KMG_365 Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 As a Tow Bike Rider! (clicky) Link to comment
DaveC Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Interesting idea, but I think it is very impractical. In Sweden with its long cold winters, this vehicle is not useful over half of the year. I challenge him to tow a car on a snow or ice covered street during the winter time. Link to comment
Calvin (no socks) Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 You wouldn't want someone to turn left in front of that rig...squish factor of 10.... Link to comment
bobbybob Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Interesting idea, but I think it is very impractical. In Sweden with its long cold winters, this vehicle is not useful over half of the year. I challenge him to tow a car on a snow or ice covered street during the winter time. Good point--but they are selling these gizmos all over the world. Other parts of Europe & Asia, for example. And laughing all the way to the bank! Link to comment
notacop Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 "tow a car in ice and snow" I think you miss the whole entire point. Just imagine in Calif's traffic if the offending dead car could be moved quickly out of the way and off the Fwy, we'd all get ot lane splitting much sooner. These fellows offer a viable tool for the market. Doesn't have to tow fast or far. Just enough to clear the problem. I'd call it brilliant! Link to comment
GelStra Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 The only thing I noticed, which I am not sure is the case always, is that the car had to drive itself onto the aparatus. Maybe there is a way to do it without the car's own power. Not sure. Makes a lot of sense. The biggest issue is mainly to get the thing outta the way so a "crisis" over a stalled vehicle doesn't ensue. Link to comment
SWB Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 The only thing I noticed, which I am not sure is the case always, is that the car had to drive itself onto the aparatus. Maybe there is a way to do it without the car's own power. Not sure. Makes a lot of sense. The biggest issue is mainly to get the thing outta the way so a "crisis" over a stalled vehicle doesn't ensue. Shouldn't be a problem; just rig a hoist (i.e. like that used to pull boats up onto a boat trailer). My concern would be the incongruent weight between a 1300 lb bike versus it's 2500 lb tow. Even if you add substantial braking capability to the trailer, if the heavier towed vehicle lurches left or right, it's going to whip that lighter bike right along with it. The ONLY way this can be done safely, in my mind, is on straight, flat roadway going very steady and slow. Try towing a car with this contraption in San Francisco, or anywhere with any kind of inclines. I can't imagine how this bike can safely tow a vehicle even equal to it's own weight, let along multiple times it's own weight. And then, there's the liability issue of having passengers remain in the vehicle. In the USA, that's a non-starter. If anything happened to the tow while there were passengers in the vehicle, I'd be concerned for possible criminal as well as civil liability of the operator. Link to comment
ESokoloff Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 My concern would be the incongruent weight between a 1300 lb bike versus it's 2500 lb tow. Even if you add substantial braking capability to the trailer, if the heavier towed vehicle lurches left or right, it's going to whip that lighter bike right along with it. The ONLY way this can be done safely, in my mind, is on straight, flat roadway going very steady and slow. ....I can't imagine how this bike can safely tow a vehicle even equal to it's own weight, let along multiple times it's own weight.... I think Paul said it best.... The biggest issue is mainly to get the thing outta the way so a "crisis" over a stalled vehicle doesn't ensue. This device can get on scene much faster than can a conventional rig. All that this device need do, is remove the stalled small to mid sized vehicle off the roadway or at least off to the side out of traffic lanes. From there a conventional rig could take over. Link to comment
tobyzusa Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Please remember not to lane split after picking up your fare . Link to comment
notacop Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 In the video I saw it showed the Honda pulling a sedan and a trailer. It be done already It's not a task for the feint of heart or doubting Thomases. I'd imagine that the braking could be handled with brakes on the trailer, just like already exists. I towed a trailer that had an electrical box sitting in my lap that I could control. I stopped using the trailer brakes, not the tow cars'. A small winch would take care of the placement on the dead vehicle onto the dolly. All really very simple. Link to comment
Quinn Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 So, what happens to the people in the car? Do they stay in the car? Not too legal around here. Are they left on the side of the road? Not too happy customer. Also, is it powerful enough to drag/pull a vehicle with a broken axle, dropped engine, etc.? Seems quit limited for anything other than overheats, out of gas, computer failed type stoppages. Link to comment
bimmers Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 isn't it funny how w ealways can say why not, instead of looking at the positives and get the lawyers outof the way. So much more is possible in the rest of the wrold because of attitudes being can do it, instead of that is not possible here............ Winter 60 % of the time Stockholm has no snow in the winter months..... It is like saying that a convertible is impossible since it rains occasionally. AND we did not have them for a while cause of liability issues. a good idea for smaller vehicle towing. h Link to comment
texasaggie97 Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I agree I think that this is a great idea. Link to comment
DaveC Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 "tow a car in ice and snow" I think you miss the whole entire point. Just imagine in Calif's traffic if the offending dead car could be moved quickly out of the way and off the Fwy, we'd all get ot lane splitting much sooner. These fellows offer a viable tool for the market. Doesn't have to tow fast or far. Just enough to clear the problem. I'd call it brilliant! I do not understand how this vehicle could get to the scene of a vehicle breakdown any faster than a tow truck. I do not think it could split lanes due to its width. Then as others have pointed out, how can it safely tow a vehicle that weighs several times more than it does? If all that needs to be accomplished is move a stalled car to the side of the road, it would be easiest for a few motorists to push it out of the way. Link to comment
mefly2 Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Right ... how do you "chain it up"? Are the m/c brakes standard or beefed up? Link to comment
Flyer5 Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Think our final drives are up to it ? Link to comment
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