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neisman Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2017 Posts: 97 Location: PA
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 6:49 am Post subject: Light weight car |
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I have a Winnebago 21B which is a 21' motor home built using a 2002 Eurovan cab, engine and transmission. I need a toad (Tow behind car).
However the transmission is very sensitive to weight and the engine does not have an excess of power. Sooooo, I am asking if anybody has any suggestions that might help me find/make/customize a light weight toad. We have towed an old Festiva and ended up with transmission repairs.
The toad will need to be enclosed, have heat, AC, and doors (All of which I can add) because my wife cannot climb in and out of the average dune buggy. A convertible or Carson top with side curtains is fine and I can do much customizing.
I am leaning toward a dune buggy type with flat sides that can be made into doors. It would be a great help if anybody has converted the other dune buggy bodies to doors and could advise me. |
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didget69 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004 Posts: 4927 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 9:01 am Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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neisman wrote: |
I have a Winnebago 21B which is a 21' motor home built using a 2002 Eurovan cab, engine and transmission. I need a toad (Tow behind car).
However the transmission is very sensitive to weight and the engine does not have an excess of power. Sooooo, I am asking if anybody has any suggestions that might help me find/make/customize a light weight toad. We have towed an old Festiva and ended up with transmission repairs.
The toad will need to be enclosed, have heat, AC, and doors (All of which I can add) because my wife cannot climb in and out of the average dune buggy. A convertible or Carson top with side curtains is fine and I can do much customizing.
I am leaning toward a dune buggy type with flat sides that can be made into doors. It would be a great help if anybody has converted the other dune buggy bodies to doors and could advise me. |
Doors? Check
Heat? Check
A/C? Check
Ease of Entry/Exit? Check
As the Winnie has a Max Tow Rating of 2k Lbs., I'd go with one of these...
http://topclassiccarsforsale.com/honda/491747-1993...leage.html
bnc _________________ I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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neisman Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2017 Posts: 97 Location: PA
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 9:57 am Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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didget69 wrote: |
As the Winnie has a Max Tow Rating of 2k Lbs., I'd go with one of these...
bnc |
Thanks for your response.
Yes, that is the rated towing capacity, but in the real world that does not work out. My Festiva weighed 1800 lbs and we had tranny problems in the Winnebago.
Power is a problem that can be lived with, but the transmission is not. Perhaps if I would be OK towing in Texas, but we are all over the country and up and down many grades.
I am looking for the lightest vehicle I can find. I will look into the weight of your suggestion, but am not too hopeful. |
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neisman Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2017 Posts: 97 Location: PA
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 10:01 am Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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The pickup comes in at 1,300 lbs and the van 1,700-1,900. Something to keep in mind. |
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Dale M. Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 20377 Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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Dale _________________ “Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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neisman Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2017 Posts: 97 Location: PA
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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Thanks Dale, I appreciate your thought.
I have looked into them, but with weights between 1775 lbs. and 2403 lbs. I am not gaining enough to make them a serious contender.
I expect I will be into something in a fiberglass kit.
Regards, Karl |
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Wolfgangdieter Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2008 Posts: 1958 Location: FL Panhandle
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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1953 VW (or pinto 4 cyl) based MGTD kit car. Side curtains, top and vintage AC are indeed options. Weight is about 1600#. Has suicide doors that are easy to get into. A replica 1957 Speedster is closer to 1800# but had much better resale value down the road. A Miata fits bill but again is near 2k #. I guess you could also find a Bradley GT - I bet they weigh about 1600#.
