Towing Question

[dsmsleeper]

I was told tonight, contrary to what I have been told, that a RWD car can be towed [safely] with the FRONT wheels on a dolly. Is this true?
:confused:

[dsmsleeper]

:confused:

[Dousan_PG]

on a dolly?

YES

w/o a dolly?
DEFINATELY NO!

but for me, flat bed ONLY.

[dsmsleeper]

So to tow it about 11 miles on a dolly with the rear wheels on the ground would be safe?

[Dousan_PG]

wait you mean rear wheels on ground? NOOO

i was thinking you put the rear wheels on a doll of some sort, like tow truck jacks up front (as they do for other cars) and hten put the dolly under the rear wheels strapped down

get a flatbed. or have a tow company do it for you.

it probably will be ok
but i wouldnt do it

[Chernobyl]

I don't see why this would be a problem. As long as the tranny is in neutral... I've had my old 240z towed this way before and it was fine. Of course I only had it towed 2 miles or so. I'd be more worried about my rear bumper/exhaust snagging something along the way.

[Dousan_PG]

i believe you need to disconnect driveshaft if you leave rear wheels on ground....

[uiuc240]

if you must tow a 240 with half of it on the ground, turn it around and tow it backwards. lock the steering wheel as close to straight as possible, and go. the rule with towing is:

NEVER TOW WITH THE DRIVE WHEELS ON THE GROUND I know that *some* people say it's OK, but just think about all the things that could go wrong. Even if you have it in neutral, what if it slips into gear and the wheels actually start turning the motor?! All sorts of bad things could happen. Don't do it. Put it on a flatbed.

Eric

[Chernobyl]

Good point dousan, I forgot about all those gears idly turning in my tranny. Yea, get a flatbed tow, much better.

[thx247]

flat bed is ideal, and come to think of it, I've never had anything other than a bed when I get towed. Dunno...lucky I guess.

The theory....or urban legend behind towing on the drive wheels is that the tranny can get "dry" and lockup or something silly like that.

Will your car slip into gear while the car is being dragged? As likely to happen as your car putting itself into gear while you sit at a light. Ever happen to you? No? Well its not likely to do that while its being towed.

Tow a RWD car by its rear wheels? No way. Show me a tow truck driver that will tow you by your rear wheels and I'll show you an unemployed driver.

I would never tow a car by its rear wheels and hope that the steering wheel stays locked. Rear wheels CANT turn, front wheels could possibly turn...no way anyone would risk it.

[dsmsleeper]

Thanks for the replies. The reason I'm asking is because the front control arm is bent and the tie rod snapped so...one of the wheels is doing it's own thing.

:bash:

[96SEChick]

Originally posted by dsmsleeper
Thanks for the replies. The reason I'm asking is because the front control arm is bent and the tie rod snapped so...one of the wheels is doing it's own thing.

:bash:

I would say definitely a flatbed for RWD cars, especially in your case dsm.

[uiuc240]

Originally posted by thx247
Tow a RWD car by its rear wheels? No way. Show me a tow truck driver that will tow you by your rear wheels and I'll show you an unemployed driver.

:bs:Are you kidding me? Start paying attention next time you see cars getting towed away from parking spaces. They tow from whichever end they can get to. This is especially true if it's a RWD car with the tranny in gear. Oh, and if you want further proof...look at the tow hooks located at the REAR of your 240.

[dsmsleeper]

So it can or can NOT be towed with the rear wheels on the ground? :confused:

[Dousan_PG]

i CAN if you do it right (disconnect drive shaft, leave in neutral)

but i wouldnt!

[Kid Zelda]

Originally posted by dousan36
i CAN if you do it right (disconnect drive shaft, leave in neutral)

but i wouldnt!

hehe, ok, why would you need to have it in neutral with no driveshaft ? .. haha :p Just out of habit ?

[Dousan_PG]

Originally posted by Kid Zelda
hehe, ok, why would you need to have it in neutral with no driveshaft ? .. haha :p Just out of habit ?

hahaha..i type too fast
you know what i meant!
stop making fun of me! :(

[thx247]

Originally posted by uiuc240
:bs:Are you kidding me? Start paying attention next time you see cars getting towed away from parking spaces. They tow from whichever end they can get to. This is especially true if it's a RWD car with the tranny in gear. Oh, and if you want further proof...look at the tow hooks located at the REAR of your 240.


Those are not tow hooks. They are tiedowns for transporting the car.

