Trailering a 1960

[Valeria H.]

I am thinking about trailering my 1960 to a car show 3 1/2 hours away from home. I will need to rent a truck to do this and an enclosed trailer. What is the min amt of HP needed to get the job done? The car show is not for another month or two so I have some time to decide what I want to do.

[John F.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

I use an open trailer (alluminum) and tow with a 5.7 Toyota Tundra. Pulls just fine. Electric brakes on the trailer.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

John,
You do not care if it rains on your C1?
Concerned Valeria

[John F.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

A little rain hasn't hurt it yet. The 29 year old paint on my red one is holding up pretty good. I have driven to Illinois and back three times over the last three years.

[Joe R.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

I use an open trailer (alluminum) and tow with a 5.7 Toyota Tundra. Pulls just fine. Electric brakes on the trailer.

John,

You're brave mentioning that you drive a Toyota Tundra. I put a thread on here about a possible Corvette towing application because I was thinking about buying a Tundra. I got some good info, but got burned at the stake in the process!

Valeria,

Here's the thread, maybe it will help you:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...73679&uid=1008

P.S. Don't tell any of the members here, but I did buy the 5.7 L Tundra and am very happy with it. I think I will get the supercharger though, it has trouble getting up to speed quick enough on a very short entrance ramp. It will tow close to 11,000 pounds even without the supercharger.

Joe

[Tom P.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

Truck? Rain? Trailer?
As long as the tow vehicle has the ability to tow the load and handle the tongue weight, I can't say that it must be a truck.
Rain can be washed off.
As an option to trailering, you COULD drive it. Last July, I drove the 56 ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the way from Okla City to Bowling Green in continuous rain, right up to the front door of the hotel in BG!!!!!! Spent 3 days drying out the carpet!

[Terry D.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

Agree with Tom, I think the General built these cars to be driven. I put over 6500 miles on my 62 last summer in Ohio. If ya can't drive em what's the fun in having them? Just my 2 cents.
Terry

[Valeria H.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

Hey guys,
Thanks for the advise. Been there done that on a 3 1/2 hour slide and drive in the rain with Bella this past fall. I spent the next 2 days getting her dried out.
The other issue with driving is that I need to take auto mechanics 101. I don't
mind driving to a meet in a caravan but driving a long distance by myself is a little risky.

From the look of the open trailer it seems like it would be easier to load the car. Does anyone have photos of the tie down points?

Thanks for all you input!

[Dick W.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

Valeria, I suspect that you are going to Sevierville in March. Unless you are very familiar with towing, I would suggest that you find someone to haul it for you. Black Mtn, if you go that way, or Saludia Mtn is a very hard pull, and a long ways down on your return trip.

If you do tow, I would suggest that you rent a 3/4 ton pickup and make sure the trailer has good brakes. Take your time, leave early and allow yourself plenty of time to get there.

[Paul D.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

What Dick says X2! I made that trip towing twice. First time I used a Chevy Trailblazer 6cyl and the second time a 3/4 ton PU with a 454 V8. Let's just say that trip with the 3/4 ton PU was much easier on my nerves (not to mention the seat leather in that Trailblazer). Chip.

[John F.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

Over the wheel ties are the best in my opinion.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

Hey,
I am going east to the SC coastline on Kiawah Island, one of the most beautiful coastline areas in the entire USA! If you have not been there you really need to take the time and visit. Flora and fauna are just everywhere.

I have been to the annual car show there, been invited to show Bella but unfortunately have always had a conflict. I would like to show both of my Corvettes there. If Trixie is not accepted as a showcar I will attend the Carolina's Chapter (best chapter in the world) Monroe meet.

I still see the Kiawah option as a learning experience. I have enlisted Bella's beloved mechanic to assist me in the decision making process.


I was serious about the mechanic's 101 class. I love working on my car and would really like to learn more about the mechanics. if anyone in the Charlotte area knows about a course on old engines please put me in touch.

Thanks again for your input.

[Dick W.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

Hey,
I am going east to the SC coastline on Kiawah Island, one of the most beautiful coastline areas in the entire USA! If you have not been there you really need to take the time and visit. Flora and fauna are just everywhere.

I have been to the annual car show there, been invited to show Bella but unfortunately have always had a conflict. I would like to show both of my Corvettes there. If Trixie is not accepted as a showcar I will attend the Carolina's Chapter (best chapter in the world) Monroe meet.

I still see the Kiawah option as a learning experience. I have enlisted Bella's beloved mechanic to assist me in the decision making process.


I was serious about the mechanic's 101 class. I love working on my car and would really like to learn more about the mechanics. if anyone in the Charlotte area knows about a course on old engines please put me in touch.

Thanks again for your input.

If you are serious about mechanics, check with CPCC about their night courses. NC Community College system has top notch programs

[Rick G.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

i just towed a '54 from its previous owner's home in Fresno to Southern California. i rented a 10' uHaul box truck and their large car hauler. it was 400+ miles, and besides some bumpy parts of Interstate 5, and horrible Los Angeles traffic, i got home in one piece.

but i waited for a day where the weather was generally going to be nice. i got lucky and say no rain the whole way.

a friend suggested that i get a larger box truck and secure the car inside of it via strong tie downs. he suggested getting a flat bed tow truck to drop it right in the back, and another to remove it when i got home.

as attractive as it sounded to get the car inside, i didn't want to take the chance of it breaking loose in the back of the truck. so i went with the known car hauler method.

[Tom P.]

Re: Trailering a 1960

At the front, I hook up behind the top rear of the lower A-frames then around the trailer tongue.


At the rear, I put one hook under the rear of the trailer frame, come over the top of the axle housing, under the differential, back over the top of the other side of the axle housing and hook under the rear of the trailer again. Then I rachet the heck out of both front straps.
I put the tranny in neutral and pull on the emergency brake for all it's worth. This method ties down the car in such a manner that it allows the car to move around on its own suspension, thus reducing shocks to the frame/body as the trailer goes over bumps.


This is why I dispise auto trannys!!!!
Unfortunately it's damn near impossible to get ANYTHING with a manual tranny and big engine anymore!!!! Today, we drove home our brand new Tahoe----------------------5.3 V8 and 6sp auto tranny (it's not for me, it's for my room mate, she just had to have one)!




With a manual tranny, you put it in the gear you want it in and leave it there for as long as you want, either uphill or downhill. With the Richmond 5sp behind the 455 in the Cutlass, going down a steep grade, 3rd gear (or which ever gear selected) is wonderful and no burning up brakes. Oh ya, and my open trailer does have brakes.