sd944s

The feedback regarding my clutch / transmission failure has been great (https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-944-951-968-forum/306448-diagnosis-no-power-being-transferred-to-wheels-transmission-clutch.html) and it looks like I'll be able to get it to a place where I can do the work myself. Unfortunately this place is approx 150 miles away from where the car is right now.

Can I safely use a tow dolly to haul the car that distance? And by "safely" I mean is there any chance pulling it could further damage the car? I would put the front wheels on the dolly and the rear wheels would roll in neutral for the whole trip. Any reason I should rent a trailer over the dolly so that all four wheels are off the ground?

Thanks!
-Bill

badmofofosho

BTDT a dozen times, go for it.

Be careful getting it on the dolly, some models are steeper than others and can sometimes scrape the lower valance going on.

Good luck with the tow and pending work, BTDT too!

potent951turbo

I towed my old 86' 951 for at least 200 miles on a tow dolly with no problems.

bleucamaro

I personally don't think that those tow dollies are ever 'safe'. Theres no additional brake assist, whereas with a trailer, there is. Plus with a trailer you get additional brake lights, and no wear/tear on the car. If theres a choice, I'd take a trailer every time.

cjeckert

if you tossed your R&P towing it could cause alot more damage, I'd drain some of the trianie fluid to check for metal fragments first, if its clear fill her back up and tow her if not you might want to think over your options. blown R&P is usually intails getting a used good trannie b/c its cheaper to replace then to rebuild it.

JayP

If it's a big concern, take the axles off. Less than an hour's work?

sharky47

Uhaul has some bad-*** car trailers - I rent one every time I transport a car - worth every penny.

jeeper31

Sorry to hijack...quick question sharky - Does u-haul have car carriers or just trailers? I have nothing to pull a trailer with but need to tow my car.


Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

badmofofosho

The vast difference in actual weight that the tow vehicle is trying to deal with between a dolly and a transport more than makes up for the lack of additional braking, and the dolly should have additional lights too. The transport itself weighs at least 1400# plus the car, dolly weighs less than half of that and only carries the weight of the front of the car.

To safely use a transport you better have a 1/2 ton pick up minumum. I've seen guys towing transports with 928's on them using a Vehicross, and in my opinion that is not safe. In that configuration the trailer package weighs a lot more than the vehicle trying to lug it around, IMHO = bad combo.

That said, I do have a trailer now, coz like sharky47 said Uhaul has some nice ones, but after you rent them a dozen times you could have bought your own car hauler

badmofofosho

Uhaul.com

stolarzj

I've used the both UHaul trailers, the dolly and transport. Towing with the dolly was definelty easier on power and braking, the UHaul full trailer is very heavy. I have a V8 truck so either way was fine, but the last time I towed was with the dolly as it was all they had left. The braking was much better, and my trucks brakes are not exactly great, about 55k miles on the original brakes, the front rotors are pretty thin. I first time I towed with the trailer I wouldn't have used a dollly as the clutch was shot, wouldn't drive at all, and wouldn't have felt completly safe with the rear wheels rolling on a iffy driveline in the car. Both times I told them I'm was towing a Dodge Neon, since the 944 isn't listed as being able to go on there trailer. By the way my avatar is with the full trailer.

Jfrahm

Uhaul might not rent you a dolly if you say it's for a 944. They do not think it will fit on the dolly without dragging parts.

-Joel.

josephsc

Around here, a Uhaul car trailer costs only $10/day more than a dolly -- which I'm more than glad to pay for the ease of mind. I normally tell them that I'm hauling a Honda civic, b/c my local Uhaul won't rent dolly or trailer for hauling a 944 (clearance is low and they are afraid of liabilities). Unless your car has been lowered, you should still have plenty of clearance, though.

sharky47

I tell them I'm hauling a VW.......

A 944 fits really well on these trailers, it usually takes more time to exchange money than to load the car.

sd944s

Thanks for all the feedback - how have you loaded your 944 onto the trailer without a functional drivetrain? If I went with the dolly, I was planning on jacking up the car from the side jack points and sliding the dolly under the front wheels.

The trailer option though sounds a bit more difficult, especially on a city street. Maybe a winch / come-a-long hooked to the front of the trailer? If that's the way to go, what hook point do you recommend on the front of the car?