I used a U-Haul auto dolly for the first time last weekend -- worked great for the small sedan I was pulling. I have been looking for my first Fiero and had imagined pulling it home with one of these dollys.

But now that I've used it, the clearance for a low car seems minimal and I'm wondering if a Fiero (stock height) will go up on there?

Can anyone confirm whether the U-Haul dolly works or not?

If it works, should the car be pulled on or backed on?

Thanks.

I used one for my 1st fiero and it worked fine.

Several years ago I towed my GT form NY to MT with my wifes '01 Grand Prix. I towed it backwards after a suggestion to eliminate drivetrain wear and tear. The only problem I encountered was with the wing. At 70mph the spoiler started to flex and pull on the decklid. No other problems.

not a uhaul trailer but built pretty close to one.

I moved my first on a dolly and 3 more with trailers (auto transporters as Uhaul calles them) and I wouldn't use a dolly again. I didn't have a problem but prefer all 4 wheels up off the ground. I've also had U-Haul tell me that the dolly is not intended to tow a Fiero due to clearance issues and i HAD to use the trailer. IT's not that much more, maybe $25 and for peace of mind it's worth it.

I have used quite a few tow dollys with my fieros including a U-haul one (used the U-haul one to pull my SBC/Getrag fiero to KY when I moved - about 350 miles). Also traveled with a friend once who tow dollied his SBC/Getrag fiero from IN to FL.

You want to make sure the hitch ball is high enough to keep the ramps of the tow dolly from banging the underside of the fiero as you go over bumps of changes in road elevation. I have about 4 different recievers in my truck for this reason depending on what type/style of trailer/dolly I am towing.

quote Originally posted by Bob619: If it works, should the car be pulled on or backed on? Thanks.

This depends on how far you are going to be towing the car. If you are less than say 20 miles or so, towing it front first should be okay. If you are going farther than that, tow it backwards. And find a way to truly lock the steering wheel, don't just trust the steering column lock.

I would highly recommend not towing an automatic trans equipped Fiero with the rear wheels on the ground. The TH-125C does *not* have an output-driven oil pump so the internals will not have any fluid circulating within with the rear tires turning and engine off. I've seen more than one auto trans ruined by this.

I forgot to mention that when I towed mine, I completely deflated the rear tires (towed backwards) for a little more clearance.

I wanted to use a uhaul trailer. When I went to the uhaul rental place, they asked what car I was going to haul. they looked it up on their computer system and told me that type of hauler was not going to work. A deck trailer is by far the best way.

quote Originally posted by hetterbr: I wanted to use a uhaul trailer. When I went to the uhaul rental place, they asked what car I was going to haul. they looked it up on their computer system and told me that type of hauler was not going to work. A deck trailer is by far the best way.

Most U-Haul places wont rent a dolly to you if you tell them its for a Fiero. I always tell them its for some other car... I've used dolly's & flatbeds. Both work fine.

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86 GT
87 coupe restoration project.

I used a Dolly when we moved from Iowa to California (rear wheels on the Dolly) and the only problem I encountered was that the front air dam scraped whenever we hit a bump or went up a driveway. Made sure the steering wheel was locked in place real well.

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My 88, I towed from Port St Lucie, Florida to Southeast Texas. 88's have a air dam underneath the front sorta low. It made the trip 1200 mile just fine.

quote Originally posted by Trekker: Made sure the steering wheel was locked in place real well.

Don't depend on that tiny steering wheel lock. Strap the steering wheel to the seat bracket or something else so you don't end up with the towed car trying to pass you when you hit the brakes. You may also want to consider running a strap around the deck lid. They have been known to open going down the road when the wind gets under the lip. Especially with a wing on it.

As mentioned above U-Haul usually won't rent a dolly for towing a Fiero...Just their rules. I'm not going to tell you how to get around it. Just use your imagination.

[This message has been edited by 2farnorth (edited 04-13-2011).]

quote Originally posted by JazzMan: I would highly recommend not towing an automatic trans equipped Fiero with the rear wheels on the ground. The TH-125C does *not* have an output-driven oil pump so the internals will not have any fluid circulating within with the rear tires turning and engine off. I've seen more than one auto trans ruined by this.

What Jazz says about automatics. Manual transmission gearing is bathed in oil and as the output shafts turn, they circulate oil over everything that turns inside the transmission. You can pull a manual transmission equipped car with the drive wheels on the ground. By all means, lock the steering wheel and tie it off to the arm rest as a supplemental restraint.

Loading to a tow dolly can do damage. To help prevent scraping, use a couple of bricks or 2 x 4's placed under the end of each ramp. You want to leave a bit of them exposed past the ends of the ramps, then place a 2 x 6 of about 2 feet long on the exposed ends of the bricks or 2x4's. This will give you a better transition, lifting the front of the car before it gets to the point where it scrapes the dolly. A little work but it does prevent damage to the underside of the fascia. Don't forget to take them with you for the unload.

I have a question for you towing experts.

I was considering renting a dolly this weekend as I have to move a non running fiero about 300 yards from the storage unit to a parking lot across the street. As stated earlier, the fiero does not run on it's own. Can I load it up the dolly with a floor jack? I was thinking of jacking the car up and backing up with the dolly under it. Would that work?

quote Originally posted by FieroMontreal: I have a question for you towing experts. I was considering renting a dolly this weekend as I have to move a non running fiero about 300 yards from the storage unit to a parking lot across the street. As stated earlier, the fiero does not run on it's own. Can I load it up the dolly with a floor jack? I was thinking of jacking the car up and backing up with the dolly under it. Would that work?

I think it might be easier to just use a come-along to pull it on.

quote Originally posted by FieroMontreal: I have a question for you towing experts. I was considering renting a dolly this weekend as I have to move a non running fiero about 300 yards from the storage unit to a parking lot across the street. As stated earlier, the fiero does not run on it's own. Can I load it up the dolly with a floor jack? I was thinking of jacking the car up and backing up with the dolly under it. Would that work?

For just 300 yards, forget the dolly. Just put 4 tires on the car, put it in neutral, put someone behind the wheel, and push the car.

Thanks for your thoughts -- I've got what I need.

quote Originally posted by Xyster: I think it might be easier to just use a come-along to pull it on.

I had my own tow dolly (just like a U Haul) and I put a boat winch on the tounge to haul cars on it. A come-a-long wil alsol work just fine.

quote Originally posted by Isolde: For just 300 yards, forget the dolly. Just put 4 tires on the car, put it in neutral, put someone behind the wheel, and push the car.

Thats what I initially wanted to do but the car isn't registered and hasn't been driven in at least 11 years, the brakes are non functional and there is a police station at the corner of the street so I want to do it in the most legit way possible without getting a tow truck.

Thanks for the suggestions