Tow Dolly or Trailer?, can't decide..... Options

[Joe Ricard]

3499 miles in 3 days. Either I have a steel butt or it wasn't that bad. 140lb rear springs Koni adjustables bigger torsion bars. Oh yea Recaro SRD (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Been told I have a nice butt from wife does that count?

[URY914]

Being towed behind a RV.

[iamchappy]

Ive driven many long distance drives in the teener Minneapolis to LA. and to Portland.
the drive was fun. " Comfortable " not, it sure wasn't like a Lincoln Town car.
I can say that I didn't find it uncomfortable.

[rick 918-S]

Bruce get the trailer. I built mine. single axle 4000 lb springs good 3500lb axle. I towed this thing across country many times. Built it looooowwww!!! I followed the semi's through the mountains at danm near 90 mph. tow vehicle was an F150 Ford. We forgot the trailer was hooked up.

[VegasRacer]

Another option is to rig up a tow bar to the teener. For 2 years I flat towed my race car to the track. Never had any problems.

My recommendation - get a trailer. If you don't like it you can sell it easily. I have owned 3 open trailers. Bought 'em used, shopped around and in the end sold them for more than I paid after a few years of use when I wanted to upgrade.

[Bruce Allert]

I would love to drive all the way there and Punkin would prolly make it. The longest I've gone is to Seattle & back and it was great fun & comfortable too. It's just the things that have been happening lately make me feel "yer gonna get stuck somewhere" (sounds of dueling banjo's) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)
I know, the money spent for a trailer could put many parts on the car but my problem is... I don't know which one will guarantee my making it all the way South.
I'll keep my eyes open for a good deal ( and, so far it's the offers from Craig & JP) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif) but, maybe I'll stumble onto something within the car that will change my mind about driving the distance. It's still smoking on decel and I'm needing to check the compression. If the comp check turns out ok then who knows (IMG:style_emoticons/default/golfer.gif)

FOUR!!!!!

.....b

ps. thanks for all the great input guys (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[Randal]

The only thing wrong with a trailer is you need a place to store it.

RIGHT, that’s the first problem you have to deal with!

My choices:

1. A big aluminum enclosed trailer that is light as possible and aerodynamic.

2. An aluminum open trailer that is light as possible.

3. A dropped axle open steel trailer

4. A tow dolly.

5. Tow bar.


I haven’t listed your normal (heavy) enclosed (air dam) trailer as they, in my opinion, take the fun out of the trip. It isn’t fun going up hills at 45mph and watching the gas gage drain when you sneak up to 65mph out in the flats. Also the wear and tear on the tow vehicle has got to be substantially more as compared to something tons lighter. But alas this is where many of us end up, as the heavy units are initially cheaper.

Of course once you’ve figured out the parking issue an enclosed trailer saves hours of work each time you go to an event. We always have car preparation, but losing loading all the “stuff” is huge; maybe even enough to offset the PITA issues noted above.

BTW I think tow dollies are great for towing. “ICE” (our Ridgeback) and I pulled the Ford Taurus, (don’t laugh it was a great car) from California to Virginia in 3.5 days and you hardly noticed that the car was behind. The only time you did noticed was on hills where the weight slowed down my old diesel. We averaged 18MPG on that trip.

Oh, don’t forget the CB on long trips – kind of like our BBS as you can ask (just about) anything you want and get answers immediately.

Also if you’re going to spend the money to buy an aluminum enclosed trailer, or any big trailer for that matter, make sure it has an aerodynamic feature on the front; otherwise your just pulling an air dam around.

[SLITS]

I tow them with a dolly as URY914 does - ass first! Never had a problem other than tying the steering wheel (I use a rope, jammed in the door jambs). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I rent them rather than own them, BUT and a BIG BUT - don't tell them yer gonna tow 'em backwards - they won't rent to ya. Idiots!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/finger.gif)

Trailers are nice

[Bruce Allert]

I tow them with a dolly as URY914 does - ass first!

I'd heard on this board that towing ass first tends to phuc with the top (wind wanting to rip it off (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) )

SLITS, do you tow with top on or off?

.........b

[SLITS]

Top on and latched - yea I make sure they are tight. Haven't lost one yet (shit now that I say that......................................,)

[Bruce Allert]

sorry (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

I was thinkin' 'bout towing backwards and doesn't the front skirt come real close to scraping?

.........b

[Porsche Rescue]

Bruce,
Before Craig and I got our dolly, I bought a dolly, towed it to LA empty, loaded the gray 914-6, towed it back to Portland and sold the dolly for what I paid. Did it again to Sacramento and back (Rhodyguy's car).

[Bruce Allert]

Hey Jim,

It kinda sounds like that's prolly the way to go cuz I've seen quite a few dollys for less than $400. I'll pick yer brain & see what I need to look for (if'n ya don't mind).

......b

[Porsche Rescue]

Anytime. Craig and I are 914 tow dolly experts!
Get a good one, plenty of tread on the tires, not cracked from age, check/repack the wheel bearings and head south. Ad in the Oregonian or Craig's List when you get home. I first did it that way because U-Haul wanted $300 for a one-way rental!