Has anyone towed a standard transmission Fiero on a tow dolly with the front wheels on the dolley? I will be moving my RV from Wisconsin to Oklahoma in October and I need to get my Fiero there, too I'd be towing it at about 55 MPH - that's the speed I drive the RV at. I don't want to drive it because I'm still not 100% comfortable with its reliability since my engine/transmission swap and I was looking to save a little money by not renting a car-hauler since I already own a tow dolly. I've towed it a short distance before at low speed.

[This message has been edited by William Federle (edited 09-13-2007).]

I've towed my 86 on our car caddy with the rear wheels on the caddy, and my 88 I towed with the front wheels on the caddy. I believe its best to have the rear wheels up on the caddy on a rear wheel drive vehicle, but you should be able to tow it with the front wheels on it no problem. Just make sure its in neutral, of course.

I would only do rear up front down. That way you would have most of the vehicle weight on the dolly. You still want to tie off the steering wheel so in the event the locking steering column would break loose the car would not come around and pass you.

I pulled one 385 miles with the fronts on the ground . The fronts freewheel, if you had the rears on the ground you would have both axles turning, as well as everything inside the transmission except the imput shaft. I also wanted the weight of the engine and transmission on the dolly.
On a side note, be sure and check the front wheels and bearings good, my driver side wheel bearing was almost gone when we got back home. It had gone dry, and wouldn't have made it another 5 miles. Check the lug nuts also. Its not always easy to get replacement parts on the road for these cars.

Joe Crawford
Texas

I tow anything with rwd standard with front on dolly. Just put it in neutral and your good. Ive towed cars 1/2 way across the country like that without any problem. Pluses are that you have red reflectors facing the rear, none of the openings like hood or doors can blow open, and its impossible for it to start swaying around if the steering wheel comes unlocked or untied, its more aerodynamic (therefore easier and cheaper to tow). It dont hurt the rear end/ transmission if its spinning in neutral unless those are damaged in some way of course. Negatives of towing with front wheels up is...............never mind, cant think of any The only time i tow on my dolly with the rear wheels up is if its a rwd automatic.

[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 09-13-2007).]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I guess I'll go ahead and tow it with the front on the dolly (in neutral). It doesn't have a steering wheel lock. It was an automatic. I swapped in another duke and cradle and std transmission so I have an automatic steering column with a standard transmission. The wheels on my dolly swivel. Maybe I'll add some weight to the front to put a little more weight on the dolley.

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Put the back up on the dolly. If you tow with most of the weight behind the dolly, you can create a pendulum effect, and develop bad swaying problems. I have had it happen myself.

I might suggest ,to all, that one should read the owners manuel in reguards to wheather it can be towed on the rear wheels. Often times it says in there not to. Wheather it is a Fiero or an Escort, or Geo. A transmission rebuild or replacement is always expensive.
Good Luck

Joe Crawford

I always tow the manual fieros with working transmissions with the rear wheels on the ground. The autos or otherwise broken cars with the fronts on the ground.

When in doubt, go to the source.
Per the 1984 Fiero Owner’s Manual, page 3-10 states “However, if necessary, your Fiero may be towed forwards on the rear drive wheels at speeds up to 35 mph (55 km/h) for distances of 50 miles (80 kilometers).These speed and distance restrictions do not apply if your vehicle has a manual transaxle.”

I've towed Fieros all over this country, both on my gooseneck and using a dolly. If it's a decent reliable manual that I'm not worried about falling apart on the dolly, it drives on for the tow. Pulling a car in reverse or from the rear is illegal in some states and can get you pulled over. Must make sure the straps are tied down and stop and check them often. Make sure you are in neutral and the E'brake is off. Always remember your braking distance is increased due to the additional wieght you're towing. Always remember you can't turn as sharp and never, never ever get yourself into a postion that you have to back that rig up. Happy Fieroing and enjoy the trip.

Edited to add: I will always haul a car before I tow it if, I have that option. If not, with a manual, the rear wheels would be on the ground.

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Ron

Never, never do anything or wear things that you don't want to have to explain to Paramedics, it can get very embarassing. They talk!

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 09-13-2007).]

Obviously this is just my opinion.
Tow it rear wheels up, reason being, you're spinning your output shaft without it rotating any of the speed gears, thus not flinging lubrication around, thus leaving all of your speed gear bearings and the input shaft-output shaft bearings dry. Spinning bearings dry = bad. Tow it rear wheels up or pull the axles and tow it rear wheels down.
I do respect that some of you have towed drive wheels down on a standard and put it in neutral with no problems, but i've pulled starters and alternators without unhooking the battery without problems too

quote Originally posted by InaneCathode: Obviously this is just my opinion. Tow it rear wheels up, reason being, you're spinning your output shaft without it rotating any of the speed gears, thus not flinging lubrication around, thus leaving all of your speed gear bearings and the input shaft-output shaft bearings dry. Spinning bearings dry = bad. Tow it rear wheels up or pull the axles and tow it rear wheels down. I do respect that some of you have towed drive wheels down on a standard and put it in neutral with no problems, but i've pulled starters and alternators without unhooking the battery without problems too

If the output shaft is turning, at least the differential is turning, too.
Even if nothing else is turning, there ought to be plenty of lubrication.

