it's looking increasingly likely that I'll be towing a certain datsoon up to idaho to be a 00 car...

hoping to find a light trailer that my poor 4runner can drag, but failing that I _do_ own a tow dolly...

I know we could put the front wheels on the dolly and disconnect the driveshaft. But I seem to recall seeing pics of volvos w/ their rear wheels on a dolly. I assume you lock the steering somehow?

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KF7RWG
http://www.utahrallygroup.com

They unplugged the MR2 from the dolly and showed up to the event anyway.

In conclusion, towing steer-axle-down seems to be heebiejeebiefying.

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Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

If it were me, I would unbolt the drive shaft at the pinion yoke and tow it with front wheels off ground. No worries about lubricating the r&p bearings.

When I was young and impetuous (dumb), I towed a vw scirrocco on a tow dolly, backwards, with the front wheels rolling because the rear was too tweaked. The front was tweaked as well but not as bad. I had to use the WHOLE lane, with the truck to the far right, and the dolly and car dog tracked to the far left. Ran for 300km at highway speeds. No drama really, until I had to back it up into the garage..... Would I do it again? No way.

I don't know why you would pull the drive line...its a rwd car isn't it?

IIRC, the car owner has some second thoughts about unbolting the driveshaft. If he pops on here, perhaps he can elaborate.

Gene, are you saying that we don't have to unbolt the driveshaft? Wouldn't that add a bunch of clutch wear (if left in neutral) or a bunch of towing effort (if left in gear)?
(or perhaps my sarcasm detector is malfunctioning )

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KF7RWG
http://www.utahrallygroup.com

No clutch wear or engagement if towed in neutral. No need to remove the driveline. You only need to pull drivelines on most automatics when towing or dollying, except Saturn, certain Chevies and Hondas.

You're good to go , no stress, no driveline removal.

As Gene said, no need for any special prep other that securing the steering wheel with a strap if you can't lock it witgh the column lock. And never tow backwards except as an extreme last resort. It is hairy, and very easy to get an out of control condition. Try driving your car in reverse as fast as you can and see how hard it is to hold it straight. Even with the steering locked, it will wander badly. I had to tow Cody's 740 Volvo backwards on a dolly like 50 miles. I towed it woth a F250 super duty diesel, and the first time I got over 55 it started swaying, and building momentum and ended up draggng me across 1.5 lanes before I got it gathered back up.

Kids these days, sheesh. Probably never used a dial telephone or an 8-track tape player either...

I have no idea where my brain has been...

(and I have used a dial telephone...)

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KF7RWG
http://www.utahrallygroup.com

Locking the steering depends on the tow dolly tho..I think. Some don't have a pivoting deck and the steering should be unlocked on those??


Notice that the first 3 responses also missed the target mostly. Dave is right, kids these days...I can't believe we've lived long enough to be the old wise ones.

You are correct Gene, mine has a pivoting deck and the steering must be locked.

interesting. Mine has a pivoting deck as well, and I've never locked the steering when towing the civic with it. (granted, the stock steering lock is still in place on my car, so they wouldn't turn too far before they stopped...)

maybe has to do with the design of the dolly as well - unlike the wide, shallow wheel pads that the u-haul dollies have, mine has the deep, narrow troughs that barely fit a 175 width tire...

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KF7RWG
http://www.utahrallygroup.com

I think certain RWD manual gearboxes also don't like getting towed on the ground for long distances...I think the T5 is one of them, but that's going off some post I kinda remember reading a million years ago on a Merkur board.

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Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY

Quote
fiasco
I think certain RWD manual gearboxes also don't like getting towed on the ground for long distances...I think the T5 is one of them, but that's going off some post I kinda remember reading a million years ago on a Merkur board.

I think that is primarily an old wives tale. Plenty of S-10s and Blazers being towed hundreds of thousands of miles cross country behind motorhomes. If the gear lube is at the correct level there is nothing going on being driven under power than being towed.