I am looking to get a parts car that is an auto 300d. It has a bad transmission and supposedly does not drive. It is backed into a driveway currently and i am wanting to go pick it up with a Uhaul car carrier. I am contemplating these optinos.

1. get a manual come-along and make it take forever but get it on the trailer.
2. is it possible to bypass the neutral safety switch and use the starter to drive it up in gear?
3. get a cheap electric winch from Harbor Freight, but not sure how i would secure it to the trailer. possibly get a chain and loop it around the front of the trailer.
4. attempt to drive it in reverse, 2, 1... if they work...

any thoughts or advice.

thanks

__________________

Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

If really desperate you could call a wrecker to pull its cables out and see if he can pull along side of the trailer then pull the car up on the trailer with a driver in the car.Probably the same cost as the electric wench but safer.

That's about $120 in Atlanta.

Are you renting the full trailer, or just the two wheel tow dolly? If just the dolly, you can use a floor jack on either side, and get the car high enough to roll the dolly under.

If the full trailer, then yeah a harbor fright winch and piece of chain to secure it to the trailer seems like the easiest solution.

__________________
1998 E300 turbodiesel

America's Rights and Freedoms Are Not The Enemy!

A 2000lb boat winch would probably do it. Use a chain at hitch end around the drawbar. Maybe mount winch on a plank and tie it down.

__________________
Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I've loaded many a car with a come-along. A bit annoying but not too tough. Just be sure you have some GOOD wheel chocks as you'll need to pull it as far as possible then chock, pull out the cable and reset, then repeat. Nice to have a helper but I have done it on my own.

The last time I did this I made up some wooden chocks and they worked great - remember that they have to clear the body while it's on an angle so they can't be super huge.

My trailer is considerably higher than a U-Haul and I was able to do it so it should be easier with a lower deck height. Good luck!

Dan

When I was younger (two years ago - ha!) I used come-alongs, usually two, leapfrogging. After shoulder surgery I bought a HF cheapie winch for $50, rigged up a chain to hold it to the trailer frame, and used a spare battery. I haul cars, pick ups, and other vehicles up on the trailer real easy now. Should have done it sooner, probably would have saved my shoulder.

An automatic probably won't creep in gear at starter rpm.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon

How far are you needing to take it ?

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

I will be in dallas for july 4th weekend, and then drive back to Houston. I was planning on going to austin to pick up the parts car, and rent a uhaul car carrier there. Then head back to Houston. I will probably get a winch and use a chain to loop it around the front of the carrier. This should get it up.

Of course if i manage to move it with any gear, then i might be fine. I will be towing with a 2005 expedition. I pulled a honda odyssey with a uhaul to dallas and the truck did fine.

__________________

Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

The problem w/ a come-along is it is over-powered for the task and thus takes a long time. A boat winch is more appropriate. I have various pulleys which let me rig a rope for more appropriate leverage. You can use physics to speed things. If you get a rope taught, then push on it sideways (F) you generate tremendous amplification to give tension T = F/[2*sin(angle)], almost infinite when the rope is straight. But, you need a rope that won't stretch (not nylon, use steel or poly). Have a helper release the brakes then apply to lock the position after each push. With no brakes, a helper could slide a brick behind the wheels to lock the position. Tighten the rope and repeat. You can inch forward fairly quickly if synch'ed. With 3 people, one can pull up slack and wrap against a tree to lock the rope each time. I am sure many off-roaders know such tricks when a winch is missing or isn't sufficient.

__________________
1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

I have used a come-along many a times to pull a car up on a trailer, takes maybe all of 5 minutes. I now have a cheap Harbor Freight winch on my trailer and it makes loading a car by myself so much easier. So if you have a come-along use it, if not just spend the $50 and you will have a winch for the next time as well. Just use long jumper cables to power it, or run some long leads up to the tow car/trucks battery.

__________________
Von
Fairport, NY
1973 Unimog 416 Doka
1980 Unimog 416 Doka
1981 Unimog 416 Doka
1984 Euro 280CE w/diesel conversion
1985 300TD Estate wagon
(I really need to stop buying these things!)
http://vonsmog.com

Remove propshasft , or drive shaft,. use spectical lift, or two wheel dolly to tow it home

HF has the ATV winches on sale now for $49 - 2000# pull. Use a pulley and almost double your pull ability. Remember you are not lifting the car just pulling onto the trailer.

__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

I have a need for a winch like that to raise our drawbridge type dock on the lake. I currently use a 2000lb manual boat winch but it is kind of dangerous if wire breaks.

Ideally I need an A/C winch, but they are kind of expensive. However a DC winch would draw a lot of amps. The HF 2500lb one I looked at is 1HP. It would draw over 60A at full load (which we might get initially) Won't get that out of a car battery for long. We have no car/truck access, but even still that would be a big load on alternator.

Pulling car onto trailer probably nowhere near full load though.

__________________
Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5