Car Dolly Question

[bigcountrysg]

Leaving the car running in neutral is not a good idea either. Why what if you hit a bump and it shifts into drive or reverse. Or what if you get into an accident and the thing comes off the dolly and then shifts into drive and rolls down the road.

[cblackb]

I spoke w/ the guys at U-Haul and they said they don't even recommend dollys anymore and are getting rid of them. So I rented a nice car trailer and pulled it that way. The stroker handled that car and trailer perfectly. There even was a nice long steep grade I had to climb before I got to this guys shop, so I wound it up to about 2600 rpm and really let the straight pipes do some talking. When I got there he says "you didn't have to floor it up the hill, I already heard you anyway!" hahaha. Ok thanks for the help on this from everyone.

[jphelzer]

Glad it worked out for you. Hope the repair wasn't too expensive on the old Merc.

[Maintain]

Originally Posted by bigcountrysg

Tow Trucks tow rear wheel drive vehicles all the time at highway speeds with the trans in neutral, with the driveshaft in place with no damage done. He will be fine towing it the distance he is towing it with the driveshaft in.

Say that to our Member Relations (aka complaint department) at AAA.

There are certain vehicles that can be and CAN'T be towed with the drivewheels on the ground. It has a lot to do with the lubrication of the axles, and transmission (trans case if equipped) etc...

However, in this case, since the trans is already toast, I wouldn't have a problem towing it from the front. If you tow it from the rear, make sure the steering wheel locks and remember if it moves JUST a little it will track crooked, and could potentially fishtale on you.

[jphelzer]

Does AAA still produce the books every year Marty? I haven't been a dispatcher since the mid-90s and just wondered...They were really helpful. Of course, they also showed how to "sling" cars, which hardly anybody does anymore. Wheel lifts and flatbeds now...

[Maintain]

Originally Posted by jphelzer

Does AAA still produce the books every year Marty? I haven't been a dispatcher since the mid-90s and just wondered...They were really helpful. Of course, they also showed how to "sling" cars, which hardly anybody does anymore. Wheel lifts and flatbeds now...

Yes, they do. Even still they're not always correct. The tow manual states from AAA that you can transport a 2006 AWD Volvo Cross Country with wheel lift and dollies or car carrier equipment. This is incorrect, per Volvo and even if the vehicle is stuck in park, it requires a flatbed and we have to find either go-jacks or a driver with 4 skates. We had a huge damage complaint a few months ago...

[mrnecsteve]

The trans might not need that much. That could be a simple plunger swap.Old school method of towing a long distance is to periodically engage the transmission and let the engine turnover to pump the fluids...other wise your wear out the tailshaft components. Some transmissions would not engage till the speed was too high.

Modern trans's complicate it even further.Uhaul rents car hauling trailers at a pretty decent price also.

[cblackb]

Yeah you're now the 3rd person that has told me it may be a simple fix on my old transmission. It's nice to know there are still honest people out there. Of course all of the transmission shops I've called tell me that it will require "no less than a total rebuild of the whole tranny" which I would expect them to say since it's about 1000 bucks in their pocket. The cheapest quote I found was 1300 dollars, which is still about 300 dollars more than the whole car is worth!

[mrnecsteve]

Well, i dont work on them for a living but I work on my own when possible.There are plungers in the valve body that control certain gear shift pairs. typically the orings wear over time.(Stuff like transmedic causes the orings to temporarily swell back up.