Building a Toad

[Rapa Nui]

After building a '55 Ford Sedan Delivery to tow our Airstream QuikSilver, we elected to trade the TT for an Airstream Interstate.

And we wanted a vehicle to tow when we travel.

So one brainless moment, I recommended to my wife we simply build a perfect toad.

It had to be:

1. Towable on all fours.
2. Sufficiently distinctive to compliment the AI.
3. Get great gas mileage.
4. Registered and equipped to meet all 50 states' regulations.
5. Two seater, roadster.
6. Front engine, rear drive with a manual transmission.
7. Towable for great distances without transmission damage.

Okay, folks, what am I missing if you were to build the perfect toad?

(The project is underway! Frame is welded up.)

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Rapa Nui

After building a '55 Ford Sedan Delivery to tow our Airstream QuikSilver, we elected to trade the TT for an Airstream Interstate.

And we wanted a vehicle to tow when we travel.

So one brainless moment, I recommended to my wife we simply build a perfect toad.

It had to be:

1. Towable on all fours.
2. Sufficiently distinctive to compliment the AI.
3. Get great gas mileage.
4. Registered and equipped to meet all 50 states' regulations.
5. Two seater, roadster.
6. Front engine, rear drive with a manual transmission.
7. Towable for great distances without transmission damage.

Okay, folks, what am I missing if you were to build the perfect toad?

(The project is underway! Frame is welded up.)

If it's to be a dedicated toad, you'll want a supplemental brake system built in, not one that you have to install in the driver's footwell every time you want to tow, and stow in the trunk every time you want to drive. Even if you keep the toad's GVWR below 3000# so the brakes aren't legally required (in most states), supplemental brakes are still a good idea if you're going to be towing in mountains.

Ditto towing lights (brake/turn/taillights) that are permanently installed, or else the car's own lights with relays so that they work off the car's controls or the umbilical cable.

[Belegedhel]

So on a side note, how do you register a scratch-built vehicle?

Reason I ask is that there are some very attractive diesel powered mid-sized trucks that are not sold in the US, and I have been told that it is useless to import them because they cannot be registered once they are here.

[Jim Foster]

Don't know about Texas, but here in California there is, or at least used to be, a provision for "special construction" such as street legal dune buggies and the like. Perhaps the easiest thing would be to check with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or whatever it is called there.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Panama Red]

Ford Highboy...


Wait, bad gas mileage... Give me a minute.

[Panama Red]

Here we go... Austin Healey Bug Eye Sprite.

Or, since these are a bit difficult to find, maybe it's successor, the MG midget...

I've got a red Midget... It's a bit of a contortion act getting in and out, but plenty of room once you're in.

[tevake]

If you are building the frame all ready there must be a plan at work. Share what you have going and let us chime in with more details for you to add. The sky may be the limit around here tho.
Brother Pro. Made a good start above. I'll bet more good ideas pop up here.

Any pics of the 55 ford?

Cheers Richard

Ps. Interested in your Rapa Nui. Name? Have you visited there, a fan of the pacific islands, like me?

[Protagonist]

Another thought… a grille with a mesh tight enough that gravel thrown up by the Interstate's tires won't penetrate to puncture the radiator or oil/transmission cooler. Because you need a certain total opening size for good airflow, a grille with a tight mesh (or closely-spaced rods, whatever) will need to be taller and/or wider to get the same cooling effect.

I have seen chrome or body-color grilles with large openings backed up by a discrete black plastic mesh with small openings to prevent penetration by stones, if appearance is an issue.

[Belbein]

Originally Posted by Jim Foster

Don't know about Texas, but here in California there is, or at least used to be, a provision for "special construction" such as street legal dune buggies and the like. Perhaps the easiest thing would be to check with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or whatever it is called there. Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

Also true in Texas. And everywhere, I think.

[Belbein]

Just curious: what tow vehicles are there that are standard transmission?

[Ron_CA]

Polished Stainless Steel Cobra

[Rapa Nui]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

If it's to be a dedicated toad, you'll want a supplemental brake system built in, not one that you have to install in the driver's footwell every time you want to tow, and stow in the trunk every time you want to drive. Even if you keep the toad's GVWR below 3000# so the brakes aren't legally required (in most states), supplemental brakes are still a good idea if you're going to be towing in mountains.

