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Tow dolly questions

IUsedtoBendCars

IUsedtoBendCars

Professional Lurker
Joined
May 19, 2020
Member Number
152
Messages
185
Loc
Nevada
I'm planning a 12 day trip with my Motorhome and 79 Thunderbird. I've have a tow dolly for about 2 years but have never used it. ( I've got a few trailer options). So I packed the bearings and fixed the lights last night. Today I hooked the Tbird on and dropped the driveline. It only took about 15 minutes to do.
I'm wanting to use the dolly because my trailer is about 3500 lbs and I have a 1996 Chevy big block pulling it. Just trying to save weight.

So my concerns are about the car binding up while turning. Do you lock the steering wheel or leave unlocked. I was just testing it around my neighborhood with a pickup and it seemed like a lot of stress on the straps on corners. My dolly has a pivot but it doesn't seem like it pivots much. Behind the RV I won't be able to barely see the car/dolly.
Am I overthinking this and just go for it??
 
The pivot pad just doesn't seem to pivot very much. Like nowhere near as much as I think it should
 
Saw this over the weekend and thought it was interesting. Seems like a bad idea, but I followed him for 15 miles or so up some curves and it did nothing wierd at all.

Totally solves figuring out what should or shouldn't spin. Just curious how you deal with any slight slop in the steering.

20240707_141717.jpg
 
All that steering slop will affect is whether the Jeep front axle is dead center behind the trailer or off to the left/right, same as a tow truck. Won't matter for shit.

Edit: Now that I think about it every time I've used a dolly the vehicle has been backwards. :laughing:
 
arse_sidewards said:
All that steering slop will affect is whether the Jeep front axle is dead center behind the trailer or off to the left/right, same as a tow truck. Won't matter for shit.

Edit: Now that I think about it every time I've used a dolly the vehicle has been backwards. :laughing:
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Right because no way it could death wobble with negative castor and sloppy steering :homer:
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Right because no way it could death wobble with negative castor and sloppy steering :homer:
Click to expand...

:shaking::lmao:


Anything could happen if it's fucked up enough but picking the ass end up is gonna give it positive caster when it's in reverse. You're rotating the whole vehicle instead of just the axle housing or C.
 
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YotaAtieToo said:
Going to have to disagree.

I've had vibrations before, and figured "meh" shortly after had a tire pass me and almost lost the rear driveline bolts.
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Was the cause simply bad caster or was that due to loose bolts? I've had loose bolts let thing vibrate and go free before as well. Trailer is the only thing that can help there.
 
Provience said:
Was the cause simply bad caster or was that due to loose bolts? I've had loose bolts let thing vibrate and go free before as well. Trailer is the only thing that can help there.
Click to expand...

It was 20 years ago, but I think I was a driveline vibration. My point is just that wobbling for hours on end can't be good for anything.
 
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