I need to tow a non-running '86 Camaro Coupe (V6, standard) about 200
miles from Florida to Mississippi. I don't want to use the big U-Haul
auto-transporter because I don't know how I'd get the car on it. I
figure I can easily push it onto a tow dolly.
U-Haul will not recommend a tow dolly, supposedly because that the car
is too low to the ground. The car doesn't have any ground effects or
anything, I find it hard to believe that it won't fit onto a tow
dolly. Anyone have any experience with the U-Haul dollys and their
third-gen Camaro?
Any other suggestions on how to get it moved without paying out the
ying-yang? Maybe just a standard tow-bar?
TIA,
Rich
Ron - 07 Apr 2004 01:55 GMT
> I need to tow a non-running '86 Camaro Coupe (V6, standard) about 200
> miles from Florida to Mississippi. I don't want to use the big U-Haul
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> TIA,
> Rich
you'll have to put the rear wheels on the dolly. it might scrape the nose.
i don't know what it would cost to rent the uhaul, but i've found if you
just buy a 16x7 utility trailer or car hauler for about 1500 new or less if
used,
then u can either keep it or sell it @ your destination and recoup quite a
bit
of the $. if you got a friend or two, thats all it'll take to get it moving
fast enuf
to get it on the trailer. or you can hook up the trailer, hook a strap to
the camaro
and the other end to another vehicle and drive by the side of the trailer
while
pulling the camaro onto it. make sure someone is in the camaro to stop it in
either situation, and make sure its securely tied down to the trailer when
transporting it. hth
RSCamaro - 07 Apr 2004 03:20 GMT
>I need to tow a non-running '86 Camaro Coupe (V6, standard) about 200
>miles from Florida to Mississippi. I don't want to use the big U-Haul
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>TIA,
>Rich
U-haul may not recommend it but I don't see where a car that is
sitting 5" higher in the front on a tow dolly is going to scrape the
ground in the rear. Methinks that they may be trying to rent you the
more expensive and also quite a pain to drag behind you aluminum car
trailer. Put it on a tow dolly with all of the extra lights and stuff
and take it home.
...Ron
--
68' RS Camaro
88' Formula Bird
00' Mustang GT vert
http://www.frontiernet.net/~rscamero
Some are wise and some are otherwise
Stephen - 07 Apr 2004 05:07 GMT
> I need to tow a non-running '86 Camaro Coupe (V6, standard) about 200
> miles from Florida to Mississippi. I don't want to use the big U-Haul
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> TIA,
> Rich
I have SOME experience towing my 80 Camaro on a UHaul dolly. First, you
CAN NOT push it up on the dolly. You WILL need a hand winch or
come-along. I too, at the tender age of 19, thought I could push my
Camaro up on that. I even jacked it way up and tried to slide the dolly
underneath, no dice. The come-along is about $30 at a hardware store.
Second, you HAVE to tow it from the front end, unless of course you do not
need the nose of the car. If you have a weak rear suspension jacking up
the front will make the rear sit lower. I have Monroe air shocks so I can
just air them up to raise the rear end if I need too. If your car is
lowered you will no be able to tow with the dolly, you will need the full
sized hauler. Third, the reason they say you can't tow it is due to the
fact it's a RWD. You will need to disconnect your driveshaft, unless of
course you do not need the transmission. Also the front tires onthe third
gens are pretty wide. The first time I towed I have a beefy front tire /
rim combo, the straps jumped off the tires twice, thank god for the
safety chains. The last time I towed, which was from NH to NV, I had on
some 14 inch 205/60s I believe. They were MUCH smaller then what I had on
there the first time. the tow bar is not an optin because your bumper is
behind your front fascia, I towed my Blazer with one of those bars and
it wasn't pretty but it worked. Any other ??s
Rich - 07 Apr 2004 14:42 GMT
Thanks for the replies - some follow up comments ...
