PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: righthandman on January 23, 2013, 12:51:26 AM
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OK guys, I have a 79 with a C3 OR C4 that I need to tow about 160 miles or so. Seeing how Ford's are usually the tow vehicle & not the vehicle being towed I can't remember or just never knew. Do I need to pull the drive shaft or is it OK? Thanks, Tom
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Tom, I would pull it to be on the safe side.
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Before I got a full trailer, I would rent a "Tow Dolly" from U-Haul, tie down the steering wheel (must do) and tow my Cortina race car backwards with the back wheels on the Dolly and the fronts rolling on the ground. I got funny looks but it worked great.
71HANTO
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If you are going to tow it rolling on the rear wheels I would definitely pull the driveshaft like johnbigman2011 said. The reason being if you do not the driveshaft will be turning the yoke on the transmission, which rotates parts inside the transmission. Since the car is not running the transmission pump is not pumping fluid through the unit. With that being said all those rotating parts are creating extra friction and heat since there is no fluid to lubricate or cool the parts. This will cause excessive wear and/or transmission damage.
If you do what 71HANTO recommends you will not need to pull the driveshaft but as he stated make sure that steering wheel is locked solid & tied solid to prevent any movement.
As long as you do either one of those you will be fine without damaging your car.
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IF YOU ARE GOING TO PULL BACK WARDS, MAKE SURE STEERING IS TIGHT!! IF TIE RODS AND RAG JOINTS WORN OUT IT WILL SWAY SIDE TO SIDE AND MAKE THE CAR/ TRUCK YOU ARE PULLING WITH A BEAR TO DRIVE,..... KNOW YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY BUT I HAVE BEEN IN THE TOWING AND RECOVERY BUSINESS MY WHOLE LIFE AND THOSE DOLLYS ARE VERY DANGEROUS!!! HAVE BEEN OUT TO SEVERAL WRECKS WHERE THEY FAIL AND CARS ARE TOTALED FROM THEM, MY ADVICE CALL A TOW TRUCK OR GET A FULL TRAILER AND DO IT THE SAFE WAY FOR YOU YOUR CAR AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD WAY!!
JUST MY 2CENTS
ERIC
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Just get a trailer and not a dolly and be done with, it might cost more but you will not hurt anything on the tow.....If it was 50 miles or so yes but your talking about what an 2 and 1/2 hour drive each way there and back. The dolly is only rated for 50 miles an hour. Allot of time for something to go wrong....In December I towed my wagon using a dolly and the damn turntable did not move, we did no damage but getting off the dolly was a bitch... The front of the car where the turntable is was not aligned with the ramp and I almost had the wagon fall between the ramps....I saw it in time and turned the steering wheel hard but it was too close. The difference between the cost of the dolly and the trailer is what $30.00 if that ? Just how much damage can you do to a car....Allot
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WOW, you guys make me feel lucky. ??? I towed a pinto 1400 miles with a tow dolly with no issues. However, I agree that a full trailer is the best way to go.
71HANTO
Picking up a Pinto traveling 300 miles...
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj72/71hanto/Pinto/172.jpg)
Start of a 1400 mile trip... CA to TX
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj72/71hanto/P1000241.jpg)
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I bought my trailer 25 years ago because dollies stunk to use. Rent a trailer & save the headaches. Just be sure your hitch is capable.