Dont know if this should be hear or in the Technical forum. Bill/Rusty, please move as required.
We have a 2-wheel car dolly that we use to tow our 96 Cavalier which is front wheel drive. We want to tow our 81 Volvo station wagon which is rear wheel drive. Can we do it by putting the front wheels on the dolly? The transmission is a manual 4-speed with overdrive that engages when you push a button. I remember in the 50s, having my dad's 51 Plymouth towed with the rear wheels up in the air and the car pointing backwards. It was a manual transmission (three on the tree). I've tried some Volvo forums and not had much help. And the Volvo dealer says "A 1981 what?"
Thanks
Jim

It is my understanding that towing any vehicle backward is not recommended. Has to do with the steering geomonetry of the front end.

But you have a manual transmission. Should be able to tow it 4 down.

Hmm, hadn't thought of steering geometry. Makes sense with castor, camber and tow-in. Not like the rear wheels which are just always pointed straight.

quote:

Should be able to tow it 4 down.

Use the dolly, 4 down will require some sort of draw bar apparatus and extra wiring. make sure the x-mission is in neutral!
"never mind"!

A wrecker would probably tow it with the rear wheels off the ground and the steering wheel strapped to something (like window channel) to keep it from turning. Many manual transmissions are not lubricated adequately when the output shaft, rather than the input shaft, is being turned.

Rear wheel drive Volvos should not be towed without disconnecting the drive shaft at least this is what I have been told for many years as a Volvo driver.

I have a 1990 Isuzu Amigo 4 wheel drive 5 speed straight shift and IT CAN NOT BE TOWED under any circumstance according to Isuzu.

Hey Mary, I have the same, 1990 Amigo 4X4 and yes it can not be towed. There is no neutral on the transfer case. Even if one were to shift into neutral and between gears in the transfer case and hold it there by some means, the transfer case will burn up do to lack of lub.

I am working on an engine transplant and use the 4l60E with a Dana 300 transfer case attached. That will work and can be towed. Haven't confirmed what engine I will use but probably a 4.3L chev V6

Everybody is absolutely right . In a manual Volvo tranny, the output shaft does not turn the cluster gears that are responsible for doing most of the lubrication in the tranny. Only the input shaft will do that. As for towing backwards, a tow truck can do it, even for moderate distance, because they are holding the rear end up in the air. However, a tow dolly is designed to have most of the weight over the wheels of the dolly. Putting the rear wheels on the dolly would seriously upset the balance of the whole thing. The only thing to do is disconnect the drive shaft. Remco makes a disconnect apparatus that I will look into. It is beginning to make sense to get one car to replace the Volvo and the Cavalier that I can either flat tow or tow on a dolly, but it has to have seats that are high off the floor like the old Volvo or even my Mercury Grand Marquis. We have discovered that with my deteriorating disc disease and cracked vertebrae, that I have to sit with my legs 90 degrees to the seat. A lot of these small cars, you are almost laying down in the car and that puts me out of commission in about 5 minutes. the seats in the Barth are perfect. They're high up off the floor and nice soft. But it would make a lousy tow vehicle. Any Suggestions?

How about a Geo Tracker or Suzuki? Even got 4wheel drive.

quote:

Originally posted by Marvin+Doris:
How about a Geo Tracker or Suzuki? Even got 4wheel drive.

I see a lot of these being flat towed. They are small and light and are reported to tow very easily.

As for chair-seating, I had one of the high-roof Mercs based on the Volvo. They are sold under various names including Ford 500, Ford Taurus, Merc Sable and Montego.
The seat can be raised to be about like an office chair and the pedals on some are adjustable.

Suzuki and Trackers tow very well!!! (Of course I might have a biased opinion on this subject).
They also go a lot of places, if you are of the type who likes to get off the main lanes, and they are relatively "cheap".

Bud

X2 on the Tracker. We have towed ours to Arizona and back to Niagara Falls five times with no probs.
Even drove it from Phoenix to San Diego on a quick trip sans Barth last week.
Don
QUOTE]Originally posted by bud@YXY:
Suzuki and Trackers tow very well!!! (Of course I might have a biased opinion on this subject).
They also go a lot of places, if you are of the type who likes to get off the main lanes, and they are relatively "cheap".

Bud[/QUOTE]

Tere and I looked at a 2002 Chev Tracker today. I have to have an upright sitting position and it did pretty well. But at $5900 with 118000 on it, seems a little high. Don in Niagra, which model Tracker are you towing?