[A/S] Towing newly purchased old trailers

["Tuna" <rctowns@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Echoing Jim Smith's wise words:
1) Assume tires are old and will fail on the trip home.
2) Assume the wheel bearings are dry, and will fail on the trip home.
3) Assume the trailer brakes are worn/completely shot, and will fail on the
trip home.
4) Assume that none of the trailer tow-wiring is working, or is working only
intermittently.

Here's the thought i use as a guide when making towing choices - "how stupid
would i feel if.... "

Generous of you to share costs of a tranny rebuild with your friend - I
would VERY seriously consider using it to pull a flatbed trailer, with your
new acquisition firmly chained atop it.

Otherwise, figure on spending up to $1,000.00 and 3-4 days to get the old
trailer road-worthy.

PS - i've towed a 24' Parker tandem-axle flatbed cross-country and up and
down I-5 (over the Grapevine a few times) behind my '99 Durango - 5.9L
V-8... with loads up to 5,000lbs on the 2,000lb Parker...really pushing the
limits on the Durango, but i keep the tow-vehicle and flatbed in top shape,
and check tire pressures at every stop. I use the Jordan Research Ultima
2020 brake controller, and i test out the towing lights/brakes before i head
out, and during the trip.

I recently traded the '99 Durango for a 2002 Ram 1500 which has roughly the
same towing capacity.

Tuna
Reno, NV
1948 Airstream 'Trailwind' (towed on flatbed, N. Hollywood-Reno)
1949 Willys 'Jeepster' (towed on flatbed, Vacaville-Reno)
1961 Kaiser-Willys FC-170 (towed on flatbed, Harrisburg PA-Reno)
1976 International Scout 'Traveler' (towed on flatbed, Los Altos-Reno)
Towed lots of stuff, between lots of places.