Towing a 98 Vette
06-24-2007, 01:17 AM
#1
4th Gear
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Towing a 98 Vette
Is it possible to tow a 98 Vette behind a Bus Conversion? I am buying a GMC Bus and I want to tow a Vette without a trailer. Is it possible to use a tow bar or would I need a dolly?
06-24-2007, 07:25 AM
#5
Lepus-temperamentalus
Why would you do that?
You DO know that U-Haul rents car trailers, right?
06-24-2007, 09:48 AM
#8
Team Owner
There is no way to rig a tow bar to the nose of a Corvette. If the car is an auto, the rear wheels will have to be off the ground. The turning of the rear wheels without the engine driving the internal pumps will heat the tranny to the point where it will fail.
Tow dollies won't work towing the car from the rear end as the steep angle of these dollies would cause the nose to drag. And these dollies typically don't have ramps wide enough for Corvette tires.
U-Haul does have car trailers but the franchise stores will typically not rent one if you say you are towing a Corvette. The car will fit, but it's their policy to say no in most all cases where you tell them it's a Vette. Even if you do the U-Haul route, try to get then to rent the newere aluminum ones.
Most of their trailers are garbage. They use surge brakes (a royal PITA if you have to back up) and given their typical appearance, I would suspect that maintenance on them is not done frequently. I have seen bald tires, and I know of one person that rented a car trailer and had a bearing freeze up within 20 miles. Fortunately, he had yet to put his car on the trailer.
If you go to the Autocross and Road Racing section and do a search on "car trailer" you will find some threads about towing Vettes. There are decent trailers available in the $1500 range that will work fine for towing a C5 safely.
Tow dollies won't work towing the car from the rear end as the steep angle of these dollies would cause the nose to drag. And these dollies typically don't have ramps wide enough for Corvette tires.
U-Haul does have car trailers but the franchise stores will typically not rent one if you say you are towing a Corvette. The car will fit, but it's their policy to say no in most all cases where you tell them it's a Vette. Even if you do the U-Haul route, try to get then to rent the newere aluminum ones.
Most of their trailers are garbage. They use surge brakes (a royal PITA if you have to back up) and given their typical appearance, I would suspect that maintenance on them is not done frequently. I have seen bald tires, and I know of one person that rented a car trailer and had a bearing freeze up within 20 miles. Fortunately, he had yet to put his car on the trailer.
If you go to the Autocross and Road Racing section and do a search on "car trailer" you will find some threads about towing Vettes. There are decent trailers available in the $1500 range that will work fine for towing a C5 safely.
06-24-2007, 07:22 PM
#14
Lepus-temperamentalus
As an RV'er, I'd also advise that you give the idea of taking the Vette at all a second thought.
You can't take the Vette without buying a trailer. Then when you take the Vette on the trailer, you have to unload the thing every time you want to drive somewhere. Then what do you do with the trailer at the campground?
It's just a major hassle. If you were going to do it to take the Vette somewhere like Carlise or Bloomington, that would be one thing, but if you're talking about traveling about the country with the vette behind you, you're going to be very unhappy.
Go find yourself a nice, beat up Jeep Wrangler, stick a tow bar on it and have fun.
You can't take the Vette without buying a trailer. Then when you take the Vette on the trailer, you have to unload the thing every time you want to drive somewhere. Then what do you do with the trailer at the campground?
It's just a major hassle. If you were going to do it to take the Vette somewhere like Carlise or Bloomington, that would be one thing, but if you're talking about traveling about the country with the vette behind you, you're going to be very unhappy.
Go find yourself a nice, beat up Jeep Wrangler, stick a tow bar on it and have fun.
06-24-2007, 07:39 PM
#15
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IMO, get the trailer. 
06-24-2007, 07:58 PM
#16
Team Owner
As an RV'er, I'd also advise that you give the idea of taking the Vette at all a second thought.
You can't take the Vette without buying a trailer. Then when you take the Vette on the trailer, you have to unload the thing every time you want to drive somewhere. Then what do you do with the trailer at the campground?
It's just a major hassle. If you were going to do it to take the Vette somewhere like Carlise or Bloomington, that would be one thing, but if you're talking about traveling about the country with the vette behind you, you're going to be very unhappy.
Go find yourself a nice, beat up Jeep Wrangler, stick a tow bar on it and have fun.
You can't take the Vette without buying a trailer. Then when you take the Vette on the trailer, you have to unload the thing every time you want to drive somewhere. Then what do you do with the trailer at the campground?
It's just a major hassle. If you were going to do it to take the Vette somewhere like Carlise or Bloomington, that would be one thing, but if you're talking about traveling about the country with the vette behind you, you're going to be very unhappy.
Go find yourself a nice, beat up Jeep Wrangler, stick a tow bar on it and have fun.
Good advice on finding a cheap, functional car just for towing behind the bus. Make sure you get a vehicle with a manual tranny! Otherwise if you tow a car that has an automatic tranny, you will be spending time under it dropping the driveshaft everytime you tow it.
06-25-2007, 12:57 PM
#18
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If you are considering pulling a Vette, I would take it a step further and get an enclosed trailer. Your car will take a beating on an open trailer. You can help this with a rear skirt, but your car will still take a beating. You might want to think of picking up something to use just for a tow car. 4x4's are great as you can disengage the drive train.
06-25-2007, 07:47 PM
#19
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The guy that I am buying the bus from also owns a couple of Vettes. He told me today that if I get a 16' open trailer with a fiberglass shield on the front of the trailer that I should not have a problem towing it.
Fact is, I have already found the trailer.
He told me that the open trailer would be better for using it in RV parks.
I plan to buy a car cover for the Vette as well.
Fact is, I have already found the trailer.
He told me that the open trailer would be better for using it in RV parks.
I plan to buy a car cover for the Vette as well.
06-25-2007, 08:03 PM
#20
Team Owner
Dont put the cover on the car to tow it. 
The cover will flap like crazy in the wind and it will eventually take paint off. It will be fine for covering the car when not is use. Get a good cover that is designed for outside use. Also get a security cable with a padlock to keep the cover from "walking off". 
The cover will flap like crazy in the wind and it will eventually take paint off. It will be fine for covering the car when not is use. Get a good cover that is designed for outside use. Also get a security cable with a padlock to keep the cover from "walking off".