Wheel lift wrecker for your toad?

[Len Silva]

Here's an idea I had a few years back.
Using a wrecker wheel lift as a method for towing a car.  There was no way to make it work on my 4104.  Perhaps on an Eagle or school bus, not sure about MCI.

You could tow any car without a dolly and there would only be one more axle on the ground, perhaps saving a little on tolls.

Here is one I found online; there are lots of others.

lhttp://www.dynamicmfg.com/dynamic_007.htm

What do you guys think?  I've never seen it done but if the back end of the bus can handle the stress it might just work.

FWIW

Len Silva

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Len,

Where would the stinger retract to when not towing a vehicle?

I like your thinking!!  keep it up.

Nick Badame

[gumpy]

Yeah, those units in the link you posted are designed for people who reposses cars for banks. Saw one being used on a news program a few years ago. They can get a car out of a parking lot in about 3 minutes. They don't even tie it down, just lift and go. They stop a few blocks away to tie it down. Safety.

Your tow hitch will need to be set up to support half the weight of the vehicle being towed. That's not typically  the case on buses. Can be done, but requires more engineering.

Are tolls on that extra axle really a problem?  

We've been trying to avoid the interstates more and more now that we have the bus. There's so much more to see than interstates, and we've driven them so much in the past we have some of them memorized. No desire to see them any more. We're trying to slow down more and enjoy the trip. It's no longer about just getting there to begin the vacation; the vacation starts when we leave home and the trip is part of it.

4-down is the easiest way to take a toad, in my opinion.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Craig,

Some years back I owned a recovery co.
Mostly did illegal parks and road service, there was not a vehicle we couldn't access and remove!
The tools of the trade are awesome. A set of Go-Jacks and a stinger, 2-3 min. Load, lock, and roll.
Among untellable ways! LOL

Nick-

Yeah, those units in the link you posted are designed for people who reposses cars for banks. Saw one being used on a news program a few years ago. They can get a car out of a parking lot in about 3 minutes. They don't even tie it down, just lift and go. They stop a few blocks away to tie it down. Safety.

Your tow hitch will need to be set up to support half the weight of the vehicle being towed. That's not typically  the case on buses. Can be done, but requires more engineering.

Are tolls on that extra axle really a problem? 

We've been trying to avoid the interstates more and more now that we have the bus. There's so much more to see than interstates, and we've driven them so much in the past we have some of them memorized. No desire to see them any more. We're trying to slow down more and enjoy the trip. It's no longer about just getting there to begin the vacation; the vacation starts when we leave home and the trip is part of it.

4-down is the easiest way to take a toad, in my opinion.

[gumpy]

Seemed like a dangerous job to me.

[NJT5047]

Your tow hitch will need to be set up to support half the weight of the vehicle being towed. That's not typically  the case on buses. Can be done, but requires more engineering.
4-down is the easiest way to take a toad, in my opinion.

Considering the leverage, and the fact that most of the weight in popular toads is in the front 1/3 of the car, and factor in the "bounce," you'll be carrying (momentrarily perhaps) more than the weight of the car.   A stinger off the rear of a bus is going to be a long device...?
May I suggest that if this is done on an MCI, it would take major re-engineering to attach such a load.  Notwithstanding, more than a few older MCIs have pending frame failure in the proposed attaching area.  The whole rear frame from above the radiators would have to be reinforced...on an MCi.. now maybe a Prevost or skoolie frame rails??   Believe a skoolie would be the ticket....you got real frame rails to work with.   Problem solved.  Gump can work out the details.    
Sorry for all this prattle...I'm headed for a "Full Doubleknot Membership!"   
Best, JR     

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Here's an idea I had a few years back.
Using a wrecker wheel lift as a method for towing a car.  There was no way to make it work on my 4104.  Perhaps on an Eagle or school bus, not sure about MCI.

You could tow any car without a dolly and there would only be one more axle on the ground, perhaps saving a little on tolls.

Here is one I found online; there are lots of others.

lhttp://www.dynamicmfg.com/dynamic_007.htm

What do you guys think?  I've never seen it done but if the back end of the bus can handle the stress it might just work.

FWIW

Len Silva

Len,

I saw with my own eyes, a stinger on the back of a Holiday Rambler. It was towing a full size chev. P.U. in a park in Fl.

Oooff. I didn't have my camra with me!  I asked the man who installed it, he said he did it himself.

It was a Vulcan wheel lift with a remote control box and the unit retracted into the rear of the coach.

I mentioned that I have a MCI bus that didn't have room for the stinger to retract, he stated that they have

a model that folds up behind the vehicle instead of retracting. I'll have to research this more!

I like this concept and the fellow stated that it takes him 4 min's to load, and less to unload... along with one less axel

to pay for at tolls.

Nick-