| Author |
Message |
CoryDaneRTSIIIL (4.17.253.242)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 11:37 pm: | |
Ok, I asked about using a GMC Jimmy, 1996 model year with the push button 4wd on the dash for towing.
Well I waltzed up to the local GMC dealer for an answer, and I wasnt ah gonna leave til I got one.
First I spoke with a sales man, and he did'nt have a clear answer but then sent me to see Ron in the Shop. Ron says this vehicle has no neutral for the transfer case so to tow 4 wheels down, you need to remove the drive shaft. UGH! But, I said, I have a dolly. Oh, Ron says, you can back the rear wheels on the dolly, and secure the steering wheel so it can't turn. Don't rely on the key lock, it isn't strong enough. Once the rear wheels are on the Dolly, of course the vehicle is in 2wd, the front wheels will free wheel.
So if your are not all against a dolly, and have one of these vehicles, this is how you have to do it. Hope it is helpfull to anyone-cd |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (66.190.119.82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 2:13 am: | |
A drive shaft disconnect from Remco works great and is much much easier than physically disconnecting the drive shaft.
BTW my 99 Tahoe with electronic shift buttons on the dash can be shifted to neutral. It does have a indicator that says neutral. If you have this indicator, then it can be shifted to neutral. I can post shifting instructions if anyone wants.
Richard |
jmaxwell (66.42.92.9)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 2:44 am: | |
Ure local Mr. Goodwrench is probably the least reliable source u could find, after the salesman. Call Remco, they will tell u. As Richard says, the disconnect is a far better option. Towing backward is not a good idea either, since alignment settings are run in reverse of their settings, which is not good on the front end of the vehicle. |
Scott Whitney (66.82.32.1)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 3:02 pm: | |
How about a car hauler? Might find a used one for not much more $$ than the Remco kit.
Not as easy to use, but if you have other uses for a trailer, or want to tow multiple vehicles, might be an option.
Scott |
Dwight (67.213.8.252)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 5:36 am: | |
The only thing with a tow dolly is, you need to check what states only allow you to tow with all 4 wheels down ????? plan to not visit those states or you can drive it through those states ????? |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (66.190.119.82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 7:58 am: | |
I have never heard that they were illegal in some states, but in my personal opinion, they should be illegal in all states!
Many years ago, I purchased a tow dolly, and after a few trips, I gave it away and purchased the Remco disconnect for the Toyota I was then towing. When I bought a repacement, I made sure there was a neutral position for the transfer case. (99 Tahoe 4W drive with electronic transfer case shifting).
I found it almost impossible to back up, even in a straight line, and with the Toyota off, I could not see it well enough, even with a back up camera, to back it. In several instances I had to remove the truck, then disconnect the dolly to get into a camping spot. Then had to use the truck to move the dolly. What a pain.
With four wheels down, I can usually back up in a straight line without the wheels cocking sideways. If I need to back up other than straight back, my wife gets in the truck and maintains the steering in the proper direction to be able to complete the maneuver. She does start the engine to have the power steering working.
Richard. |
Don KS/TX (63.15.244.30)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 8:45 am: | |
For a short trip from A to B only, a trailer or dolly works = fair. I have done all three, and four down is really the only way to go. Don't forget you have do "do" something with that dolly or trailer when you get to where you are going. Some RV parks will not even allow them inside. My biggest objection to the dolly is the time and trouble to hookup each time. I have found that a Saturn in my case, four down, is a real blessing on the road. |
Derv (24.241.7.93)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 9:10 pm: | |
Towing a vehicle backed onto a tow dolly is dangerous. So dangerous, that U-Haul prohibits it with their towdollys. The reason is that in front engined vehicles, all the weight would be at the very rear of the vehicle in tow. This has the same effect of loading a trailer heavy in the rear --- fishtailing.
I once worked for the insurance company that insures U-Haul. I was on their fly team for serious U-Haul accidents. I've seen more than a few caused by incorrectly loaded towdollys. Now, on the otherhand, a corvair would be correctly load with the rear wheels on the dolly. However, I believe a Corvair was a prohibited hookup due to it being so low to the ground. Couldn't get it on the dolly without dragging. |
Johnny (63.159.193.142)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 11:42 pm: | |
If used properly, a dolly is perfectly safe.
A trailer is MUCH easier to maneuver than 4-down (speaking as someone who has towed all 3 ways), but a huge pain to store.
I agree 100% on what Derv said: I towed a dolly with a car backed onto it once--I'll never do it again! Even with a very light car (Datsun 240Z) being towed by a large truck (1976 W-300 Power Wagon 4x4), the handling can best be called "spooky".
I plan to tow a 4x4 Cherokee, a Dodge pickup, or a K-5 Blazer 4x4 4-down with my school bus. |
Jim Stacy (12.87.109.83)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 10:45 pm: | |
No tow dolly mfg that I'm aware of allows towing with rear wheels on the dolly. This can be a dangerous situation if it starts to sway.
A dolly is a pain in the butt when you unhook. If you get in a tight spot and have to unhook to back up, what do you do with the dolly?
When you get in a campground, what do you do with the dolly? There is a reason why there are a lot of slightly used dollys for sale. Four down is the preferred, long term solution.
Jim Stacy |
Don KS/TX (63.15.244.151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 16, 2002 - 7:21 am: | |
I suggested to a friend that he tow his Dodge Dakota on his dolly with the rear wheels on the dolly behind his small Class C motorhome, seemed like a good idea to me at the time. He reported a wild ride that had that Dakota flopping from side to side trying to hit anything in sight. He was still trembling days later. |
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