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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>We tow our 2012 Ford Escape manual transmission flat behind our Motorhome. Sometimes we are moving at over 70 mph. No problems at all. We’ve probably done this for 70,000 miles? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>On the other hand, I’d probably not do this with the Healey because the motorhome really can’t detect the weight of the car. If something went wrong we’d not know about it until some other driver motioned to us, or we arrived at destination with beat up car. The Healey just seems more delicate than the Ford. In our case, we tow the Healey in an enclosed (weather-tight) car hauler trailer behind the Motorhome. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>On the other, other hand, you mention you want to do this behind an SUV. You would probably notice if something was amiss with the Healey behind an SUV. The things that can go wrong are 3 fold: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='color:#1F497D'> The car can somehow slip out of neutral into one of the gears. At which point, the engine will probably overrev and be destroyed --- or put so much drag on the SUV that you’d recognize an issue right away and suffer no bad issues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='color:#1F497D'> The car’s steering can get skew wiff and you find yourself dragging a car which wants to move to a different lane. Probably easily avoided by bungie cord tying the steering wheel to have a strong preference for going straight. (Don’t overdo it though, the steering wheel of a towed car must be allowed latitude to move a bit.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='color:#1F497D'>The car’s brakes might get hot and expand to the point that the brakes start to drag. Tire damage could ensue. Again, you’d probably notice the issue before damage happened.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>In other words, I’d say go for it with the SUV. Although you’ll probably find the Healey is pretty dirty when you arrive at your destination … </span><span style='font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D'>J</span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Best wishes….<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces@autox.team.net] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Robert Begani<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, June 9, 2019 5:20 PM<br><b>To:</b> healeys@autox.team.net<br><b>Subject:</b> [Healeys] Towing a Healey flat<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I am considering towing my BJ8 with a tow bar attached to the front of the frame. The problem I find is that on most sites I have searched, listeners say you have to disconnect the propeller/driveshaft because the transmission will not be lubricating the gears. As our Healey’s are not automatic transmissions I do not see the why not. Another group of comment is that the manual trans gears would not be lubricated. Although I am not expert in the transmission it seems to me that with all the oil we put in the Healey trans all the gears must be at least half immersed and well lubricated. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I have spoken to several Healey drivers at Conclave and shows over the past few years who have towed their Healey flat to the show and all have said “works great without any problems with the trans connected”. My own experience was with my girlfriends soon to become wife in 1968 to get her TR3 to Phoenix. I got a driveaway deal (remember those?) from Budget Chicago to take a car to Phoenix. I rented a bumper hitch from Uhaul with clamps to the bumper of her 1962 TR3. Remember big bumpers on American Cars! I drove it via US 66 all the way to Phoenix through a rain and sleet storm in November. It followed me very nicely. We drove it for 2 years around AZ until I finished my MBA and never had a transmission problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Oh yes, back in the day, we were told that British Cars were designed to have a person in the drivers seat so if you tow one you should put a weight in the drivers seat otherwise the car will want to lean or list to starboard. Never understood that comment. Nevertheless, I put a duffel bag of clothes just in case. Again, it followed me very nicely.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>So I want to use my 3.8 V6 Chrysler Pacifica 2005 SUV which can handle 3500 lbs up to 5000 lbs. if you are pulling flat with very little load on the tongue. So it can handle the load. I have pictures of a tow bar made for the BJ8 which bolts to the front of the frame my friend can fabricate. I seek comments from the list.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Who has experience with Towing Flat?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Bob Begani<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>