View Single Post
Old 03-05-2011, 12:52 PM   #22 (permalink)
watercat
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: washington state
Posts: 37

The green machine - '94 Geo Metro
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
Well I just need to find a 40/50 mpg tow vehicle?

So last night we were working on the GEO hauler. Came up with a few fixes for towing that sound promising. First one is the hauler from what we could find should weigh 650 to 750 lbs more than the tow rig or it is recommended that you install dually rear wheels. Makes since to me gives it more friction on the ground and stops the ass end from being pushed around in town around the sharp turns. I'm off to find a set of extra rims today and will start building a dually set of rims to test with.

Also bought a 4 cyl swift with a manual and I think will start with that. Better brakes and more HP right out of the hole. Be nice to have a small table for my PC and drink holders paper work etc. so were going to pull the passenger seat and install a nice table top on the seat slider. If were a bit short on power I'm going to add a two barrel carburetor. that should get us but if we need a smidgen more i have enough spare stuff around to turbo the 1 ton dually. Still looking for a some rear disc brakes.

For hauling the automatic Geo's I was going to go with a rimco electric transmission pump. But after reading up on the simple install I have decided since the car is dedicated to hauling I'm installing a power steering pump on the tow hauler and running lines to the rear of the car on quick disconnects, I'll hook them together at the rear bumper when not in use and they will just circulate the atf in the lines and the pump should last forever. can top it off if some spills right from under the hood like it was stock on the car. at the disconnects at the bumper I'll have to build a wand for a suction tube that will go in the dipstick tube so that the pump can draw the atf out of the transmission. When hauling with a rimco trans pump in your rv they have you take the pan off the trans and install a nipple to hook the line to. but since I'm just towing them back to my shop one time a wand in the dipstick tube will work out just fine. then I will a have to take off the trans cooler line that feeds back to the transmission at the radiator and hook up the other line off the hauler and put a rubber vacuum style cap with a clamp over the radiator trans cooler fitting so it doesn't drip and kill fish while I'm towing.
Its a day of hassle to get it set up i'm sure but to not have to take a Dolley and that extra weight sure makes it nice to just flat tow with my geo tow bar i built.
I'd pretty good towing now but i just want to make it bullet proof. I tow every where but on snow. but if i had all wheel drive geo I'd be there too.

I do have a ford to tow with but the savings with the geo and the people i buy and sell cars with it really gives me some extra advertising or name recognition when i show up and haul in or out a geo. Just last week i was dragging a Geo out from about 150 miles away and I got a few thumbs up from the import cruiser guys. But I am getting 43 mpg on the way to the car to be towed and 20 plus on the way back so i'm getting about 30 or better for the most part towing with my geo.
FYI you cant tow another geo with out upgrading the 3cyl to a 4cyl flywheel and clutch. But the 3cyl wont go up steep hills around town with out being able to hit the at full speed like you would on the free way. Also I have towed with a old warn out Nissan pick up and Toyota pick up that should have 100hp (worn out though) and they had more than enough to haul. so if i get this new swift in the 75 to 80 hp and its lighter than the trucks i think I'll be good.
What kind of a eccomodder site recommends a SUV for anything except a trade in.
  Reply With Quote