towing a sailplane trailer / vehicle

This is what I had when I was towing a caravan, also using weight-
distrubition bars:
http://www.hitchesonline.com/sway.htm

It connects on the side of the "V" of the trailer tongue, about
2' (60cm) back from the ball, and then on the hitch side, about 6" (15
cm) off-side of the ball. The amount of friction can be controlled to
reduce the swaying movement of the trailer.

You can't tell my 1-35 is behind my 2000 2.5 automatic Legacy Subaru
except on VERY steep hills. A twin Grob in a Cobra is definitely
noticable, but other than being careful in crosswinds it isn't a
problem.

I tow my 1-35 with my wife's Toyota Corolla with no problems either,
but it does slow down on hills, but a lower gear takes care of it.


On Oct 29, 8:38*pm, ryanglover1969 wrote:
Hello all. I am looking to buy a new vehicle, mainly for work related
reasons. Something like an AWD Subaru Outback would be perfect for
work.

So I'm wondering what you all have to say about towing my sailplane
trailer with a Subaru Outback, which is a 4 cylinder vehicle. That's
the issue I need answered. Would a 4 cylinder do the job? Or would it
tear up the transmission.

I don't want a lager vehicle for MPG reasons.

Thanks, Ryan

Hey Burt

That about sums it up.

There are different tools for different circumstances. Lots of parts of
South Africa where a breakdown could be quite hazardous.
Lots of generally excellent freeway where the speed limit is 120, the
cambers are designed for 120 - and the 18 wheelers will ride right over
you from behind if you don't keep up. On these roads the safest is to
have a combination that is comfortable and stable at 110-120kmh.

Where safe to do so - it is a lot less stress and danger driving a
little slower and exercising a little more care. Unfortunately it is not
always possible to avoid the heavy traffic. In South Africa again, many
of the secondary roads are in appalling condition, and take you through
endless informal settlements with high traffic density of animals, kids
and alcohol fuelled pedestrians. Best to stay on the main roads where
you can. In the UK you can get giddy from all the little roundabouts on
the B roads.

I find having an appropriate combination for the circumstances works
well. Investing in some comfort and safety makes it a lot more pleasant
getting there.

The day someone manages a 500km+ drive with a glider trailer attached
with a GPS average speed over 100km/h in the UK they should let us know.

Cheers
Bruce

Come on Bruce! The UK roads are so overcrowded, poorly maintained and
ridden with roadworks that averaging over 40mph (65kph) on a long
journey is quite a feat, even without a trailer! Our recent trip from
Lasham to Aboyne took 12 hours going (although we lost two and a half
hours because of a puncture - more about that later) and 9 hours
excluding refreshment and comfort brakes. That was in a powerful
Jaguar car, not towing a trailer, and cruising at (er!) slightly over
the National Speed Limit of 70mph on the few bits of Motorway and dual
carriageway that didn't have roadworks on them.

The journey from Lasham to Aboyne is 540 miles by the route we took.
so the average speed going (excluding the puncture) was 57mph and
coming back 60mph (96.5 kph).

The delay due to the puncture was caused by:
1) The car's owner couldn't find the jacking point, so we had to call
out the AA.
2) The car only had a spacesaver spare wheel and tyre (50miles, 50mph
maximum), although there is plenty of space for a full sized wheel and
tyre in the boot (trunk to the Yanks), so we had to stop in the
nearest town to get a new tyre fitted.

Before anyone has another go at British cars, I think Jaguar was owned
by the Ford Motor Company of America at the time this one was built.

Derek Copeland


On Nov 3, 7:44*am, Bruce wrote:
Hey Burt

That about sums it up.

There are different tools for different circumstances. Lots of parts of
South Africa where a breakdown could be quite hazardous.
Lots of generally excellent freeway where the speed limit is 120, the
cambers are designed for 120 - and the 18 wheelers will ride right over
you from behind if you don't keep up. On these roads the safest is to
have a combination that is comfortable and stable at 110-120kmh.

Where safe to do so - it is a lot less stress and danger driving a
little slower and exercising a little more care. Unfortunately it is not
always possible to avoid the heavy traffic. In South Africa again, many
of the secondary roads are in appalling condition, and take you through
endless informal settlements with high traffic density of animals, kids
and alcohol fuelled pedestrians. Best to stay on the main roads where
you can. In the UK you can get giddy from all the little roundabouts on
the B roads.

I find having an appropriate combination for the circumstances works
well. Investing in some comfort and safety makes it a lot more pleasant
getting there.

The day someone manages a 500km+ drive with a glider trailer attached
with a GPS average speed over 100km/h in the UK they should let us know.

Cheers
Bruce

"Burt Compton - Marfa" wrote in message
:


What's the hurry? I tow my glider trailers (DG-1000 in a Cobra /
ASK-13 in a Swan / Cirrus in an Eberle trailer) long distances to/from
Marfa, west Texas (USA) at no more than 60 mph behind my 2001 Ford Van
(6 cylinder). Why risk damaging a glider by driving at higher
speeds? At slower speeds you can maneuver around potholes, junk in
the road, wayward critters, or manage a blowout better. I've been
towing glider trailers at 60 mph across the USA for decades. No
problems, yet.

