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07-19-2011, 12:51 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 22
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Towing backwards with Car dolly
this is probably a dumb question, but can you tow a rear wheel drive car backwards on a car dolly(ie. rear wheels up and front wheels on the ground)?
Tom
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07-19-2011, 01:08 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Sure, but no dolly manufacturer endorses it. The steering geometry is set for the vehicle to go forward, not backward at high speeds. You will have to tie the steering wheel so the wheels don't steer.
I would never do it but some do.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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07-19-2011, 01:32 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dublin, VA
Posts: 391
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Better do quite of bit of research on this one before you proceed. My opinion is that with today's auto, unless it is recommended by the mfg, I wouldn't do it. Too much pain if you're wrong!
__________________
Mike & Cindy, (of course with Lucy the Miniature Schnauzer & Eddie the Yorkie) Dublin, VA / Fun Finder TT / X215WSK
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07-19-2011, 05:03 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 1,083
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Suggest you don't try it. Cars are not designed to tow that way for any distance. As others have stated, it is not recommended by any dolly mfg.
__________________
Kathy & George Zimm
Mickleton, NJ
2006 Coachman Epic & 2013 Chevy Equinox Toad
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07-19-2011, 05:11 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny Arizona
Posts: 9
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Some don'ts for towing...
- Do not allow anyone to ride in a towed vehicle.
- Do not use the towed vehicle to carry cargo.
- Do not back up when towing.
- Do not tow a vehicle backwards.
Have a great day!
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07-19-2011, 05:45 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 325
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Used to tow a small pickup backwards on a tow dolly. Not a pleasant experience. It can be be done, but the weight is behind the pivoting dolly making the dolly tend to wander. It was difficult to handle. Have since put FWD car on the dolly. Don't even know it is back there.
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07-19-2011, 06:09 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 1,268
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The old tow truck drivers knew how to tie the steering wheel to the wing window and keep the car straight. Oh, no more wing windows. Just get a auto trailer.
J
__________________
1988 PACE ARROW
P30, 454 ENG, TURBO 400 TRANS
TOWING '80 WING OR 2006 AVALON
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07-19-2011, 06:16 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,142
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Just turn the key off. Don't that lock the steering wheel?
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07-19-2011, 06:28 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 1,268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by a k
Just turn the key off. Don't that lock the steering wheel?
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Not always in a straight position, some are locked offset.
J
__________________
1988 PACE ARROW
P30, 454 ENG, TURBO 400 TRANS
TOWING '80 WING OR 2006 AVALON
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07-19-2011, 06:30 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 323
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Our 98 Tracker required that it be backwards on the dolly. I tied off the steering wheel to the seat framing and it worked fine. It gave the front wheels a little flex without too much freedom. The steering lock is not designed for that much torque and often locks the wheels off center. I only towed it that way a couple times. Much better to tow 4 down.
__________________
USN, Retired
2020 Grand Design Momentum 25G
2022 Silverado 3500, 2007 Honda Goldwing
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07-19-2011, 06:32 PM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,945
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The problem is that for a stable tow, the front end geometry is not correct for it to be towed backwards. The toe, caster and camber are all set for the vehicle to be stable when moving in the forward direction. Backwards, it will basically not be stable.
As for locking the steering wheel, leave it unlocked and tie it off in a straight position with a heavy cord. If the wheel tries to jerk back and forth, it will damage tthe locking pin and you may wind up with a jammed steering lock. If it is unlocked, the vehicle can wander back and forth.
ken
__________________
Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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07-19-2011, 11:18 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 691
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Towed a station wagon backwards for about 50 mile due to an emgerency once. Never again
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01-23-2015, 07:36 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Suburban Washington DC
Posts: 67
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Found this thread on an unrelated search so I'm not intentionally bringing back such an old message but some of the replies are just silly. I've used a tow dolly to haul RWD cars with the back in the air dozens of times with no issues, many of those for a 1,000 miles between DC and Florida. As long as you tie off the steering wheel to the seat frame in two spots, you are fine.
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01-23-2015, 08:13 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi pip8688,
Towed a car(s) backward for about 10 years. Never had a problem.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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