Good/bad experiences with Tow Vehicle Syndicates?

I own a very fuel efficient car (40+ mpg) that handles the long drive to the airport at minimal cost. But my fuel efficient car is not suitable for towing a glider trailer... especially if I have to tow the trailer out of a muddy field.

So if I buy a glider, do I need to trade in my very small car for something like a Subaru Forester?

Do people ever form Tow Vehicle Syndicates? How does that work out?

On 10/1/2012 7:22 AM, son_of_flubber wrote:
I own a very fuel efficient car (40+ mpg) that handles the long drive
to the airport at minimal cost. But my fuel efficient car is not
suitable for towing a glider trailer... especially if I have to tow
the trailer out of a muddy field.

So if I buy a glider, do I need to trade in my very small car for
something like a Subaru Forester?

Do people ever form Tow Vehicle Syndicates? How does that work out?

That's an idea. Or maybe buy a suitable but old vehicle for $2000 or so
and keep it at the airport.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

On Monday, October 1, 2012 10:22:31 AM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:

Do people ever form Tow Vehicle Syndicates? How does that work out?

Similar situation - I drive a small, fuel-efficient car. It's fast, I can see the stars at night and feel the wind during day-time, and it has room for one driver and one passenger. It certainly cannot tow.

I tried borrowing a non-pilot friend's SUV (i.e., giving him the sports car in exchange), but that absolutely didn't work out (he didn't like it). He's no longer my friend, unfortunately. I recommend caution with such dealings. In my UK club, though, we more or less towed each other's gliders and helped out where we could, so it can work out.

I ended up buying a $2k 2000 GMC Safari (same as the Astrovan) that tows great and costs next to nothing in insurance. However, it's taken up a lot of my time and money in repairs. AAA membership pays for itself. I do not recommend leaving it at the airport, at least not parked on a non-sealed surface. The last time I did that, the brakes failed on me a week later due to corrosion of the brake lines.

The Subarus seem great, but they're pricey. With hindsight, I should have bought a newer vehicle, even if it sits there most of the time waiting for something to tow. I like the Mazda CX-7 (sufficient for towing, more efficient due to 4-cylinder), or the Santa Fe.

Out west here a good four-wheel drive is a good idea and we use the owner's vehicle where possible, but we have some pilots who come to the field by motorcycle, RV or electric vehicle. On land-outs where we can't use an aero-retrieve, we use volunteers and whatever tow vehicle is available. The informal rule is the out-landee gets to buy dinner (and lots of beer) for the volunteer crew. I've been the recipient and donor on both ends of this deal!

Mike

On Monday, October 1, 2012 7:46:40 AM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 10/1/2012 7:22 AM, son_of_flubber wrote: I own a very fuel efficient car (40+ mpg) that handles the long drive to the airport at minimal cost.. But my fuel efficient car is not suitable for towing a glider trailer.... especially if I have to tow the trailer out of a muddy field. So if I buy a glider, do I need to trade in my very small car for something like a Subaru Forester? Do people ever form Tow Vehicle Syndicates? How does that work out? That's an idea. Or maybe buy a suitable but old vehicle for $2000 or so and keep it at the airport. -- Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)

Insurance, in high cost areas like Las Vegas, NV, is a huge factor. I'd just make friends with a glider pilot who has a truck.

On Monday, October 1, 2012 1:44:32 PM UTC-5, wrote:

I'd just make friends with a glider pilot who has a truck.

Agree completely. Those of us who have a vehicle that can pull a trailer are usually more than willing to use them to help out a fellow glider pilot in need. Offer to buy some gas in addition to the meal if you borrow crew and vehicle. I doubt you will be turned down. Heck, one of our guys loaned his truck to someone to drive 800 plus miles each way to go pick up a glider he had just bought.

Steve Leonard

On 10/1/2012 10:22 AM, son_of_flubber wrote:
I own a very fuel efficient car (40+ mpg) that handles the long drive to the airport at minimal cost. But my fuel efficient car is not suitable for towing a glider trailer... especially if I have to tow the trailer out of a muddy field.

So if I buy a glider, do I need to trade in my very small car for something like a Subaru Forester?

Just about any car can tow a glider. What's more important, IMHO, is
what happens when you have to hit the brakes - hard. Most small cars
will do not do well in this situation. I've towed my glider with a 4 cyl
Honda accord and a 6 cyl Toyota Rav 4. I'll take the Rav 4 any day.

Tony LS6-b "6N"

As Tony said, small cars have issues when breaking hard. I know a person who pulled his glider with a Jeep Wrangler and the glider trailer (and glider) ended up rolling sideways down the freeway one afternoon. Very sad.
A long wheelbase is your friend. IMO, the longer, the better for safety. My truck is 140 inches compared to a Rav4 at 103ish. I would never consider using a vehicle with that short of a wheelbase. That is an accident waiting to happen.

On 10/1/2012 10:07 PM, Craig R. wrote:
As Tony said, small cars have issues when breaking hard. I know a person who pulled his glider with a Jeep Wrangler and the glider trailer (and glider) ended up rolling sideways down the freeway one afternoon.

I have a friend who towed his LS4 behind a Toyota Solara. The LS4 was
repairable.

Tony

On Monday, October 1, 2012 8:22:31 AM UTC-6, son_of_flubber wrote:
I own a very fuel efficient car (40+ mpg) that handles the long drive to the airport at minimal cost. But my fuel efficient car is not suitable for towing a glider trailer... especially if I have to tow the trailer out of a muddy field.



So if I buy a glider, do I need to trade in my very small car for something like a Subaru Forester?



Do people ever form Tow Vehicle Syndicates? How does that work out?
When I bought my first glider I bought the wife a new car and her old car (Ford Exploder) became my airport car. A spare car is the way to go. When you fly XC and contests no one in the family has to be without a car and you still get to drive your fun car during the week.
Kirk