Gear ratios & highway speed

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Tony

Your point on driving on the highway with antique anything can be and issue. Your suggestion of a yellow warning light is a good one. In thinking about a long distance trip one relatively cheep and quick upgrades would be adding or replacing the standard CMP tail lights with LED versions. With 6 and 12 volt versions now available this is a good common senses upgrade.

Don't know the rules in Australia about driving with revolving or flashing yellow lights. Some places in the states it is illegal, but even in one of those states we asked the State Police and the response we got was run with the warning lights anyway.

Know what you are talking about when escorting slower vehicles on the interstate. People just don't see them or under estimate their speed. Our MV club tries to travel in convoy for this reason when we can. The other thing we do is put a big truck at the end of the convoy. So often my CMP C60S with radio box is tail end charlie.

The other solution we found once when coming back from a movie shoot we came through Boston Ma at rush hour on the express way. Tail gating and closing on vehicles is the norm and suddenly the guy in the tail end CCKW came on the radio saying something was strange because people would scream up on his tail gate and then suddenly brake hard and back way off.

We stopped at a rest stop not long after that and we discovered the cause of strange behavior. The last CCKW was loaded with props from the movie shoot. Boxes all clearly stenciled CAUTION HIGH EXPLOSIVE.

The only people who didn't seem to notice or care was a Police Cruiser who came up along side the convoy paced us for a while and then passed and went off down the highway.

Cheers Phil

[Little Jo]

Hi Phil

I agree with you and love the idea of putting the biggest vehicle at the rear, especially with the, "WARNING HIGH EXPLOSIVES" sign. that tickled my warped sense of humour. I have already replaced all the signal turning lights, brake and tail lights on my Jeep to LED and they are nice and bright. As for the Amber Flashing Lights I am sure they are not a problem with authorities as we are very road safety conscious here. I drive my Jeep on a lot on back roads in the hills here and there is nothing more scary when travelling at 40Mph in a 60 Mph zone and have some cowboy come screaming over the hill or around a corner, but hey, I love my hobby and do try to stay safe.

Cheers

Tony