Best way to tow?

Ugly1

Royal Smart Person
Oct 26, 2021
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Lost in the woods of NH
There are no more sling trucks. Similar tow but they have either a flatbed or wheel lift.

If it's just a local tow, hire a local truck.
If you chose CAA, they are not obliged to tow cars in fields. They are roadside assistance for a car you were driving, that has broken down. If you had it done, it IS because the driver overlooked the rules.
I'm only telling you this so you are not surprised when the tow is refused.
They best way around the rules is to lie about the circumstances then when the driver does arrive. Hand him/her your membership card and a generous tip.

If the car is in an inaccessible area. Tow it out with a recovery strap then let the truck take if from there.
They call them “ stingers” and can work better if the guy knows what he’s doing.
 
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Northernregal

Sloppy McRodbender
Oct 24, 2017
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Red Deer, Northern Montana territory
Towing Gone Fishing GIF by Storyful
 
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Wageslave

Royal Smart Person
Jan 25, 2017
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That is called a car dolly.

You never want to tow any RWD vehicle with the Drive Shaft connected, it will smoke the rear bushing and other components that aren't being properly lubricated while spinning. We just unbolt it and strap it up to the exhaust.
You can still use a dolly on a RWD vehicle as is, but you have to put the rear axle on the dolly and lock the steering wheel in a straight line to tow with.
 
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CopperNick

Comic Book Super Hero
Supporting Member
Feb 20, 2018
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Towing it from the rear is Not a bad suggestion. Only thing I would be concerned about is how much tongue the dolly has and whether it is long enough to get clear of the rear bumper and sit down on the tow ball correctly.



Nick
 

Built6spdMCSS

Geezer
Jun 15, 2012
5,692
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Florida Beach
You can still use a dolly on a RWD vehicle as is, but you have to put the rear axle on the dolly and lock the steering wheel in a straight line to tow with.

Towing it from the rear is Not a bad suggestion. Only thing I would be concerned about is how much tongue the dolly has and whether it is long enough to get clear of the rear bumper and sit down on the tow ball correctly.



Nick
Absolutely do not tow a vehicle backwards on a car dolly. The balance is not there unless it's a 50/50 weight vehicle. Anything else its unstable.
 
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CopperNick

Comic Book Super Hero
Supporting Member
Feb 20, 2018
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Canada
Wasn't endorsing it for the highway, but for getting the vehicle out of whatever hole or pocket it is buried in, the option to lift/pull from the front may not be there. In that case, using the dolly to extract it and move it to a better staging could be a useable work around.



Nick
 
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Rt Jam

G-Body Guru
Mar 30, 2020
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Ontario Canada
Stinger vs Wheel lift. I'm pretty sure it gets the idea out there, just terminology. I tend to think of a stinger as what repo guys use. Wheel lift needs the driver/operator to get out and put the spoons on before lifting. Like the CAA trucks have.

As for towing backwards on the dolly. Not recommended. If you done it or going to do it. Just know it is not the better way. With the heavy end on the dolly you can still aggressively steer the tow vehicle, like in the case of an emergency maneuver.
If you are the type to take it easy and drive slow all the way home, sure it will work but if that sucker starts swinging like a pendulum you will know why it's not the better way.
 

Ugly1

Royal Smart Person
Oct 26, 2021
1,604
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Lost in the woods of NH
FYI: the worst part of towing the vehicle backwards is hoping the key lock holds the steering wheel in place. If it doesn’t you’re fixing the steering column and you might not hit someone in the other lane. Less likely with a dolly under the front wheels but still not the best choice.
Glad you got it done and got it home safe.
 

spongbob

Greasemonkey
Oct 1, 2022
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This might come across as a strange question, but as a young guy who’s buying his first roller- it has to be towed home.

When I bought the Parisienne, it was parked in such a way where AAA could tow it, so we didn’t have to try starting it up.

However, the farm that has the G Body I want has a quite a narrow small dirt hill, that has very small turning radius like an S shape, before it turns into a normal straight road.

In other words, it’s impossible to manuever a full flatbed truck up there which is what AAA uses.

Now I am have to tow it myself, with a smaller vehicle. I am over 25, so I can rent if needed. But I am not sure the best approach.
The hill could work to your advantage youl need a working brake probly yes? To get the car to fit on a tow dolly that you use a pickup or van to tow it home try to move the car ? get tires up (air tank pump)put boards under wheels if it's stuck.push steer or pull with a long barn rope (polypropylene). Get a tow dolly situated below the car get it rolling or started then get behind the tow dolly(roll) and coast onto the ramps and into the saddle.From ther its strap down and ease out.some are mentioning drive shaft .we'll it used to be towing up to 50 miles
Was ok for gm cars . I have towed the cars backward on the dolly but it's probly not recomended it has been done.keep your wheels in the straight position on old cars you have to hog tie the steering wheel good like to an oak board or just so it dosnt slip.Haveing or borrowing some roller tires to pull it if the ones on car are rotton ?take a big rope s jack ,take a good come along " take some scotch blocks like 4x4 by at least a foot in case you have no brakes and want to coast down a little down grade (not hill . Useing 4x4 blocks about a 20 inches long a car can be allowed to coast say 4 feet at a time and have the 2 or 3 foot block in the path to stop it ! therby moving some distance in sectionals. advice when clearance or lack of power to move. Just many of the ways I have moved cars when nessesary a big rider mower can pull a car if it has a good transmission.I have pulled cars with other cars or 4x4 suvs a short distance use a chain a steel cable or a tow strap you usually tied the cable chain or strap hook with like lawnmower rope so it can't jiggle loose get it around part of the frame not tie rods ect lol no really .the idea is the front car pulls the car but the rear car is supposed to stop the front car at all stops and having someone practiced is almost required .Is all the tow route on level ground ? good "don't come off of a mountain like this...good luck " and take it on step at a time check all safety pins wires chains befor leaving for road. Put car in neutral if towing (not rollback) tips
 
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