Author |
Message |
GearheadJim Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2003 Posts: 176 Location: Columbus Ohio
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 6:54 am Post subject: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
Hi folks, I'm preparing to tow my 65 Notchback about 200 miles using a dolly. I've been reading through various T3 towing posts and have most of my questions answered but am looking for some additional input. As a 65, this is a swing axle car. The motor is out and I'm a little concerned about the the increased camber due to lack of weight.
Would it be helpful to add some weight to the trunk (a couple bags of river rock gets me 100-150lbs)?
I have a camber compensator (not currently installed), would running the compensator be helpful? _________________ Drive 'em!
65 Notchback build: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773405 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Ossipon Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2021 Posts: 471 Location: KS
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:46 am Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
I could be wrong (I consider myself usually misled) I would say you would be best off with the camber compensator. and then... instead of added weight, because it is a non-supported trans-axle. I would be placing a support solution on the upper two transaxle motor mount holes and attach to maybe a crossbeam in the engine lid area. such as two bolts in the holes and then anchored to a 2x4 or 2x6 cross ways in the trunk. If you wanted weight, then have that on the board.
You may be fine with just the camber compensator, but like I said, I am usually misled or misleading. _________________ Ossipon
VWs in my life:
Air
Type 1 - 59, 62, 63, 71 Super 68 KGhia/ Type 2 - 59 Single Cab / Type 3 - 64 Notch
Water
GTI 83, Jetta 81, 85, 87, 91 TDI, 98 TDI, 09 / New Beetle 99 / SportWagen 05, 13 / Tiguan 18 / T3 92 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Erik G Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002 Posts: 13247 Location: Tejas!
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 10:13 am Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
I would tow it backwards, front axle down if you are using a dolly. Steering wheel (should) lock. if it doesn't, we used to tie it off to the vent window. I'm sure that is frowned upon now but I never had any issues. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bobnotch Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003 Posts: 22358 Location: Kimball, Mi
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
GearheadJim wrote: |
Hi folks, I'm preparing to tow my 65 Notchback about 200 miles using a dolly. I've been reading through various T3 towing posts and have most of my questions answered but am looking for some additional input. As a 65, this is a swing axle car. The motor is out and I'm a little concerned about the the increased camber due to lack of weight.
Would it be helpful to add some weight to the trunk (a couple bags of river rock gets me 100-150lbs)?
I have a camber compensator (not currently installed), would running the compensator be helpful? |
The big thing I've found with using a tow dolly is watching your speed. The car will try to wag the truck with more speed. I prefer to tow dolly with the front tires on the dolly. Having towed a T-34 from Des Moines (10 hours away) and a basically engineless (had a bare case in it to mount the engine hanger bar to hold up the IRS transaxle) 71 Notch from Boise to Michigan, I'd only pull it the way the car is supposed to drive. Like I said above, watch your speed and DON'T try to back up with a vehicle on the dolly. _________________ Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
Tram wrote: |
"Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
Tram wrote: |
People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
GearheadJim Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2003 Posts: 176 Location: Columbus Ohio
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
Ossipon wrote: |
because it is a non-supported trans-axle. |
I thought the IRS was the non-supported trans, swing axle is supported. Anyone else care to jump in here? _________________ Drive 'em!
65 Notchback build: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773405 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Erik G Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002 Posts: 13247 Location: Tejas!
|
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2022 9:34 am Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
GearheadJim wrote: |
Ossipon wrote: |
because it is a non-supported trans-axle. |
I thought the IRS was the non-supported trans, swing axle is supported. Anyone else care to jump in here? |
yes, the swingaxle is mounted to the pan front and rear, IRS is not connected at the rear and requires the engine hanger. _________________ Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bobnotch Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003 Posts: 22358 Location: Kimball, Mi
|
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2022 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
Erik G wrote: |
GearheadJim wrote: |
Ossipon wrote: |
because it is a non-supported trans-axle. |
I thought the IRS was the non-supported trans, swing axle is supported. Anyone else care to jump in here? |
yes, the swingaxle is mounted to the pan front and rear, IRS is not connected at the rear and requires the engine hanger. |
Yup, that's why I used a blown up bus case to mount the hanger bar, to hold the trans up in the car for towing. _________________ Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
Tram wrote: |
"Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
Tram wrote: |
People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Multi69s Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 5360 Location: Lefty, CA
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Erik G Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002 Posts: 13247 Location: Tejas!
|
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:52 am Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
Multi69s wrote: |
Really curious, is it safe to tow a vehicle backwards on a tow dolly? Sometimes I wish I could tow my Squareback, but it has an auto trans, and I don't feel like disconnecting the axles. |
I'm sure there are reasons not to, like a car was meant to go forward not backwards, but I have never had a problem. I don't think I'd want to do it on a car I don't know, don't know if the early double lock nuts and lock washer are right, etc. If tires are directional, they need to be towed directional, but that doesnt apply to most of us.
Repo trucks tow cars backwards a lot - that doesnt make it right... but again I have never had a problem. some might be concerned that the steering lock is weak and you might bust it... so put the key in, and tie off the steering wheel. repo drivers will use the seatbelt to tie off the steering wheel. again, that doesn't make it right. _________________ Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Roadbeater Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2011 Posts: 50 Location: Central Ohio
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2022 5:03 am Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
I've towed VW's on dollies many times. I wouldn't pull one backwards, it puts alot of weight off the dolly, and the toe on the front tires is backwards for that direction. _________________ 69 Fastback |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bobnotch Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003 Posts: 22358 Location: Kimball, Mi
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2022 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
I saw some pics from the Oregon/Washington group for the first Invasion (2002) that put a car on a dolly backwards. A few miles down the road all 3 parts (tow vehicle, dolly and car being towed) ended up in the center ditch between the instate lanes. That was enough for me to not pull one backwards on a dolly. _________________ Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
Tram wrote: |
"Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
Tram wrote: |
People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Multi69s Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 5360 Location: Lefty, CA
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Erik G Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002 Posts: 13247 Location: Tejas!
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2022 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
Roadbeater wrote: |
I've towed VW's on dollies many times. I wouldn't pull one backwards, it puts alot of weight off the dolly, and the toe on the front tires is backwards for that direction. |
How is it different than a front engine light car, say a Corolla?
I call BS, and would want details on the accident mentioned, someone didn't strap the car down or some other catastrophic likely negligent failure right? Y'all are smart, you can logically think it out _________________ Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bobnotch Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003 Posts: 22358 Location: Kimball, Mi
|
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2022 11:48 am Post subject: Re: Dolly tow swing axle no motor |
|
|
Erik G wrote: |
Roadbeater wrote: |
I've towed VW's on dollies many times. I wouldn't pull one backwards, it puts alot of weight off the dolly, and the toe on the front tires is backwards for that direction. |
How is it different than a front engine light car, say a Corolla?
I call BS, and would want details on the accident mentioned, someone didn't strap the car down or some other catastrophic likely negligent failure right? Y'all are smart, you can logically think it out |
Because a Corolla would be sitting on the dolly with it's front wheels on the dolly. But my Corolla hasn't ridden on my dolly over the last 12 years that I've owned the Corolla. My son's Honda's and Acura's both have ridden on the dolly though (front forward). They're not as reliable as the Toyota.
As for the accident with the tow dolly on the way to the first Invasion, you'll have to ask those involved, as I didn't attend it. I think Brian Fye posted pics of it though (were sent to him). I do remember seeing the pics. I believe the purple Fastback was originally being towed to the event, but one of the cars broke down on the way there, so it ended up going on the dolly (backwards), then a short time later found itself in the middle of the interstate. Once all of the vehicles were extracted out of the middle, the car was reloaded with the front wheels on the dolly, and made it to the Invasion. _________________ Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
Tram wrote: |
"Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
Tram wrote: |
People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|