| Author | Message | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 558 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 207.231.75.253 Rating: N/A |
A buddy just inherited a 33' diesel pusher MH, and wants to tow a RWD Toyota backwards on a dolly. The toad would otherwise need a driveshaft disconnect, and a baseplate, at a cost of about two grand. My concern is whether the anti-theft device is strong enough to keep the front wheels straight against the caster? George | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 629 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 72.146.77.232  Rating: N/A |
This item has been discussed many times here (archives), and on the various RV forums. Towing any vehicle backwards invokes many hazardous conditions, since the steering can never be made secure enough. The caster settings of all vehicles are set for forward direction, not backward direction. Wrong caster settings will result in an unstable forward movement. Towing a vehicle with an unstable forward front end may result in a very unpleasant experience..... It's just physics defined. The "anti theft" lock is simply not strong enough to withstand the torque presented when the vehicle is driven in reverse. It's just a simple "tab" assembly on the steering wheel shaft. Remco makes several fairly priced devices, all that will allow the vehicle to be towed in the forward direction safely. A few bucks spent for the right way, may save bundles "down the road". Cheers! | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 833 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.3.173.51  Rating: N/A |
John is absolutely correct. As a test, go to an big empty parking lot. Put vehicle in reverse and back up at 10 MPH and turn. You will notice how differently the steering wheel reacts than when driving forward. Now takes that difference X 6 or 7 (60-70 MPH) (Message edited by JackConrad on September 12, 2008) | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 449 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193 Rating: N/A |
The caster setting is what causes the trouble while towing backwards, the wheels will constantly want to turn one way or the other. Sure, you can put a clamp on the steering wheel to hold it, but you'd still be beating up everything that connects the steering wheel to the tires. It is similar to constantly fighting the steering wheel. All that said, you MIGHT be able to find an alignment shop that understands all this & he can adjust the settings to minimize the problems for an occasional tow backwards. If the toyota isn't worth $2000, this is the way I'd go. ;) | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 17 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
How much is your car worth-more than $2000? I spent about that on my '84 Mercedes Turbodiesel to have the driveshaft disconnect added and the hitch mounts welded on. It is so easy to pull a car on all fours, with the only minus, you can't back up. Then you don't need a tow dolly. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| John and Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 100 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 24.197.246.104  Rating: N/A |
FWIW, I tried towing a Blazer backwards on a dolly and got about 10 miles before I realized what a mistake I had made. We stopped, pulled the driveshaft and turned it around. | ||
| James Stacy (Jimstacy)
Registered Member Username: Jimstacy Post Number: 144 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.41.9.244 Rating: N/A |
Every tow dolly manufacturer very clearly states that towing ANY vehicle backwards is not only unsafe but it voids all liability. If you have ANY kind of accident, it's your fault. We all know folks who have towed backwards and are still alive but for the excellent reasons by John, Jack and Kyle, the benefits are not worth the risk. Jim Stacy | ||
| Moe Hollow (Moehollow)
Registered Member Username: Moehollow Post Number: 49 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 71.102.20.26 Rating: N/A |
Watch Ebay and do global searches on Craigslist. You will find the right equipment at a reasonable price. | ||
| Keith Wood (Ft6)
Registered Member Username: Ft6 Post Number: 41 Registered: 8-2008 Posted From: 71.198.253.223 Rating: N/A |
I'll add my voice to the "don't do it" chorus. The same stability that tries to keep the car pointed the right way when going forward wants to point it the wrong way when going backward. When a tow truck is forced to tow backward, they put the front wheels on small trolleys and go slow. His only real options are to pull the driveline each time, buy a trailer, buy a disconnect kit, buy a trans pump or just replace it with a 4WD that has a "neutral" position on the transfer case. If he is only moving once in a while, pulling the driveline may make the most sense. The problem is lubrication. An automatic trans is lubricated by a pump, which is driven by the input shaft. If the engine isn't turning, the pump isn't running either. If it's a manual, there's no problem -- a straight gearbox is lubricated by the moving gears. | ||
| don goldsmith (Bottomacher)
Registered Member Username: Bottomacher Post Number: 206 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 72.15.86.59 Rating: |
Some manual trannies' tailshafts do not engage other gears in neutral and will not lubricate the trans while being towed. Older Nissans, other Japanese and several others are in that category. You must always consult the manual to be sure. | ||
| Patrick levenson (Zubzub)
Registered Member Username: Zubzub Post Number: 26 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.229.54.29 Rating: N/A |
seems to me disconnecting the driveshaft for a one off trip is the easiest/cheapest option. Don't know the toyota but the rwd I know have a flange and bolts seems easy to me. If this is for an ongoing project either drop the cash in the drive line disconnect or change the toad fro something with a real transmission. | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Registered Member Username: Sffess Post Number: 742 Registered: 1-2002 Posted From: 66.38.120.219 Rating: N/A |
Moe,how do I do a global search on Craigslist? I have only been able to search the listed cities. | ||
| Moe Hollow (Moehollow)
Registered Member Username: Moehollow Post Number: 50 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 71.102.20.26 Rating: N/A |
Checkout this link to Crazed List. You can do it by region or pick the cities that you want to search. I would not recommend trying to search all of Craigslist at once though. It seems to crash. There may need to be an adjustment to your browser to make it work, but it is real easy, and they have simple instructions. Good luck. http://crazedlist.org/ | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1357 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.68.122.134  Rating: N/A |
Ask the women if they are impressed with all the fooling around wrangling the equipment? Who wants more crap to have to fool with? A tow dolly is just another giant pain in the rear thing to fool with. And it costs money too. Tearing down camp, aligning and fastening, to get ready to travel will take how many days and people to do? Fine if your existence revolves around fooling with stuff, but SHE (who is really smarter than we are) won't be thrilled, whether she says it or not. Drive up to hotel, turn key, no clean up, drive away, versus WHAT???? Go get a drawbar and a way to disconnect. Or a different toad. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 894 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 206.53.144.65  Rating: N/A |
Steve an easy way to search is just go to your google search bar and type in for instance Prevost bus craigslist And you will find what your looking for! Just make sure you add craigslist to the end of whatever it is your searching for. Hope all is well! Ace |
