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tow dolly vs car carrier
Tow dolly lifts just 2 wheels of the car and the other 2 are on the road whereas a car carrier all 4 wheels are off the road. What is the deal with insurance and registration when towing? Can a car be towed leaglly with a tow dolly if unregistered and uninsured? What about a car carrier? thx
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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now 83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD! 83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked |
#2
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I believe it depnds on the state you are in. some states require insurance for any vehicle with tires on the road. some have no issues with towing uninsured vehicles. check with your insurance company.
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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread "as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do! My drivers: 1987 190D 2.5Turbo 1987 190D 2.5Turbo 1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!! 1987 300TD 1987 300TD 1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere! |
#3
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I always use a car carrier... to me it is safer to have all the wheels off the ground and to use a trailer with good brakes.
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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy" Current Monika '74 450 SL BrownHilda '79 280SL FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee Krystal 2004 Volvo S60 Gone '74 Jeep CJ5 '97 Jeep ZJ Laredo Rudolf ‘86 300SDL Bruno '81 300SD Fritzi '84 BMW '92 Subaru '96 Impala SS '71 Buick GS conv '67 GTO conv '63 Corvair conv '57 Nomad |
#4
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You cannot tow the car with the rear wheels on the ground unless you disconnect the driveshaft at the differential. If you don't disconnect the driveshaft, you'll toast the tranny within 30 miles.
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#5
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Issues
There are two issues here -- legality and safety.
As previously stated, some states (perhaps all?) require any vehicle that touches the ground with its own wheels to be "on the road" for tax purposes. It's also gonna depend on the cop who sees you. Some will wink at stuff like that, especially if you're just transiting the state and he'll never have to see you again. I speak from experience. Others may decide to be hard-nosed. "Do you feel lucky?" A vehicle on a trailer, on the other hand, is just "cargo." As long as it's safely secured and not illegal, they don't care what that cargo is. The safety aspect is obvious -- a trailer, properly connected, safety chains, lights, brakes, etc., is always safer -- , but also includes potential damage to the vehicle. Towing a rear-wheel drive car with the rear wheels on the ground is not good for the transmission. You need to disconnect or remove all or part of the driveshaft. Make sure the other end of the driveshaft can't fall off of the car (more personal experience ). Towing such a car backwards, with the rear wheels off of the ground and the steering wheel tied, can be done but I would not recommend it for more than a few miles. Jeremy
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"Buster" in the '95 Our all-Diesel family 1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car 2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022) Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762 "Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." -- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970 |
#6
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It would all be a matter of luck. I towed a trailer with expired tags or working taillights across four states a few years ago without any trouble.
Please don't tow the car with the rear wheels on the ground without disconnecting the drive shaft for your tranny's sake.
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DJ 84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012 |
#7
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why will this happen? my father states clearly that this is not possible that there are no gears moving except for the central planetary shaft. (my 240d is a 4speed lets base it on that)
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself. George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..) 1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won. pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt. |
#8
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Quote:
The manual equipped vehicles can be towed fine with the wheels on the ground as the gears are splash lubricated (no pump needed). |
#9
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I towed a 300SD home a few years ago and was fighting with the same decision. Do yourself a favor. Go to U-Haul or similar place and rent a car hauler/trailer with the electronic brakes. I can't remember the exact name (someone will chime in) but the brakes are activated automatically on the trailer when you hit the brakes on the truck. This is triggered by the forward motion of the trailer pushing on the hitch.
It worked great.
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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions) '08 Chevy Tahoe '93 Ducati 900 SS '79 Kawasaki KZ 650 '86 Kawasaki KX 250 '88 Kawasaki KDX200 '71 Hodaka Ace 100 '72 Triumph T100R |
#10
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A nice truck or large suv and a trailer is the way to go if you have any distance to cover. The truck's insurance will cover the trailer, I believe. U haul has an excellent little all aluminum trailer with pull out ramps and really simple tie downs for the front wheels of the car.
I used a tow dolley just once. I would never tow anything that I valued on one again. Tom W
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#11
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I agree with T. Walgamuth, use a trailer. I just hauled my 85 300D from
winnemucca, Nevada to Santa Cruz, Ca. used a U-Haul trailer, didn`t know it was behind me it towed so well. it was around a 500 mile haul. U-haul uses a chain to go around the rear axle or something. I used a nylon ratchet strap, made it more secure. In Ca. if it`s not registered, the wheels have to be off the road to move it. the brakes on the trailer tongue are called surge brakes, they work when the towing vehicle applies the brakes. as the trailer surges forward, it pushes against a master cylinder on the tongue. charlie
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there were three HP ratings on the OM616... 1) Not much power 2) Even less power 3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast. 80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works |
#12
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#13
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I towed a 5000 pound international travelall on a uhaul car carrier over 100 miles.....I don't recomend that, but a little 300d would be fine.
The key is to:
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1983 300D 1978 BMW R80/7 1997 Jeep TJ |
#14
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Does that car carrier look front heavy?
Quote:
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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now 83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD! 83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked |
#15
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Quote:
I wonder if you have a car towed by a towing company, and after informing the driver that it's an automatic, the driver tows it on the rear wheels and damages the transmission, is the towing co. liable for the damage?
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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now 83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD! 83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked |
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