Anyone use a 'tracker bar' to tow their Suby? Any issues?

UP2MTNS · 04-21-2009, 12:12 AM

I'm very close to putting a full cage in the rally car, and I'm on a rally budget, so I'm looking for cheap options to tow this thing.

Found something like this, that the RV guys use:
http://www.rvsupplywarehouse.com/pro...id/219/pid/206

However, on a different forum, someone brought up a good point:

Quote:

some transmissions don't lubricate very well when they are coasting in neutral without the input shaft turning.

^^anyone have any thoughts on this? I don't know enough either way to say yay or nay.

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Draken · 04-21-2009, 12:28 AM

Tow Bar.

And yes, I've used them a few times. In fact, my pops is picking up a Saab Sonett next weekend from Socal, and using the tow bar he built specifically for Sonetts. Nothing really bad about them, except don't back up with them. Most aren't built to deal with the loads from backing up and turning at the same time.

Chris H.

UP2MTNS · 04-21-2009, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draken

Nothing really bad about them, except don't back up with them. Most aren't built to deal with the loads from backing up and turning at the same time.

Chris H.

good to know. thx.

urfsin · 04-21-2009, 01:41 AM

What's up Jon? Also something to think about....what if you munch up your suspension during a race and one (or muliple) wheels are fubared and your can't fix it on site?? If this happens you are F'ed big time.

I know you are looking for towing on the cheap and I hear you. Now that you have your nice big truck, you don't have to worry about tow weight too much. I am sure you can pick up a cheap used flatbed trailer. Hell, I got one for FREE!! I would let you borrow it....but it's here in LA.

nuppy · 04-21-2009, 02:19 AM

The thing that sucks with these is if you break your car you dont have a flatbed to throw it on

Web Foot STi · 04-21-2009, 10:31 AM

Someone once told me that the biggest secret for running a hillclimb fast is a trailer. The one time I fell off the road, lightly, I had people coming out of the wood work offering help to get my car back on the road. I just told them that the car was on a 20' flat bed and there was no worry. I could drive the truck to work. We just went back to the hot tub...

Paisan · 04-21-2009, 10:44 AM

Another concern is the weight of the vehicle being towed v. the un-braked towing capacity of your tow vehicle. I'm not sure what you plan to tow this with but some states and most vehicles won't allow unbraked towing above 1500lbs.

Flatbeds are inexpensive compared to your car insurance not covering an accident, and if you read the fine print of your car policy, my guess is there is something about towing over the manufacturer's limits.

-mike

greg donovan · 04-21-2009, 11:55 AM

nothing will tempt the rally gods more than having a car at an event that needs all 4 wheels pointing in the same direction in order to get home.

i agree on the trailer making you faster. we gained some pretty good time rallycrossing when we started towing the car to events.

XmanSTi · 04-21-2009, 02:49 PM

you are also not going to want to tow on gravel tires, which means ANOTHER set of wheels with street tires to lug along for towing and we know how much space wheels takes up...

Drive it to the event and know the location of the local UHaul where you can rent a truck & trailer if the worst happens. Follow the rally car with a service vehicle loaded with your tools & spares. I've done that before.

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04-21-2009, 12:28 AM	#2
Draken NASIOC Supporter Member#: 16 Join Date: Jun 1999 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Chico, CA Vehicle: 1964 Autodynamics Formula Vee	Tow Bar. And yes, I've used them a few times. In fact, my pops is picking up a Saab Sonett next weekend from Socal, and using the tow bar he built specifically for Sonetts. Nothing really bad about them, except don't back up with them. Most aren't built to deal with the loads from backing up and turning at the same time. Chris H.

04-21-2009, 01:41 AM	#4
urfsin Scooby Specialist Member#: 128975 Join Date: Oct 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Santa Barbara Vehicle: 2005 Outback XT Golden Thunder	What's up Jon? Also something to think about....what if you munch up your suspension during a race and one (or muliple) wheels are fubared and your can't fix it on site?? If this happens you are F'ed big time. I know you are looking for towing on the cheap and I hear you. Now that you have your nice big truck, you don't have to worry about tow weight too much. I am sure you can pick up a cheap used flatbed trailer. Hell, I got one for FREE!! I would let you borrow it....but it's here in LA.

04-21-2009, 02:19 AM	#5
nuppy Scooby Newbie Member#: 145656 Join Date: Apr 2007 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Riverside Vehicle: 2005 sti black	The thing that sucks with these is if you break your car you dont have a flatbed to throw it on

04-21-2009, 10:31 AM	#6
Web Foot STi Scooby Guru Member#: 39086 Join Date: Jun 2003 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Portland, OR Vehicle: 2004 STi White	Someone once told me that the biggest secret for running a hillclimb fast is a trailer. The one time I fell off the road, lightly, I had people coming out of the wood work offering help to get my car back on the road. I just told them that the car was on a 20' flat bed and there was no worry. I could drive the truck to work. We just went back to the hot tub...

04-21-2009, 10:44 AM	#7
Paisan Tri-State Track Instructor Moderator Member#: 197 Join Date: Aug 1999 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Edgewater, NJ & Caroga Lk, NY Vehicle: 335i Charity Liason Jag XJ http://48hrs.info	Another concern is the weight of the vehicle being towed v. the un-braked towing capacity of your tow vehicle. I'm not sure what you plan to tow this with but some states and most vehicles won't allow unbraked towing above 1500lbs. Flatbeds are inexpensive compared to your car insurance not covering an accident, and if you read the fine print of your car policy, my guess is there is something about towing over the manufacturer's limits. -mike

04-21-2009, 11:55 AM	#8
greg donovan Scooby Specialist Member#: 60743 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Fargo, ND Vehicle: '95 Impreza L dirty and on jack stands	nothing will tempt the rally gods more than having a car at an event that needs all 4 wheels pointing in the same direction in order to get home. i agree on the trailer making you faster. we gained some pretty good time rallycrossing when we started towing the car to events.

04-21-2009, 02:49 PM	#9
XmanSTi Scooby Specialist Member#: 65206 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Laguna Niguel Vehicle: 1986 Brat Red	you are also not going to want to tow on gravel tires, which means ANOTHER set of wheels with street tires to lug along for towing and we know how much space wheels takes up... Drive it to the event and know the location of the local UHaul where you can rent a truck & trailer if the worst happens. Follow the rally car with a service vehicle loaded with your tools & spares. I've done that before.