Flat Towing question?

Well, due to the fact that I waited too long to get a hotel for Paso, looks like I'm gonna have to flat tow the T Bucket behind our rented camper.

Any issues with flat towing a car with an automatic transmission? I don't think so, but i remember hearing something about it not being too good for it...

 

It's best if you drop the drive shaft during the tow, I have been told.

 

I am pretty sure you will need to pull the drive shaft to keep from damaging the ******. A friend of mine pulls his 32 behind his motor home and always drops the shaft......just try not to drop the u joint caps.....it is a blast picking needle bearings up.

 

You MUST either have the car running in neutral to keep the trans pump lubed or disconnect the driveshaft. The problem is the pump is not powered by the tailshaft and the ****** internals basically turn without any lubrication happening even if in neutral. The pump is run in most every trans by the input from the engine.

Flat towing an automatic will destroy the transmission. Some modern cars are designed to allow flat towing (some Saturns for example).

T's are light. I'd pull a small trailer with the car on it if it were me.

 

Listen to tjm73, he knows what he's talking about.


Muttley................former Tow Truck driver.

 

Pull it backwards on a tow dolly. You'll have to take the steamrollers off the back, though.

 

I've towed several cars a couple of hundred miles with the rear wheels on the ground and all has been well. Some ******s are fine with it, others aren't. But I really wouldn't recommend it. So yank the driveshaft already..

Jan...tow truck driver too.

 

You can flat-tow some of the older automatics that have a rear pump (I think the Borg-Warner is one, PG maybe as well) but I would drop the driveshaft anyways, it's just cheap insurance.

Shawn

 

If you put it on a dolly and pull it backwards, the caster will be opposite normal and it may pull funny. I think you would want to positively lock the steering so it'd pull straight.

Renting a small trialer still seems like the best idea to me. Seems like the least amount of h***le over all.

 

I used to flat tow my old coupe. Push****on torqueflite - front and rear pumps.

 

get someone to drive the camper so you can drive the T.

 

Sorry to hijack, but I need to know (want to get to the HAMB drags from Minnesota): Are there any midwestern states where flat towing is illegal?

 

I routinely flat-tow my 26 modified behind my 48 pickup. The T has a 350 turbo. I drop the driveshaft and transport it in an old folding chair bag. I install a yoke in the trans to prevent fluid loss on hills. The yoke is held in by a small bungie cord. The system works well and the truck doesn't even know the T is back there. I'll be towing to Sprinfield Mo. this weekend and to Indy in about 2 weeks. Sam

 

Thanks for all the replies...Looks like I'll be taking off the drive shaft...or doing what racyredhd said and driving it...

 

Like everyone said drop the drive shaft . You have extra room in the camper ?

 

From another former tow truck driver listen to the advice already given and pull the driveshaft. get a spare yoke to put in the output and secure it from working loose and dropping out. Bungee cord works good.

Frank

 

Dirty,

Sorry man we're full up, but I can hook you up with a warm sleepin bag and a cold beer!