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#76
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Agree
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#77
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true that. tow dolly's are illegal for a reason in europe...
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#78
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just wanted to add-
the tow vehicle being heavier is more about braking than sway issues, though a heavier vehicle will be less susceptible to a bad load job sway, a light vehicle should not have swaying issues provided the load is properly set up, even if the load is heavier than the tow vehicle. in the below pic, I towed a fully loaded 2.5 ton van with 600lb dolly behind a 2 ton van which was very stable up to 65mph (as fast as it could go and went for a short period coming off a bridge), BUT, the principle issue that the bigger tow vehicle wins over is braking power. The 45mph limit uhaul puts on the trailers is about the stopping distance also more than sway. The really light tow vehicle will not stop, and you do have a risk of burning up your brakes and STILL not stopping. I did the below overweight tow because of where I was getting that van, out of a military base. I had a very close call in a tunnel, rounding a curve to find two tweens standing around an unlit broken down sedan in a two lane tunnel with no shoulders. Fortunately I was able to swerve around them having chosen to tow at 2 in the morning because of the weight, but slamming on the brakes for less than 4 seconds with that load caused complete brake fade. They were gone. They came back in about 10 minutes. Stopping distance for this load from 50mph was over 25 carlinks, maybe more. Could have been measured in a quarter mile ![]()
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#79
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Towing backwards on a dolly is more of an issue with toe than weight distribution.
Front wheels are generally toed in to give stability, wheels can be toed out for crisper turn in but since the driver can feel feedback through the steering wheel they can correct any wander. When towing backwards, what was toe in going forwards becomes toe out. And, many cars generate toe in when the suspension compresses, tow backwards this becomes toe out under compression. So you now have in effect 4 wheel steering on the towed car that the towing car can't feel until it is too late. |
#80
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I've towed a 300D with the rear wheels on a dolly 600 miles with no issue. the steering wheel has to be locked or strapped down. even then, if the tie rods or idler arm bushings are worn out you may have too much play causing it to sway.
I once towed an old car that had a non locking steering wheel but I was able to screw the adjustment bolt in all the way on the steering box unit. |
#81
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Sudden braking and acceleration with tow dolly can sometimes lead to accidents. Happy to see both of you guys are safe, what about the Cops?
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#82
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Just curious, were there safety chains holding the trailer on that snapped when the vehicle rolled?
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#83
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FYI
Recycled for new members.
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ASE Master Mechanic https://whunter.carrd.co/ Prototype R&D/testing: Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician. Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH). Dynamometer. Heat exchanger durability. HV-A/C Climate Control. Vehicle build. Fleet Durability Technical Quality Auditor. Automotive Technical Writer 1985 300SD 1983 300D 2003 Volvo V70 https://www.boldegoist.com/ |
#84
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towing with a 250 ML
need some extendo mirrors to tow with.
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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. ![]() ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
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