The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

In a quick assessment of my cars I have spotted a towbar. It looks like it was made for the car, joins onto the centre bar under the boot...

Does anyone have experience of towing with dolomites, how do they handle, what are they like under braking, any cautions?

Just wondered whether it was worth taking it off before I sell the car on....

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Previous owner of 42 Dolomite shaped vehicles, 14 Sprints, 12 1850s, 8 1500s, 3 V8s, 3 Toledos and 2 SEs

If your bushes on your back axle aren't up to scratch you'll probably die. Or have a big crash at the very least. Good bushes, good shocks, sensible loading and sensible speed and you'll be fine. Dollies tow pretty well if you're sensible. You may find the towball a little high for some trailers though....

Uprate the indicator flasher unit to the modern one and add a relay to the brake light circuit to avoid any lighting issues when towing.

Jod

...but don't try to pull another car lest you get pulled!

...and check it has the bar that runs under the boot perpendicular to the bumper too, else it flexes under load!

tow anything bigger than a small garden rubbish or camping trailer.
The brakes aren't too good, the gearing on 1850's is too high in first and the erar suspension is marginal and the long boot overhang means lots of sideways yanking moment...yaw yaw...

Worth fitting to protect rear bumper and as a reversing revenge weapon only.

Jonners

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Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.

Thanks guys, I think It will be sold on with the car then....we'll keep the old defender for towing....as Swimbo reminded me though, having a defender makes acquiring more dollys too easy....

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Previous owner of 42 Dolomite shaped vehicles, 14 Sprints, 12 1850s, 8 1500s, 3 V8s, 3 Toledos and 2 SEs

My old man used to tow all sorts, but mainly lots of logs (often full) and his trailer was like half a horsebox, in height, but same size length and width. He was always keen that his brakes were good. I can vouch for that having to sit in the car and press the brake while he bled them many a time. Never had any problems what so ever, and that was his first 1850HL. The same engine having been round the clock, went into every other dolomite he owned. We lived on a tight budget and made the enigine upgrades on cars(1500's mainly, and a toledo which he made back into twin headlights) that were going to the knackers yard engine wise. So made many a good car for literally a few quid. Many saturday morning spent at the local breakers.. Those were the days, and i'm only 36!

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2009 Mini Clubman Cooper S Daily Driver.
1980 Dolomite Sprint with a touch of BLTS
Balanced Lightened and Tweaked 13B Rotary and SuperCharged.
Back in my possession 22 September 2019.
Rebuilding the Sprint time taken so far, 111Hrs@15/12/2020
212Hrs @31/12/2021
352 @ 28/11/2022
455Hrs @ 20/10/2023
480Hrs @ 14/03/2024
This is time taken at the Sprint not necessary time worked.

Working on a ratio of just 7Hrs a day not including driving to the Sprint.
That equals to 68 days that doesn’t include weekends.
Member TDC no 0471

Project 13B Sprint now back on.

there is a land sped record for towing a caravan phil, I think you mentioned it on another thread? If you want to go for it with the AGP then I'll save the towbar for you.....and watch!

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Previous owner of 42 Dolomite shaped vehicles, 14 Sprints, 12 1850s, 8 1500s, 3 V8s, 3 Toledos and 2 SEs

_________________
2009 Mini Clubman Cooper S Daily Driver.
1980 Dolomite Sprint with a touch of BLTS
Balanced Lightened and Tweaked 13B Rotary and SuperCharged.
Back in my possession 22 September 2019.
Rebuilding the Sprint time taken so far, 111Hrs@15/12/2020
212Hrs @31/12/2021
352 @ 28/11/2022
455Hrs @ 20/10/2023
480Hrs @ 14/03/2024
This is time taken at the Sprint not necessary time worked.

Working on a ratio of just 7Hrs a day not including driving to the Sprint.
That equals to 68 days that doesn’t include weekends.
Member TDC no 0471

Project 13B Sprint now back on.

170+ well thats something to aim for.......

Phil, you will have other mail in a minute as well.....

_________________
Previous owner of 42 Dolomite shaped vehicles, 14 Sprints, 12 1850s, 8 1500s, 3 V8s, 3 Toledos and 2 SEs

_________________
2009 Mini Clubman Cooper S Daily Driver.
1980 Dolomite Sprint with a touch of BLTS
Balanced Lightened and Tweaked 13B Rotary and SuperCharged.
Back in my possession 22 September 2019.
Rebuilding the Sprint time taken so far, 111Hrs@15/12/2020
212Hrs @31/12/2021
352 @ 28/11/2022
455Hrs @ 20/10/2023
480Hrs @ 14/03/2024
This is time taken at the Sprint not necessary time worked.

Working on a ratio of just 7Hrs a day not including driving to the Sprint.
That equals to 68 days that doesn’t include weekends.
Member TDC no 0471

Project 13B Sprint now back on.

no worries, it'll wait.....

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Previous owner of 42 Dolomite shaped vehicles, 14 Sprints, 12 1850s, 8 1500s, 3 V8s, 3 Toledos and 2 SEs

Hi David,

I regularly tow with blue. The trailers I use are from memory a 8'x4' low side jobbie as old as the hills and steel framed (heavy) and a 6'x3' one more like the stuff halfords etc knock out. Both have been pulled well loaded, the small one has been on some long journeys and I've never had trouble apart from a flat tyre on the trailer in Le Mans last year. Both pull well enough that you need to remind yourself they are there.

Used sensibly and properly maintained theres nothing at all wrong with a dolomite for towing.

I'd pull a caravan if (I had to), people did in their day and modern vans tho bigger are little heavier, side wind might be a problem I guess. I'd confidently hitch up a flatbed and pull a spitfire or a trackday (ie lightened) dolly. Although the Triumph manual say you can I'd not want to pull a second complete dolomite far. But I would in complete confidence if I needed to for reasonable distances. For anyone who thinks thats mad I simply say RTFM.

Don't let the n'er say well crowd put the dollies abilities down. Having said which a dolly will never come remotely close to replacing your landie as a pulling tool.

Julian

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1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.

I have a dolly towbar hanging up on my folk's garage wall if anyone's interested in taking it off my hands?