Towing a 911 behind a Motorhome

datedd · 03-11-2007, 11:30 AM

Does anyone out there know if a 1980 911 can be flat towed (all four wheels down) or on a dolly (two wheels down) behind a motorhome? Will it damage the transmission or any part of the driveline?

David Thomas

Grady Clay · 03-11-2007, 11:52 AM

David,

Welcome to the Forum.

You will find a lot of help here.

Many do this with a tow-bar bolted to the front suspension. This is probably OK for short trips. If I were to tow across country, I would want the smallest and lightest weight 2-axle enclosed trailer with electric brakes. This is particularly true if in rain or snow. A running 911 is impervious to the elements, not so if not running.

Make sure the motorhome is more than capable to handle the load (brakes, power, hitch, etc.)

The difficulty with a dolly is the non-supported end of the 911 ends up too low and scrapes the pavement at curb-cuts, etc.

Best,
Grady

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

I've dinghy-towed a few things (Toyota Landcruiser, Renault 5) behind my old Chevy RV, and A-frame cars behind my truck all the time, but I prefer to trailer 911s.

Regular height stuff is easy to hook up and I don't mind a few stonechips on it, not so the Porsches. I wouldn't want to cut into my 911s to fix permanent A-frame mounts either, so trailer would definitely be the way I would go. I wouldn't dolly one for the same reasons as Grady. Just my $0.02.

Open trailer doesn't bother me too much, but then my rear window vents are welded up:

datedd · 03-11-2007, 01:06 PM

I am not interested in trailers as they are a hassle. I have towed many vehicles behind motohomes. I just want to know if a 911's drivetrain is up to the task of towing four down.

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by datedd
I just want to know if a 911's drivetrain is up to the task of towing four down.

If a Renault 5 is then a 911 is for sure.

datedd · 03-11-2007, 01:19 PM

Meaning that a Renault has the same drivetrain?

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by datedd
Meaning that a Renault has the same drivetrain?

Meaning that if the cheaper Renault drivetrain can take whatever 'abuse' is dished out by toading it, then the 911 won't have any probs in my opinion.

I know trailers are a bit of grief, but the pros comprehensively outweigh the cons for me where the 911s are concerned, and I wouldn't class myself as overly fussy regarding how they are treated. I appreciate that you know what you are talking about though David.

Post some pics of the car in tow when you have organised it, I would genuinely like to see those.

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

Might be of interest:

Do you really need a trailer to tow a 911?

datedd · 03-11-2007, 01:42 PM

Thank you for your straight answer.

I do not plan on dragging the car across the US because it is a bit heavy for my motorhome that is a small class C with a Chevy 350 drivetrain and like previous replies have mentioned, the car would be at the mercy of any and all kinds of road debris that may screw it up.

I like to go to Rincon Parkway in Ventura by the beach to camp sometimes (which is a couple of hours from my home) and due to the nature of the campground (being first come first serve no reservations) you have to bring a car with you.

It is a beautiful area to cruise with the Targa top off and there are a lot of nice places to go that make taking a motorhome difficult.

Besides, would not you rather cruise around in a beach town in a Targa, instead of a 22'+ motorhome?

datedd · 03-11-2007, 01:50 PM

I read that thread when I did a search through the forums on this topic. interesting indeed!

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by datedd
It is a beautiful area to cruise with the Targa top off and there are a lot of nice places to go that make taking a motorhome difficult.

Sounds great David. Mine is also a Class C - G30 with the J-spec 6.2 V8 Diesel through a TH400 - and will tow a couple of tons no problems. But for two hours a flat tow should be good. Maybe get a bra or something to keep the worst off the front?

Good luck with it

stevej37 · 03-11-2007, 01:54 PM

I use a tow dolly for mine..works great. To get the front end into the cradle I have to put a 2x4 on each ramp to so that it will clear. Just be sure to recheck tightness of the tire hold-down straps after a couple miles...they will always need tightening up.

air-cool-me · 03-11-2007, 02:33 PM

i used a u-haul tow dolly.. i just took an 11mm and raised up the front as high as it could go.

(later i lowered it back down a bit so i would have some suspension travel)

this is after 1600 miles and 28 hours..

i used bungee cords because the car doesn't have a wheel lock .

no need to worry about the drive train if it isn't touching the ground..

datedd · 03-12-2007, 10:39 AM

Nick, what do you mean when you said that you used an 11mm?

datedd · 03-12-2007, 10:44 AM

Yeah, John. I was thinking of some kind of protection for the front end since the car is BLACK!!! and you know that color shows all the chips!

My class C has a gear splitter (I would not leave home without one!) as well as a deep sump trans pan and a desert cooler radiator spraying system that is plummed from my water tank. I can pull a grade and have no cooling problems as well as dropping the trans into 2nd over (that's the gear between 2nd and third) to keep the motorhome in its power band without lugging the motor.

I'm not exactly sure what 911's weigh, but I shouldn't have and problems.

air-cool-me · 03-12-2007, 10:59 AM

( used an 11mm?)

i used an 11mm socket to raise up the 911s front suspension.

thats all the tools it takes! gave me more ground clearance when towing backwards.

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

I love the gear splitter David, know a few guys using them on the 3-speed trans. Our normal ambient temps are low enough not to need auxiliary cooling, only time I worried was when we climbed the highest mountain pass in Ireland (the Conor Pass near Dingle). The trans did get fairly hot, and that was at 32 degrees F ambient. Relieved smiles all round when we reached the top of that

(apologies for the O/T)

datedd · 03-13-2007, 12:04 AM

how do you do that Nick? Where do you attach the socket to?

daepp · 03-13-2007, 05:48 AM

I towed a SWT 912 with all four tires flat on the ground from Lafayette, LA to Ontario, CA. It was 1979 and the only thing available was a detachable tow bar mounted to the front pan. The car tracked very well, and since it was the middle of summer we had no major weather problems.

BTW - my tow vehicle was a Mercury I picked up for $49.00, Ran great, but no a/c. Wished I was in the Targa the whole trip.

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

Nothing wrong with having the Wifie drive the Motorhome and you hop in the Porsche?