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| Author | Topic: Towing a Prowler... |
TLRandall                   POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:CALDWELL, TX, US |
posted 12-31-2010 10:33 PM
    
I still blame Mickey!!! It's always his fault!  |
idive POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Texas USA |
posted 01-01-2011 02:27 PM
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Kika POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:flagler beach,florida,Flagler Beach |
posted 01-02-2011 07:22 AM
Really good stuff here and reminds me of my Quebec friends who for years towed their PTs 4 wheels on the road with their RVs......I was a bit amazed.as they put the car in neutral...ran the engine 1700 miles 700 MPG from Montreal to South Florida...I was even more amazed when a friend of theirs hooked up a brand new Lexis the same way from their RV and a few miles down the road the Trans blew.....all in all your detail is terrific! and I will be driving not towing this dream machine...the ambiance of the driving experience is 2nd to none! |
ed monahan  POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Cincinnati, Oh, USA |
posted 01-02-2011 07:41 AM
They towed the PTs with the engine running, in Neutral? Wow, I never heard of that before. |
alrtg POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Westminster, MD, USA |
posted 01-02-2011 10:14 AM
quote: Yes that can be done. My parents have towed many vehicles using a tow dolly but later on decided to flat tow their "Dinghy". In short, flat towing is easier than other methods but before towing any vehicle, research should be done first to avoid problems and unnecessary aggravation. I do not think a Prowler could be towed in any way other than parked on a flatbed, an open or enclosed trailer.JMO |
garysss POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Balto. Md. |
posted 01-02-2011 10:28 AM
I've just learned about this myself. Apparently you should not tow a vehicle with drive wheels on the road with drive axles turning without the car running. If the drive shafts are turning it builds pressure in the transmission which can blow it up if the engine is not running to turn the pump to circulate the fluid. I've heard people say before not to turn off your car and drift down a hill, but I never knew why. Now I know the rest of the story. P.S. ED you being in the REPO business I would have thought some of the tow truck drivers would have told you this some where along the process. This message has been edited by garysss on 01-02-2011 at 10:31 AM |
JeraneW POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Hilton Head, South Carolina , USA |
posted 01-02-2011 10:44 AM
This kind of gets off the original subject but now that ALRTG told on me, yes I had to tow my PT with engine running in idle to lubricate the transmission; otherwise, my navigator (wife) would have had to follow me in the PT cross country. Never again would I trust a Remco Pump. As a side note, every year Family Motor Coach publishes a list of vehicles that can be towed four wheels down. My HHR, front wheel drive, is the one I tow. Owner's manual will explain what needs to be done.  |
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ed monahan POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Cincinnati, Oh, USA |
posted 01-02-2011 10:52 AM
Gary, when they tow a repo they always lift it by the drive wheels. If they cannot get to the drive wheels or it is four wheel drive, they lift one end and put the other end on dollies. They also have to dolly the front end if it is rear wheel drive and the front wheels are turned, since they couldn't keep it in the same lane. They don't tow them very far, usually, and we rarely ever have the key, at least at that point. If you are towing it behind a motor home with all four wheels on the ground, don't the front tires tend to wear a lot more? if the wrecker drivers are towing a car from the back and the steering wheel doesn't lock, they put the seat belt thru the steering wheel and then put the seat back as far as they can to keep it tight and keep the wheels straight. I realize the car should tend to track straight but I wouldn't think it would stay all that straight for 1000s of miles. |
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garysss POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Balto. Md. |
posted 01-02-2011 11:52 AM
Ed I learned this last month while helping MdProwler tow one of his vans with a car dolly. Neither one of us knew you couldn't tow rear wheel drive on rear wheels without disconnecting the driveshaft or leaving it running. My brother told us as it was his dolly. So we thought we would just back it on the dolly with sterring wheel locked, but as soon as we got over 30 mph van was all over the road. Since we had to go over 1oo miles this was not going to work. Van had a bad alternator so we bought a new battery and left it running in neutral to get it home. Now the funny part. We get home, parked on a small incline on the street. We start to disconnect the straps from the dolly and wondering why second strap is so hard to get off. It finally comes off(insert jokes and laughter here)and van starts rolling down the street with 2 old guys trying to catch it, get in and stop it, because they forgot it was in neutral.LOL Luckily nothing was coming up the street or parked to close behind us. It's funny now, but could have been a diaster. I'm sure others will chime in here as this is not the first time MdProwler has done this. This was America's funny video for sure.     |
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alrtg POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Westminster, MD, USA |
posted 01-02-2011 12:01 PM
Gary, As I understand it. It all depends on the vehicle. If you have ever seen a tow truck towing a Rear wheel drive passenger car or light truck, the rear wheels are typically on the ground with the drive shaft intact. It is typically when one has a 3/4 ton or heavier truck that drive shaft removal becomes necessary. I think it has a lot to do with the differential and style of axle in the vehicle. I am in no way an expert on this. |
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ed monahan POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Cincinnati, Oh, USA |
posted 01-02-2011 02:34 PM
I left out another biggie. They lift the car up and disconnect the linkage a lot, too. The driver's don't all do the exact same thing. I don't tell them how to tow anything. Usually they will ask me what type of car I found, and if they can get to the drive wheel end and if it is all wheel drive. Usually I don't know if it is all wheel, but they usually do. They also want to know if the front wheels are straight. About a year ago a driver backed up to one to pick it up and bumped the tire with the lift and it started rolling away. It was parked in Neutral with no parking brake. I tried to stop it but it rolled into the car in front of it, very gently. It was on a level street. |
Nick M Prowler Junkie From:Baltimore, Maryland |
posted 01-04-2011 08:39 PM
Thanks for the thread. Lots of help! |
diamondwymond POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Lake Cormorant |
posted 01-05-2011 12:06 PM
Back in the 80's i was a household goods and electronics logistics mover, picking up and delivering 48 states and canada. Often a vehicle would be part of a shipment. I never had one break loose or get damaged in my trailer. i highly recommend securing any vehicle that has springs, by the wheels or wheel components. You want to allow the vehicle to bob and rock on its suspension while the wheels stay firmly planted (i used ratchet straps and the logistics bars that lock into place). That way the suspension absorbs more of the bumps instead of your straps absorbing all of the action. Dont cover the car with any blankets or whatever. i have seen where quilts, pads or blankets, over a long distance can buff or rub off the paint. |
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