1) I've heard a lot of people say that you don't need to disconnect
the drive shaft if you have a manual transmission, you can just put it
into neutral. Bogus?
2) I'll admit, I don't know what a come-along is - what is it exactly?
A full-size trailer is not much more expensive to rent ($10-$15 more)
than the tow dolly; if there is something I can use to get the car up
on the thing, then I'd rather get the trailer.
Thanks,
Rich
? - 07 Apr 2004 15:50 GMT
> Thanks for the replies - some follow up comments ...
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Thanks,
> Rich
1) well, the mainshaft and idler gears will still be turning in the trans
from the driveshaft. i've read that sometimes this causes lack of
lubrication and can cause premature trans failure. also afaik the
factory recommends not to go over 45mph with the rear being towed.
2) http://www.mytoolstore.com/app/appindex.html?ref=googleadws&kw=come-along
Stephen - 08 Apr 2004 05:24 GMT
> Thanks for the replies - some follow up comments ...
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Thanks,
> Rich
1) An automatics pump is driven off of the input shaft, that
won't be turning, there will not be enough lubrication in the system if
you are hauling down the road at 75. BUT I do see retirees out here
hauling their RWD trucks behind their Winnebago and I KNOW they don't
crawl under and disconnect the drivesaft. Of course there is a
transmission shop every mile out here, that's probably why. Personally,
I'ld drop the shaft. Although on a manual the gears are submerged in
lube and the spinning of the gears will circulate the lube up and
around the gears, it's the same as if you were driving down the road I
suppose.
2) A come along is exactly what silly@times.com linked too. Mine was a
tad cheaper, check around, one of your friends might have one laying
around. I paid $30 for mine at a local hardware store. You can rent the
full carrier for not much more but you need more truck to haul it. I know
my Blazer wouldn't have liked pulling the full carrier up and down the
mtns on my last cross country trip. If you have a bigger truck, go for
it, but it sounds like you still might need to get the car up on the
carrier some how.
Dark Man - 08 Apr 2004 11:24 GMT
>> Thanks for the replies - some follow up comments ...
>>
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>it, but it sounds like you still might need to get the car up on the
>carrier some how.
I would use a trailer over a dolly But you willl need a bigger truck.
As for buying a come a long I got one at Wal Mart they have them over
near the auto area ask one of there clerks As for what I paid for it I
forgot I had a 86 Nissan Pickup I had to tow from upstate New York to
Phoenix AZ An I rented a transport trailer an towed it that way.
Dark Man
Rich - 08 Apr 2004 19:09 GMT
I found a 2-Ton come-along at Ace for $30. Should do the trick.
I went ahead and reserved a trailer, I'm using an F-150 to haul so it
shouldn't be a problem. The trip is pretty flat from FL to MS. I
brought it out from Arizona on a trailer behind a K5 Blazer, the only
difference being the Camaro ran at that point. :)
Stephen - 11 Apr 2004 04:53 GMT
> I found a 2-Ton come-along at Ace for $30. Should do the trick.
>
> I went ahead and reserved a trailer, I'm using an F-150 to haul so it
> shouldn't be a problem. The trip is pretty flat from FL to MS. I
> brought it out from Arizona on a trailer behind a K5 Blazer, the only
> difference being the Camaro ran at that point. :)
Good deal man, good luck on the trip. Let us know how it turns out.
KITT - 23 Jul 2004 08:32 GMT
Hmm.. thats interesting.. when my alrternator went out on me on the
Interestate.. the tow truck grabbed the front and lifted and told me to
throw it in neutral and we took off.. was going 60 for about 15-20 miles...
if its that bad, wouldn't he know that? He has been a
towtruck/garage/dealership for 43 years...

Signature
Well catch ya later,
-Geno
1985 Blue Camaro 2.8L w/T-tops (147k and going.. starting to get worried
though)
1988 Blue Firebird Formula 5.0L w/T-tops
(Still looking for an '82-'84 T/A.. or parts from one...)