Ditto towing lights (brake/turn/taillights) that are permanently installed, or else the car's own lights with relays so that they work off the car's controls or the umbilical cable.

Supplemental brake system built in now on the list.
Towing lights permanently installed now on the list.

Thanks Protagonist. You're tips are area always spot on.

[Rapa Nui]

Originally Posted by Belegedhel

So on a side note, how do you register a scratch-built vehicle?

Reason I ask is that there are some very attractive diesel powered mid-sized trucks that are not sold in the US, and I have been told that it is useless to import them because they cannot be registered once they are here.

In Oregon, I've had to keep a complete list of all purchases to build the vehicle to prove they aren't stolen. This includes drive train and virtually everything else. The registration will be based on the engine serial number.

Naturally it has to meet the existing (at the time of the engine) exhaust and safety regulations with some additions such as seat belts.

Once registered in Oregon, it's legal everywhere else. It's a process, to be sure, but do-able.

As a lost resort, I'd have to buy a junked (clear title) vehicle and insist that the toad is a rebuild of that vehicle. Much easier, but somehow it smells to me like gaming the system.

[Rapa Nui]

Originally Posted by Belegedhel

So on a side note, how do you register a scratch-built vehicle?

Reason I ask is that there are some very attractive diesel powered mid-sized trucks that are not sold in the US, and I have been told that it is useless to import them because they cannot be registered once they are here.

True. With a rebuild of an existing already-approved vehicle, that's not a problem. And since I'm not a manufacturer, only a one-off builder, the law (Federal and State) ignore me. Well, except for NSA, of course.

[Rapa Nui]

Originally Posted by Panama Red

Ford Highboy...
Attachment 220796

Wait, bad gas mileage... Give me a minute.

Can't argue with you, Panama Red. It's a beauty and would make a great toad. Big block engines, though, weight a lot.

[Rapa Nui]

Originally Posted by Panama Red

Here we go... Austin Healey Bug Eye Sprite.
Attachment 220797
Or, since these are a bit difficult to find, maybe it's successor, the MG midget...
Attachment 220798
I've got a red Midget... It's a bit of a contortion act getting in and out, but plenty of room once you're in.

Love bug eye Sprites. My wife has a 5-liter in her '76 MGB and we thought that would make a great toad, but all the drive train is now Ford engine, automatic trans and a Ford rear end.

A Midget would be pretty close to a great toad. Manual trans, old enough to not necessarily need a transmission fluid pump when towing. You're right, though, a bit on the tight side.

[Isuzusweet]

Does it have to have four wheels???

Carver,the unique self-balancing vehicle technology hold by Carver Technology.

Morgan 3 Wheeler

I'd personally go for the Carver as I'm a fighter jockey wannabe.

Cheers
Tony

[Rapa Nui]

Originally Posted by tevake

If you are building the frame all ready there must be a plan at work. Share what you have going and let us chime in with more details for you to add. The sky may be the limit around here tho.
Brother Pro. Made a good start above. I'll bet more good ideas pop up here.

Any pics of the 55 ford?

Cheers Richard

Ps. Interested in your Rapa Nui. Name? Have you visited there, a fan of the pacific islands, like me?

Been to Easter Island and the Pacific Islands. Great time. Would go back in a New York minute.

Here's the MG

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...r/IMG_0267.jpg


Here's the '55 on the cover of a mystery novel.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...erNewSmall.jpg

I'm tracking down the early pix of the frame. Have soon.

[Rapa Nui]

Silver Surfer and Rapa Nui

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...verSurfer3.jpg
<a href="http://s118.photobucket.com/user/cnwmr/media/RapaNuiandSilverSurfer3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o87/cnwmr/RapaNuiandSilverSurfer3.jpg" border="0" alt="Rapa Nui photo RapaNuiandSilverSurfer3.jpg"/></a>

[Panama Red]

Great, now everybody builds trailers AND cars better than I do...

Nice looking B there. Major downside to the Midget is no air conditioning. We only have about four months a year that it's comfortable to drive it down here...

And that Ford... Holy cow!!!

Looking forward to your Toad build. Hope you're going to document the whole thing here...

-Red