Towing issues / updates

[Rat Raceway]

Originally Posted by SSGT Mustang

Spend a weekend at any points meet and get back to me about motorhomes being excessive. I can't wait until the day comes when I can buy one to bring to the track. From my perspective, it has NOTHING to do with keeping up with the Jones's.

It has everything to do with sitting in the heat, or the cold, or the wind, or the rain for 36 hours only to make 3 runs....maybe. Sitting in a motorhome with family and friends relaxing a bit (in the heat of the day, or worse), beats any truck/trailer rig by a longshot. And, unless racing is called for the day, there is no going back to the hotel to hang out and relax.

Then, there is the whole...waiting for the gates to open before you can get to your car routine...where you are ready to pull the steering wheel off of your truck over the anxiety you're a feeling about having to unload your car and get yourself together before the next round (at the same time, hearing cars off in the distance already being started in the pits). Meanwhile, all of those guys with the motorhomes are well rested, sitting comfortably next to their cars, dusting them off and enjoying their second cup of coffee (after having already finished a leisurely breakfast and having warmed up their drivetrain for the day's event). You, on the other hand, are running around like a maniac trying to get going, having waited in line for breakfast somewhere, waiting on the service at the restaurant, waiting on traffic (even at the gate), that is, of course, if you haven't gotten lost on your way back to the track from the hotel.

I love my truck and trailer. It's easy to tow, plenty of power and easy to maneuver. But, the advantages in no way offsets the benefits of a motorhome and trailer.

Just my two cents.....

Well said and great post!

[SS Engine Guy]

I agree, great post.
I drove commercial for some years also and if you think that a few pieces of paper (CDL, medical, log book) makes you a safe driver you aren't paying attention to what goes on around you. All politics and money. As in most everything else that governments decide to regulate. Not to mention the incentive to meet unreasonable time deadlines in order to make a living and or keep your job.
As far as money, I saved money by going the home on wheels route years ago.
- eating out
- motel 15 miles or more from the track
- rates raised or sometimes tripled if national event was in town
- paying for reservations for the next year to make sure you had a room locked in
- dealing with the non English speaking owners of most motels
- able to carry spares to continue racing instead of going home broken
To name just a few.
Did the p/u flat trailer for years and loved it. Barely could afford that. Raced at least 30 events plus and local stuff. Great experience. Would do it all over again without a large rig if I were 25 years younger. Have the greatest respect and admiration for anyone doing it now!
My stuff is registered as recreational. Not by my doing, by my state's doing. Even have had my rigs several times at the state Dot to make sure everything I was doing was correct. Been ticketed twice in other states for BS because they couldn't find anything wrong. Went to higher court and had both thrown out. Judge called BS. Lawyer called lawsuit. One demoted, one lost job with only 2 years to retire. Cost me money and some traveling time but learned how the scam works. Stop me, insult me, curse me, threaten me, impound me, ticket me, enter my vehicle/trailer without probable cause or warrant. I will be the most polite and compliant person that you ever dealt with. And it will all from start to finish be video/audio taped rest assured. And be assured you will have to testify against me in whatever court it takes. So you better learn the laws and obey them as you require me to do.
That is what racers are going to have to do. Sanctioning bodies don't apparently care, most track owners don't care until they post a "safety" check point a half mile from their track on weekends. The burdon, as usual, falls on the racer.

[Dan Fahey]

What are the smallest but effective motor homes to buy or rent and safely tow a car?

What maintenance habits should be addressed to keep them safe?

Dan

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by Dan Fahey

What are the smallest but effective motor homes to buy or rent and safely tow a car?

What maintenance habits should be addressed to keep them safe?

Dan

This is only my opinion and should be taken only as that "MY OPINION'.
I have owned a 23 ft and 33 ft gas motor home and a 40 ft diesel pusher over the years.
All were good units but all were lacking in braking ability with only the load on the motor home itself. Then when you added the trailer it made it worse. The heaviest trailer I ever pulled with any of the units was a 26 ft Pace. You just had to be careful and leave plenty of stopping distance and driving in traffic was always white knuckle driving. Mountain pass driving was a real challenge on the downhill portion even with the diesel pusher and a pack brake and a very light Gold Rush trailer.
Last year I bought a Volvo chassis Motor Coach which has a muffled jake brake which I now pull a stacker trailer with. There is no comparison between the pulling and stopping power of the Motor Coach. The diesel pusher was a 350 HP Cummins on a bus Spartan chassis but did not come close to the stopping power of the Volvo chassis Motor Coach. Daylight and Dark difference.
The ride and comfort of the diesel pusher was much better but I am much more comfortable with the stopping of the Motor Coach on a truck chassis.
Better braking is needed on all motor homes of any size and the Volvo I have now is just like driving a pickup as far as braking is concerned. It will stop and the mountain driving of it is just like a pickup downhill without ever using the brakes and just allow the jake to take you downhill. My eyes were opened to this after owning it for a year now. The jake with the muffler just makes the engine hum, no real noise at all. I should have made this move years ago.
As far as maintenance is concerned it is just like anything else. The list of maintenance items is not any longer than any other vehicle or home. The vehicle is just bigger and the home is smaller but contains the same things and both take maintenance.
Just My 2 Cents
Rick Cates

[Dan Fahey]

Originally Posted by 63corvette

This is only my opinion and should be taken only as that "MY OPINION'.
I have owned a 23 ft and 33 ft gas motor home and a 40 ft diesel pusher over the years.
All were good units but all were lacking in braking ability with only the load on the motor home itself. Then when you added the trailer it made it worse. The heaviest trailer I ever pulled with any of the units was a 26 ft Pace. You just had to be careful and leave plenty of stopping distance and driving in traffic was always white knuckle driving. Mountain pass driving was a real challenge on the downhill portion even with the diesel pusher and a pack brake and a very light Gold Rush trailer.
Last year I bought a Volvo chassis Motor Coach which has a muffled jake brake which I now pull a stacker trailer with. There is no comparison between the pulling and stopping power of the Motor Coach. The diesel pusher was a 350 HP Cummins on a bus Spartan chassis but did not come close to the stopping power of the Volvo chassis Motor Coach. Daylight and Dark difference.
The ride and comfort of the diesel pusher was much better but I am much more comfortable with the stopping of the Motor Coach on a truck chassis.
Better braking is needed on all motor homes of any size and the Volvo I have now is just like driving a pickup as far as braking is concerned. It will stop and the mountain driving of it is just like a pickup downhill without ever using the brakes and just allow the jake to take you downhill. My eyes were opened to this after owning it for a year now. The jake with the muffler just makes the engine hum, no real noise at all. I should have made this move years ago.
As far as maintenance is concerned it is just like anything else. The list of maintenance items is not any longer than any other vehicle or home. The vehicle is just bigger and the home is smaller but contains the same things and both take maintenance.
Just My 2 Cents
Rick Cates

Thanks for this information.
Just came back from vacation in Boone, NC.
Got to see Grandfather Mountain.
Wow did I get a dose of mountain switch backs and steep inclines and downhill.

Figured brakes and braking were the key issue.
However it appears like the Volvo also had a great suspension on twisty roads.
D