Is towing a 911 with a front wheel dolly a bad idea? If so, why?

[Jim Williams]

The title pretty much says it all. I have heard it rumored (can't remember where), that towing a 911 with one of those front wheel dollies like those rented from U-Haul is not good for the transaxle. Maybe there is something I'm just not thinking of. I understand that the gears are still meshing, but so they are when the car is under it's own power. If the transmission is in neutral (an obvious condition for towing) where would extra wear come in? Would mileage towed (700 - 800 miles) be a factor?

Is there a risk of the car somehow "slipping into gear"?

Any thoughts on this?

[Elombard]

I was thinking the same thing when I borrowed a wheel dolly and towed my project home from the paint shop. Just 10 miles or so but I thought I remembered hearing something about it being a bad idea.

[DanS911]

I have been "flat towing" my 911s for years with no problems. Longest I ever go is Sebring about 150mi each way but I wouldn't hesitate to go further, smooth as butter.

[fumanchu]

I used one. Towed it 150 miles when I bought it.

Back the car on the dolly and fix the steering wheel straight with some rope or ratchet ties. Not sure you would ever tow one with all that weightshanging out back + plus transaxle spinning in neutral. If it is low like mine, use some wood blocks (raises it higher)before the ramps so the ass end doesnt smack the carrier.

good luck

Shawn

[MotoSook]

I'd like to know answer too, Jim, but why not back the 911 onto the dolley and use a bungie to center the steering wheel or lock it in position....

[pookie]

I've towed two 911's with a Uhaul dolly. I towed one from SC to WV, 400+ miles, with no issues. I used the method described above, backed onto the trailer with the steering wheel tied down.

The nose of the car will be really close to the ground, so be careful.

A better method is to get a full car trailer and put it on there.

[kwikt 911]

Before I got my trailer I used a tow dolly for years towing my 911 all over the southeast autoxing. Tried hauling both ways(frontwards and backwards) and towed alot better forwards. Less weight on the tongue and didn't have to tie the steering wheel down.

Kevin

[3.2 CAB]

+1 with the front end on the dolly.

[masraum]

Pretty much every owner's manual I've ever read said NOT to tow a car with the drive wheels on the ground for long distances without pulling the driveshaft (if rwd) or just not if there's not something like a driveshaft to pull.

[chris.817]

I don't have first hand knowledge but I'll chime in with the thoughts from sailboat transmissions. Unless you leave a boat in gear, the propeller will "free wheel" much like the outcome of dollying or flat towing a manual transmission car. The rule of thumb is that you start the motor and run the transmission to circulate lubrication once per day.

I would equate that to something like short distances are fine. 2-3000 miles across country and you might want to pull the car off and drive it a 10-20 miles once or twice during the trip.

Obviously, auto transmission drives shaft MUST be disconnected or placed on the dolly.

my .02...

[daepp]

I towed a 68 912 from Lafayette LA to So Cal - 1800 miles, all four wheels on the ground in 1979. IIRC, we ordered a bar that attached with pins under the front pan. Car in neutral, bungee cord on the steering wheel, and 1800 trouble free miles of towing. Once in So Cal, no transaxle problems.

[Jim Williams]

Thanks on all the replies so far. All the positive experiences are welcomed.

What I was thinking was the front wheels on the dolly. Many times the front spoiler lip is too close to the ground for comfort with the tail end of the car hiked up in the air. Apparently some of you have heard the same things I've heard about the internals of the tranny freewheeling -- but the question I still have not heard a response to is -- why should this create a problem? All this spinning is going on within the tranny with the car being driven. What is different when it is being towed?

[RarlyL8]

A couple of things come to mind. One is localized heat buildup in the tranny, may not be an issue. The other is the less than likely event of hitting a hard bump that knocks the tranny into gear. That would be a problem.
I flat towed a 911 years ago using a tow dolly on the front wheels. I removed the axles to give my mind peace during the trip.

[safe]

I can't see any problem with towing with the drive wheels on the ground, not with a manual transmission.
Automatic cars often has a limit on how long you can tow it because they have no lubrication unless the input shaft is turning.

[Elombard]

Yah I think it was with regard to auto boxes where the problem comes in now that I think about it.

[stevej37]

Never had any problems towing mine front first on a dolly. If using one, be careful of tight turning when backing up. The tow dolly fender will be dangerously close to the door, if trying to make too sharp of a turn. Also, be sure to re-tighten tire straps after a mile or so.

[kwikt 911]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Never had any problems towing mine front first on a dolly. If using one, be careful of tight turning when backing up. The tow dolly fender will be dangerously close to the door, if trying to make too sharp of a turn. Also, be sure to re-tighten tire straps after a mile or so.

Exactly.... that's how I dented my lower rocker trim on my 72

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by masraum

Pretty much every owner's manual I've ever read said NOT to tow a car with the drive wheels on the ground for long distances without pulling the driveshaft (if rwd) or just not if there's not something like a driveshaft to pull.

Pretty much standard language that applies to "Automatic" transmissions.

[jmshepard]

It was told to me that the front on the dolly was not a good thing. As the story goes... the front part of the transmission would not be in the lubricating fluid and therefore could damage the internals. This scared me enough to avoid the practice.

It would be good to read other opinions on this fact or fiction.

[the]

my old relatives were big RVers. They all had little cars/SUVs they towed behind their behemoth RVs all around the country. they just hooked em up and towed em, all 4 wheels on the ground, for thousands of miles.

they were always stick shifts, though.