If you pull the Fiero axles and don't put a stub axle through the rear wheel bearings, the bearings will come apart. They're just a press fit.
Don't ask me how I know this.

I never had any of this swaying problem no matter what I towed on my dolly. I usually pull on interstates with cruise on 70-75. Your not going to burn out any trans bearings on a standard shift unless your towing it 200,000 miles, by just towing it. My first Fiero I drove around for years with NO (not a drop) oil in the trans at all. It never leaked so I didnt check it. The seals were all blown out from the time I bought it. After I discovered the seals were gone, i replaced them, refilled and kept on driving it for more years. It never even made an noise, and far as I know its still driving around. I tow standard Corvettes all over the state.

I towed my 88 t-top coupe home 350+ miles on a tow dolly with front wheels on dolly with a 97 Suburban. No problems at all, not even at highway speeds. Towed good and straight and secure.

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tom in suffolk, va
87 gt 2.8
87 gt 350-v8

For those of you that have used a car hauler, did you put your fiero on it frontwards or backwards?

Thanks for your patience and replies. Since my Fiero is a work in progress I think that it would probably be better given all of your opinions, to haul it on a car hauler. That way it will probably get there in at least as good shape as it is now.

Thanks

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William,
I've towed/hauled Fieros from one coast to the other and from the deep south to almost into Canada. I have both a tow dolly and a 36 foot car hauler. l really don't think it makes much difference which way they are loaded on the trailer as long as everything is secure, as in deck lid, hood, doors shut and windows up. That being said, the car was designed to be aerodynamic in one direction. I'd advise you to load the car on your hauler nose first for that reason. On a stock Fiero, the car is so well balance, that weight and balance of the Fiero isn't really much of a factor in this case, I'm talking about the trailer being balanced for the load. Ensure the car is strapped/tied down securely and ensure you have the load balanced on the trailer with the recommended amount of weight on your tow vehicle. Never load a trailer tail heavy, it should be slightly nose heavy, my personal goal is to have about 200 to 250 lbs of tongue weight. Your tow vehicle may be different. I always recommend brakes on any trailer but especially when towing something of significant weight. Make sure all your lights work properly and drive with about double to triple the distance you would normally have between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Always, always be prepared for that jerk that is going to cut you off or pull out in front of you. Most folks apparently don't care that you have a load on and you can't stop as quickly as their ricer. I have probably forgotten to mention several things but the most important thing I'm always concerned with is ensuring the load is properly secured and positioned on the trailer. Once I know it can't bounce off, then the rest is up to me to avoid all those offensive drivers out there trying to get themselves killed. Happy motoring.

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Ron

Never, never do anything or wear things that you don't want to have to explain to Paramedics, it can get very embarrassing. They talk!

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 09-14-2007).]

Thanks for the info. My tow vehicle will be a 26 foot Penske truck.

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quote Originally posted by William Federle: Thanks everyone for your replies. I guess I'll go ahead and tow it with the front on the dolly (in neutral). It doesn't have a steering wheel lock. It was an automatic. I swapped in another duke and cradle and std transmission so I have an automatic steering column with a standard transmission. The wheels on my dolly swivel. Maybe I'll add some weight to the front to put a little more weight on the dolley.

Tow with BACKEND/ drive wheels....on dolly.. you want the heaviest part of car on the dolly... I towed mine from southern Indiana to Wisconsin.. never even knew it was there... AND... if you rent one from U-Haul.. DON"T tell them it's a Fiero you are hauling... They will insist you put the fronts on the dolly...or they will not rent it.. ( some stores..not all..)

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'86 Fastback SE 5 spd -'94 HD Electra Glide Cassic -'99 Chevy K-1500 Z-71

I finally desided to use a car hauler behind the Penske truck when I move. Thanks everyone for the advice. This is a great forum.

[This message has been edited by William Federle (edited 09-15-2007).]

I towed '87 GT 5spd. 350mi. across west Texas w/front wheels on dolly and no problems. Ran 75-80mph in the '96 Explorer 5.0 V8 and couldn't even tell the Fiero was back there. Only issue was right front tire on the Fiero blew and shredded Nascar style. I didn't even know it until somebody came up besides me signaling "flat tire". When I stopped there was nothing left but two tire beads left on the rim, a damaged inner fender well, rear bumper facia, lower molding, and wire harness severed. Make sure your tires are good!!!

I towed an 84 w/ manual trans from Tacoma WA to Grand Rapids MI on a dolly. Front wheels on the dolly--that was 10 years ago, and so far no problems with the trannie. It might have swayed, but pulled behind a 20 foot Penske van, it was hard to tell.

I've towed multiple Fieros probably a total of 20,000 miles with a tow bar setup. Again all manuals--it doesn't hurt the transmission one bit. I did get some control problems one time pulling across Wyoming in the dead of winter, but then it was a bit icy then.

quote Originally posted by Brian Lamberts: I did get some control problems one time pulling across Wyoming in the dead of winter, but then it was a bit icy then.

I've towed my Fieros all over the place, but you've got more cojones than me.