OK, its almost time to get the fiero out of storage (friday, I cant wait). I was planning on towing it with one of U-Hauls trailers. I know when towing your suppost to have the heavier side on the trailer end with the hitch. In any normal vehicle that means front end first. Because the Fiero is mid engined should it be backed on? any ideas or has anyone doen this before

heres a link to the trailer i would use
http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.php?equipment=autotransport

Thanks

Andy

The last time we used a UHAUL car carrier we used a 14' truck with it and just drove the Fiero straight on front first.

Rob D.

I towed mine 3 days ago with that same trailer, pulled strait on for over 100 miles. You will be fine.

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-Chris -
Custom Gun Metal 86 GT 4.9 V8 5spd

Build up tread or MODS w/ Pics

Towed mine up and down fairly steep snow/ice covered mountians from the far edge of Oregon to the middle of Idaho without any problems. (aprox 12 hours one way) Loaded normal (front first)

Shouldn't be any trouble at all...Good luck

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Thanks everyone, thats what i was thinking but i just wanted to check. I know a fiero would look stupid being towed backwards
+'s for all of you

If you tell UHaul that you are towing a Fiero, they will give you one of the big trailers that you put the whole car on and charge you more.

Yea I don't suspect that you would have a problem because the fiero has close to 50/50 weight distribution on it... I think it is 45/55 but don't quote me. The only thing you might want to watch depending on how you put it on is if your nose will scrape at all. If that is the case just jack up the front of the trailer a little. Probably already knew that but ah well.

Using a standard UHaul car trailer and my Durango.. I hauled one a few hundred miles with no problems at all.

Drove it straight on and straight off.

The only thing you have to be carefull of is the fact that there is no winch. The doors will hit the fenders of the trailer and not give you a whole lot of room.

I had to crawl through the window to get in and out of the car with it on the trailer.

quote Originally posted by datacop: Using a standard UHaul car trailer and my Durango.. I hauled one a few hundred miles with no problems at all. Drove it straight on and straight off. The only thing you have to be carefull of is the fact that there is no winch. The doors will hit the fenders of the trailer and not give you a whole lot of room. I had to crawl through the window to get in and out of the car with it on the trailer.

Dang it Jason you beat me to it lol . Yeah after Jason drove the Fiero up the trailer(remember no winch?) we realized......he had to crawl out kinda sucked lol.

First step....get a runnin start....

Then slam on the gas pedal and jump the tow vehicle!!!!!!! lol just joking

[edit] As they mentioned above

[This message has been edited by Nebiros88 (edited 04-13-2005).]

Recently towed one myself using the same trailer. The fender does fold down.. but it doesn;t gain you enough room to open the door evne when it is down. This one wasn;t running so we had it in neutral, got everything lined up and closed the door as we got towards the fenders.

Not sure about U-Haul trailers, but on my own flatbed, I backed it on to tow it. Yes, the weight should be somewhat heavier on the front of the trailer axles, but not far enough to cause the truck excess tongue weight.

In other words....too much weight on the tongue of the trailer, and the truck will "porpoise"....that is, the steering will be too light.

Too much weight on the rear, and you will have the potential for sway....and increase possibility of if coming unhitched. The truck should remain level. Here's a pic of me Towing Ezra's Fiero back from Colorado Springs with my 16' flatbed.

Remember all the usual towing precautions. I towed this car from Colorado Springs to El Paso, 620 miles, with no problems. It doesn't make any difference if it's on forward or backward, as long as the weight is correctly balanced. It does make a difference in wind drag, however. If I had it to do again, I would put it on forward just for the fuel savings.

[This message has been edited by Frizlefrak (edited 04-13-2005).]

2 weekends ago I towed 2 Fieros I picked up from Mike with a U-haul tow dolly where the front wheels were still rolling, no problems at all. But that was only about 15-20 miles or so to my storage area.