Have you thought of adding a transmission cooler to the Winnie? _________________ CMC '57 Porsche Speedster Replica and Dolphin boat tailed full pan VW MOD-T Street Buggy |
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woodoctr Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2013 Posts: 254 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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Yeah, when I built my Bradley Gt brand new back in 1972 I weighed it at the local feed mill and it was at 1459. The only thing I didn't have was AC at the time. How light was it.....girlfriend and I slowly going over a small spillway/dam with about 1 inch of water slowly running over it. Rear end broke traction and we are headed toward the edge. Punched it....sent up 20 foot of water columns straight up from the back till I hit concrete and got it on across.... Light weight things.... whole different world of safety and handling..... I am not sure I'd feel real safe with anything less that 2000 lbs. now..... |
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andygere Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2014 Posts: 600 Location: Central Coast, CA
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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For light weight with the opportunity for weather protection and easy entry, try to find a Manx Resorter or one of the copies. If you look closely at this photo, you can see a soft door set that would fully enclose it and provide decent weather protection.
Heat and A/C are going to be a tall order in a lightweight buggy-style car, do you really need it? |
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didget69 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004 Posts: 4927 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 4:35 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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Model Year 2016 & 2017 SMART Cars with DCT trans have Mercedes' blessing to be flat towed, but Manual gearbox/3-pedal SMART Cars cannot be flat towed.
Official Word per SMART / Mercedes-Benz...
Pre-2016 SMART cars are not to be flat towed over 30mph or for more than 30 miles.
All per SMART / M-B.
bnc _________________ I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12701 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 5:29 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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The little pickup might do it. You will be pretty much limited to back trails and city roads as they don't have the power to maintain highway speeds.
our Manx copy weighs in at 1432lbs without roof and doors so you will be hard pressed to do up a Buggy light enough. Ours is pretty basic, no roll bar or cage, fiberglass seats, not sure if it could be made much lighter.
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8699 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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The problem is those Winnebago/VW transmissions don't hold up even when they aren't towing anything. Used to see them for sale all the time, and almost all of them had "new transmission" listed in the sale description. _________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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rodjr Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2015 Posts: 223 Location: stanwood washington
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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How about a veep or scamp?
I bet with a soft top and some attention to detail and planning you could build one pretty darn lightweight. |
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didget69 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004 Posts: 4927 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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Still doesn't include heat or A/C..
bnc _________________ I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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rodjr Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2015 Posts: 223 Location: stanwood washington
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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Both are totally do-able in a veep. The op indicated he was willing to do some customizing to add such items.
Seems a great choice, if it is still too difficult to get in and out of, it could be lowered as well. |
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Tom_Kathleen Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2004 Posts: 919 Location: Vernon, CT
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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If you put a Subaru engine in a buggy type vehicle, you could have heat & a/c no problem, just a lot of fabrication. Tom _________________ Manxter #16, 1968 Meyers Manx & Kick-Out SS #16 (WIP)
Manx Club & CVA |
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woodoctr Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2013 Posts: 254 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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It's beginning to sound like the thing to replace here is the Winnebago. In my furniture restoration business we have used trucks as well as towing trailers. Towing requires more than minimal transmissions. |
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BL3Manx Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006 Posts: 6767 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 11:28 pm Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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There's one of these on ebay now. Basically all you were looking for
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AMAC1680 Samba Member
Joined: April 09, 2015 Posts: 300 Location: Jacksonville Fl/Mantoloking NJ
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Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 4:46 am Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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Ok let’s see we have soo far suggested.
A Resorter
a Veep
a sr2
At least they are easy to find rides......😉
AMAC _________________ www.SEGS4VETS.org |
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5473 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 5:46 am Post subject: Re: Light weight car |
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With the features you need only a couple ideas come to mind.
1. Find a nice early Chevy Sprint. This is the predecessor to the Geo Metro and the older ones only weight about 1500 lb.
2. In the same vein, an old Datsun 1200 sedan that was restored is similar in size and power and only about 100 lb. heavier.
3. Look into an imported Japanese micro car. There are places that sell them, they have to me more than 25 years old. Here is an example, if you scroll through you will see some of the tiny Japanese domestic cars. I don't know how light they are and I don't know if any can be flat towed (most are auto trans.) _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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