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noiva · 11-04-2005, 04:54 PM

Jim,

Are you talking about a 2-wheel dolly where one drives a vehicle up onto two platforms, secures the front wheels to the dolly, and that's the deal; or are you talking about a trailer you actually put the towed vehicle on? I'm asking because you mentioned rack and pinion wheels on the dolly. Maybe I'm missing something here.

Thanks for the info. Always appreciate folks taking the time to give a new motorhome owner information. As I said, I have until next spring to decide what to do, but the more information, the better.

Tim

cooperhawk · 11-05-2005, 09:01 AM

The kind that you drive the front wheels onto. Some dollys have a system whereas the plate with the car wheels on it swivels as you turn. In the Demco the wheels are just like a cars front end and as one turns the linkage turns the other. I have pulled both and the rack and pinion works the best for me. Also, be careful as surge brakes are now required by law and there are a lot of dollys for sale with no brakes. People can't use them anymore and want to dump them.

noiva · 11-05-2005, 09:41 AM

Thanks for the clarification. One other question. How does the rack and pinion system react coming down mountains and braking at the same time. Do the brakes on the dolly stop the rack and pinion from turning the towed vehicle to one side or the other? It just seems, without having observed this setup, that the towed vehicle would have a tendency to push toward the motorhome right or left coming down a grade.

Tim

cooperhawk · 11-05-2005, 03:23 PM

We have been through a lot of mountains and no problem at all. On a system like that the wheels are set just to the rear of center and they will track whichever way the dolly is turning. I even tend to forget the car is back there as the braking is so normal that you can't tell you are towing. I am sure there are better set ups, but I am quite happy with this one. We can trade vehicles and don't have to spend a cent getting them set up. The only problem is that when you camp, you have to find a place to stow the dolly. I usually shove the tongue up under neath the MH.

noiva · 11-05-2005, 03:36 PM

Jim,

Thanks for this information. I have a friend who was a truck driver all his working life, and he's convinced a dolly is the way I should tow a car with the motorhome. Your information seems to verify that. I really appreciate your time and advice.

Tim

joewinfield · 11-06-2005, 06:40 AM

I towed a Saturn Vue behind a 28' sob from Ca. to Fla. and back with a Master Tow tow dolly. It had elec. brakes and worked great. Joe

noiva · 11-06-2005, 06:54 AM

Thanks for the info. I've gotten several recommendatios for the Master Tow brand. I definitely want brakes on it, since I plan to do some mountains from time to time. Since you've traveled from coast to coast, that's a pretty good test. Did you buy your dolly new or used?

Tim

airstreamski · 11-15-2005, 09:01 AM

Hey Tim,
I noticed you have an 1989 Airstream. I don't know if you saw it or not, but I just put up the other day a link to a file that has the 1989 Airstream Brochure in 4 jpg files.
I bought the brochure on ebay and then scanned it to share on the site. Here's the link:
http://theborkowskis.com/Airstream/1...mhbrochure.zip

Enjoy your Airstream! They are the best!
John

noiva · 11-15-2005, 09:55 AM

John,
I hadn't seen the post with the 1989 Airstream brochure, but I actually have the original brochure from that year. My dad, who has always been an Airstream fanatic, kept many of the brochures through the years. When my brother bought the 1989 370 a few years ago, my dad went through his literature and just happened to have it! Now that I own it, I inheirited the brochure along with the motorhome. Thanks for the info. I am excited about the motorhome, but a little nervous about the cost of maintenance. My brother was not able to use the coach enough to keep things working properly, so it cost quite a bit to keep it up during his ownership. I have more time (but less money), so I can hopefully keep it from major repair bills.
Thanks again for the post.
Tim

bobmiller1 · 07-28-2016, 05:21 AM

Tim....just wondering if you still have your father's 370LE, just bought one myself and going to pick it up next week. Regards, Bob

noiva · 07-28-2016, 10:25 AM

Don't still have mine, Bob, but would love to hear about yours. Where are you getting it? Also, would LOVE any pictures you might be able to post. Best of luck!

bobmiller1 · 07-28-2016, 12:23 PM

Where did your's go, and when did you sell it ?

noiva · 07-28-2016, 01:59 PM

I sold it in 2008 to a fellow from Texas. He planned to make some minor changes and use it to give sales clients tours of his facilities. I lost track of him after a year or so.

Where are you getting yours from?

bobmiller1 · 07-28-2016, 03:39 PM

North Carolina....I may start a new post to see where all of the existing 370's are.

noiva · 07-29-2016, 11:46 AM

Good luck with that, Bob. From the best information I could gather when I had mine, there were originally only about 13 or 14 ever built. I tried posting to get a count of what was still left, and where they were. Not much luck. I found 2 others, one of which was sold about the time I sold mine. There was an owner up in Wisconsin or Minnesota who gave me the most help, and had the most information. I regret that I don't remember who that was, nor do I know if he still has it. There may be some posts from him still on this forum. I wish you the best with yours, and I would love to hear and see more about it if you could share that.