Earl

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87 Fiero GT
White / Blue Pearl
T-Top
3400 Turbo
11.25" brakes
Whaletail, Mecham Scoops, ZR1 Scoop
T/A Fender Vents, Much Much More

86 SE Red
86 SE Gold

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: It does make a difference in wind drag, however. If I had it to do again, I would put it on forward just for the fuel savings.

You have to be careful towing backwards. Many hoods and decklids have been ripped off that way. I have never used a U-haul trailer but I always pull it on my trailer forward. You car get it on far enough forward that you won't get the tongue weight too high.

[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 04-13-2005).]

Jscott.....that's a great looking car hauler. Mind If I ask what you paid?

Santa Claus may have to bring me one for Christmas

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: Jscott.....that's a great looking car hauler. Mind If I ask what you paid?

I bought it locally for about $1500+tax brand new. It weighs about 1500 pounds, but my Rodeo pulls it with no problem. It also has electric brakes.

Houston to Detroit 1995:

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www.yellowfiero.com/fiero.html
17" DEZENT T wheels with 215/40 tires front and 235/45 rear, KONI shocks, EIBACH lowering springs, drilled/slotted rotors, SS brake hoses. PU dog bone, all bushings and engine mounts, K&N air and oil filters, OZELOT exhaust, Mercedes SLK yellow paintjob, Mr. Mikes leather seats, door skins, shift and e-brake boots. MP3 deck and custom subwoofer behind passenger seat, F355 style front. Fiero Store rear swaybar, strut tower brace, black carpet, air intake. Rodney Dickman's competition short shifter, SS vacuum lines and deck lid strut. Billet aluminum dash kit from Kitcarman.

quote Originally posted by jscott1: I bought it locally for about $1500+tax brand new. It weighs about 1500 pounds, but my Rodeo pulls it with no problem. It also has electric brakes.

Hmmmm....I paid $950 for my flatbed brand new. Bought it to haul my tractor, but it's ferryed a few cars here and there. Hard to get doors open though. Might sell it and pick up one of those. Thanks.

quote Originally posted by JacobHaley: If you tell UHaul that you are towing a Fiero, they will give you one of the big trailers that you put the whole car on and charge you more.

That why you tell them you are towing a Chevy Cavalier. That's what I did and had no problems the 2 times I used Uhaul.

I just use the tow dolly... the trailer costs way more. Fiero from North East Ohio to Michigan on a tow dolly with a 4 banger S10.... wow that sucked... couldnt use 5th gear HAHA... . 4th all the way!

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"Raced That, Wrecked Better" ~In Memory Of Jesse Cesek~ 1980-2000
US Armored Cavalry - Fox 2/81 - Death By 120 - 1 Shot 1 Kill

The problem with a tow dolly is that in most states you are not allowed to tow dolly a car that doesn't have valid registration. That's a problem if you have a parts car that you need to move.

Also the low profile of the tow dolly makes you hard to see. The first time I used a tow dolly I got run into by an 18 wheeler. He didn't see the Black Fiero I was towing at night.

Lastly there is that danger of the hood ripping off from going backwards. My first parts car had the hood ripped off, (not by me) from towing backwards. All those factors convinced me to go with a 16 foot flatbed trailer.

quote Originally posted by jscott1: The problem with a tow dolly is that in most states you are not allowed to tow dolly a car that doesn't have valid registration. That's a problem if you have a parts car that you need to move. Also the low profile of the tow dolly makes you hard to see. The first time I used a tow dolly I got run into by an 18 wheeler. He didn't see the Black Fiero I was towing at night. Lastly there is that danger of the hood ripping off from going backwards. My first parts car had the hood ripped off, (not by me) from towing backwards. All those factors convinced me to go with a 16 foot flatbed trailer.

All excellent points. I've never towed with a dolly before, but I also have to believe that a tandem axle trailer is more stable. I can tow at 75 MPH all day long with a car on the back of my 16' tandem utility trailer and it never budges. Even in heavy crosswinds, no sway. Maybe it's entirely in my head, but there's something about a tow dolly I don't trust. Safety first.

Hey jscott1, where did you get a trailer like that? I would like to buy one evenutally but i never see any like that

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: Maybe it's entirely in my head, but there's something about a tow dolly I don't trust. Safety first.

Agree 100%!

The 2 wheel dolly just doesn't seem "right" to me. And in truth, around here.. a tandom axle trailer is only $20 more than a dolly. My own piece of mind is worth the extra Andrew Jackson.

All points are VERY true... however i know that the 4 banger s10 never would have pulled the trailor TOO... also... i always towed my Fiero FORWARD on the tow dolly... just put the manual trans in N.
However i agree on the leagal plates thing... in Ohio you need valid plates to tow a vehical if any of its wheels are touching the ground (STUPID)

I picked up my fiero last weekend 200 miles away with that trailer. Loaded it front first and had no problems. The trailer I had had a fold down left fender. The drivers door could open completely (just had to make sure that it was folded down before driving the car onto the trailer.

Towed one about 900 miles from Alabama to West Texas on a utility trailer much like the uhauls. Loaded nose to the front. No problems, other than the crawling out the window thing. Took a cordless screw gun with me Tied the car down, then screwed down a double stack of 2x4s behind the rear tires. Probably didn't need them but the ebrake wasn't connected, so I wanted to do a little more than leave it in gear and tie it down. Put most of the weight on the trailer axles and just a little on the hitch. It was good not to have that dang empty trailer banging around on the return trip.

I rented a U-haul a few times, took one from FL to Williamsburg & Carlisle and back. They are very heavy trailers. As you can see, the Cheroke was not happy, the load was almost to much for it.

Later I bought this one. Was a great light weight trailer.

[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 04-15-2005).]

Tow Dolly vs. Trailer, I guess it depends on how far your taking the car. If I were traveling a long distance I would do the trailer. I have a 16' tandem with electric brakes rated for 8800 lbs that would handle my GT with no problem. But for a short trip, a dolly is easier for me. Just don't drive 70-80 MPH with a car on the dolly and you'll be fine IMHO. Besides, me getting older is a B!tch when trying to crawl out a window when you can't open the door.

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87 Fiero GT
White / Blue Pearl
T-Top
3400 Turbo
11.25" brakes
Whaletail, Mecham Scoops, ZR1 Scoop
T/A Fender Vents, Much Much More

86 SE Red
86 SE Gold

quote Originally posted by Earl-R: Besides, me getting older is a B!tch when trying to crawl out a window when you can't open the door.

If your car hauler is designed properly this isn't a problem. My doors open just fine.

quote Originally posted by Earl-R: Besides, me getting older is a B!tch when trying to crawl out a window when you can't open the door.

The trailer I had, the fender was removable, made it possible to open the door wide.

Coolblue87gt

I noticed that your trailer has a weight distributing hitch. Who makes it and how mutch. I think I want one.

I brought my 88 GT home to Western Maryland from Easten PA. I pulled the U HAUL trailor with an 2001 Dodge / Cummins 2500 pick up. On the PA pike, I kept forgetting that the load was there. The Cummins is the difference.

Slackers! When I moved from DC to Wisconsin I towed a U-Haul trailer behind the Fiero the whole way! I've got a pick a home, I'll see if I can't scan it in and post it.

-Rick

quote Originally posted by Chump: Coolblue87gt I noticed that your trailer has a weight distributing hitch. Who makes it and how mutch. I think I want one.

It was a Hidden Hitch W/D system, cost was about 150.

Now I have this trailer, and added Reese Dual cam set up to the Hidden Hitch. That controlled any sway.

(inside shot)

I prefer dollies myself. Car only needs a valid tag if the trailer dont have one. If your trailer is tagged, dont need one on the car. Ive never had a problem with them. Towed sticks with front on dolly, autos with rear on it. Traveled cross country (missouri to ohio for ex) on cruise at 60-65 mph with a 3800 Lumina minivan.