Towing the Space shuttle

[newbury]

As a proud 7.3L Ford dually owner I was dismayed to see the Toyota Tundra towing the Space Shuttle to it's final resting place, and sure enough Toyota now is airing a commercial showing that dang truck towing the Shuttle.

What's it got? a 10,400 lb tow capacity MAX?

I hope they also had a Ford F150 or a Ram 1500 towing it for comparison.

Or maybe that guy who tows airplanes tied to his ears.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I honestly think any truck from any manufacture could tow that load on flat land with properly aired tires and in 4 low. Its no different then 3 or 4 strong men towing a 747 that weighs nearly a million pounds across the ramp in strong men competitions. We pull our 24,000# airplane in and out with a 15.5HP Kohler powered tug on about a 5% grade. It would easily tow 4 times that weight. It has been used to pull around 75,000# air planes from time to time when people fly in and want in our hanger for the night.

The dolly was not self propelled. It was a dead pull of about 300 yards. The truck did not have any tongue weight so the put 1,700# of ballast in the bed and lowered the air pressure in the tires to around 20 psi for max grip. The truck was bone stock and so was the hitch. The truck was put in 4 low and 1st gear for the pull that took about 8 minutes.

Its a nice demonstration that Toyota did but its nothing no other 1/2 ton V8 4x4 truck couldn't do. It will sell trucks to the average dumb Joe Blow buyer.

Chris

 

[podagrower]

I saw part of a Jeep pickup restoration where the Air Force had modified it into a tug by welding a plate across the transfer case shifter (4L all the time), and removed the front drive shaft (to avoid destroying the transfer case).

 

[Bob77064]

The hard part of moving a heavy load on flat ground is over coming the inertia to get it rolling.

 

[Stihlrunner]

It always disappointments me to see government agencies utilizing foreign vehicles for domestic purposes. I guess the lines are blurred with Toyotas being made in Tennessee and Chevys in Mexico! Still, it just doesn't feel right.

 

[mjncad]

I caught the tail end of that Toyota TV ad tonight and there was in fine print the usual bit about this being a short duration overload, etc, etc, etc...do not try this at home type of wording.

 

[Diamondpilot]

It always disappointments me to see government agencies utilizing foreign vehicles for domestic purposes. I guess the lines are blurred with Toyotas being made in Tennessee and Chevys in Mexico! Still, it just doesn't feel right.

Toyota Tundra is the second most American made truck behind the F150. Following those two its the Nissan Titan, GM Sierra/Silverado, and Dodge Ram is dead last.

As far as Toyota and Nasa. Toyota has been a long time supporter.

Chris

 

[WilliamBos]

Who ever pays the most wins!!

 

[Patches]

They were going to use a (removed) 6.7, but it ran outta' cow p!$$, went into limp mode, sucked a little water and lost the injector pump; the factory(manufacturer) said they were intending to abuse the truck and denied warranty coverage, so it's still sitting on the rollback

 

[Diamondpilot]

They were going to use a (removed) 6.7, but it ran outta' cow p!$$, went into limp mode, sucked a little water and lost the injector pump; the factory(manufacturer) said they were intending to abuse the truck and denied warranty coverage, so it's still sitting on the rollback

The GM never made it off the lot with a frozen DPF tank and bad steering shaft. The Dodge lost a tranny a block away.

Chris

 

[WilliamBos]

They were going to use a (removed) 6.7, but it ran outta' cow p!$$, went into limp mode, sucked a little water and lost the injector pump; the factory(manufacturer) said they were intending to abuse the truck and denied warranty coverage, so it's still sitting on the rollback

That is so true!! Ford is screwing any 6.7 owner they can, At least GM is covering it. Surprised the frame never snapped in the Toyota!

 

[Bwgad96]

That is so true!! Ford is screwing any 6.7 owner they can, At least GM is covering it. Surprised the frame never snapped in the Toyota!

Frame snapped? Im worried that the accelerator is going to get stuck!!!

 

[kenmac]

The Dodge lost a tranny a block away.

Chris

Dodge loosing a tranny ?? I don't think Dodge looses any more trannys than anyone else. My 07 has never had a tranny issue.

 

[Agent Blue]

You guys are brutal.....
I was hoping they would hook a hydro tractor to the shuttle, just to listen to it whine. Then a gear machine to pull it out of the way.
Anyway....... they moved it to its resting place so all the hollering is just recent smoke. I drove a new Tundra and quite frankly was not impressed. When my truck is updated it will be another Chevrolet.

 

[Soundguy]

the local MH yard uses a massive 'satoh beaver' and a dolley to tender mobiles in a paved flat lot....

 

[jerrybob]

Toyota has donated about $10 million since the early 90's to the Science Center where the shuttle is on display. They have a long history of philanthropy towards this organization. In addition.....they gave another seven figures towards the structure that Endeavor resides in. They were offered this opportunity to pull the shuttle by the Science Center. Give a little...get a little!
Space Shuttle Crosses 405 Freeway Towed by a Toyota Tundra - YouTube

 

[powerpace]

Some Dodge 1500 are made in Mexico. I have one.

 

[bcp]

I saw part of a Jeep pickup restoration where the Air Force had modified it into a tug by welding a plate across the transfer case shifter (4L all the time), and removed the front drive shaft (to avoid destroying the transfer case).

Jeep CJ10a. That's the aircraft tug. Factory made for the Air Force.

Jeep CJ-10A - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bruce

 

[mjncad]

Oh geez...the brand bashing wars are starting again. Come on boys, even the Israeli's and Ham-As$ made peace for at least 24-hours. :laughing:

OK, what I want to know is whether the dollies used in the Tundra pulling the shuttle ads are powered or not thereby giving the Toyota, or any pickup for that matter added help. From what I saw on the TV news, the dollies used were the kind with numerous independent steerable and powered axles.

OK, I like my Ford F-250; but I sure wish Toyota and Nissan would offer F-250 and above class trucks in the USA as I would like additional choices of trucks available to me. I'm not a GM or Chrysler fan and that's all I'm going to say without going on a diatribe as to why I don't care for either brand.

 

[Bob77064]

All the brands have good and bad points, I agree with you competition is always good for the consumer.