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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - What to use to tow LBCs?

I'm sure lots will suggest bigger and better but I'm more interested in smaller, cheaper and more economical. I've a light, single axle trailer (800lbs) and a ratty '91 S10 Blazer with the 4.3l V6. Something of a gas hog. Under 20mpg without a trailer and LBC. Never checked gas milage with!

With the rising price of fuel, I've been thinking of what might replace the Blazer as it bio-degrades between towing assignments. I thought of the Ford Taurus, as they seem to sell cheaply and probably give better economy unladen, but i see that they only have a rated towing capacity of 1750 lbs.

Any other suggestions? RWD Volvo? Remember, I don't buy new. I'd rather spent the money on LBCs!

Thanks in advance.

TTFN
Derek Nicholson

OOC, why don't you just drive your LBC?

TheMiz

I have a trailer hitch on 4 of my M.G.s & pull a 3,000lbs. with a 4 cyl. & I do 22-23 mpg.@ 65mph. (I refuse to have a S.U.V., Van, Pick up, or H.D.)!!!
Glenn Towery

TheMiz:- I do drive my LBCs. Unfortunately, I have this habit of dragging orphaned LBCs home with me.

Glenn:- See above. I'm thinking of driving 1600 miles each way to "adopt" an(other) MGA. I can't see doing that in a 'B. Not even a V8!

Also, isn't it illegal to tow a trailer if it's above the vehicle's rated capacity?

Derek Nicholson

Ah - now THAT makes sense! Good luck in your quest!
TheMiz

TheMiz, there was even a '67 'B I nearly bought of eBay. Maybe I should try and confine my "adoptions" to driveable cars, so I could fly (or bus) in and drive home!

Derek Nicholson

The 74 G.T that I am driving right now (4 cyl.) the first thing we did after a 50 mile ck. out was to leave De. & go to Ark. to tell Dad happy 84, went to little rock & put the tow bar on another 74 G.T. & pulled it home. 2,500 miles round trip. I do not care about the tow weight, the books don't go back that far! & I have never found the M.G. in the tow book. Have pulled a trailer & cars with the M.G. for 25+ years & have never been pulled over for towing!!!!!
Glenn Towery

Derek, "flat towing" with a tow bar might be the way to go. I have succesfully used this method for years.
Very easy with pre rubber bumper mgb's as you just remove the bumper from the car to be flat towed, bolt on your two hole fabricated plates through the front valence and then attach your tow bar. This way you eliminate the weight of the trailer and reduce the center of gravity of the mgb being towed. This is ok with factory mgb trannys and T5's. It is NOT ok with Rover 5 speeds or tr8 transmissions as they have an internal pump. Additionally, ALWAYS....put the car in neutral, disconnect the battery and insert the key into the ignition in the on position of the car being towed. This prevents screwing up the engine and steering of the car. As Glenn points out, you can use almost any car to tow this way and quite often you forget its back there! That is, until, in a dazed condition you occasionally look in your rear view mirror and say to yourself, who is that idiot riding my bumper:-)
Mike Maloney

glenn, "i do not care about tow weight" maybe the rest of us on the interstate do? not very smart. my states DMV or highway patrol would gladly give you the ratios on towing capacity, regardless of the year or make of the car. let me know when you are going to gatlinburg so i can leave a couple hours before you head out.
james madson

Derek,I'm guessing that the quality of car you are rehabilitating to release back into the wild would never have 4 inflated tires, free wheeling brakes or even a diff still in place.This would make my suggestion of buying a used car dolly a moot point.I retrieved my B with a dolly when I first got it, and it towed well.But when I towed a Dodge Caravan with the same S-10, the tail wagged the dog for 200 tortuous miles.A larger vehicle like a Taurus would probably tow your small trailer well but do not get one with the 3.0 liter,they are pigs.The 3.8 engine has more power,but a head gasket would probably blow on your first trip.On an unrelated note,I made my reservations at the Tallyho last Friday and lucked out.I got the last non-smoking room only because someone cancelled. So don't delay.So Derek,in your case I'm assuming that LBC stands for Loon Bin Canadian??
Dale

A graet tow car is the Jensen Interceptor. Comes with a 440 Chrysler V-8, and Torgue flite auto. It will out pull most P-ups and still go 140 mph. Gets about 10 to 14 mpg though without trailer, but it's still British.
Wayne Hardy

James, Have towed a up to 3,000 lbs. trailer full of M.G. parts from N.H. to Fla. to K.C. Kan. to the windy city with a 74.5 B G.T. with a 3.5 V8 that now has 455,000 miles on her & she will be at the V-8 meet with 2 or 3 Triumph M/Cs behind her. I am going to take one of my other 300,000 mile plus V-8s, just not sure witch one.
Glenn Towery

Hi Dale. Actually, that would be "Loony Bin Canadian, Eh?"

Glen, I don't doubt that a 3.5 V8 will pull a 3000lb. trailer. I'd be more concerned at the 5000lb load being slowed adequately with the brake, even if uprated.

The Volvo 740 & 760 is rated for a 3300 lb trailer with brakes, 2000 lbs without, with a maximum of 200 lbs tongue load. Sounds interesting. But the fuel economy of the 760 is only rated at 21mpg (highway). The 740 is rated at 26mpg. Anyone ever owned one?

TTFN
Derek Nicholson

This thread was discussed between 03/04/2006 and 10/04/2006

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