car is automatic with a closed drive shaft. Will be towing about 250 miles. Can we back it on and tie down the steering wheel?
Yes.......you COULD.......but I agree with Wingman9. I have towed extensively with both a tow dolly and a trailer. While I have towed short distances in the manner you ask about, it is less than ideal. For one thing, the front end geometry of the car being towed is b***ackwards (caster) and the front end want to swing to one side or the other. In addition, the toe-in is backwards too and will wear the tires a bit more than usual and contributes to the first problem as well. The rental cost for a suitable trailer is inexpensive compared to the potential for problems that, if they occur, won't be inexpensive. Ray
Yes you rarely ever see them usde behind motor homes traveling several thousands of miles a year do you.If you have never used one or owned one why would you answer a viable question someone is looking for a good answer.And yes ,your car will not know the difference what end its being towed from.
They are usually front wheel drive cars, or have manual transmissions. They are strapped in the right (forward) way. Or flat towed. IF the steering comes undone, the wheels will turn and you WILL wreck. caster helps a car want to go straight. turn it around, what happens? The juice is not worth the squeeze here.
dont listen to this guy. Sorry but its a bad idea. even with a built in steering lock the vehicle will not want to track properly. If you dont believe me, put the car backwards on the dolly and have a buddy tow teh car around the block, you get in the towed vehicle and TRY to keep the steering wheel straight.
I agree with the get a trailer camp. Even if you don't have a problem with the dolly for turning and or keeping the rope holding the steering from coming loose etc. the dolly isn't likely to have brakes. I has a bad experience with trying to stop with a car on a dolly in traffic.If you get part way and find it's not working what is your plan B ?The price of a trailer would have been better choice in my case. A 250 mile tow if it is without brakes sounds like an idea worth re-thinking.A lot can happen in that distance.
The rope-on-the-steering wheel trick is really dicey. There's just too much to go wrong, and you can't get back there in a hurry to grab the wheel. (yes i tried it once, and it looked so iffy we never went out on the road) Have you ever backed up in a parking lot at hi speed then turned the wheel? That whipsaw effect is what you'll have coming at you at freeway speeds! The weight of the car is all in the wrong direction, and the center of gravity, polar moment, whatever you call it is all wrong. Dad and I used to tow-bar cars when I was a kid and it worked, but not well. I've avoided tow dolleys for that very reason, but they're ok when properly used. I only trailer though. How are your car's tires?
Tow dolly car backwards bad idea. It sounds good on the surface but it just isn't what you want to do. If you can't drop the drive shaft loose you should probably look for a trailer. It will cost you less than the accident that is waiting to happen to you.
If you have no other choice you can do it.I did it with a 52 chevy car had a locking colume.If you are on bumpie road 40to45 is fast enought,on the highway look way ahead and if smooth go for it up to 60 mph.I did it 350 miles.Be careful.
I have towed extensively with a tow dolly, but only once backwards. Never again, the towed vehicle got real squirrely. What kind of car do you have that has an automatic with closed driveshaft? V/8
I agree with most of the above posts. I'll add that I happen to have a tow dolly and I tow our Maxima behind our motorhome using said dolly. Its FWD and its on there forward. And even that set up is something I check each and every time I stop (and sometimes I stop JUST to check it). Towing a car backed on to a tow dolly is just a disaster waiting to happen. When you tow it backwards, the caster is completely 180 degrees off and you are asking for trouble trying to keep the wheels straight via tying the steering wheel in place. Just get a trailer and do it the right way or disconnect the driveshaft and use the dolly with the front wheels on it.
Been there, tried that. Never been so scared at 50 mph. The difference between a wrecker and a dolly is the amount of pivot joints that let it wag. Get a trailer. Uhaul is under 50 bucks for a day.
Never saw a '52 Chevy, or any Chevy older than a '68 or so with a locking column........typo as to year? Ray
I have towed with a tow dolly a few times. Sold it and bought a regular car trailer. Much safer and less worry. And also you can't back up a tow dolly, a trailer you can.
Dont tow anything backward on a dolley. Drop the drive shaft and go ahead. But only if your tow vehicle is heavier than the vehicle being towed. even with a trailer you need a bigger tow vehicle. OldWolf
I have tow dollied cars (that had no engine or trans) backwards and didnt have a problem with the steering...I tied it down several ways to make sure though...but that was years ago and dont think in hindsight I would do it again. If the car you want to tow dolly has an engine..all the weight will be at the far end of your tow vehicle and it will WAG back and forth...that is for sure. Another thing to remember is that if its a project car and you do tow dolly it backwards..what about the front wheels/bearings that probably havent been turned for years? Too much to go wrong I think...I agree with everyone else who has said...get a trailer! I did....
If it has an automatic, start the motor and leave it in neutral. Tow it all day with the front on a dolly and the trans will be good.
took 3 days but we got a trailer. I offered to pay to borrow one and then it was easy. U haul did not have any thing.
That **** with running the car in neutral and towing might work in town from home to shop but will screw up a ****** on long distance trips. Rent you a U-Haul trailer for $59 a day.
BAD idea. What happens if the car shifts itself from neutral to reverse on the dolly while you're on the freeway?
Oh. Then he should rent a trailer. There's a difference between being thrifty and being cheap. Risking disaster to save just a few dollars is cheap. Last time I had to trailer a car, the price difference between a dolly and a trailer was about $50. It was worth the extra money to not have to have the car roll on aged tires, dry wheel bearings and worn suspension. Putting the steered wheels on the ground and tying off the steering wheel is a terrible idea and not worth the pocket change you'd be saving. Even if your bungee cord doesn't come loose you still have all the weight at the end of your tow, maximizing instability. The worn suspension components and steering box will allow some movement and wandering and pretty soon you'll have a wildly swinging car pulling you off the road. Do it right or don't do it at all.
I used a tow dolly with no problems for about a 200 miles trip. Did 1) tow it with a F150 2) Removed the driveshaft 3) towed with the front wheels (and engine weight) on the dolly. I don't think I would even try it the other way!!!
If it is a prodject and you don't know the car the trailer is the best way to go.When i bought my 29 a coupe prodject it was approx 20 miles from home i put it on my tow dolly forwards with no driveshaft got with in a mile of my house and the rear seized up the po forgot to mention that he had done some work to the rear and it was bone dry. really took the wind out my sails bringing my new toy home.
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