I'm thinking about getting a tow dolly for my 87 d150 4spd 225cid truck.

I would be pullind my 3200 lb demon 40 mins from ne Philly to Atco.

Am I asking for trouble? The truck feels good with a load in the back and I don't mind being slow!

Kevin

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madam im adam

I flat towed my '71 Swinger over 700 miles with my '74 D100. It was a 225, automatic so I didn't worry about the clutch. I would have liked power brakes and better brake pads, but I survived. What rear gear you have in your truck? Is that the OD 4-speed?

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Joshua

Lou Tow dollies his 2500# Project Vdart to races with a 258" slant in a Dakota - 3.55 Rear I believe w/ 904.


Greg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

I have towed the 73 Duster on a tow dolley with both the 82 and 87 D150 S6.
Frank

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Scrapple: Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
73 Duster - Race Car
66 Dart Wagon - DD
178" FED
82 D150
All Slant powered

Doug Dutra tows his Lancer w/ a dart Wagon.....you would need to ask him spacifics.
Andrew/Kidd

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Wife's: 64 Valiant
My: 70 Road Runner, 67 Barracuda, AND the 62 Valiant drag car!!

"Doug Dutra tows his Lancer w/ a dart Wagon.....you would need to ask him spacifics.
Andrew/Kidd"

And it is with a tow-bar, I also think it is done at Calif highway speeds.

Richard

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Very encouraging! Thanks.

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madam im adam

Yes.. Allen and I "flat tow" the 2600 lb Lancer with the 3500 lb'Dart wagon... it works but you really have to pay attantion to your driving, one "false move" and you will be in a ditch.

A tow dolly makes things safer but adds about 800 lbs of weight, the dolly would need a braking system to be safer.

The two big issues for us, we have to remove / install the driveshaft and race slicks every time we tow.

Having a "towed car" that is light, has manual steering and with the alignment set so the car goes straight is key.
We strap-down the Lancer's steering wheel to limit it's travel, when we are on the open highway.
DD

I towed my '65 to Woodburn on a dolly behind my '07 Titan. I was limited to around 60 mph or the setup would start to get "squirrelly'.

I find it interesting that Doug tires off the steering wheel. Most of the RV sites don't recommend doing that.

I've always kept the towed cars front tires free so they can caster and not scrub.........

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Not the same as "tying it down", still allows sufficient function within controlled parameters. I've done the same for years.

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Sex, drags, and rock & roll.
Dick, 225% crazy.
Hobby (cars, that is) Photos link

Good clearification...
We do not tie the steering wheel solid but we do put a strap on it that limits the amount it can turn. (it can turn about 3/4 in either direction when "strapped")
Doing this prevents the steering from going to full lock if the towed car has a front tire failure or hits / "catches" something on the roadway surface.
I find that if the steering goes to full lock, it does not want to return to straight ahead... then the rig "jack-knifes" and things get ugly, fast.
DD

Something no one has mentioned is that many states require a vehicle that is towed with wheels on the ground to have current registration and insurance. Seeing Doug's picture (and having flat towed and used a dolly) makes me happy I have a truck with a class III receiver hitch and a car trailer with brakes on both axles.

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Joshua

Ouch, hard way to learn that lesson.

Also, aren't there a couple states that no longer allow old style flat towing? I seem to recall that the legal argument was based on radials' wimpier sidewalls.

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Sex, drags, and rock & roll.
Dick, 225% crazy.
Hobby (cars, that is) Photos link

Its been illegal to flat tow here since the 60s (unless the towed vehicle has plates). The only vehicles I see towed are pickups behind graders.

Any vehicle with valid plates has valid insurance.

You can t even tow on a dolly unless the dolly and the towed vehicle have plates. If the vehicle has a tire on the road it must have plates and insurance.

Doug is the only person I know who flat tows regularly.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....