The Germans must know something if they limit glider trailers to 100
km/h (62 mph), while also driving their well-tuned cars without
trailers much faster on their Autobahns.

So put in a long day and get there with a lot less stress and fatigue
on glider, driver and tow vehicle. I find that driving off the US
Interstates the "blue" roads are often smoother, less traffic passing
you and the scenery is great, with small-town diners, tractors in
fields, cool junkyards, vintage "motorcourt" motels -- classic
Americana! Listen to audiobooks and your favorite CD's if you find
60 mph "tedious".

I also get a bit better gas mileage for my Ford van as the glider
trailer creates an aerodynamically favorable "after body" behind the
big van.

Start early, slow down, save gas, enjoy the trip, keep our trailer /
gilder insurance premiums from being raised because of highway
accidents due to "get-there-i-tis".

Burt -- just easin' on down the road . . .


C'mon Burt...

You're completely forgetting "Crosina's Law".

:-)

Larry

delboy wrote:
Link to a trailer stabiliser bar:

http://www.bulldogsecure.com/category/23/1/stabiliser

These work well and add about 10 mph to your maximum safe towing speed
by damping the tendency to sway. They do not affect the action of the
trailer brakes. The Alko friction trailer hitch also works well, but
you need a special Alko ball hitch and you must not put any grease on
it.

BTW, Several people at my gliding club have jack-knifed twin axle
trailers, so they are not a cure in themselves.
Does this suggest that towing with small cars is more problematic than
many have indicated, or a reflection on the
inexperience/ignorance/impatience of your club members?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly
* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org

On Oct 29, 7:38*pm, ryanglover1969 wrote:
Hello all. I am looking to buy a new vehicle, mainly for work related
reasons. Something like an AWD Subaru Outback would be perfect for
work.

So I'm wondering what you all have to say about towing my sailplane
trailer with a Subaru Outback, which is a 4 cylinder vehicle. That's
the issue I need answered. Would a 4 cylinder do the job? Or would it
tear up the transmission.

I don't want a lager vehicle for MPG reasons.

Thanks, Ryan

I tow with a used '99 Audi A6 Avant (wagon) quattro. The car is very
heavy and has decent brakes. It has double-wishbones on all four
corners and rides much better than a Subie (the roads up north here
are crap). The tranny is 5 speed automatic. The torque converter is
locked nearly all the time and it shifts very fast in manual or auto
mode. The motor is a 5 valve V6 with 200 hp and variable cam timing -
not too much but it gets you around. It gets 26 mpg at 75+mph with AC
on. Premium fuel is required. The interior is leather, plush, and very
roomy. Sound system and seats are excellent.

I towed my Jantar 3000+ miles thru the mountains to 10k feet. With a
Minden fab trailer (the proverbial barn door), I drove 65 mph and got
20 mpg for the trip. You have to downshift in the big hills, no
biggie. I can do 80 mph with a stable ride, but then I feel like I am
abusing it. A better trailer would fix that problem.

If you go used Audi, avoid the V6 turbos and V8's. Mine has 160k with
no real issues to speak of over the last 100k and five years I have
owned it.

YMMV,
Adam

On Nov 3, 11:01*pm, Adam wrote:
On Oct 29, 7:38*pm, ryanglover1969 wrote:

Hello all. I am looking to buy a new vehicle, mainly for work related
reasons. Something like an AWD Subaru Outback would be perfect for
work.

So I'm wondering what you all have to say about towing my sailplane
trailer with a Subaru Outback, which is a 4 cylinder vehicle. That's
the issue I need answered. Would a 4 cylinder do the job? Or would it
tear up the transmission.

I don't want a lager vehicle for MPG reasons.

Thanks, Ryan

I tow with a used '99 Audi A6 Avant (wagon) quattro. The car is very
heavy and has decent brakes. It has double-wishbones on all four
corners and rides much better than a Subie (the roads up north here
are crap). The tranny is 5 speed automatic. The torque converter is
locked nearly all the time and it shifts very fast in manual or auto
mode. The motor is a 5 valve V6 with 200 hp and variable cam timing -
not too much but it gets you around. It gets 26 mpg at 75+mph with AC
on. Premium fuel is required. The interior is leather, plush, and very
roomy. Sound system and seats are excellent.

I towed my Jantar 3000+ miles thru the mountains to 10k feet. With a
Minden fab trailer (the proverbial barn door), I drove 65 mph and got
20 mpg for the trip. You have to downshift in the big hills, no
biggie. I can do 80 mph with a stable ride, but then I feel like I am
abusing it. A better trailer would fix that problem.

If you go used Audi, avoid the V6 turbos and V8's. Mine has 160k with
no real issues to speak of over the last 100k and five years I have
owned it.

YMMV,
Adam

The new (2010) Outback has a re-designed suspension incorporating
double wishbone in the rear (front is still standard McPherson
struts). Along with the increased ride height, it should be an even
better tow vehicle.

I love my 2002 Passat with the V6 and 4motion suspension (similar to
your Audi quattro). However, at 150K miles, it's starting to give
warning signs that it will become a money pit in the not too distant
future (replaced ignition coils, flex joints in the exhaust, etc.).

P3