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@DannyP posted:

I hope you're planning to purchase various ratchet straps beforehand. I'm sure Carey and Mike can advise on strapping that thing down. Did you wire in a brake controller yet? I won't tow a car without brakes, especially with something as small as an Outback or even a rented truck.

@Lane Anderson

Or, just get it delivered and worry about that crap later...

I'd rather do the latter as the drive up and down would be more fun, but I need to talk to Carey.  If they can't get it down for a month I'll probably trailer.

The brake controller gets installed Wednesday.  Yeah, I kinda waited till the last minute.    They're going to have to do a conversion to a seven-pin plug.  Oh well.

Lane, that is truly a gorgeous car, but if you've never towed anything heavy any long distance AND you're not used to setting/adjusting and the feel of electric trailer brakes, AND you're not used to safely placing and properly tightening 2"-3" ratcheting car straps (either frame straps or wheel nets), I would really suggest letting the Bremen boys deliver it to you.  After that, you can practice loading/unloading in your driveway, towing around the neighborhood then venturing out into some light traffic situations and then try I-526.  

Once you do all that and get used to what's going on behind you (there's gonna be a lot of squeeks and rattles as part of the parade, not to mention weight shifts and weird feelings felt through the seat), only then would I say, "Sure - You know what you're doing so load up and head on out."  

Charlotte will be busy but not terribly so.  Charleston, OTOH, will be nuts and you'll probably hit it at rush hour coming home and have to do the 526/26 mixmaster.  Do you really want to pull a brand new car through all that on your second day out as opposed to having it safely delivered to your driveway?  You've waited 4,5, 6 years - You can wait another couple of weeks.

You know how much I've trailered Pearl.....  I wasn't being careful each time out because I had nothing better to do.  The first 2 or 3 times out I was a nervous wreck and those were only local trips.  By the time I hauled to Carlisle I had a dozen trips under my belt, anywhere from across town to car club member homes or down to Roebling Road or HHI.  Each time out was different til I got used to it and developed a plan of loading, strapping, strap checking, first five - ten miles, re-tighten straps and then could relax a little bit.

Think about it, and decide if you're ready for this with your new car.

@Lane Anderson Pulling the empty trailer will have you well versed upon arrival at the hotel. I'll be glad to show you how to safely load and securely strap the right way. Then we can take a cruise loaded and I'll give you towing tips and how to make a quick move if needed and teach you to back easily with confidence.  An additional 1,700 lbs. on an open trailer isn't all that much to be concerned with. 

........." I tow on RT 75 at 75 cause, the sign say's so "

Umm, yeah, and the builder of the trailer will be there as well. I think there might be enough people there to help noob trailer guy(Carey, Mike, Alan etc.). Remember the trailer only weighs 700 pounds. Lane will be under 2500 or maybe 2700 pounds tops.

When you set a proportional electric brake properly, the brakes just work like normal brakes should. No fuss, no muss. The brakes are self adjusting, so pretty much always adjusted.

When towing the empty trailer, you need to remember to turn the brake controller down as low as possible to prevent locking the wheels.

Trailer towing with brakes is a whole lot better than flat-towing.

Last edited by DannyP

Alan's offer certainly would lower the stress factor.  I'm already comfortable with an empty trailer as I picked it up from Danny in Lexington, VA, and drove it ~400 miles home.  I'm still debating the rental truck suggestion, but prices certainly have gone up and I'd have it for over a week.  It'd still be lower stress (for me, at least) if I could con Carey or Mike into delivering it , but that's somewhat dependent on the delay.

Thanks Tom!  We're working something up for the fall, so I'll keep you posted.

As I said in the Carlisle thread, I will probably leave delivery duties to Team Beck.  I need a low stress break from work and that will make everything easier on me.  I'm not particularly concerned about pulling a trailer as I've done that before, but this will keep the car safe in an enclosed trailer and save wear on Pam's car.  The trailer will still be handy for use if the car is incapacitated or we have to bug out during hurricane season.  Maybe I'll trailer the Coupe next year, but I bet I decide to drive it up.  Time will tell.

Lane:

It's beautiful. I love the color combination. I also love all the little custom touches you made like the built in luggage and straps and the roll bar with the head rest, and the exhaust. Enjoy it and use it well. I hope mine comes out just as nice. We will have to get together when I get my car.

I had a few questions. What size wheels and tires did you go with? What is the box in the trunk?

Joel

I believe the tires are 195/HR60-15s.  The wheels are 15x5.5 or 15x6 (please chime in here @chines1).  The front and rear wheels are the same size but the rears are dished out at least an inch.  It looks better and provides a wider track.  If you could get a wider set made you could run a wider rear tire.

The box in the trunk is a leather covered battery cover.

Do you have a rough ETA on yours yet?

Last edited by Lane Anderson

With the dual tanks we had on our diesel pickup, the range was about the same as you're projecting - around 800 miles.  Our break system was the two Jack Russells - They would mostly sleep whenever the wheels were turning unless (a.) someone (anyone) rustled a package that sounded even remotely like it had food in it or, (b.) we slowed down for traffic.  As soon as we hit a traffic slowdown and passed an exit (with not another exit for miles), one or both Jacks would have to go.  Always an interesting situation.

Hi Lane:

Carey told me we could run 205 65 15's on 15 x 6 " rims front and back. I want to use a Fuchs replica wheel. I posted a picture on my thread.

No formal ETA on my build. Carey told me he was hoping to start on the frame sometime around on the end of the year and the body shortly thereafter.

Is your battery in the normal location? Did you move it to the back because you enlarged the gas tank? I thought they normally locate them up front?

Joel

@Joel Roth posted:

Hi Lane:

Carey told me we could run 205 65 15's on 15 x 6 " rims front and back. I want to use a Fuchs replica wheel. I posted a picture on my thread.

No formal ETA on my build. Carey told me he was hoping to start on the frame sometime around on the end of the year and the body shortly thereafter.

Is your battery in the normal location? Did you move it to the back because you enlarged the gas tank? I thought they normally locate them up front?

Joel

A Beck has the battery in the back normally. I doubt it has changed with the new frame configuration.

@DannyP posted:

So less than three tanks, with plenty to spare. Sweet! Regular gas too, cheapskate!

It is a stock Subaru, right? Maybe splurge on 89 octane(not that it needs it)?

Sounds like the elves at Beck could come up with a better solution for Spyders too. You know, in their spare time LOL!

The new tank looks just like an original Spyder tank and it's just a gallon or so short of what those reportedly were. Frankly I'd be shocked if they didn't make it a Spyder option as of like next year.

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