PhilBaz
Santa Rosa, CA
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Does anyone have experience towing a rear wheel drive car backwards on a tow dolly? U-Haul specifically says no, but I'm sure they are very concerned about liability. It seems to me that if the steering is locked in the straight ahead position, there should be no stability issues.
Ford says the new (2011) mustang cannot be towed with any wheels down, saying even emergency towing must be done with a flatbed.
Thanks,
Phil
Phil & Susan
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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I have seen it done, apparently with success. At least, the vehicle left the state without having an accident.
I have never personally tried it.
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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The rear wheels are parallel the front ones have caster,camber and tow-in. All of those things can make towing backward unstable.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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That is the way we have to tow our 2WD Blazer. Use the seat belt to tie off the steering wheel pointing straight ahead. The steering wheel locks can shear when towing. If that happens in a curve the front end can swing out like a skier behind a boat that cuts hard.
I am sure had an accident occurred U-Haul would have said no damages stemmed from their equipment.
Legally it is a hassle because the instructions are different in each case so it would cause more confusion. As a side note U-Haul only rents tow dollies for a limited group of vehicles which does not include a lot of vehicles so one has to be careful when ordering one if one really needs a tow dolly really really bad.
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rk911
Wheaton IL
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Gale Hawkins wrote:That is the way we have to tow our 2WD Blazer. Use the seat belt to tie off the steering wheel pointing straight ahead...
just curious. if the steering wheel is secured by the seatbelts what happens when you make a turn? don't the tires skid around the turn? how do you deal with brakelights, tail lights, turn signals, etc?
73,
rich, n9dko
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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rk911 wrote:Gale Hawkins wrote:That is the way we have to tow our 2WD Blazer. Use the seat belt to tie off the steering wheel pointing straight ahead...
just curious. if the steering wheel is secured by the seatbelts what happens when you make a turn? don't the tires skid around the turn? how do you deal with brakelights, tail lights, turn signals, etc?
It works like when you pull a single axle trailer behind a truck.
Use the dolly trailer lighting mainly. The dolly has a spliter so you can look up magnetic lights like from HF too if you wish.
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FC
Kitchener,Ontario, Canada
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The general opinion is that the geometry of the front wheels is set up for a forward motion, and to tow in reverse they are generally not that stable. I don't think any one would recommend that solution. Obviously some do it.
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livingaboard
Everett wa
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no way in hell I would do it
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Everett, WA
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1fastdad
mo.
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I have done it many times for many miles with no adverse effects. As far as the steering geometry it doesn't come into effect untill you turn the steering wheel. The camber and toe in are the only things that there are when you are going straight and the car doesn't know if its going forward or backward. The stability and tire wear will be the same. The only thing you have to pay attention to is the overhang from the axle to the back of the vehicle is longer than on the front and this can come into play when turning sharply because it's closer to the tow vehicle.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Thanks 1fastdad. I know it is fine from my experience but did not know why. We ofter fear what we do not understand.
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