Towing a car backwards on a Tow Dolly

[Fred Mc]

Is it feasable to tow a rear wheel drive bckwards on a tow dolly? Not looking to get into a flat tow/dolly discussion. When the steering wheel is locked via ignition are the front wheels strsight enough and stable enough to do this?

Thx

Fred

[Utahclaimjumper]

The steering locking pin is generally not considered strong enough, nor is it centered, to do the job..( You could unlock the pin with the key and tie the wheel with rope in the center position,, some tow companies do this.) Also the dolly HAS to be the swivel plate type to steer properly.>>>Dan  ( If towing this manner you should just remove the drive shaft.)

[Zephod]

I've seen it done but locking the steering is the problem


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[brmax]

I suppose one could get a steer wheel-(off center) alignment.
If there is any slack in the components it could wander in a pull just as if driving it.
Securing the steering wheel might be my extra option.
Is this a remedy for best transmission lubrication.

Floyd

[PP]

I've seen this done many times by both private individuals and towing companies. All times it appears there are a multitude of straps holding the steering wheel (ratchet type tie downs) aligned. But as mentioned before, if the wheels aren't aligned straight the car will wonder to one side or the other while you're going down the road and that would not be cool. Of course, if it hits someone or something, it would be a rear end accident and they would be at fault 
I have not ever personally done this, so take all with a grain of salt 
Will

[pabusnut]

I have done it for short trips, but on a rear wheel drive car, most of the weight is over the front axle, which becomes the rear axle. 

My experience was the "tail wagging the dog" even with the steering very securely locked, I think mostly due to the rear weight bias.

Steve

[bevans6]

The castor in the front steering makes the front wheels really want to go to full steering lock when they are going backwards, which is why you get the self-steering effect.  If a tow company with experience tows a car backwards, it puts the front wheels on a dolly.

Brian

[chessie4905]

You can put a  bungee cord  around wheel and connect it under front seat. This will stop any tendency of the front wheels to osciliate, but still allow a small amount of movement over rough or uneven pavement or potholes.

[J_E]

I've done it twice with a RWD car, I can't remember why I did it the second time.
The first time, the engine was dead and it was only me to push the thing up onto the dolly.  That trip was DC to Norfolk.

The second time, I forgot to pull the key and lock the steering wheel.  Whole thing nearly ended horribly in the first 1/4 mile.  I made about a 10 mile trip with only the steering locking pin keeping the wheels straight.  I made it alright and with no other issues, but that first 1/4 mile made the rest of the trip very uncomfortable.

This is not something I would want to repeat.  If I were in a situation that I had to do it again, I would do like others have said and make certain that the steering wheel cant turn.  Having a towed anything following 45* off to the driver's side is a bit nerve wracking.

I've seen folks flat tow with the steering wheel locked.  They couldn't figure out why they kept chewing up front tires.  Steering lock held up for that, but what's applied to the wheels is slightly different. 

The steering lock is a round steel plate between 1/16" and 1/8" thick with a bunch of slots around the edge. This plate is keyed to the steering shaft and turns when the wheel turns.  The there is another piece, a spring loaded pin that is about 1/4" in diameter and is moved by the ignition cylinder.  I'm not 100% but many of the newer pins that I have seen are aluminum and hollow. 

[richard5933]

Unless my memory has totally failed me, isn't this how the tow trucks used to pull cars all the time? I remember many times as a kid my dad's sedan (always rear-wheel-drive) being lifted by the back when hooked to the tow truck. The driver would loop a length of rope around the steering wheel and pull it through the door opening and then slam the door over it. Never looked terribly safe though and I always imagined that little rope pulling free or breaking.

That said, I just did a quick online search and it seems that the safest way to tow a RWD car is to lift the front wheels AND to pull the driveshaft. Apparently the steering linkage(s) are not strong enough to take the abuse that would ensue with a lock steering wheel and the sideways forces which would be applied to the wheels when being towed.

Richard

[kyle4501]

The front wheel caster - if positive, the wheels self center - if negative, they will want to wander left & right.

Prior to power steering & steel belted radials  , cars had less positive caster, closer to zero. Some buses had zero caster.

When you use a tow dolly & pull the car backwards, the rear wheels of the car need to be elevated enough to get the caster acceptable for backwards towing. That may be how the tow trucks got away with backwards towing.

Then there is the issue of toe-in or tow-out . . . . .

It has been so long, I don't remember how camber can be adjusted to help. . . .

[TomC]

When I worked for AAA emergency tow in the late 70's, we only had a Holmes 350 sling hoist. Course this was still when cars had real bumpers. Certain rear drive cars (mainly Mercedes) could not be towed with rear wheels down or you'd blow the transmission. Hence we towed backwards. We ALWAYS tied the steering wheel straight and NEVER used the ignition lock. Don't use a bungie cord-it is elastic. Use a good quality cotton string covered rope (that keeps a knot), or even use a ratchet strap. Even with keep the steering wheel straight, you'll get some side to side movement depending on how much play is in the front end of the car. The worst car I towed backwards was a Rolls-Royce convertible-loosie goosie and swinging the whole way. Genuine white knuckle driving-but got it there alright. Good Luck, TomC