Hi all,
I'm thinking of purchasing a 1981 Spider and towing it with a tow dolly next 
week. The first part of the drive will be about 120 miles, the second will be 
400 miles mainly highway and I plan on driving cautiously. I was told that I 
should tow backwards with the rear end on the dolly to avoid banging the cross 
bar and breaking the oil pump if the front's on the dolly. I'm concerned if I 
tow this way that the oil pan may be too close to the ground and if I hit a 
bump I'll bang the oil pan really bad and break the oil pump for sure. Do you 
forsee any concerns towing backwards like this or should I tow it forward. 
Please advice. I presume if I tow frontwards, I'll have to disconnect the 
driveshaft or do I since the Spider is 5 speed standard. Thanks for your help.

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George Emery
http://members.aol.com/gemery -- "Twincams and Autox"

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Well, you'll probably get half a dozen opinions about this. Here's mine:
Tow it with the front on the dolly. That's what dollys are made to do. Trying 
to tow it backward is difficult if you can't get the steering to lock dead 
center. And, I agree the oil pan risk is far higher going backwards than with 
the front tied down.
On a manual trans, I'm not a rabid believer in the driveshaft removal 
necessity, but then I usually don't tow cars as far as you are planning. Since 
the nose will be up, and the gear fluid will want to settle in the rear of the 
trans, it could potentially damage the upper main bearing. So yeah, in this 
case I'd take the shaft off. 

Dwight Varnes, Elizabethtown, PA
23 Fiats since 1982
1979 Austin Mini 850
1986 Audi Coupe GT
1965 Ford F100
1996 Subaru Impreza 2.2RS (hers)

CK wrote:
I have towed 50 miles or so with no prep work but for that kind of distance I 
would definately disconnect the shaft at the differential.  VERY simple to do.  
4 13mm head bolts/nuts and tie it up and out of the way.  Well worth the 15 
minutes to do.

Tow with the front on the dolly.  If you don't the heavy end at the rear will 
be the tail wagging the dog, plus as dwight said, it is tough to lock the 
steering wheels perfectly straight.

Pull her up on front forward and disconnect the shaft at the diff.  I have 
towed about 8 of them this way.


Jon W. Logan
Hilliard, Ohio
1979 Spider 2000 (Twin IDF's 10:1)

CK 
You can remove the drive shaft, since with an unknown new car, the rubber flex 
joint and u-joints are a good first maintenance with fluid replacement.
If you drive the car around the block on each leg of your trip there should be 
no trouble towing it forwards as the dolly is designed.  You also can jack the 
rear wheels and run through the gears.  The theory being that the oil will coat 
the transmission gears.
Also many cars have been tow-dollied long distances without problems. 


Cheers
Ron
1979 124 Spider  93 Miata 

"It is no coincidence that first culture to brew beer commercially also built 
the pyramids to keep it cool. But, the Pharaoh used it for a burial monument so 
they built another, which also became a tomb. So they tried again and again 
with always the same result. Little wonder that the empire of Egypt is full of 
pyramids and that taverns or pubs have been small ever since."

Thanks. My bad.
CK

George Emery wrote:
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: George Emery
: http://members.aol.com/gemery -- "Twincams and Autox"
: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are answered here:
:                general - http://www.mirafiori.com/faq
:         model specific - http://www.mirafiori.com/model
:              engine id - http://www.mirafiori.com/id
:            smog system - http://www.mirafiori.com/smog
:     parts substitution - http://www.mirafiori.com/sub
:    wheels & suspension - http://www.mirafiori.com/dave
: Thad Kirk's balljoints -http://www.mirafiori.com/~thad/balljoints/bj.html

NEVER< EVER tow a car backwards. I tried to tow a TC AUTO 74 to a FFO one year 
and everything was fine on back roads in Jersey as we could not go over 40 
MPH. When we got on 95, the TC started swaying and almost pulled the Blazer up 
on 2 wheels. Very scary! You can not lock the wheels tight enought. Like 
everyone said, tie up the drive shaft at the rear...

Jon Logan wrote:
: CK wrote:
: I have towed 50 miles or so with no prep work but for that kind of distance 
I 
: would definately disconnect the shaft at the differential.  VERY simple to 
do.  
: 4 13mm head bolts/nuts and tie it up and out of the way.  Well worth the 15 
: minutes to do.
: Tow with the front on the dolly.  If you don't the heavy end at the rear 
will 
: be the tail wagging the dog, plus as dwight said, it is tough to lock the 
: steering wheels perfectly straight.
: Pull her up on front forward and disconnect the shaft at the diff.  I have 
: towed about 8 of them this way.
: Jon W. Logan
: Hilliard, Ohio
: 1979 Spider 2000 (Twin IDF's 10:1)
Bruce's Parts Bin
Newfield, NJ 08012
856-358-1555

you WILL jack knife.. too many pivot points.

Andy (Medford, Oregon)
1974 X 1/9 (new Race Car)
1974 X 1/9 (Smokey Joe)
1976 Spider (long term project)
1979 Spider (in primer, IDFs and fun no doubt)
1978 Dodge Adventurer 150 (Tow Rig)
1988 Yugo GVX Daily Driver
1997 Dodge Caravan (Family Truckster)
http://www.sofia1.com

I towed my 74 Spider from Columbus OH to St. Louis MO...about 600 miles 
(however many...you do the figuring). Anyhow, I did not undo the drive shaft 
but i did start the car on the dolly eveytime I got gas (or pulled over for 
the wifey)....or maybe we just stopped every hundred miles or so for this 
purpose.....Anyhow, no problems whatsoever then or now.


74 Fiat 124 Sport - California model.

CK,

I've towed Spiders flat on the ground and on dollies several times.
You have to put the car on the dolly nose first, because the heavier end of the
car HAS to be on the dolly.  If not, it will likely fishtail at speed (BTDT and
I could only go 45-50 mph).
You do not have to disconnect the driveshaft, BUT! I recommend that at every gas
stop (about 200 miles) start up the car in neutral to get the tranny gears
turning so they get lubed.

Csaba
1971/85.5 124 Spider, 1967 850 Coupe'
Personal: http://www.geocities.com/f124ss
Work: http://www.vickauto.com

Not sure if this car is stick or auto BUT if its auto you can't tow it more 
then about 20 miles without dropping the drive shaft. Auto's need the engine 
running or will burn up if towed long distances. I have towed my 5 speed on 
car dollie long distances and would never think of dropping the drive shaft. 
Just double check the trans is not in gear.


Csaba Vandor wrote:
: CK,
: I've towed Spiders flat on the ground and on dollies several times.
: You have to put the car on the dolly nose first, because the heavier end of 
the
: car HAS to be on the dolly.  If not, it will likely fishtail at speed (BTDT 
and
: I could only go 45-50 mph).
: You do not have to disconnect the driveshaft, BUT! I recommend that at every 
gas
: stop (about 200 miles) start up the car in neutral to get the tranny gears
: turning so they get lubed.
: Csaba
: 1971/85.5 124 Spider, 1967 850 Coupe'
: Personal: http://www.geocities.com/f124ss
: Work: http://www.vickauto.com
BRUCE'S PARTS BIN   Italian Auto Parts on the INTERNET
Retail Store: 256 Harding Hwy, Rt 40, Newfield, NJ 08344
Phone: NEW AREA CODE: 856-358-1555   856-358-8786 
Internet: http://www.fiatparts.com/
E-Mail: mailto:bruces@fiatparts.com 

Thanks for your responses guys. I think that guy was giving me a line about 
him towing frequently on the highway nose backwards and tying the steering 
wheel with a rope.

My other question is if you are towing with a dolly, does the towed vehicle 
need a license or temp tag in NY and Pa. The same guy says abslutely not but 
I'm beginning to doubt everything he says. Logically, I'm thinking if the 
towed vehicle wheels are touching the road then it becomes a trailer which 
does need a licence.

Also, to unbolt the drive shaft, I understand there are 4 bolts that should be 
easy to come off, can I use a socket or do I need a wrench and do I need to 
mark the parts to be able to match them up later?

Thanks again.

You'll need both a socket and a wrench. The bolts have nuts on the 
ends....13mm I think. And yes, mark it. (although I don't think this is 
as critical as marking when dismantling the driveshaft for u joints, but do so 
anyhow)

I would make a call to the motor vehicle dept....If it does need a temporary 
plate, it is very cheap. When we picked up the 74 in OH, i needed one and I 
think it was 5 or 10 dollars or something.

74 Fiat 124 Sport - California model.