Hey there! I am buying an '82 300SD that needs some work and doesn't run. I have a tow dolly that I was going to use... basically tow the 300SD backwards and tie up the steering wheel with straps so it is locked. It has been a long time since I have towed a RWD this way and some of the stuff I am reading now say not to do this as it car can whip around. I will be towing with a heavy truck so it won't be pushed around by the weight of the car. Anyone have any experience with this? I'd rather not rent a trailer as I live on a narrow street that will make the trailer use difficult... and even more difficult to make the turn at the end!

They are almost impossible to tow backward. Remember that the car was designed by engineers to travel in a forward way and all the front end and steering geometry favors that setup. If you get above 30 they are all over the road and I will guarantee you that you will stop the circus and tow it front first. You do have to remove the drive shaft or at least disconnect it, though towing with the driveshaft in and car in neutral is permitted up to 100 miles. The transmission does have a rear pump that will keep the fluid moving through the system.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

That's great! I did not know they had a rear pump. So if I keep it under 80-90 MPH I should be good Actually, is there a speed I should keep it under? 45-50 MPH? I will be towing it about 65 miles.

Rent a car trailer and tow it with all four wheels off the ground.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

keep it below 25... or keep the motor idling... or remove the driveshaft.

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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!

Unfortunately I can't! Won't be able to get in/out of my street with it.. at least not without great difficulty or possibly damaging other vehicles!


Wow, 25? Won't be able to keep the motor idling as it doesn't run. Can't remove the driveshaft as I won't have a place to do it there. No way to raise it safely on soft ground! Don't think I will have enough room under it when it is on the dolly... but maybe.


Hey you know what? There is a very handy feature called "search" that I just found! Still learning the computer thing... I think they are just a fad Found a couple of useful posts but opinions seem to be everywhere as to what is a safe speed! I guess worst case I smoke the trans which I guess is not a huge deal. It will all be getting pulled out anyway and I have a spare trans.

So has anyone towed with rear wheels on the ground @ about 45 and the trans was still ok? I don't have an owner's manual so I don't even know what MB recommends!

the SD is a very soft suspension.
sitting on a dolly, the rear bumper will just about be touching the ground.
I'd not do it...
those Uhaul car trailers are very tiny. not much more difficult than a dolly to use.
I'd just get one of them.
or have it towed on a flat bed...

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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!

Use a trailer and get some buddies to help push it down your street.

Don't even try it man...I remember reading a thread on here a while back about a 300D going up in flames after a couple guys towed it in neutral without running the engine or disconnecting the driveshaft (I wanna say Roy posted it?). If I were you, I would tow it to the nearest parking lot (maybe like a mile...) under 25mph and then disconnect the driveshaft on solid ground to tow the rest of the way.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I used the Uhaul trailer once and it was quite an ordeal. Had to knock on doors up the street to have people move their cars. Wasn't fun There is just no way to make that turn from one narrow street into another with cars around without juggling cars around. Dolly makes it ok with a car on it, but just barely!

Flatbed would be cost prohibitive (and wouldn't fit!). Probably cost most than I am paying for the car. I guess if the bumper is too low I can pull it off first so it doesn't get damaged.

I think I will just tow it with the wheels on the ground @ about 45-50. I will also put in my good trans when I do the engine swap and keep the one in it as a rebuildable core. At least that way I don't have to do a trans swap if it did get cooked!

Geez, seriously!? Never heard of that happening. I can try pulling the driveshaft at a parking lot if I can get underneath the car. But I've been reading I need to pull the exhaust too to get the driveshaft down?? Ugh! Getting too complicated!

I would think you can disconnect the flex joint at the diff, and wire it up out of the way without removing the exhaust.

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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!

Oh good... that sounds feasible. Do you know what fasteners it uses? Torx or ?? I have a Mercedes workshop CD that I bought but I am having a heck of a time trying to get it installed. Friggin 'puters!

I had to tow my 85SD from NC to mid TN. It was mobile so I drove onto a u-haul dolly & disconnected the drive shaft in the heat in the gravel. No car hauler was available. It rode fine with front wheels on the dolly. The dolly would not back but I didn't need it to. I back my 30' boat trailer down a curvy hilly drive way. We also used to sell junk at flea markets & had to get in & out of tight spots. With daylight and patience, you can back a trailer nearly any place a 3/4 ton truck will go. U-haul trailers have surge brakes & will keep you from backing unless you stick a 2x4 or something to keep the brakes from actuating.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Check it out, this was the thread I remembered:

A little knowledge is dangerous. 300D a sad fate

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth