what sort of actuating cylinder you are using. I have used a semi trailer air brake chamber mounted to the drivers side seat frame,with a rod attached to the toad brake pedal. This is air operated from a glad hand hook up on the bus bumper, plumbed into the service brake system on the bus. It has been a trial and error method of adjusting, to prevent lock up on the toad.
Either post here, or you can email me direct at
Mrbus788761002@aol.com
Thanks Gus Haag |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 3:17 pm: | |
Seems like you could simply put a pressure regulator in series with your brake chamber, so you could adjust the maximum pressure availiable to it, thus eliminating lockup.... when you apply the brakes, pressure would be allowed to go anywhere necessary from zero up to where the regulator was set, and then stop there...so you'd have total control as well as a maximum limit...
Cheers
Gary |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces) (64.114.233.156)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 10:30 pm: | |
I don't think a pressure regulator that limits maximum pressure would take care of those situations where there was poor traction at the toad tires.
If a proportional pressure regulator was available that would apply a fixed percentage of the pressure, you might get a little better result.
I think those must be available, but I have no experience with them. An engineering outfit produced an air cylinder that was like what f b describes above, but I don't recall there being a pressure regulator in that part of the system.
It seems to me that the ideal would be to have very little force applied to the hitch while making stops. That would take either the right size cylinder or a proportional regulator.
Also, as the coach brakes get looser from normal use, I would think that the toad would start carrying too much of the stopping effort, so you would want to make sure that you kept your brakes adjusted properly.
Maybe the only right answer is using some sort of signaling device that would show the load on the hitch up at the driver's position while stopping. Then, any adjustments would be simple to figure out.
Just food for thought.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 |