Hello everyone,
I was wondering if some of you might be able to help me with a question regarding how I might tow my 85 GT (with a 4 speed manual) on an upcoming move from Central Ohio to Arkansas. U-Haul does not want to rent me a car trailer because they say that a Class IV hitch is not available for my Ford Edge. So, I would be limited to a tow dolly. Anyway, I have a few questions regarding options.

1) Since the manual transmission is splash lubricated (it is, right?), is it OK to tow it with the rear wheels on the ground and the tranny in neutral?

2) If it's not advisable to tow with the rear wheels on the ground, is it possible to place the rear wheels on the dolly and secure the steering for backwards towing. If must admit, this option freaks me out a bit.

Anyway, I would really appreciate any help you might be able to offer. This has been a long term project for me, and it's almost finished. I would hate to screw it up now. Thanks for your time!
David

Since it is manual, either way is ok.

I usually tow all manual transmission Fieros with the rear wheels in the ground and front wheels in the Dolly's buckets and LOCK my steering wheel. For all auto tranny, I tow them "reversed" with the front wheel on the ground and the rear wheel in the dolly's buckets, of course the seering is locked.

Keep in mind that my dolly has a swivel platform, this forces me to always lock the steering wheel when haulling. The drawback to this type of dolly is that you just cant back it up when there is a car on it.

Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate your time!

i have towed very many fieros with a tow dolly ....i have towed everyone backwards ...just make sure that the steering wheel locks in its position ....its very easy to tow this way !!

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BLUE BY YOU!
NYFOC

quote Originally posted by Hardpact: i have towed very many fieros with a tow dolly ....i have towed everyone backwards ...just make sure that the steering wheel locks in its position ....its very easy to tow this way !!

This is the way I have towed them on tow dolly's. Plus you have more weight on the tow dolly. Since the ones from UHaul swivel in the middle anyway there will be no backing up especially loaded. I towed one with the front wheels on the dolly and it SUCKED, was way to light over the trailer axle.

When I bought my car I towed it 400 miles at 75-80 mph, no problems.
(rechecking straps again before hitting the highway), with a friend and his son.

I wish I would have gone this route. We ended up getting a car trailer. lots more money, and a PAIN in the ass getting the car off as the rear brakes locked up during the move.

There are lots of arguments and theories on this forum about how to tow dolly a Fiero. It's been hashed and rehashed many times with no final "best" way ever being decided.

Just be sure that you don't tell the rental company that you're towing a Fiero. Many won't rent for a Fiero. Tell them it's a Grand Am or Camaro or even a Mustang.

I have my own dolly. Anything with a stick trans gets towed front end up. Ive towed customer and my own cars thousands of miles with no problem. DONT tell a rental place its a Fiero. Just say a Pontiac SE.

Yup.....just did this and they would NOT rent me the tow dolly for the Fiero despite me showing them many pics from this site of the Fiero on the tow dolley on my smart phone. Wound up renting the U-haul auto transport trailer and while it towed nice it was a pain in the ass getting the weight situated correctly. Next time I will just tell them I bought a freakin' Piece of **** cavalier 2 door and gotta go get it with a tow dolley. They sure are picky about it at Uhaul. My Astro van towed it pretty nicely at around 70-75 but above that and things got squirrelly and I got a bit of a wave going so that was fun. The tow dolley would have been better IMHO simply due to the ease of loading and I would have probably used it rear end first on the fiero. Good luck and peace

Pete

On a dolly with Rodney's 1" lowering ball joints...



Before wheel straps obviously...

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[This message has been edited by carbon (edited 06-12-2012).]

UHaul has rented to me for towing a Fiero several times without a problem. My only problem is they will ONLY rent me a tow dolly and not a trailer. They just tell me that I need to remove the axles before towing.

quote Originally posted by Marine1981: UHaul has rented to me for towing a Fiero several times without a problem. My only problem is they will ONLY rent me a tow dolly and not a trailer. They just tell me that I need to remove the axles before towing.

If you attempt to tow a Fiero without the axles in, you will likely loose your wheels. The rear wheel bearing assemblies must have the axle in them. You could use a thick long bolt too. (apporx 4 1/2 " long 1" diameter bolt)

Removing the axels and rolling a Fiero will destroy the hub bearings. I've been told it only takes a distance of the length of the car to do it.

For a fail safe on locking the steering loop the seat belt around the steering wheel and buckle it back into place.

quote Originally posted by fierofool: Removing the axles and rolling a Fiero will destroy the hub bearings. I've been told it only takes a distance of the length of the car to do it.

