Towing car on all fours

[Mike70gtx]

I was going to help my son drive his car back to college. About 700 miles one way. I'm thinking of using his tahoe to pull my car and then leave him there and drive my car back. Other than unhooking the drive shaft would there be any other concerns or dangers. If I took my front bumper off, could I have a tow bar built to hook to the bumper extensions? Any ideas? I could rent a dolly from uhaul but it probably won't be cheep. If I did that I'd probably just pull the front wheel drive pontiac.

 

[JST A 6]

I don't think I'd tow my Buick with a towbar or a dolly. Pulling the driveshaft and front bumper, and reinstalling them for the ride home (hopefully you remember your wheel chocks, floor jack, and jack stands to put the driveshaft back on) is an awful lot of trouble to go through plus I'd worry about the Tahoe kicking stones etc. at the Buick. Another thing is you have to rig up some tail/brake lights at the back of the car that work off the Tahoe to be legal. Also, the bumper mounts have a lot smaller hole than any bolt I'd want to use to pull a car.

I don't like dollies either because I had a car fall halfway off of one once. Fortunately it wasn't out on the road; I was moving slowly as I pulled around a fuel pump at a gas station. It had been properly secured too.

In summary, I don't use dollies at all and I don't use a towbar except when properly attached to the bumper itself on a daily beater. The Buick deserves nothing less than a full trailer if I ever tow it. JMHO.

 

[stack1]

Rent a car trailer from uhaul. It was only $40 for the day when I rented one a couple years ago. Of course you'd pay more for a one way rental, but I think it'd be worth not messing with the tow bar and disconnecting and reconnecting the driveshaft.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

I have been using tow bars for 20 years and I have never ever removed a drive shaft or a bumper.
The car being towed-
1-put the key in the ignition so that the steering wheel could turn
2-put the car in neutral so that it can roll
3-don't forget the tow lights and white shoe polish.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

this is the one i use with the light set up

and check out the gas prices

 

[A2000RICH]

I have been using tow bars for 20 years and I have never ever removed a drive shaft or a bumper.
The car being towed-
1-put the key in the ignition so that the steering wheel could turn
2-put the car in neutral so that it can roll
3-don't forget the tow lights and white shoe polish.

towing a vehicle that has an automatic transmission is not a good idea if you intend to go far without removing the driveshaft-----half the stuff in the tranny is turning and creating friction without the benefit of oil being pumped to cool and lubricate the moving and sliding parts------different trannys are affected differently but a 2004R really doesn't do so well with it...........RC

 

[QwuickTurbo6]

towing a vehicle that has an automatic transmission is not a good idea if you intend to go far without removing the driveshaft-----half the stuff in the tranny is turning and creating friction without the benefit of oil being pumped to cool and lubricate the moving and sliding parts------different trannys are affected differently but a 2004R really doesn't do so well with it...........RC

Very true. You want the pumps on if the car is moving.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

I guess I’m riding on a 20 plus year lucky streak.

Or could it be one of those things that "on paper" should and would happen??

Do what ever works for you.
This has been working for me!!

 

[TurboTnZ06]

The auto tranny will not be happy in the long run being towed!

 

[Mike70gtx]

Thanks for the advice. I would without question unhook the drive shaft. I am most concerned about the flying rocks from the towing vehicle. My decision making process is first; gather information and second; pray about it. Maybe that should be the other way around, but God has saved me from some pretty stupid things.

 

[A2000RICH]

I guess I’m riding on a 20 plus year lucky streak.

Or could it be one of those things that "on paper" should and would happen??

Do what ever works for you.
This has been working for me!!

nothing lucky about it---------the bad thing is that you have for sure shortened the service life of every auto trans car you have towed--------the unfortunate owners just go on and you are long gone when the failure eventually happens--------the certain damage is simply a function of how far and fast you do the tow and the condition of the tranny to begin with-------you are not the only one that does this------many tow guys do this if they think they can get away with it and the owner doesn't know any better-------take it any way you want but i call it being LAZY and failing to do things the right way and i make no apology for saying so---------its a simple right vs wrong way to do something and like most always the right way takes a little more effort..............RC

 

[TR Custom Parts]

He's a big boy, let him drive himself back to school. 700 miles is not that far. If you really have to go with him, just rent a car and drive yourself back.

 

[wagon]

I would never use a tow dolly from U-Haul to tow a GN. Well, never again. The fenders on the dolly have the taillights in them. When you cut the wheel of the tow vehicle real sharp, the platform that the car is on, pivots, and the taillight in the dolly's fender puts a nice little dent in the door. I have rented the trailers from U-Haul, and they worked out pretty well.

 

[Mike70gtx]

OK! Here's my motivation. #1 He's a big boy, but still my son and I'd like the quality time together. (But I could fly back) #2 I'd like to take my wife along and that would probably mean drive a vehicle instead of fly (cost factor) . #3 All my old buddies live there and I could show my car off!!!!
I do have several options and thanks for the opinions. I also thought this might be one of the few ways I could get my wife to ride in my car that length of time.

 

[BLACK6PACK]

Give your boy a couple hundred bucks, a slap on the back, a kick in the butt and send him on his way. That's what my parents did 18 years ago when I moved from Indiana to fort lauderdale. Still down here after 18 years. While in college I'd drive home about 2 times a year. 2200 miles round trip and would do it by myself at 18 years old.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

nothing lucky about it---------the bad thing is that you have for sure shortened the service life of every auto trans car you have towed--------the unfortunate owners just go on and you are long gone when the failure eventually happens--------the certain damage is simply a function of how far and fast you do the tow and the condition of the tranny to begin with-------you are not the only one that does this------many tow guys do this if they think they can get away with it and the owner doesn't know any better-------take it any way you want but i call it being LAZY and failing to do things the right way and i make no apology for saying so---------its a simple right vs wrong way to do something and like most always the right way takes a little more effort..............RC

1-i never did because I never heard of it. Had I known I would not have done it.
That said
2-i picked up my current work van 105 miles away and Trans still works perfect 6 years later.
3-i picked up my old 95 astro with 120K miles and towed it about 135 miles. I just sold it with 275K miles and the Trans still worked perfect.
Not saying that you are wrong but could it be the type of thing that is exaggerated.
4-no apology needed I am not as delicate "sensitive" as some of the other guys.

 

[TURBOTWIN2]

My vote is for a U-Haul drive on trailer. Quicker set-up, safer and fairly cheap for a one time deal. You get to drive it off ready to go. While your son is returning the trailer, you be can taking your buddies for a ride to the Dark Side.

 

[Mike70gtx]

Thanks turbotwin2. I'll let you know what happens.

 

[dr_frankenstein]

put a bra on the car and get some of that heavy removable vinyl film. stick it to your car, put the bra on, drop the shaft - get a tow bar, and drag it. the magnetic light kits are 25$ at harbor freight.


i flat tow my VW round trip to the Baja all the time with no issues. And at one time thats how all of my race cars were towed.

Hell the mexicans that buy all the cars to go to J-town flat tow 3 or 4 cars at a time!

Cheers! Good on ya for cruizing with the Kiddo. Good Pa and Son time.


:tongue: A.j.

 

[Mike70gtx]

Thanks, Just found out from a welder that harbor freight has the tow bars for $59. Welder said to take a piece of angle iron and bolt across the bumper supports and then attach the tow bar to it. Now I need to get my a/c fixed that I've been putting off.