Need to tow AWD- how?

[nickrule99]

I need to rent/buy a harness to tow an AWD.

I was going to rent one of those dollies from Uhaul, but I remembered it was AWD.... I would much rather tow the car with all 4 wheels on the ground as apposed to a full trailer, but any suggustions would be good.

Anyone know where I can rent one? or what to ask for it I end up needing to buy something?

The truck Im going to be pulling with already has a trailer hitch, so Im all set there.

-Nick

 

[Colossus]

It's either the pain in the ass of towing it in neutral with all 4 down, or a trailer/flatbed. Nothing else. No exceptions.

 

[nickrule99]

Thanks. Those were the two options I was debating.

 

[Thomas91169]

i dont understand, why not just a full trailer? if i remember it was like 34 for half a day.

 

[nickrule99]

could I pull one using a v6 grand cherokee?

 

[2gGSX]

If you're going to be doing this for any significant distance, you should just get it flatbedded there. But if not your cherokee will be fine.

 

[nickrule99]

Alright, thanks.

Ill post up pics of her next weekend

 

[jdmjason]

i was in the same situation last week.

UHaul has something that gets all 4 wheels off the ground. Its called an auto transport. Its about the same price as the dolley ($50) If you don't have anything to pull it with, just use one of their trucks. ($20+ .40 each mile). Don't forget you have to pay for gas as well.

I moved my 95 gsx from grand rapids to chicago for about $350..thats a 4 hour, 300 mile drive

 

[nickrule99]

Thanks man, thats what I needed.

Ill be towing about 400 miles, so Im gonna just get the trailer. I think the Jeep should be fine, especially since its basicially all highway. Ill just have to keep it around 65 and remember I need to slow down a hell of alot sooner.

 

[aleccolin]

They won't let you tow with the four wheel carrier unless you have at least a class III hitch on that Jeep. Otherwise, you'll have to rent one of their trucks.

 

[badbu68]

Or you could take off your driveshaft and tow it like it was a rwd car.

 

[Nijasan]

The car hauler that uhaul rents weighs 2,000 lbs, so take that into account. If you're going to rent a truck from uhaul to tow it, their normal GMC 1500 series trucks won't do it - at least they won't loan you both. They will, however, loan you a 14' truck + trailer. Same price as the full sized pickup, but the mileage is worse.

I was quoted $45 for 1 day with the trailer, and $29 + $0.79/mile for the truck, two weeks ago. Since I was towing the car 70 miles each way, it was easier to just get a tow company to handle it with a flatbed.

 

[Royalty]

u CAN tow it with a jeep grand cherokee. I know from expereience. I towed my totalled stratus (heavier than my dsm) with the auto transport. The jeep has a v-8 but ti pulled with no problem.

 

[out there]

Or you could take off your driveshaft and tow it like it was a rwd car.

you mean like it's a fwd?

 

[nickrule99]

u CAN tow it with a jeep grand cherokee. I know from expereience. I towed my totalled stratus (heavier than my dsm) with the auto transport. The jeep has a v-8 but ti pulled with no problem.

Excellent.

Now Ive just got to make sure we've got a class III hitch, and were golden.

 

[2gGSX]

u CAN tow it with a jeep grand cherokee. I know from expereience. I towed my totalled stratus (heavier than my dsm) with the auto transport. The jeep has a v-8 but ti pulled with no problem.

Your stratus is FWD, and thus has no center differential. Whatever you do, do NOT tow an AWD car unless all 4 wheels are on the ground.

 

[Royalty]

Your stratus is FWD, and thus has no center differential. Whatever you do, do NOT tow an AWD car unless all 4 wheels are on the ground.

WOW! Thanks soooo much I didnt know that.

Dude you may want to check up on what you are talking about before you sound like an ass....

I towed my totalled stratus (heavier than my dsm) with the auto transport.

The auto transport is the U-haul trailer that gets all wheels off the ground.

So back to what I said. You can tow your DSM with the auto transport no problem. Works even better if your truck is 4-wheel drive.

 

[badbu68]

you mean like it's a fwd?

No, like it was rwd. You still will have the rearend on the pavement, but with the driveshaft removed, it will not engage the transfercase/transmission/etc.

 

[InferiorWang]

^^
you mean like a fwd? The rear isn't connected to anything drivetrain related?

 

[nickrule99]

I called Uhaul last night and they told me I could use the car transport if I have a class 3 hitch... which I do. So we're good to go

Thanks for the suggustions guys, really appreciate it.

 

[metalicsnake]

i car caddied my car 900 miles, all i did was completely take out the drive shaft to the rear wheels.

 

[teamslowdsm]

uhaul has a whole car hauler. that will tow your car easy. if you can leave the window down that would help becuaswe i ran into the problem of barely being able to open the door. so i left the key in the on position and rolled the window down to get in and out of the car. and its cheap too.

 

[crankbender]

Just going to jump in here because some people don't seem to be hearing an certain individual. Here are the rules for towing your AWD dsm.

option #1 is to get all 4 wheels off the ground and stationary. This can be done on a flatbed, car trailer, etc.

Option #2 is to remove the drivetrain to the rear wheels. This can be done through the removal of the axles or the driveshaft. This is a viable option and will not cause damage to your car. This is also usually the cheapest option.

 

[Defiant]

Sounds said and solved.

Ceased.