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Any Problems with towing an automatic?
PICTURES ADDED I'm going to pick up a Wagon this weekend from one of the members here and I have a question about towing the vehicle home.
If I put the front end on a tow dolly, do I need to unhook the drive shaft to free-wheel the rear end or can I just put the transmission in neutral? Thanks for the help! ps. This wagon is going to get the engine from Stella. My nephew just got his learners permit so by the time we get this wagon in shape, he'll have his license and enough room to schlep all of his hockey gear around.
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1981 300TD "The Green Lantern" 1980 300TD 1983 300D Euro "China Cat" Last edited by StaggerLee; 09-08-2010 at 04:09 PM. Reason: noting pictures were added |
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I had mine towed, against my wishes, with rear end on ground. Blew apart the rear seal and it lost reverse.
Towing with the front end down can be very hazardous. For rear-wheel drive. I always recommend a flat bed. It should not cost anymore than a regular truck. If it does, shop around!
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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles 1992 750il / 17k miles - project car |
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towing
This is from the owners manual for an 85 123
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Thanks! That's the last thing I need.
I don't really have far to go and won't get over 35-40 mph so I may put the rear end up and lock the steering as straight as I can. Any foreseeable problems with that scenario? Thanks again! Dan
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1981 300TD "The Green Lantern" 1980 300TD 1983 300D Euro "China Cat" |
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I've heard of the torque converter lighting off when towed w/ driveshaft connected & rear wheels on the ground. If the interior gets involved in the fire, or the TC explodes, game over. There should be towing guidelines in the owner's manual, probably to the effect that short, slow tows are OK.
If you intend to dolly it, look into a way to do this safely. Disconnecting and safely stowing the driveshaft (make match marks so you can reconnect it and maintain it's balance) may suffice. I hear there is a rear pump and lines from the rear end to the tranny. Make sure this will not be a problem.
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CC: NSA All things are burning, know this and be released. 82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin 12 Ford Escape 4wd You're four times It's hard to more likely to concentrate on have an accident two things when you're on at the same time. a cell phone. www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there? |
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Thanks NewtoDiesel. Much appreciated.
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1981 300TD "The Green Lantern" 1980 300TD 1983 300D Euro "China Cat" |
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I towed home a 300D with the rear end on the dolly, and the steering wheel locked. Drove at highway speed for 40-50 miles with no ill effects.
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Andrew '04 Jetta TDI Wagon '82 300TD ~ Winnie ~ Sold '77 300D ~ Sold
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The owners manual is from a sedan, so not sure if the wagon is the same. But if I ever had mine towed I would use a flatbed
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Is it safe to have a wagon bounce along without the benefit of a pressurized SLS?
I'd be concerned about damaging the steering column lock when towing with the front wheels on the ground. Sixto 87 300D |
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That depends on wind conditions, how good of a dolly it is, and how tight the steering is on the car. If it were me I'd never risk it. Flatbed is the only way we move them around.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
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I always spend the extra couple of dollars & put it on a flat bed. I did tow the SD about 400 mi from NC to TN with the drive shaft disconnected. Shaft was a pita but it was Sunday & no flat beds or mechanics were around. Don't make more work. IF you mess up the tranny or rear end, it will cost you much more than the trailer upgrade.
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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. |
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Three choices (Realisticaly only Two)
1."RollBack"/"Flatbed" Tow truck (With the Mercedes UP on top)
2.A Tow Trailer (With the Mercedes [All Four Wheels] UP on the Trailer). Third, AND NOT RECOMMENDED: 3.Crawl underneath and disconnect the Driveshaft (Propeller-Shaft in Mercedes speak) FROM THE REAR END. AND tow the Mercedes with the front wheels on the Tow Dolly. Towing a Mercedes Wagon with the Ass in the Air is Begging for Trouble !!!! Somewhere ,On this very site, are pictures posted by a member of the Carnage that resulted from Towing a W123 SEDAN with the Ass in the Air. All that said: We've all seen the "RedNeck Wannabees" Towing everything from a Mosler Safe (on it's side) to the Ex's 300SL (Upside down,Backwards) on the Highways and Bi-ways of modern America. At times I've either pulled over for 20-30 minutes or shuttled off to another highway to Avoid becoming involved in some maniac's version of the Beverly Hillbillies (Gone Bad).
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'84 300SD sold 124.128 Last edited by compress ignite; 09-08-2010 at 11:00 PM. |
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I used a 4 wheel flat bed u haul trailer for my car, and a dolly for the parts car. I strongly recommend the 4 wheel trailer, it was like $50 for the day.
BTW is the car on CL?
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1981 300TD 4 speed manual Euro bumpers, zender valance and skirts, H&R springs, billy HD's, leveled sls, real AMG Pentas 16x8 et11, vdo boost/egt gauges intergrated into ash tray, eurolights, led 3rd brake light |
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Towing "stern first" can get a little wild with the weight of the engine that far back. I have done it using my 3/4 ton Dodge truck and I wouldn't want too go much over 45 mpg, it can get a little "spooky'
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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
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Got her home!
Yes Mike it WAS on CL.
I put the ass end on the tow dolly and milked it home. I only had about 10 miles to go and I kept it slow; no problems. I'll post pictures tomorrow and show you what happens when your timing chain breaks. Nice big hole in the valve cover (among other things I'm sure). Overall, it's not too bad! some rust at the base of the doors and it leaks some around the window seal. It looks like the hood flew up while driving or someone tried to go into the garage with the hood up, something. Other than that, the body is real straight. It's a 1980 non turbo and no sunroof (bummer). Has a relatively crack free blue dash but is missing most of the wood trim. Luckily, I stripped Stella to the bare bones and should have most things I need to get this one back on the road. I'll have my nephew join the site and officially introduce himself and his new pride & joy. Damn, my first car was a 1974 Pinto (the ones that explode upon being rear-ended). Pictures tomorrow!
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1981 300TD "The Green Lantern" 1980 300TD 1983 300D Euro "China Cat" |
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