[GMCnet] Towing a GMC Motorhome

[jerry]

Any advice on towing (23 foot 1973) inexpensively? Especially if rear end very low (less than 4" off ground). Can I inflate the air bags temporarily
to make it easier to load onto the the flat bed of a flat bed or low boy tow truck? Tires are reasonable but some on the rear have cracks on the side
walls. I need to move it from the San Fernando Valley of L.A. to Venice, Ca. Most companies want to use a low boy which is hard to find and
expensive. Is there a way of doing it with a smaller tow truck?

Any recommendation of a tow company that could do this? Thanks.

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[Gary Worobec]

Jerry, several years back I had mine towed from Qualcomm Stadium to
Temecula. The local tow company used a wrecker with a deal on it that went
under the front tires and lifted the front about 4 inches. I then raised the
air bags at the back and had no issues. I think we could have towed in at
running height with that set up.


Thanks,

Gary and Joanne Worobec
1973 GMC Glacier
Anza, CA

[Jon Roche]

here is what has towed mine:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etc3t8vfk70/UH12sl-P_uI/AAAAAAAAQV4/Nsih9gwhs30/s1600/hansenfesttow.jpg

tires/bearings could be an issue for you, you can install shrader valves to air up the bags, or really jack up and block the bags on the rear so it
does not hit.

bearings could always be an issue, and there might be some local folks with some better used tires/wheels you could use to get it moved.

that is only like 30 miles? so I would think your tires would hold up, even in the LA Heat. maybe borrow some spares.


--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/

[A.]

mechanic007 wrote on Fri, 28 August 2015 12:38
> ...Can I inflate the air bags temporarily to make it easier to load onto the the flat bed of a flat bed or low boy tow truck?...
Yes. Buy two Schrader valves and replace the air line fittings in each bag with one. You need two of these and a compressor that goes to 100 PSI. Pull
the fuse to the on-board compressor so it doesn't run and burn itself up.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/500/GMC_schrader_valve.jpg
--
'73 23' Sequoia For Sale
'73 23' CanyonLands For Sale
Upper Alabama
There will always be a demand for scapegoats. The job sucks, but the work is steady.

[Robert Mueller]

Jerry,

Read this: http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Mueller_GMC-Towing-Guide.pdf

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist...@list.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of jerry
Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2015 3:38 AM
To: gmc...@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] Towing a GMC Motorhome

[Chris Tyler]

I have wondered if you could get away with flat towing if you utilized an electric oil pump to circulate trans fluid like the Remco pump [ Assuming
the transmission isn't broken and the tires and suspension are up to snuff]
--
76 Glenbrook

[RC Jordan]

>flat towing

Someone here tried it. Said the GMC had a mind of its own.

>a wrecker with a deal on it that went
under the front tires and lifted the front about 4 inches.

I believe the wrecker guys call that a "stinger" ...if that's correct, it might help to know their terminology when you are trying to explain what you
need.
--
77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
Elizabeth City, NC

[Robert Mueller]

RC,

Thanks! I'll include this info in an update to the GMC towing document on the GMCES website.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic

-----Original Message-----
From: RC Jordan

>flat towing

Someone here tried it. Said the GMC had a mind of its own.

>a wrecker with a deal on it that went
under the front tires and lifted the front about 4 inches.

I believe the wrecker guys call that a "stinger" ...if that's correct, it might help to know their terminology when you are trying
to explain what you need.

[Dennis Sexton]

As I understand it -- "stinger" is a version of a wheel lift truck capability.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/repo-truck1.htm

Dennis

USAussie wrote on Mon, 31 August 2015 16:49

--
Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Germantown, TN

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

When my coach failed on the way home from Shawnee, I had a local truck towing company to my coach about 15 miles; I followed the tow and it worked just fine.

Just air up the rear to ensure bumper and plumbing don't drag ground.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"



> Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2015 18:06:57 -0600
> To: gmc...@list.gmcnet.org
> From: Fung...@gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Towing a GMC Motorhome

>
> As I understand it -- "stinger" is a version of a wheel lift truck capability.
>
> http://auto.howstuffworks.com/repo-truck1.htm
>
> Dennis
>
> USAussie wrote on Mon, 31 August 2015 16:49
> > RC,
> >
> > Thanks! I'll include this info in an update to the GMC towing document on the GMCES website.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Rob M.
> > The Pedantic Mechanic
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: RC Jordan
> >
> > > flat towing
> >
> > Someone here tried it. Said the GMC had a mind of its own.
> >
> > > a wrecker with a deal on it that went
> > under the front tires and lifted the front about 4 inches.
> >
> > I believe the wrecker guys call that a "stinger" ...if that's correct, it might help to know their terminology when you are trying
> > to explain what you need.
> >
> >

[RC Jordan]

>stinger

I'm looking at Craigslist ads for rollbacks listed within a 4-hour radius of me, that's where I see the term. It seems to be used far more to
reference the equipment than 'wheel lift' no matter what the size the tow truck. Whether it's the exact term we need to specify how we want our
coaches picked up, I dunno. But I suspect if I said "I need either a Landoll, a big rollback, or something with a big stinger/wheel-lift capable of
lifting my front wheel drive, 13k# coach" I think the dispatcher *might* get it. Might.

--
77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
Elizabeth City, NC

[Robert Mueller]

RC,

I'd suggest that anyone discussing towing a GMC have a hard copy of this document to hand.

http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Mueller_GMC-Towing-Guide.pdf

I think it covers every aspect of towing a GMC.

As noted in an earlier email I will update it and include the term "stinger" and correct the typo "two" to "tow" in the editors
note.

They could forward this document to the tow company.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic


-----Original Message-----
From: RC Jordan

>stinger

I'm looking at Craigslist ads for rollbacks listed within a 4-hour radius of me, that's where I see the term. It seems to be used
far more to reference the equipment than 'wheel lift' no matter what the size the tow truck. Whether it's the exact term we need to
specify how we want our coaches picked up, I dunno. But I suspect if I said "I need either a Landoll, a big rollback, or something
with a big stinger/wheel-lift capable of lifting my front wheel drive, 13k# coach" I think the dispatcher *might* get it. Might.

[David H. Jarvis]

My 23' GMC had been sitting for ages. I wanted it moved to my new location. I cut two 4"x4"s the right length 13"?
Drilled a pilot hole in each end for a large lag bolt. I took them and my floor jack to the dead GMC.
Jacked it up under the bogies, removed the air bags and inserted the 4x4's. That gave me plenty of height at the rear.
The tow truck was a decent size and he used the "stinger" under the front wheels. It handled very well.
The tow truck using the stinger is not picking up 11,000 lbs.

[Robert Mueller]

David,

Correct!

Straight out of: http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Mueller_GMC-Towing-Guide.pdf

14. Confirm with the tow vehicle driver that the tow vehicle has the capacity to lift a vehicle with a front Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of 5000 pounds and tow a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 13,000 pounds.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic


-----Original Message-----

[jerry]

A Hamilto wrote on Fri, 28 August 2015 14:44

> mechanic007 wrote on Fri, 28 August 2015 12:38
> > ...Can I inflate the air bags temporarily to make it easier to load onto the the flat bed of a flat bed or low boy tow truck?...
> Yes. Buy two Schrader valves and replace the air line fittings in each bag with one. You need two of these and a compressor that goes to 100 PSI.
> Pull the fuse to the on-board compressor so it doesn't run and burn itself up.

Thanks. That is very useful. If I put air into a shrader valve that seems to be there already, and nothing happens, what is the next step? Does it
mean the air bag is gone?

[A.]

mechanic007 wrote on Tue, 01 September 2015 14:44

> Thanks. That is very useful. If I put air into a shrader valve that seems to be there already, and nothing happens, what is the next step? Does
> it mean the air bag is gone?

Not necessarily. If it is going into the bag and the bag is not inflating, you should be able to find the hole. And then it is gone. But if there is
other plumbing attached, the air might not be going into the bag.

If the bag is gone, there are other ways to hold the back end up to move the RV:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/air-bag-spring-systems/p35282-norman-27s-airbag.html

--
'73 23' Sequoia For Sale
'73 23' CanyonLands For Sale
Upper Alabama
There will always be a demand for scapegoats. The job sucks, but the work is steady.

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

I believe that generally, if the Schrader fitting is installed, there is also a lever to shut off the air path.

The lever must be parallel with the air line feeding the Schrader fitting in order for air to pass TO the air bag.

You MUST open that valve to air up the bag. When the ride height is correct, turn the lever to be "cross-ways" to the air line to keep the air bag inflated.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"

> Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 15:00:37 -0600
> To: gmc...@list.gmcnet.org
> From: mar...@netzero.com

> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Towing a GMC Motorhome
>

[A.]

k2gkk wrote on Tue, 01 September 2015 16:13

> I believe that generally, if the Schrader fitting is installed, there is also a lever to shut off the air path.
> The lever must be parallel with the air line feeding the Schrader fitting in order for air to pass TO the air bag.
>
> You MUST open that valve to air up the bag. When the ride height is correct, turn the lever to be "cross-ways" to the air line to keep the air
> bag inflated.
>
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
> ~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
> ~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
> ~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
> ~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
> ~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
> ~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
> ~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ______________
> |[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
> "--OO--[]---O-"

It would be the other way around. The Schrader valve should be between the shut off valve and the bag. The shut off valve isolates the Schrader/bag
from the rest of the system, then you can then use the Schrader to inflate the bag. If you leave the valve open, the air is going to go out to the
rest of the system instead of into the bag. Turn the shut off valve off and then use the Schrader to inflate the bag.

The sure fire way to inflate a working bag is to replace the fitting into the bag with the Schrader.