[elevator]

Originally posted by dsmsleeper
So to tow it about 11 miles on a dolly with the rear wheels on the ground would be safe?
Only if it is a standard transmission. Never do that with an automatic.

Cars should never be towed with the drive wheels on the ground if they are automatics. Otherwise there is no problem.

[elevator]

Originally posted by uiuc240
:bs:Are you kidding me? Start paying attention next time you see cars getting towed away from parking spaces. They tow from whichever end they can get to. This is especially true if it's a RWD car with the tranny in gear. Oh, and if you want further proof...look at the tow hooks located at the REAR of your 240.
Wrecker drivers NEVER tow cars on their drive wheels! (unless they are standard transmission cars in nuetral) They have dollies they can easily slip under the drive wheels.

The tow rings are NOT for towing. They are for tiedowns and emergency use if you are stuck in the snow or something....BUT NOT FOR TOWING.

BTW don't you also have tow rings in the front?:rolleyes:

[ridebmx]

If your going 11 miles, it should be no problem, put it in neutral, my dad owns salvage yard/towing/etc. The last 240 parts car i bought we had drive wheels on the ground for like 200 miles with car in neutral, would have had it on the bed, but there was a totally messed up truck on it. And towing companys do pickup cars sometimes with drive wheels on the ground. It all depends on the situation.

[240racer]

when you drive your car your transmission gears are spinning, when you tow your car with the rear wheels on the ground the transmission gears are spinning. Will somebody please tell me the difference????

If you have a manual and you put it in neutral you can tow it with the rear wheels on the ground. If you have an auto then you need to remove the driveshaft, since autos require the engine to be on to work properly. If you wanted you could start the engine and let it idle and put the car in neutral and then tow it, but you probably wouldn't want to tow it for 500 miles with it idling.

[thx247]

Originally posted by 240racer
when you drive your car your transmission gears are spinning, when you tow your car with the rear wheels on the ground the transmission gears are spinning. Will somebody please tell me the difference????


I mean duh. There is just a difference! Dont you know the difference? I mean...duh right. :aw:


Get with the program :D

[240 2NR]

Originally posted by gladhatter
Wrecker drivers NEVER tow cars on their drive wheels! (unless they are standard transmission cars in nuetral) They have dollies they can easily slip under the drive wheels.

The tow rings are NOT for towing. They are for tiedowns and emergency use if you are stuck in the snow or something....BUT NOT FOR TOWING.

BTW don't you also have tow rings in the front?:rolleyes:

You obviously haven't spent much time in a city. I see plenty of cars getting towed backwards in Chicago. True they are usually not following right behind the truck (more like a 10 degree angle to it) but they still get them to where they're going. I don't agree that they should be doing it that way, but they will do it. Heck, I've heard stories of places using forklifts to pick up cars or jockey them around impound lots.

[DamnedButDetermined]

I used to work at a car dealership and they had mustangs and f-150s being pulled in every day with the drive wheels on the ground. They had it in neutral of course but they had the drive wheels on the ground with driveshaft connected.

There is no problem with towing a rwd car with the rear wheels on the ground as long as it is a standard transmission and in neutral!

God has spoken!:bow:

[elevator]

Originally posted by 240 2NR
You obviously haven't spent much time in a city. I see plenty of cars getting towed backwards in Chicago. True they are usually not following right behind the truck (more like a 10 degree angle to it) but they still get them to where they're going. I don't agree that they should be doing it that way, but they will do it. Heck, I've heard stories of places using forklifts to pick up cars or jockey them around impound lots.
Hey! READ with care!! It ONLY matters if the car is an AUTOMATIC!!!! Standard transission cars can be towed anyway you want.

[dsmsleeper]

Unfortunately, in many ways, It's an automatic. :bash:

[SilviaDET]

one thing to watch out for, if your car is lowered, and they tow from the front, DON"T LET THEM, get a flatbed truck. I had to get my s14 towed once, a regular tow truck came out, I asked him if it would be a problem with my car being so low "no problem" he got out some wooden blocks (trouble fitting them under the front of the car) then hooked up the chains and lifted it, that part looked ok. towed me back to my house. set it down and WTF!?!? %$^&#$$$#$%%^^ both fenders dented at the top of the arch, Siht......

crap, forgot I was reading through old posts, sorry bout bringing this one back from the dead.

[Flybert]

crap, forgot I was reading through old posts, sorry bout bringing this one back from the dead.

It's OK. It's expected from newbs. You're lucky because you recognized it otherwise your ass would be on fire from all the flames. Keep up the good posts but on the new ones aight. Word to your mom.