Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[3930dave]

I don't like the idea of shelling out a ton of money to repair a banged up car, but it's more appealing that trying to shell out for a banged up human.

Despite the Automotive Marketing, it's not an Either/Or situation. Neither does me questioning ridiculous bumper repair costs make me anti-safety.

If you read what I linked from the IIHS (who have a major interest, including fiscally, in minimizing human damage), you'll understand how the older bumpers I'm talking about actually performed better than current ones.

I've seen plenty of bumpers apart on modern cars. Aside from a minor sensor or 2 not present on older cars, all they really are is a plastic skin over a big chunk of styrofoam, backed by a small metal horizontal bar - typically solidly mounted. Plastic skin goes on with quick-attach plastic clips, and maybe a (very) few screws - all of the design is optimized for manufacturing speed, and minimal material cost/weight. Much of the increased repair cost today is simply from the fact that these modern bumpers are one-time-use throwaway systems, after just one low-speed impact.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Remember Clamp on Bumper Tow Bars?

View attachment 511526

I remember a smaller version of that. Yours looks solidly built.

Rgds, D.

 

[Travelover]

I worked in a rental yard as a kid and we rented tow bars. In site of charging a higher deposit than the cost of the bar, they were our most frequently stolen item.

 

[bcp]

Remember Clamp on Bumper Tow Bars?

View attachment 511526

Remember clamp-on trailer hitches. :shocked:

Bruce

 

[3930dave]

I worked in a rental yard as a kid and we rented tow bars. In spite of charging a higher deposit than the cost of the bar, they were our most frequently stolen item.

Those old customers have Canadian cousins..... and I've met them..... they like to go to auctions here and pay more for items used, than they cost brand new....

They make up for their auction losses by neglecting truck and trailer maintenance..... and end up in the highlight reel here.....

Rgds, D.

 

[Travelover]

Remember clamp-on trailer hitches. :shocked:

Bruce

We had those, too at the same rental yard. The custom ones were not too bad, but the universal ones with a chain and clamps were scary. More than once they came back with the lower chains swinging in the wind.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Remember clamp-on trailer hitches. :shocked:

Bruce

Yep.. used both to tow a car home once. Clamp on hitch to clamp on tow bar ... was fun

 

[California]

We had those, too at the same rental yard. The custom ones were not too bad, but the universal ones with a chain and clamps were scary. More than once they came back with the lower chains swinging in the wind.

Recognize anything here? That was the outer half of a clamp-on hitch. Perfect for welding to a curved surface.

It's a lot simpler to put away the trailer in a narrow stall now. Also with the hitch permanent there's no more driving to where the 3-point trailer hitch was left and swapping out whatever implement was on the back, for just a minute's use of the hitch. Recommended!

 

[3930dave]

Recognize anything here? That was the outer half of a clamp-on hitch. Perfect for welding to a curved surface.

It's a lot simpler to put away the trailer in a narrow stall now. Also with the hitch permanent there's no more driving to where the 3-point trailer hitch was left and swapping out whatever implement was on the back, for just a minute's use of the hitch. Recommended!

View attachment 511565

Front-mounted receivers on marina trucks are common around here, as they are really useful for trailers in tight spots.

That's the first I've seen done like that on a tractor. Big :thumbsup: from me !

Rgds, D.

 

[California]

Front-mounted receivers on marina trucks are common around here, as they are really useful for trailers in tight spots.

That's the first I've seen done like that on a tractor. Big :thumbsup: from me !

Rgds, D.

Thanks Dave!