Yeah, that is too much thought. I could simply pop the tent, ground pads, tarp, cooler and supplies in the trunk and be done with it. Put on the hitch when I have time and cash. The car no longer leaks oil from under the valve cover (I just used some sealant when seating the gasket - problem solved). No longer leaking gas. Still hissing out a little coolant, but the gauge doesn't go high. No longer leaking brake fluid. Starts, stops and turns. Hoping to order clutch parts today (called for pricing yesterday - had put it off a while ago, but I really need to do this before hauling the Apache). Think what I'll do is park the Corolla and just use the Rambler. That way I should have the Rambler well sorted out before giving up the other car. (providing the tax man holds no surprises) On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 10:48 AM, Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx> wrote: > Yep, you're over thinking it! Sort of like the safety stuff you mentioned a > few months ago. Get good seats and belts, that's the most critical thing! > I hauled a good bit with my 63 American w/196 and auto trans. It was my > "truck" while I was in service too -- still have the utility trailer my > grandfather and I built with old Model T frame rails and front > spindles/wheels and rear springs from a parts 61-63 American I had. Welded > the spindles to each end of a piece of square tubing, and used the bolt-off > spring mounts from the American too. Every time I moved it hauled a trailer > load. Trailer weighs 700-800 pounds I'm sure (8'x4' bed), and it usually had > about that much on it too. If it needed hauling, the rambler and trailer did > it! > Tom will speak for himself I'm sure, but he loads the heck out of his wagon > and goes on trips, even across the desert and mountains. > So you won't have a problem. You've got the idea, just slow down a bit, > allow more pull-out and stop room, get annoyed by inconsiderate drivers who > act like they didn't see you're pulling a load as they pass then slide in 2' > from your front bumper, and enjoy the ride! HINT: on the interstate, get > about 30-40' behind big rigs and drive. You need to stay far enough back > they can see you. People don't like driving between a car with a load and a > big truck, and you can still stop slightly faster than the rig even if they > lock up the brakes suddenly. > ---------- > Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:53:02 -0500 > From: Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx> > > Looks like I have from now until August to get serious about the > Rambler and change it from a once in a while grocery hauler to an > every day driver, dog hauler, popup-puller mobile. Think I had better > avail myself of local AMC club contacts and get myself to meet folks > and ask questions in person and turn a wrench a little more often. At > least it's at a pretty good point and it starts and drives well for > short jaunts. > TomJ - did you do any trailer pulling with your 196, or was it with > the Classic with the 232? If I do end up letting the 'Rolla go, I > still want to be able to go camping once a month in good weather - and > I'd prefer not to go back to the tent. I'm trying to figure this out, > but am probably giving it too much thought. I think just driving > conservatively, keeping my speed down and giving plenty of room in > front of me would be just fine. The trailer weighs between 500 and 650 > pounds (probably closer to 500, I don't have the table and bench > options). > > > > -- > Frank Swygert > Publisher, "American Motors Cars" Magazine (AMC) > For all AMC enthusiasts > http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html > (free download available!) > > _______________________________________________ > AMC-list mailing list > AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx > http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com > _______________________________________________ AMC-list mailing list AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com