Push bar versus tow strap.

[jdincau]

Steve;

If you do fabricate a wooden bumper for your Dodge pickup, please take pictures and post them to show how you did it. I also have a Dodge and I was considering doing something similar to mine.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

take a look at these, I put one on my 2004 Dodge and use a single vertical post to push the roadsters off. They both have a horizontal bar across the back. No turning sharp corners with this setup though.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/curt-front-mount-hitches/p3089871.jcwx?filterid=c2324j2

You could modify it to have two receivers if you wanted the more traditional slab of wood across the front

[SteveM]

My Ram 2500 has the bolt-on tow hooks which attach to the frame at the front bumper mount locations.

I was originally thinking of making some removable brackets which could be bolted on in place of the factory tow hooks, and which would support a traditional flat wooden piece.

Steve.

[Milwaukee Midget]

If you pull -

Either get a bra for the Rampage or BIG mudflaps on the tow vehicle.

No sense in kicking salt into your radiator and having to clean your windshield EVERY SINGLE TIME you tow the racer.

I'm STILL desalinating.

[SteveM]

Is it common to PUSH the race vehicle back to the pits / to the start line, and all other places it would need to go?

Since I've never been there, I only have a mental picture of "pushing off" at the start line, but always assumed that the race vehicles would be towed around by strap any other time the race vehicle needs to be moved.

Of course, this may be a completely unfounded assumption.

[SPARKY]

I have used all---a tow bar is only second to a--- low boy easy to load trailer---it will not take you long to get where you can back up to hook up with slight angst and several jump out to check just where you are--- it is a long way round for pushing and tow strapping--try it with a vech that has no suspension.. 

[SteveM]

My pickup has a very handy back-up camera built into the tailgate handle.  VERY HANDY for hooking up trailers, hitches, and the like.

Steve.

[jdincau]

We only use the push bar for getting the race vehicle off the starting line. We have a tow dolly for the modified roadster and a tow bar for the street roadster. Large mud flaps on the tow truck. Lots of people push their cars around but keep in mind it is a 3 mile push to the nearest starting line and if you use one of the other courses a six or seven mile push back.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I know you're talking car, not bike, but we had a trailer made specifically for our bike(s) at Bonneville.  It's got about 1/2" ground clearance - so no loading ramp is needed.  It has removable wheels, mounted on little spindles that are welded to 2" square tube from a trailer hitch.  When we're ready to go traveling -- we take the wheels off the trailerette (as we call it) and then bolt the little trailer to the floor of the big trailer.  With that we've got not only a place to store the thing without losing any room in the trailer, but also we've got good tie-down points to hold the bike safe and steady when going down the road.

Maybe you can get some ideas from our rig.  I could send photos if you needed 'em.

[Dean Los Angeles]

I'm picturing in my mind, a "reverse triangle", with the pivot point being the tow eye of the Rampage, and making the wider base of the triangle so that it's supported by the receiver hitch on the "big truck".

You want the pivot as close to the axle centerline as possible. If you were on the centerline the tow vehicle wouldn't move left-right when the the tow truck turns.

If you use a reverse triangle the pivot point is very far from the axle and when the truck turns the pivot point is going to take a wide swing.

[SPARKY]

if you have a rear view seeing eye dog    what is your worry about a tow bar 

[SteveM]

I'm not worried about a tow-bar, I hadn't even considered the possibility before today.  It wasn't on my radar.

I was planning only on using a tow strap.  I've towed enough cars on straps in the past, that I know the dangers associated with doing so, and what it takes to do it "right".

The tow bar seems like a good option.  I need to spend a little time figuring out what it would take to make it work for me.

I know I can fab up a push board for the front of the Support Truck, and a vertical bar to hook onto the hitch of the Rampage.

I now have a couple of good options to consider.

That's one of the things that's so nice about a forum like this, expanding possibilities and learning new things.

[thundersalt]

Tow bars are super easy  if you use a "real" tow bar like tow master, blue ox or any motor home  type setup. We used a sterling by tow master on the fairlne the whole time we ran it. It was just too simple.

[Dr Goggles]

there is one distinct advantage to having a towbar it means the driver is in with the crew immediately after the run it is the best time to talk about what has gone on if you use a tow rope the driver has to concentrate in the car about controlling it until you get back to the pit and that valuable moment has gone.

[SPARKY]

  spot on Dr G

[jlmccuan]

I thought that the race vehicle had to have someone in it for any tow or push on the salt.  Does a 3 point tow bar eliminate that rule? This was in the event rules rather than the annual rule book.  I asked a couple of years ago during Rookie Orientation and was told regardless of the connection to the tow/push vehicle someone had to be able to steer and stop the car if it came disconnected.  After that, we used a single point tow link which definitely requires someone steering.