Ramp Truck Rescue

Most of my tow vehicles have been 70's Fords and yes aim does describe the handling.

I love the ramp truck, the only thing I want out of one is a sort of 4ft sleeper type cab extension so I can change into my race gear, maybe even have a microwave and a mini fridge.

I also want to the pros and cons of the ramp truck over a pick up. Can I easily fab some add-ons that let me haul some of the usual pick up truck loads or is it really a single use vehicle. For the magazine obviously it just needs to tote cars.

Tom

ultraclyde wrote:

FYP. Brakes and steering for a 40 year old vehicle that has not seen the road for a while would make me nervous.

ehh...it's king pin twin I-beam front suspension and recirculating ball power steering (at least, I hope it's power.) They started out loose and scary as hell. Age didn't affect them as much as mileage. Just think of it as 'aiming' instead of 'driving.'

I always looked at is that you were giving the truck suggestions as to the approximate place you wanted it to go.

Our old ramp truck was made from a F-600 moving truck. Sold the box to a neighbor for use as a shed. Aim was a good description for the steering on that, too. Margie doesn't seem too concerned...must be the life insurance is paid up to date!

In reply to minimac:

Tim does race a TR3 and I'm sure this is not the first truck with vague steering he's driven.

Ian F... that hurts!

Good ideas. I have a pickup, so I hadn't thought of the idea of making the Ramp-meister a dual purpose vehicle. I was definitely going to put a hitch on it, which effectively gives me a way to tow two cars to the track at once, or my travel trailer and a race car.

The dual towing idea, coupled with my love of period looking stuff and then the main reason I went this way is to have a place to just leave all my race stuff, between races.

Now we have to unpack everything and remember to repack everything between events.

I was going to go around NYC. Not where I like to work on my crappers on the side of the road. I much prefer the calm and beauty of I 287.

Tim Suddard wrote: I much prefer the calm and beauty of I 287.

The only time I'll drive through NYC is at o-dark early. If I cross the GWB at around 6am, then 87 to the Cross County to the Hutchinson to the Merrit is a reasonably calm way to get to CT and points north for me. I was working on a project in Portsmouth, NH for a month so I was doing this drive every week.

Going home, it's always 287 -> 202 -> 31 -> 95. Been doing that drive for almost 20 years now, since I started mtn bike racing at venues in NY and VT. Are there shorter and maybe faster routes? Maybe. Less stressful? No. And at this point in my life, I'll gladly trade miles/time for less stress.

"Going home, it's always 287 -> 202 -> 31 -> 95. Been doing that drive for almost 20 years now, since I started mtn bike racing at venues in NY and VT. Are there shorter and maybe faster routes? Maybe. Less stressful? No. And at this point in my life, I'll gladly trade miles/time for less stress."
I haven't looked at the map lately but I have been driving from Pa into CT for quite a while too. I would think from Hershey I would take I-81 to Scranton, Pa. then I-84 straight thru past Hartford, Ct. Couldn't be less stressful. Tim I know you like those Triumphs but if you ditch that spitfire and stop here in Pa and pick up my Healey, take it to Florida, I could use it on the Orange Blossom Tour. Course then I'd probably have to drive it back to Pa in late March or early April. Hmm. Dave.

Can't drive this truck on the Merritt / Wilbur Cross with or without commercial plates. So it's I-95 and all its wonderfulness.

As far as 287 goes, I hope the Tappan Zee Bridge doesn't fall apart.

Sounds like a good road trip to me. If you break down and need parts, you can always unload the Spit and go chase them.

Marjorie Suddard wrote: Tim and the TSA don't quite see eye to eye. His latest scolding was for duct tape. They consider it a no-no, and weren't exactly swayed by his arguments that this is a silly policy.

After making this argument, I'm surprised the next sound Tim heard was not the snapping of a rubber glove.

My buddy Rennie already found a cheap BMW 2002 Bauer convertible that we need to stop and look at. We may already be driving, not carrrying, the Spitfire. Good thing is has working overdrive!

CT to FL definitely beats my MI to PA run.

In reply to wannacruise:

81 is fine if you're in Hershey, but I live within ear-shot of I-95, so...

"81 is fine if you're in Hershey, but I live within ear-shot of I-95, so... " Can't get the quote button to work. But I got ya on the I-95 bit. I thought I read Tim saying he was going to Hershey before New England. But like now I haven't gone back to reread anything. Dave. PS: Guess I'll just have to drive the Vette to Florida. It handles the SuperSlabs better than the Healey.

Tim Suddard wrote: My buddy Rennie already found a cheap BMW 2002 Bauer convertible that we need to stop and look at. We may already be driving, not carrrying, the Spitfire. Good thing is has working overdrive!

So a stop at U-Haul for a rental trailer is certainly in play, then.

Margie- have you cleared out some room?

BTW, thanks for ramping up your buys like this- makes my down fall of work much easier- as I can live through you guys. Cuts, bruises, dirt up my nose and all.

In reply to wannacruise:

I hear ya... I'm still not 100% sure on what route he's taking. Margie said Hershey to CT then FL, but a couple of Tim's post hint at going from CT to Hershey. Or I'm misreading (quite possible)... Regardless, hopefully he'll post updates from the road and let us know how he's doing.

We are posting daily updates. Yesterday was long, but we have this thing sorted pretty well. And it runs and drives pretty darn well.