Towing 101: what NOT to do when towing a BIG coach

[giderich]

Yes, I had a big grin when I posted...

I admit to having insider information on Adrian from another Newell owner who parked next to us at Cabela's in Sidney NE yesterday.

This has been an ongoing problem that fits the pattern that I learned to expect from Adrian having seen over the years how his former 90 WB WL was maintained.

[pairodice]

I have removed the parts of my message about suits - sorry about that. I wrote that yesterday and was pretty upset at the time (can you blame me?)...
I asked Coach-Net and the tow company for a LandAll but they acted like they had no idea what that was ... I finally had to say a 'big low boy' and they got it...

Originally Posted by Randy Dupree

We will not talk about lawsuits and all of that here on WOG.
If we do,we close the thread,simple.


Adrian,we have talked on WOG for years about towing.
Yes,Landall is best.
Yes,it will be over height,but Landall guys know about that and they have blanket permits that cover it.
Its an everyday deal.

[pairodice]

This coach WAS very road worthy - we were experiencing overheating (according to the guage) coming from Huntsville, AL to Beaumont, TX so I decided we should take it in for service. I had both (yes, there are two) thermostats replaced, several hoses and had the radiator pressure tested - everything checked out by a very reputable person that I very much trust to do all my engine work over the years (including changing out the coolant hoses on my 8v92 in Mauvelous and a host of other things as part of the maintenance on that coach). We started having engine cooling issues AFTER we left the shop and had been cleared for service. The problems of that day started then AFTER all the MAINTENANCE we did on the coach (nearly $3000 worth). All of my coaches are very well maintained mechanically - cosmetically Mauvelous was not the prettiest coach nor the cleanest since I work full-time as a contractor and have to travel extensively I don't have the time to make my coach sparkle (I AM doing much better with our current coach!). I am sorry you feel that I do not keep my coaches up to your standards but with the last several days and the trauma that has been affected on my life I am not about to try to defend myself against someone who does not know me AT ALL.
Thank you sir for keeping your opinions about me to yourself!
Adrian Abshire

Originally Posted by giderich

The real lesson here is do not attempt to take a road trip in a coach that is not road worthy!!! You knew you had cooling troubles and took the coach on the road anyway.

Do the maintenance before leaving home and you will be less likely to have trouble on the road putting yourself and other innocent bystanders in danger.

May be time to sell that Newell and buy a class C with a warranty.

[DonB]

I've had three motorhomes, including the current one (twice) towed on a stinger which I believe is what you are calling a dolly - a stinger is not a dolly in any way, shape, or form, so if I'm wrong and it had wheels on it as a dolly would let me know. Driver competence in using it would be a problem if you had an incompetent landall driver as well. I think, based on what I've seen on the highways for a lot of years, that stingers are used 100:1 or more vs landalls for towing big motorhomes, usually without a problem.

[catshreds]

Perhaps one of the many woggers, who are way smarter than I, could post an actual photos of a landoll, stinger, dolly,etc for those of us who still read books for the pictures!

[DonB]

Attached are stinger, landoll and dolly. Variations of all three exist, but I'm not aware of any sort of dolly suitable for a heavy motorhome. They are usually used to tow a car for those that don't like to two four-down.

[catshreds]

Thank you, Don; you are a gentleman and a scholar!

[wasper67]

Mine was towed like this no problem at all with a big Tow truck.

[Randy Dupree]

Adrian posted this,from Newell.


Newell after-hours Tech Support recommended requesting a lowboy as the best way to haul the coach, the dolly was second and NEVER use any type of frame mount or anything that attaches to the A-Arms (it will BEND them). The bigger problem is finding one BIG enough to get a 45' coach onto.



I suspect the tow company used an underlift,which picks up under an axle (if you have one) or under the a frames (which the Newell has).


If i called any tow company,anywhere,and they didn't knpw what a landall was,i would keep calling.
Actually,i think its a Landoll.
or not?


Even a novice tow truck driver want s a landall!

[DonB]

Originally Posted by Randy Dupree

I suspect the tow company used an underlift,which picks up under an axle (if you have one) or under the a frames (which the Newell has).!

Based on the video and the description of what happened, it was a stinger on the tires. When the stinger hit the ground there was significant space between the tire and the stinger rear fork that the coach was able to start rolling, and the combination of slope and the huge weight of the Newell gave it enough momentum to jump that fork and continue to roll.