The only safe way to do this is to have two spare outer axle cups (that are detached from the axle bar) fastened to the bearing hubs using the hub nut and torqued to specifications. This will prevent the bearing hub from separating and pulling apart.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Powerlog manifold, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Flotech Afterburner Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

quote Originally posted by Pete Matos: Yup.....just did this and they would NOT rent me the tow dolly for the Fiero despite me showing them many pics from this site of the Fiero on the tow dolley on my smart phone. Wound up renting the U-haul auto transport trailer and while it towed nice it was a pain in the ass getting the weight situated correctly. Next time I will just tell them I bought a freakin' Piece of **** cavalier 2 door and gotta go get it with a tow dolley. They sure are picky about it at Uhaul. My Astro van towed it pretty nicely at around 70-75 but above that and things got squirrelly and I got a bit of a wave going so that was fun. The tow dolley would have been better IMHO simply due to the ease of loading and I would have probably used it rear end first on the fiero. Good luck and peace Pete

Slow down and move more weight to the front on the trailer. I have towed 3-4 fieros on a U-haul trailer and never had a problem, but I made sure the weight was heavier on the front of the trailer.

quote Originally posted by pdemondo: If you attempt to tow a Fiero without the axles in, you will likely loose your wheels. The rear wheel bearing assemblies must have the axle in them. You could use a thick long bolt too. (apporx 4 1/2 " long 1" diameter bolt)

I didn't remove them, I just told them it was already done to shut them up. The only time I towed one with the back wheels on the ground it was a standard and I just put it in neutral.

I had the same thing happen to me when I went to rent a tow dolly to move a Fiero from U-Haul. They wouldn't rent me one. So... I rented a tow dolly to move a 81 VW Rabbit...

i towed mt 87 gt from maryland to NE PA on a u haul dolly with the rear wheels on the ground.. it towed great but i had to tell u haul i was towing a grand am not a fiero.. i have also rented a u haul car trailer to tow home my 88 from nj that also worked well but those u haul car haulers are HEAVY for the size.. dolly is cheaper and lighter to tow..

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--Mark--
Yellow 88 GT 5speed
87 GT 3400 swap project

Thats the truth. Ive used some regular tandem axle trailers and they weigh as much as a car. Nice thing with a dolly, is the one way with it empty, you dont even know its there except for the noise. The ONLY downside of a dolly, is if the car is not in good enough rolling condition to use it.

It seems that U-Haul never wants the front wheels on the ground. Last time I rented a tow dolly for a Fiero, They looked at their book and said "Oh, its a realwheel drive. You need to drop the driveshaft to pull it." I told them I'll drop the driveshaft as soon as I see it. lol

Steve

Port St Lucie,Florida to just north of Houston, Texas. July 2009. 1200 miles. Towed with a S-10 truck

I've towed one in the past and backed it onto the trailer. No issues.

Odd.. I must have a really cool U-haul guy. I towed one down from Phoenix (about 150 miles), and the guy didn't have a problem with me towing it on a dolly. The car wasn't in the system, so he put down another car of similar size, and told me to be careful.

Keep in mind, this wasn't at a true U-haul place. This was the local neighborhood storage facility that also rents U-Hauls. That may be another reason he didn't care.

Oh, and mind any bumps, dips, sudden inclines and declines, someone was telling me about a car they were pulling with a dolly that had the end of the dolly come up and damage the bottom of the car.

I have pulled fieros backwards on dollies several times. At least 3000 miles or so. Only issue I have ever had is the front tires blew out on a car that had been sitting for awhile. They were dry rotted, and as soon as I hit the freeway.....not fun. I prefer the full trailer IF the car is running.

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11 Camaro SS/RS
86 Fiero GT 4.9
84 Fiero V6 Choptop?
03 Silverado 3500 Duramax! (Stacked, Tuned, Mean as Hell)
07 Suburban LT2
09 Avalanche LT3

quote Originally posted by pontiackid86: i'm sure i could fly a plane no problem.

quote Originally posted by Carver1: I have pulled fieros backwards on dollies several times. At least 3000 miles or so. Only issue I have ever had is the front tires blew out on a car that had been sitting for awhile. They were dry rotted, and as soon as I hit the freeway.....not fun. I prefer the full trailer IF the car is running.

Thats the difference in your case. That was not a safe rollable car in the first place. If a car is unroadworthy, regardless of if it runs or not, you need a trailer. If it had any good tires, those should be the tires on the ground. You can tow a car with 2 flat tires on a dolly if their on the dolly and you have it properly secured. I even have a winch on my dolly so I can drag a car onto it. I did have to use a tandem trailer on one car I bought in Missouri. All the tires were dry rotted, brakes were locked up in front and it barely ran. They actually pushed it onto a loading dock and put it on the trailer with a fork lift. I towed with my 3800 Lumina minivan. It was a bit of a struggle up long highway grades and steep driveways, but I could keep up 65-70 mph...just took me a mile or two to get it there. With my dolly a V6 will easily tow even a caddy or large SUV for a reasonable distance. Those tandem trailers must weight 2-3 thousand pounds and a dolly is lucky to be 200.