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Moving - tow or be towed

OldGrandpaTune

The Road Warrior
Joined
May 7, 2013
Location
Rural Ohio
So I am off to Cleveland from Colorado. I can either get a U-haul and tow the brick, or use the brick to tow a little trailer.

The U-haul site says I need to disconnect the driveshaft if I use a tow dolly. I am also worried 22 straight hours with a trailer might be a tough run for the old girl.

Any thoughts? Spending 850 to ship it seems like a lot.
 
if its an auto, you should remove the driveshaft (probably not a bad idea with a manual as well, but you DEF want it in neutral ;) )

little trailer probably wouldn't be a big deal either, but a uhaul truck dragging a car might be better than a car dragging a trailer.
 
if its an auto, you should remove the driveshaft (probably not a bad idea with a manual as well, but you DEF want it in neutral ;) )

little trailer probably wouldn't be a big deal either, but a uhaul truck dragging a car might be better than a car dragging a trailer.

It's a manual, so will do truck dragging the car then.

Now I understand the automatic thing.
 
I'd look closer at shipping options. Compared to what could go wrong and the extra trouble, shipping would be less stressful.
 
Once you figure out what happens inside a manual transmission in nutral during towing. You won't do it without either removing the drive shaft or leaving the engine idling to lube it.
The problem is simply that in nutral with the engine off the only thing turning is the main shaft. Without the layshaft moving nothing gets lubed. Usually it takes out the bearing between the input and main shaft and causes the noise in every gear but direct. (normally 4th) I've also seen it wreck the whole main shaft. Or seize the bearing between the two shafts and turn the engine over.

Anyways nobody seems to want to believe this. Probably because they've never actually figured out how a manual transmission works.

It's not a good idea but whatever people do it all the time then wonder why they have trouble. Or just get lucky.
 
Having driven a moving van cross-country (Cincinnati, OH to Seattle, WA) while towing a car, I would highly recommend a full car trailer rather than the 2-wheeled car dolly. A full trailer is more stable at speed, can be backed up if necessary, and avoids the wear-and-tear associated with towing on a dolly.

Also, I would recommend pricing out other van rentals like Penske, Ryder, Budget, etc.
 
I have to agree with Owlsey. My(ex) client had a Jag, that needed to go to Florida, from Chicago, and after discoverey, we determined it was cheaper to ship it than hire a driver and pay fuel, hotel....almost always cheaper to ship (unless your time is worthless..)
 
I'd look closer at shipping options. Compared to what could go wrong and the extra trouble, shipping would be less stressful.

I would also suggest revisiting shipping methods before you rent a truck, buy a bigger trailer, etc. I had a positive experience with uship.com, the site where shippers compete and bid on your job, to move a car across my (admittedly narrow) state.
 
Okay here is option two. Drive the truck, tow the FWD Sentra with it's rear wheels spinning. I can have them truck the Volvo for 850 bucks.

Two grand for my trip plus the truck transport. This sounds like the better answer.
 
Dolly the Sentra sounds totally fine. Though truth be told you could dolly a Sentra behind the Volvo. It'll do it if it's in good shape.

Just make sure the brakes/suspension/tires are decent on the Volvo/dolly.

I'd put a good huge roof box on the Volvo and spend the money on maintenance it probably needs anyway and hill billy move.
Buy a decent tow dolly and resell when done? Just buy a good one that isn't sketchy or thrashed, not a lot to go wrong with them and they never lose their value unless way beat up.

7/9 cars tow nice.
 
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Okay flatbed sounds better. I have a hitch on the Volvo and can tow the Sentra but need my stuff. I'll flatbed the Volvo behind the Uhaul, then come back and get the Sentra and drive it.

One driver, stuff, and two cars makes it complicated.
 
Spend some money on maintenance for the 240 and rent a small trailer. After the tow you will have some extra maintenance done!

I towed this from Western Mass to DC,

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Went pretty well, just made sure to not use 5th going up hills!!!

Thats a 5x8 enclosed for size reference.
 
I don't like to tow anything with modern cars. Let's see a tranny shop charges at least $1,500 to rebuild an automatic. Normally they screw it up the first few tries and charge you to try again. Plus towing it in every time.

Last Uhaul truck I paid for from Omaha to LA was only 800 bucks.
Sounds pretty cheap to me.
 
So I am off to Cleveland from Colorado. I can either get a U-haul and tow the brick, or use the brick to tow a little trailer.

The U-haul site says I need to disconnect the driveshaft if I use a tow dolly. I am also worried 22 straight hours with a trailer might be a tough run for the old girl.

Any thoughts? Spending 850 to ship it seems like a lot.

I towed a 245 from Texas to Alabama with a tow dolly. Did not mess with the drive shaft. I put the rear on the dolly and place some flags on the hood.
 
I've pulled cars on a dolly with the rear on the dolly. Just make sure the front wheels are straight before you turn it off, and the steering lock should take care of the front wheels turning.
 
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