Towing a rear-wheel drive vehicle

[Dachristianman]

I have a car dolly, but I also have a rear-wheel drive vehicle. The two options that I can think of are to remove the driveshaft or tow it backwards. I'm leaning towards towing it backwards to save the trouble of reconnecting the driveshaft if i want to drive someplace, but I'd like to get some opinions. I'm mainly going to need the vehicle when I get to my destination, but there could be the off-chance that I would want to drive it at a stop along the way.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Tom

(a man with a theory is at a disadvantage of a man with an experience)

[OhhWell]

wallynm wrote:
Towing backwards on a dolly creates three point of articulation. First is the tow ball, the second is the dolly wheels and the third is the car steering wheels. In an emergency stop this can allow jack knifing to occurs more quickly. I have seen fifth wheels towing boats and the boat will whip the fifth wheel around to the side of the truck before it rolls. Happen once in CO and there was boat, fifth wheel and truck scatted for a half a mile down the freeway.Maybe rare but it does happen. I chose not to do it.

Just because some do it and never have a problem does not mean it is safe.

you lock the steering :S

[mowermech]

DO NOT install supplemental braking on the CAR when towing on a dolly!
Yes, having brakes on the DOLLY is an excellent idea, but you do NOT want to have the brakes on the CAR locking up and ripping it off the dolly!
No matter whether the car is on the dolly frontwards or backwards, DO NOT have braking on the CAR!!

[Ivylog]

OP, there is a lot of BS on here. Since you are pulling with a 92 Brave I do agree with the concerns about braking and if you were doing this with a PU I'd say NO WAY. Yes towing it backwards is not as stable but with a MH, supplemental braking on the car, and using the seat belt to secure the steering wheel I'd do it. While not the same, click on "How I tow" below.

[wallynm]

Towing backwards on a dolly creates three point of articulation. First is the tow ball, the second is the dolly wheels and the third is the car steering wheels. In an emergency stop this can allow jack knifing to occurs more quickly. I have seen fifth wheels towing boats and the boat will whip the fifth wheel around to the side of the truck before it rolls. Happen once in CO and there was boat, fifth wheel and truck scatted for a half a mile down the freeway.Maybe rare but it does happen. I chose not to do it.

Just because some do it and never have a problem does not mean it is safe.

[wa8yxm]

Some do tow backwards but if you do this you need to secure the steerging wheel do not trust the interlock pin as it's not strong enough.

Remco sells, or rather sold, a device called a Drive Shaft Disconnect. This is a major install but simple operation it is what is called a spline clutch, You can see a demonstrator at most Camping World stores.

Put one of those on , Sell the dolly on E_bay or Craig's list and tow 4 down.

Advantage this device: Some idiot jumps in and turns the key (He knows you need to have key in to tow) and puts the pedal to the metal and goes no place but jail.. WHy, no power to the wheels when the disconnect is active (Disconnected).

[OhhWell]

Like Daveinet put out there, pulling with the engine in the rear sets you up for a bit more sway than with the engine right over the dolly tires. Like I said before, I have done it on a few occasions, but never more than a couple hundred miles. The directional tires are for improved grip performance in the forward direction, they aren't going to cause you much trouble towed backwards. People still do drive in reverse with them. Our Mini had directional tires on it.

You stated in your OP that this was mostly to get the truck to your final destination but you may want to use it along the way. If you have the proper socket, it really isn't THAT big of a deal to just plain disconnect the driveshaft and just reconnect it as needed. Maybe 5 min or so.

If you really don't want to do that, tow it in reverse. Keep a solid eye on it for a few hundred miles to check for too much sway and get a feel for the limits. It's probably not going to push your coach around but I wouldn't want too much stress on the front suspension from sway.

[fcooper]

I've never tried it, but the front end alignment is designed to go forward. It's possible that the front tires will be always trying to turn to the side like what happens when you back up a car hooked up to a tow bar.

Fred

[mowermech]

dons2346 wrote:
When the tow dolly manufacturers say do not tow backwards, that is enough for me. I do believe they know a little more about it than the average guy.

A very good point.
Sometimes I agree, sometimes I don't.
This time, I don't. I have seen it done many times, with no trouble. IMO, that is one of the warnings required by the legal staff, in an effort to avoid lawsuits! "Well, you can't blame US, we told you not to do that!"

[ScottG]

dons2346 wrote:
When the tow dolly manufacturers say do not tow backwards, that is enough for me. I do believe they know a little more about it than the average guy.

Sometimes manufacturers say stuff like that only because they have not tried it.

[Dachristianman]

Thanks for all the input thus far. It's a '03 Infiniti Q45. Slightly less than 2 tons. It's only a 1-time toad, so I think I'll shy away from the quick disconnect.

Keep the inputs and opinions coming.

Tom

[dons2346]

When the tow dolly manufacturers say do not tow backwards, that is enough for me. I do believe they know a little more about it than the average guy.

[Daveinet]

1BryNelson wrote:
I tow a Ford Ranger 2wd V6 backwards on a dolly. Pulled that thing all over with no problems.

What did you use for brakes?

[1BryNelson]

I tow a Ford Ranger 2wd V6 backwards on a dolly. Pulled that thing all over with no problems. Use Toyo tires which the dealer called and Toyo said no problem towing backwards.

[Patrol_65]

Check with Remco Driveshaft Disconnect to find out if there is a disconnect for your vehicle.

[fischer]

It would help us to know what car or truck you are trying to tow !!!!!