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Towing Advice


Turbo Cary
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I need some advice on towing a conquest about 100 miles to where im at. Here are my options

 

1.) Use my truck, 96 Tacoma 2WD 4 cylinder 5 speed to tow it with a car dolly from Uhaul. it says the dolly is for FWD cars only but i dont see why RWD wouldnt work with the wheel unlocked and it poisitioned backwards

 

2.) Rent a flat trailer to tow it with (im not sure if the truck could handle it)

 

3.) Pay someone to tow it which im not trying to do.

 

Any advice? What have yall done in the past?

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i dont see why RWD wouldnt work with the wheel unlocked and it poisitioned backwards

 

Really bad idea. The front steering will track wherever it wants causing the car to swing out of your lane and into traffic. Steering must be locked when towing a car backwards.

 

 

Like said above, remove the driveshaft if it's an auto. Towing just one mile could damage an auto trans.

 

For short trips leaving a manual in neutral is ok. But for long trips you should take the driveshaft off. If the engine isn't turning the driveshaft then the trans output shaft bearings aren't getting lubed properly. Long trip towing that way can lead to bearing failure. A member here towed his SQ to alaska on a dolly with the trans in neutral. When he got there the trans didn't work.

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I need some advice on towing a conquest about 100 miles to where im at. Here are my options

 

1.) Use my truck, 96 Tacoma 2WD 4 cylinder 5 speed to tow it with a car dolly from Uhaul. it says the dolly is for FWD cars only but i dont see why RWD wouldnt work with the wheel unlocked and it poisitioned backwards

 

2.) Rent a flat trailer to tow it with (im not sure if the truck could handle it)

 

3.) Pay someone to tow it which im not trying to do.

 

Any advice? What have yall done in the past?

as said above, put the car on the dolly normal, front wheels on the dolly

if its auto pull the shaft, manual you can leave it

make sure both rear tires are the same size

 

on a side note, on a dolly, conquests tow HEAVY, it may just be mine, but it was like pulling a box truck

towing a wagon over a mountain on my mpi was 10x easier than flat towing on my diesel. granted comparing 375hp to 130hp lol, but flat tow should have been easy, cars weigh about the same

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a381/skullzaflare/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps1cf4f959.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a381/skullzaflare/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsec0aff0f.jpg

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Thanks for the advice yall. Ill take the shaft out just to be certain. It is a 5 speed quest im picking up but it has been sitting a while.

 

Luckily I live in SC where it is mostly flat. The only "hills" are about 3 on ramps I have to take bringing it home.

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If it's been sitting a while, take some good spare rear wheels and tires. Old tires will disintegrate on a long haul.

 

I've wheel lifted cars that have sat for a while and have had blow outs.

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also if you pull the shaft, at a angle of a dolly you are going to dump gear oil

This is true.

 

There is enough room to disconnect the driveshaft, but leave it in place. Use some closeline or stout wire to tie the driveshaft flange up so it can't touch the torque tube. Make sure to put some forward pressure on the driveshaft by choosing a tie off point(s) towards the front of the car.

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I have towed several Conquests with my little mits truck, it weighted in around 2600 lbs,, you know your towing but a

4 cyl will do it,, just don't try 70+ mph

 

another note with tow straps on WIDE tires they will walk off the tire , so be sure to tie the straps with a 2'd safty

strap

 

also the drive shaft does not need to be removed just push it towards the trans and tie off with a rope , short

distances will not hurt a 5 spd but long trips will damage 5th gear and the upper out put shaft bearing

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I have towed several Conquests with my little mits truck, it weighted in around 2600 lbs,, you know your towing but a

4 cyl will do it,, just don't try 70+ mph

 

another note with tow straps on WIDE tires they will walk off the tire , so be sure to tie the straps with a 2'd safty

strap

 

also the drive shaft does not need to be removed just push it towards the trans and tie off with a rope , short

distances will not hurt a 5 spd but long trips will damage 5th gear and the upper out put shaft bearing

what do you consider wide tires? last tow dolly i used, the straps fit fine around a 245

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what do you consider wide tires? last tow dolly i used, the straps fit fine around a 245

 

it depends on how old the dolly straps are , one the ones I used they were for small car tires

and did not fit the quest tires very well at all

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Suggestions above are good advice.

 

But if you want an alternative, rent a moving van or small box truck from Uhaul and a trailer or dolly in your local area. If you rent and return at the same location, shouldn't cost that much ( day rate/ miles/ fuel).

 

If the car is dead, take some kind of winch ( $75 walmart 3000lb model, or come-a-long)

 

Since it's manual, take a good battery in case you want to use the starter to drive it on to the dolly. But remember this is hard on the equipment, so really a last resort IMHO.

 

Take an air pump too.

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  • 2 weeks later...

After some long debating I'm going to have to get it towed by a towing company.

 

The rear brakes are locked up on the car and money wise (renting the trailer, buying the harness, gas, etc.) it is more economical to have it towed on a flat bed.

 

Plus looking at the tires on my truck there is a slit across the tread on one as if it had run over a razor blade. last thing I need is a blow out.

 

The tacoma I have has a capacity of 3500 lbs. Figuring a conquests weight between 2600-2800 lbs plus the trailer itself its going to cut it close on its ability.

 

Thanks yall for the advice and stuff. I will have to tow the car again in two months. This tow is 90+ miles but when i have to tow it again it's only 10. Alot less strain on the truck.

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After some long debating I'm going to have to get it towed by a towing company.

 

The rear brakes are locked up on the car and money wise (renting the trailer, buying the harness, gas, etc.) it is more economical to have it towed on a flat bed.

 

Plus looking at the tires on my truck there is a slit across the tread on one as if it had run over a razor blade. last thing I need is a blow out.

 

The tacoma I have has a capacity of 3500 lbs. Figuring a conquests weight between 2600-2800 lbs plus the trailer itself its going to cut it close on its ability.

 

Thanks yall for the advice and stuff. I will have to tow the car again in two months. This tow is 90+ miles but when i have to tow it again it's only 10. Alot less strain on the truck.

A complete wide body is 3000-3200, most trailers are 1200-1500, aluminum rental trailers are less however they have alot more tongue weight, and tow "heavier"

 

But I agree with the flat bed

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  • 2 months later...
TC Sorry for the delay in the reply. I am originally from Clemson, and after various places wound up in Beaufort with all the Marines [not one myself though] Now I am in Bridgeport Illinois far away from city life and congested streets. Lol!! I know Charleston well, my stepdaughter will be going there for college starting this summer/fall.
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