[Mike Sauer]

USAussie wrote on Mon, 31 August 2015 19:11
> RC,

>
> As noted in an earlier email I will update it and include the term "stinger" and correct the typo "two" to "tow" in the editors
> note.

Just a caution about using terms. When we were towed recently, they were going to use what they called a stinger. When I asked what that meant, they
said it was two pieces that would bracket the front axle on each side and lift the MH through the axle. When I said I didn't think that was a good
idea with front wheel drive, he crawled under and found out it was front wheel drive and agreed with me.

Best to ask questions and make sure of what they are going to do. They recalled that truck and sent out a heavier wheel lift truck and that worked
well.
--
Mike Sauer
Toledo, OR
1975 26' Avion
1-ton front end, SullyBilt AirBag System, 3.21 tranny

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

Probably best to refer to it as a "wheel lift" attachment or similar.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"

> Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 19:06:50 -0600
> To: gmc...@list.gmcnet.org
> From: mike...@leogsauer.com

> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Towing a GMC Motorhome
>

[Robert Mueller]

If one downloads and looks at the towing procedure, they'll see two sketches showing of how to tow a GMC.

Short distance = front wheel lift
Long distance = flatbed / landoll
Wrong way = rear wheels raised tow from rear.

They're even color coded with the last one RED! Byron put them in there so that when JimB's mate Bubba comes to tow your GMC he can
look at the pictures and figger it out!

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic

-----Original Message-----

From: Mike Sauer

Just a caution about using terms. When we were towed recently, they were going to use what they called a stinger. When I asked what
that meant, they said it was two pieces that would bracket the front axle on each side and lift the MH through the axle. When I said
I didn't think that was a good idea with front wheel drive, he crawled under and found out it was front wheel drive and agreed with
me.

Best to ask questions and make sure of what they are going to do. They recalled that truck and sent out a heavier wheel lift truck
and that worked well.
--
Mike

[Ken Henderson]

After having had my 23' towed 384 miles with a wheel lift, and having seen
Peter's Landoll results, I'm not sure I agree with the order of preference!
:-)

Ken H.


On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 2:55 AM, Robert Mueller <robmu...@iinet.net.au>
wrote:

> If one downloads and looks at the towing procedure, they'll see two
> sketches showing of how to tow a GMC.
>
> Short distance = front wheel lift
> Long distance = flatbed / landoll
> Wrong way = rear wheels raised tow from rear.
>
>

[Emery Stora]

My 26 foot was towed over 300 miles. When I ordered the tow I told them that I had a front wheel drive and to send a truck that could lift under the front wheels with weight of 4000 pounds on the front wheels and 12,000 pounds total weight.

It worked fine.

Emery Stora

[Billy Massey]

Peters wasn't on a Landoll trailer. It was one of those bobtail wreckers
with the sliding bed.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/peter-27s/p56434-peter5.html

On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 3:37 AM, Ken Henderson <hend...@bellsouth.net>
wrote:

> After having had my 23' towed 384 miles with a wheel lift, and having seen
> Peter's Landoll results, I'm not sure I agree with the order of preference!
>

[Robert Mueller]

Ken,

It appears that we need a definition of the terms:

Short distance = < ??? miles
Long distance = > ??? miles

Perhaps we should break it down into towing and shipping?

I personally would not want my GMC towed with a wheel lift from Houston to Los Angeles should I want it moved. I wonder if tow
companies with wheel lift tow trucks would tow a GMC that far.

As far as Peter's wreck goes I'd say it was a case of pilot error not equipment malfunction! ;-)

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic

-----Original Message-----

From: Ken Henderson

After having had my 23' towed 384 miles with a wheel lift, and having seen
Peter's Landoll results, I'm not sure I agree with the order of preference!
:-)

Ken H.

[John Wright]

Rob & Ken
I have only been towed twice in the last 18 years and both were by a wheel lift wrecker. The wrecker was not the small one for autos, but rated for medium loads and you have all seen the big units for 18 Wheelers and we cannot use them as they cannot fit under the front of the coach. Ken it appears that you have had more experience on the hook than me. My 2 tows were one for 25 miles and one from my house to Cinnabar in Sandusky MI for 90 miles, both were for transmission related issues. I would suggest that I would call a short tow in the 100 to 300 mile range and anything else on a Landoll trailer. The coach does a lot of bouncing on some roads. If your unable to raise and maintain the coach on the air bags the trailer must be uses and using an air bag replacement rod or bar then on use it to get off the road and in a safe area, not towing. 4 bag systems can also be setup using a chain to get off the road to a safe place although One of the coaches in Jim B caravan was driven 50 to 100 miles in that setup coming to the first Dothan GMCMI. I agree that Pete fell victim to tow operator stupidity not the method. Just JMHPO!

JR Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMCMHI
78 GMC Buskirk 30’ Stretch
1975 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan