Towing for Long Distance Move

thisisbev · Post by **thisisbev** » 09 Jul 2008, 08:38

Hello All.

I'm new to the forum and new to owning a Volvo, although the car itself is not new. I bought a 1994 850 (non-turbo) sedan this past December. The odometer is broken so the mileage is inaccurate. It's been fixed on 146,753 miles since I bought it and who knows how long it's been like that!

Anyway, I currently live in North Carolina but I will be moving to Wisconsin next week. I'll be towing the vehicle on a tow dolly behind my U-Haul truck and from what I understand I need to disconnect the drive train so I don't ruin my transmission (which I just had rebuilt a few months ago).

I've been told I can either put the car on the dolly backwards and tie the steering wheel to the brake pedal to keep it somewhat stationary (which I'd rather not do) or disconnect the drive shaft which I have no idea how to do.

So, I'm asking for assistance. I searched the forum's library for related topics and couldn't find any so I apologize if I am repeating a topic that has already been discussed.

Can anyone offer step-by-step instructions for disconnecting the drive-train?

Thanks!

Post by **HareBall** » 09 Jul 2008, 08:43

You DO NOT want to put this car on the dolly backwards! It is a front wheel drive car.
You should have no problems towing it with a dolly.
You just need to drive it onto the dolly and make sure it is secured to it.
No need to do anything to the drive train.

thisisbev · Post by **thisisbev** » 09 Jul 2008, 09:29

Ok. Thanks Larry.

I was told it was rear wheel drive so I just wanted to be safe about towing it. I checked the towing section of my owner's manual and it clearly says to tow it with the rear wheels on the ground so you're right about that, but the manual doesn't offer much more information than that.

When I went to the U-Haul website to reserve the truck it said the vehicle's drive shaft would need to be disconnected so I just want to make sure I don't do anything to damage my car.

So, I should just be able to load the car forward on the dolly and put it in Neutral.

Thanks again!

Post by **HareBall** » 09 Jul 2008, 09:33

That's right. Just drive it on. Uhaul is just protecting themselves from a lawsuit.

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 09 Jul 2008, 09:38

Not sure if this is an option for you but it's a much better way to transport a car long distance, compared with dragging the poor thing down the highway.

http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?e ... otransport

-Chuck

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 09 Jul 2008, 10:02

I've used both kinds and the full trailer is much easier to use. I drug the Porsche home from Phoenix on a dolly type trailer and dang near lost it a couple of times coming out of the mountains.

If you do get the full trailer I would try to put the car on it backwards. I put my son's 850 on the trailer forward and wound up with massive tongue weight since the car is very nose heavy. Getting the front of the car back over the axles would have worked out better. The only other tip is to drop the covers on the fenders before you drive the car on. You can't open the car doors once it is on the trailer without the fenders dropped. I had to climb out the car window to get out of it.

Like others have said - the car is front wheel drive so it you use a dolly put it on facing forward.

...Lee

thisisbev · Post by **thisisbev** » 09 Jul 2008, 10:09

Ok. Thanks Guys.

I thought about renting the other trailer; it's a lot more expensive but it might be worth the extra money if it will save me any major repairs later on. If I end up getting that one, I'll be sure to load it backwards.

Thanks for the tips and info.

Solutech · Post by **Solutech** » 09 Jul 2008, 10:12

Id go for the car transporter every time over a dolly . Far more stable especially over a longer distance .

Uhaul are talking moopoo as already pointed out .

Major benefit to a transporter is it has brakes on it . The dolly will do nothing to slow you down .

Please tell me you have towed trailers before or Id recommend you get someone who has to do it for you . Everything is totally different with a car attached to your rear end .

Solutech · Post by **Solutech** » 09 Jul 2008, 10:18

Hate to disagree with Lee but the weight at the back ? .

Good recipe for a very bouncy ride in my book . Better to have it forward with the engine up front so it holds your rear end down rather than lifting them off . Loaded engine to the rear once . Had me all over 3 lanes of motorway with rear wheels lifting off the deck . Scary as hell lol .

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 09 Jul 2008, 11:42

The U-Haul transporters have tandem axles that are well back of center. Given that the 850 is relatively short the front wheels are still in front of the axles.

I use a 1/2 ton suburban with a tow package to tow stuff and with the 850 on facing forward the rear suspension squatted down about 10".

The drive home from Chicago was miserable.

...Lee