[DeTomaso] Trailer question

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/18/07 17:28:59, MACHWIL at aol.com writes:

<< I've never had the rear cover come up towing backwards, but it has 
happened  
to other. I didn't even lock the lock, but I do now. >>

>>>There are few things in the world that you can do, that are less smart 
than towing a Pantera backwards on an open trailer.  Perhaps putting it in 
neutral, and pushing it down your driveway and into the street would be a bit worse, 
but other than that, I can't think of much.

Several Panteras have been EXTENSIVELY damaged due to malfunctions 
encountered while they were being towed backwards.  Some have had the front hood pop 
open, which is bad, but what is REALLY bad is when the decklid opens up, flies up 
and over the roof, caving in the roof and smashing the windshield.  This has 
happened to enough people that most of the rest of us now know better.

The decklid catch is a pretty iffy thing under the best of circumstances.  
It's not unusual when driving a Pantera to hit a bump which deflects the chassis 
just enough to cause it to pop open (in fact this happened to me just a few 
months ago, before I re-adjusted my striker).

Please, PLEASE never tow your Pantera backwards again on an open trailer.  Or 
if you do, remove the decklid first.  If you are absolutely desperate, you 
could perhaps run some tie-downs through the webbing of the decklid, then drop 
them down alongside the transaxle and tie the decklid to the trailer.  But 
that's a desperate measure.

Mike<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> See what's free at 
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