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 > Dolly towing backwards

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johntichy

Florida

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Posted: 02/05/12 08:26am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Has anyone ever towed a rear wheel drive car backwards on a tow dolly? I have magnetic tow lights so that's not a problem. The question is, are there any laws in states that prohibit backward towing??? Thank you, answers and comments would be appreciated.

John
Moved to Dinghy Towing forum from Towing.

* This post was edited 02/05/12 11:12am by an administrator/moderator *

SoCalDesertRider

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Posted: 02/05/12 08:34am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

It has been done before. You will need to tie off the steering wheel so the front tires remain straight. Tow trucks lift rear wheel drive cars by the rear axle all the time to tow them away. Pretty sure there's no law against towing a car backwards, even here in California, where there is a law against just about everything.


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johntichy

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Posted: 02/05/12 08:56am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Thank you. I have an old BMW wagon that is the perfect car for my dog once I settle in at an RV resort. Will be pulling it with a 40' American Eagle. Planning on going from FL to WI for the summer. After 23-years, I had enough of the FL summer heat.

past-MIdirector

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Posted: 02/05/12 08:57am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

If not done right you will damage the front suspension or could have the tow vehicle start weaving going down the highway.





gbopp

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Posted: 02/05/12 09:15am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Another option is a car trailer.
I don't have a dolly however, I would not consider towing backwards on a dolly. But that's just my opinion.

Desert Captain

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Posted: 02/05/12 09:20am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

We followed a Class A that was towing a car on a dolly with the front wheels down and it scared me to death. The front wheels wiggled left and right constantly moving at least 6" each way. Don't know if they were doing it badly or if that is what it's suppose to do.
I kept waiting for pieces to come flying out of the front end but they never did. If nothing else they must have scrubbed thousands of miles off those tires. I had to back way off to get away from them (on I-10), as it looked like an accident waiting to happen.

Nomadac

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Posted: 02/05/12 09:58am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Bad for the front suspension and not recommended by all Dolly Mfgs. but people ignore what is safe or not recommended.


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jauguston

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Posted: 02/05/12 10:23am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

You will need to watch it close. When going backward with the rear elevated the front wheel caster is backward and the wheels are effectively toed out instead of toed in. That "can" make for some unusual handling issues. Be sure the steering wheel is secured so it can't move at all.


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johntichy

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Posted: 02/05/12 10:35am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

The toed out seems to make the most sense to me. Think it would be best to disconnect the driveshaft at the rear-end. Will only take 15-min's.

scottykrug

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Posted: 02/05/12 12:06pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

X2 from above. In my lifetime have towed two vehicles backwards and will never do it again. Both of them (steering wheels locked and secured with the seatbelt) swayed uncontrollably from side to side. My guess is that the weight of the engine with even just the slightest play in the steering system stets it up for this. Feels just like a trailer that is overloaded to the aft (having only done that once in my lifetime and never will again). Wag the dog. Get a full on trailer and save mileage on the axle running on the pavement, or pull the driveshaft.

My 2 pesos.

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